Development Plan/Restrictions
Plot size: 1100sqm (1,1840 sq ft)
Slope: Yes (west to east)
Building coverage ratio / Floor area ratio: none
Building envelope, building line and boundary: none
Edge development: Theoretically possible, as neighboring plot belongs to parents
Number of parking spaces: 2 per housing unit (relevant if split into two apartments)
Number of floors: none
Roof type: only gable roof & hip roof (also for garage!)
Architectural style: none
Orientation: none
Maximum heights/restrictions: none
Other requirements: roof overhang of at least 50cm (20 inches)
Homeowners’ Requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: hip roof urban villa
Basement, floors: yes, 2 full floors
Number of people, ages: 36, 35, 4, 0
Space requirements on ground floor, upper floor:
Office: family use or home office? Home office once a week
Guest overnight stays per year: 1-2
Open or closed architecture: semi-open
Conservative or modern style: rather modern
Open kitchen, cooking island: yes, yes
Number of dining seats: 4-8
Fireplace: not necessary, also can’t find a suitable place
Music / stereo wall: TV wall yes
Balcony, roof terrace: balcony (only due to possible split into two apartments)
Garage, carport: double garage
Utility garden, greenhouse
Additional wishes/special features/daily routine, also reasons why this or that should or shouldn’t be: bay window with balcony, even if it gets expensive…
House Design
Who designed it: do-it-yourself with SweetHome3D
What do you like most? Why? Everything. I think I spent so long working on the floor plan that I’m in love with it and probably totally “blind” to its flaws.
What do you dislike? Why?
Price estimate according to architect/planner:
Personal price limit for the house, including equipment: 750,000€
Preferred heating system: gas
If you had to give up, which details/extensions
- could you do without: somehow nothing
- could you not do without: large entrance/wardrobe; large children’s rooms; master bedroom facing east (I want to watch the sunrise); large aquarium as a highlight in the living area; platform staircase; children’s bathroom; and my wife absolutely wants a gallery.
Why did the design turn out as it is now?
I looked at almost every floor plan from all prefabricated house manufacturers and, annoyed by the “cookie-cutter” designs (keyword: living room/kitchen/dining all in one long corridor and stairs always immediately by the dirty entrance), I started working out my own floor plan. Many thanks to this forum because I have learned a lot from the floor plan discussions here! I even dealt with Feng Shui for the layout.
What do you think makes it particularly good or bad?
The rooms are ideally oriented to the sun: living spaces face south, unoccupied rooms face north. In addition, the slight slope (to the east) allows for nice walk-out basement rooms. The layout can also be easily split into two apartments, making it flexible for a barrier-free future. Technical aspects and piping were also considered: the utility room is on the street side and pipes/water lines don’t run erratically but are kept close together.
The only downside I see is that the kitchen is “far” from the entrance. However, I don’t find this very problematic and only mention it because it would probably be a common criticism.
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
I’m grateful for suggestions or optimizations of any kind! Especially tips for the master bathroom. I’m not 100% satisfied yet.
Good luck
Alro
Plot size: 1100sqm (1,1840 sq ft)
Slope: Yes (west to east)
Building coverage ratio / Floor area ratio: none
Building envelope, building line and boundary: none
Edge development: Theoretically possible, as neighboring plot belongs to parents
Number of parking spaces: 2 per housing unit (relevant if split into two apartments)
Number of floors: none
Roof type: only gable roof & hip roof (also for garage!)
Architectural style: none
Orientation: none
Maximum heights/restrictions: none
Other requirements: roof overhang of at least 50cm (20 inches)
Homeowners’ Requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: hip roof urban villa
Basement, floors: yes, 2 full floors
Number of people, ages: 36, 35, 4, 0
Space requirements on ground floor, upper floor:
Office: family use or home office? Home office once a week
Guest overnight stays per year: 1-2
Open or closed architecture: semi-open
Conservative or modern style: rather modern
Open kitchen, cooking island: yes, yes
Number of dining seats: 4-8
Fireplace: not necessary, also can’t find a suitable place
Music / stereo wall: TV wall yes
Balcony, roof terrace: balcony (only due to possible split into two apartments)
Garage, carport: double garage
Utility garden, greenhouse
Additional wishes/special features/daily routine, also reasons why this or that should or shouldn’t be: bay window with balcony, even if it gets expensive…
House Design
Who designed it: do-it-yourself with SweetHome3D
What do you like most? Why? Everything. I think I spent so long working on the floor plan that I’m in love with it and probably totally “blind” to its flaws.
What do you dislike? Why?
Price estimate according to architect/planner:
Personal price limit for the house, including equipment: 750,000€
Preferred heating system: gas
If you had to give up, which details/extensions
- could you do without: somehow nothing
- could you not do without: large entrance/wardrobe; large children’s rooms; master bedroom facing east (I want to watch the sunrise); large aquarium as a highlight in the living area; platform staircase; children’s bathroom; and my wife absolutely wants a gallery.
Why did the design turn out as it is now?
I looked at almost every floor plan from all prefabricated house manufacturers and, annoyed by the “cookie-cutter” designs (keyword: living room/kitchen/dining all in one long corridor and stairs always immediately by the dirty entrance), I started working out my own floor plan. Many thanks to this forum because I have learned a lot from the floor plan discussions here! I even dealt with Feng Shui for the layout.
What do you think makes it particularly good or bad?
The rooms are ideally oriented to the sun: living spaces face south, unoccupied rooms face north. In addition, the slight slope (to the east) allows for nice walk-out basement rooms. The layout can also be easily split into two apartments, making it flexible for a barrier-free future. Technical aspects and piping were also considered: the utility room is on the street side and pipes/water lines don’t run erratically but are kept close together.
The only downside I see is that the kitchen is “far” from the entrance. However, I don’t find this very problematic and only mention it because it would probably be a common criticism.
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
I’m grateful for suggestions or optimizations of any kind! Especially tips for the master bathroom. I’m not 100% satisfied yet.
Good luck
Alro
T
Traumhaus202014 Feb 2019 22:45@kaho674 & @ypg Fantastic! This is exactly why I joined this forum: You get brutally honest (almost blunt) criticism, but also very helpful suggestions!
Regarding the Toronto designs:
I find the upper floor nearly perfect, except for the "dark" hallway. It definitely needs skylights, which I’m not a big fan of.
The ground floor with the bay window also has great potential! My only issue is that you always have to walk through the kitchen.
That’s why I would sacrifice the guest room to create a passageway.
Regarding the Toronto designs:
I find the upper floor nearly perfect, except for the "dark" hallway. It definitely needs skylights, which I’m not a big fan of.
The ground floor with the bay window also has great potential! My only issue is that you always have to walk through the kitchen.
That’s why I would sacrifice the guest room to create a passageway.
Traumhaus2020 schrieb:
Regarding the Toronto designs:
I find the upper floor almost perfect, except for the "dark" hallway. That definitely requires skylights. Which I’m not so keen on. I also think daylight spots would be important here. This leads directly to the next question: What exactly should the roof look like, and does it have any other purpose besides keeping water out?
Also, how large should the children's rooms be? Of course, most people want them as big as possible. But one could also consider making the rooms smaller and creating a play corridor with southern daylight in between.
Traumhaus2020 schrieb:
The ground floor with the bay window also has a lot of potential! What bothers me is having to always pass through the kitchen. Yes, that’s how it is in Toronto.
Here only a showpiece kitchen-living area would work.
Traumhaus2020 schrieb:
That’s why I would sacrifice the guest room to create a passage. I wouldn’t.
Better keep searching...
Your garage is still causing me some concern. I’m afraid you’ll need to significantly reduce the floor area, as the site grading will require quite a bit of space. Since there are no dimensions provided, it’s only possible to roughly imagine the situation.
So far, I can only picture the garage being situated somewhat higher up, with stairs leading to the house.
The house is then positioned fairly straight within a depression, is that correct? If so, you’ll also need some level of flood protection. When it rains heavily, does the water come from all directions?
So far, I can only picture the garage being situated somewhat higher up, with stairs leading to the house.
The house is then positioned fairly straight within a depression, is that correct? If so, you’ll also need some level of flood protection. When it rains heavily, does the water come from all directions?
T
Traumhaus202015 Feb 2019 09:17Because of the garage and driveway, consulting an architect is inevitable...
kaho674 schrieb:The north side is about 37m (121 feet). East, west, and south sides are approximately 31–32m (102–105 feet).
Since no measurements are provided, you can only roughly imagine it.
kaho674 schrieb:Yes. The lowest point of the hollow, so to speak, is the eastern part of the house. The land slopes steeply down from the street for the first few meters, then continues relatively evenly with a slight incline toward the neighbor to the east. (I hope this makes some sense )
So the house is positioned fairly straight in a hollow, if I understood correctly?
Traumhaus2020 schrieb:
I hope that made some sense Yes, you can see it quite clearly from your site plan. However, you mentioned that the ground level rises again in the neighbor’s garden. So, the house would be ideally positioned right in the flood channel?
T
Traumhaus202015 Feb 2019 09:26kaho674 schrieb:
What exactly should the roof look like, and does it have any other purpose besides keeping water out? No. Hip roof. Medium pitch—not too steep and not too shallow. What do people usually use? 22°-25°?
kaho674 schrieb:
Also, how big should the children's rooms be? We find 18 m² (193 sq ft) ideal. If the floor plan is perfect, 15 m² (161 sq ft) would probably be the absolute minimum.
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