Hello everyone!
Although we are from Austria and building here, we have been following various posts in this forum for some time. There are many creative minds here, and I really appreciate your advice in the other discussions.
We ourselves have been in the house planning phase for quite a while. We recently purchased a plot of land south of Vienna and plan to start construction in 2020. We want to build with solid construction methods, but we are still deciding between brick (which is very common here) and aerated concrete blocks (we really like the kit house concept from Ytong based on what we’ve heard so far, although it is quite rare in our area).
Efficiency in the use of living space is very important to us (no unnecessary features, no long hallways, no balconies or bay windows), as well as in the building services (heat pump, controlled mechanical ventilation system, etc.).
I assume there isn’t much experience here with Austrian building regulations, so I will try to answer any questions that come up as quickly and competently as possible.
Here is the completed questionnaire:
Zoning Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 604 m² (6500 ft² approx.)
Slope: No, completely flat
Site coverage ratio: (not applicable here) - 32% buildable area
Floor area ratio: (not applicable here)
Building setback lines and boundaries: front setback 3 m (10 ft), side setback 3 m (10 ft) or half the eave height of the adjoining façade – whichever is greater, rear setback 3 m (10 ft)
Edge building restrictions: within the setback zone up to a maximum height of 3 m (10 ft)
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: not specified in the zoning plan
Roof shape: no restriction according to zoning plan
Architectural style: no restriction
Orientation: no restriction
Maximum height/limits: max. building height 6.8 m (22 ft) (eave height)
Other requirements: none
Client Requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: classic rectangular shape, gable roof or staggered shed roof, simple building form without bay windows or dormers, no balconies!
Basement, floors: basement (gym, workshop, laundry, mainly storage), ground floor (living areas + guest room), upper floor (bedrooms)
Number of occupants, ages: male 28, female 34, child 0.5 years, child 11 years (every second weekend + school holidays)
Space requirements ground floor, upper floor: ground floor (shower bathroom, guest room/home office/play/multi-purpose room, living room, kitchen, pantry), upper floor (bedroom including walk-in closet, 2 children’s rooms, bathroom), basement (gym, laundry, storage, workshop)
Office: family use or home office?: 80% family use as playroom, 10% home office, 10% guest room
Overnight guests per year: approximately 5, mainly relatives visiting for various celebrations from afar
Open or closed layout: open plan
Conservative or modern construction: rather conservative but open to “unconventional ideas”
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open kitchen with breakfast bar
Number of dining seats: permanently 6, at family celebrations minimum 12 temporarily, >16 long term
Fireplace: no
Music/speaker wall: no – but large TV frequently used
Balcony, roof terrace: definitely no!
Garage, carport: carport within the setback zone (on the north side?)
Vegetable garden, greenhouse: definitely yes! Gardening is a big wish and the main reason for the whole project
Other wishes/special features/daily routines, explanations if desired: The house should be as efficient as possible (during construction and especially in operation), therefore no awkward bay windows etc. (ratio of surface to volume)
Additional requests: controlled mechanical ventilation system, laundry chute, non-load-bearing partition wall between the children’s rooms so it can be removed in a few years if the older child no longer lives at home. The most important thing is a large garden, so that’s why the basement is desired to minimize the building footprint. The kitchen must be large enough for at least two people to cook at the same time – this is currently a problem in our apartment.
House Design
Designed by: DIY with a lot of input from planners
What do you like? Why?: almost all wishes implemented
What do you dislike? Why?: pantry is quite small, upper floor still not quite perfect, niche in the corridor as storage replacement for vacuum cleaner etc.
Price estimate according to architect/planner: €430,000 turnkey, €350,000 “turnkey with owner involvement”
Personal price limit for house, including fixtures and fittings: €350,000 in shell and core condition is the goal, with a comfortable buffer, but that would be our ideal
Preferred heating technology: heat pump with ground source collector (trench collector)
Note: We are not under time pressure for planning or construction. We are very willing and able to do much of the work on the house ourselves. Providing appropriate “self-performance proof” for the bank is not a problem either. This helps keep construction costs low.
If you have to give up something, which details/finishes
- could you give up: almost everything except the pantry and open kitchen
- could you not give up: pantry, open kitchen, and preferably not the controlled ventilation
Why is the design the way it is now?
A mix of many examples from model home parks, magazines, and many discussions with planners/architects etc.
What do you think makes it particularly good or bad?
All the rooms we imagined are present, relatively short circulation routes, hardly any wasted space
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
What do you think of the design? Where do you see potential for improvement? Placement of laundry chute?
I look forward to your opinions and comments!
Best regards,
your Gugelhupf
Although we are from Austria and building here, we have been following various posts in this forum for some time. There are many creative minds here, and I really appreciate your advice in the other discussions.
We ourselves have been in the house planning phase for quite a while. We recently purchased a plot of land south of Vienna and plan to start construction in 2020. We want to build with solid construction methods, but we are still deciding between brick (which is very common here) and aerated concrete blocks (we really like the kit house concept from Ytong based on what we’ve heard so far, although it is quite rare in our area).
Efficiency in the use of living space is very important to us (no unnecessary features, no long hallways, no balconies or bay windows), as well as in the building services (heat pump, controlled mechanical ventilation system, etc.).
I assume there isn’t much experience here with Austrian building regulations, so I will try to answer any questions that come up as quickly and competently as possible.
Here is the completed questionnaire:
Zoning Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 604 m² (6500 ft² approx.)
Slope: No, completely flat
Site coverage ratio: (not applicable here) - 32% buildable area
Floor area ratio: (not applicable here)
Building setback lines and boundaries: front setback 3 m (10 ft), side setback 3 m (10 ft) or half the eave height of the adjoining façade – whichever is greater, rear setback 3 m (10 ft)
Edge building restrictions: within the setback zone up to a maximum height of 3 m (10 ft)
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: not specified in the zoning plan
Roof shape: no restriction according to zoning plan
Architectural style: no restriction
Orientation: no restriction
Maximum height/limits: max. building height 6.8 m (22 ft) (eave height)
Other requirements: none
Client Requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: classic rectangular shape, gable roof or staggered shed roof, simple building form without bay windows or dormers, no balconies!
Basement, floors: basement (gym, workshop, laundry, mainly storage), ground floor (living areas + guest room), upper floor (bedrooms)
Number of occupants, ages: male 28, female 34, child 0.5 years, child 11 years (every second weekend + school holidays)
Space requirements ground floor, upper floor: ground floor (shower bathroom, guest room/home office/play/multi-purpose room, living room, kitchen, pantry), upper floor (bedroom including walk-in closet, 2 children’s rooms, bathroom), basement (gym, laundry, storage, workshop)
Office: family use or home office?: 80% family use as playroom, 10% home office, 10% guest room
Overnight guests per year: approximately 5, mainly relatives visiting for various celebrations from afar
Open or closed layout: open plan
Conservative or modern construction: rather conservative but open to “unconventional ideas”
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open kitchen with breakfast bar
Number of dining seats: permanently 6, at family celebrations minimum 12 temporarily, >16 long term
Fireplace: no
Music/speaker wall: no – but large TV frequently used
Balcony, roof terrace: definitely no!
Garage, carport: carport within the setback zone (on the north side?)
Vegetable garden, greenhouse: definitely yes! Gardening is a big wish and the main reason for the whole project
Other wishes/special features/daily routines, explanations if desired: The house should be as efficient as possible (during construction and especially in operation), therefore no awkward bay windows etc. (ratio of surface to volume)
Additional requests: controlled mechanical ventilation system, laundry chute, non-load-bearing partition wall between the children’s rooms so it can be removed in a few years if the older child no longer lives at home. The most important thing is a large garden, so that’s why the basement is desired to minimize the building footprint. The kitchen must be large enough for at least two people to cook at the same time – this is currently a problem in our apartment.
House Design
Designed by: DIY with a lot of input from planners
What do you like? Why?: almost all wishes implemented
What do you dislike? Why?: pantry is quite small, upper floor still not quite perfect, niche in the corridor as storage replacement for vacuum cleaner etc.
Price estimate according to architect/planner: €430,000 turnkey, €350,000 “turnkey with owner involvement”
Personal price limit for house, including fixtures and fittings: €350,000 in shell and core condition is the goal, with a comfortable buffer, but that would be our ideal
Preferred heating technology: heat pump with ground source collector (trench collector)
Note: We are not under time pressure for planning or construction. We are very willing and able to do much of the work on the house ourselves. Providing appropriate “self-performance proof” for the bank is not a problem either. This helps keep construction costs low.
If you have to give up something, which details/finishes
- could you give up: almost everything except the pantry and open kitchen
- could you not give up: pantry, open kitchen, and preferably not the controlled ventilation
Why is the design the way it is now?
A mix of many examples from model home parks, magazines, and many discussions with planners/architects etc.
What do you think makes it particularly good or bad?
All the rooms we imagined are present, relatively short circulation routes, hardly any wasted space
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
What do you think of the design? Where do you see potential for improvement? Placement of laundry chute?
I look forward to your opinions and comments!
Best regards,
your Gugelhupf
I like the idea.
For the first few years, the whole space will be used as a playroom – there’s currently a lack of space.
Guest room is used as a storage room for 2 times a year.
Take a look at the Stiebel Eltron LWZ 604 air or Tecalor TCO 2.5, suitable for houses similar to passive houses.
We have infrared panels. They immediately emit heat.
For the first few years, the whole space will be used as a playroom – there’s currently a lack of space.
Guest room is used as a storage room for 2 times a year.
Take a look at the Stiebel Eltron LWZ 604 air or Tecalor TCO 2.5, suitable for houses similar to passive houses.
We have infrared panels. They immediately emit heat.
G
Gugelhupf20 Mar 2019 20:3811ant schrieb:
Austria is large – where exactly do you want to build? – 50 cm (20 inches) aerated concrete sounds pretty alpine
What insulation regulations do you have there (are you familiar with the German Energy Saving Ordinance and can say how similar your regulations are)?Southern Lower Austria, about 50 km (30 miles) southwest of Vienna.
Not exactly "alpine," but at least on the foothills of the Alps. I think Austria is generally colder than Germany.
If I understand the Energy Saving Ordinance correctly, it is somewhat less strict than here in Austria.
To summarize briefly: almost anything can basically be built here, but the criterion is "eligibility for subsidies." This depends on the A/V ratio and the heating energy demand (HWB). For an assumed A/V ratio of 0.6, for example, an HWB of 0.31 (without solar or photovoltaics) or 0.35 (with solar/photovoltaics) would have to be achieved. To my understanding, this corresponds to a KfW home better than KfW40?
Gugelhupf schrieb:
- Mainly for the children (or rather our little one, since the older one rarely comes and not for much longer, and even then he just sits at the PC), I don’t quite follow: You are only twenty-eight yourself, but your older son is already studying? ? ?
Gugelhupf schrieb:
Assuming a surface-to-volume ratio of 0.6, for example, a heating demand (HWB) of 0.31 (without solar or photovoltaic) or 0.35 (with solar/photovoltaic) would need to be achieved. To my understanding, that would correspond to a KfW house better than KfW40? That mainly corresponds to my lack of understanding (surface-to-volume ratio, HWB—complete gibberish to me).
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Ant, it doesn’t really matter whether someone has studied or is living more with their parents, or if it’s some KfW standard, since it doesn’t change the floor plan, which, by the way, already seems quite well-developed if you look at it that way. However, the small pantry will probably only work for canned goods and similar items, because it’s likely to get too warm if you put a cooler in there, as what cools inside will generate heat outside. That’s just how it works. Better to leave that out. It has to be done differently. K.
G
Gugelhupf20 Mar 2019 21:29HWB = Heating demand (kWh / m²a)
This should be exactly the value considered in your energy saving regulations or KfW programs.
In Austria, it also depends on the A/V ratio (surface area to volume) of the building. The worse the A/V ratio, the better the insulation needs to be. Every bay window, dormer, recess, etc., increases the surface area of the house more than it increases the volume, which is negative for eligibility for subsidies. The ideal A/V ratio is that of a sphere. A cube (multi-story with a basement) is still relatively good. The more rectangular or irregular the building shape, the larger the surface area and the worse the A/V ratio.
The older son is 11, goes to school, and mainly lives with his dad in Vienna (shared custody). He spends every other weekend and school holidays with us. Here in Austria, by law, from the age of 12 he can freely decide where he wants to be. From that point on, it is just as possible for him to choose to live with us full-time as it is for him to decide not to come at all. Realistically, once he has his first girlfriend (in 2–4 years), he will probably visit less or maybe not at all anymore. It’s sad but we just have to be realistic.
No further “small” children are planned, by the way. Or rather, it was planned but is no longer possible due to “fate.” Adoption remains an option still under consideration...
This should be exactly the value considered in your energy saving regulations or KfW programs.
In Austria, it also depends on the A/V ratio (surface area to volume) of the building. The worse the A/V ratio, the better the insulation needs to be. Every bay window, dormer, recess, etc., increases the surface area of the house more than it increases the volume, which is negative for eligibility for subsidies. The ideal A/V ratio is that of a sphere. A cube (multi-story with a basement) is still relatively good. The more rectangular or irregular the building shape, the larger the surface area and the worse the A/V ratio.
11ant schrieb:
Da komme ich nicht ganz mit: Du bist selber erst Achtundzwanzig, aber der größere Sohn studiert schon ? ? ?
The older son is 11, goes to school, and mainly lives with his dad in Vienna (shared custody). He spends every other weekend and school holidays with us. Here in Austria, by law, from the age of 12 he can freely decide where he wants to be. From that point on, it is just as possible for him to choose to live with us full-time as it is for him to decide not to come at all. Realistically, once he has his first girlfriend (in 2–4 years), he will probably visit less or maybe not at all anymore. It’s sad but we just have to be realistic.
No further “small” children are planned, by the way. Or rather, it was planned but is no longer possible due to “fate.” Adoption remains an option still under consideration...
And how many kilowatt-hours are 0.31 and 0.35?
The building envelope and building shape generally have an impact on the overall energy consumption. This is true for us as well. That’s why any extension or parts of the garage included in the building envelope become costly.
The building envelope and building shape generally have an impact on the overall energy consumption. This is true for us as well. That’s why any extension or parts of the garage included in the building envelope become costly.
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