Hello everyone,
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 635 sqm (6,839 sq ft)
Floor area ratio (FAR): 0.4
Site occupancy index: 0.3
Number of parking spaces: 2
Roof style: 35° to 45° pitch, hipped roof or gable roof
Distance to front property boundary (street side): max. 3 m (house must remain in current position)
Homeowner Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: Bungalow, hipped roof, 35° pitch
Basement, floors: no basement, 1 story, possible attic conversion later
Number of occupants, age: 2 persons (40 years old), probably no children, room can be separated if needed
Space requirements: We need one bedroom, bathroom, utility room, living area including kitchen, and a hobby room (gaming and crafting room). Walk-in closet and guest toilet were removed, even though they would be nice, other features took higher priority.
Overnight guests per year: infrequent, can be accommodated as is
Construction style: open and modern, including open kitchen
Fireplace: no
House Design
Designer:
- Designer from a construction company implemented our drawings
What do you like most? Why?
- Large living area, spacious bedroom
What do you dislike? Why?
- Honestly, we like everything
Personal budget for house including fittings: 260,000
Preferred heating system: air heat pump
Why is the design as it is now?
We initially sketched our design on paper, which the designer then realized. Further considerations and discussions with the designer shaped the final result.
Our main goal was a large living space with an open kitchen and a reading nook. Currently (in our present apartment) we have another room with my books (around 1,000) and desk, but I rarely spend time there, as I do everything in the living room. For this reason, we first reduced the number of rooms to enlarge the living area and bedroom (we omitted the walk-in closet to create even more space). The reading nook (located on the west side of the living area) is arranged so it can be separated as a room from the rest of the living room if needed.
We made sure the bedroom faces east to get morning light. We opted out of a guest toilet and instead planned a small storage room for odds and ends (dog supplies like food, leashes, vacuum cleaner, etc.) and made the utility room somewhat larger than the usual 8 sqm (86 sq ft).
Currently, we are still unsure about the following:
- Bathroom layout: I’d like to set back the shower slightly (see current floor plan) to make the bathroom feel more open/bigger. Somehow it still doesn’t feel quite ideal.
- Window arrangement: Does this make sense to you? Will we get enough light in the living area? The floor-to-ceiling windows to the terrace are on the east side, so only the morning sun comes in there. Are the south-facing windows sufficient?
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
Is there anything we have overlooked or forgotten? From your perspective, is anything highly unfavorable? Any improvements for the windows? How can the bathroom layout be optimized?
By the way, some time ago I created a thread about a 1.5-storey floor plan on the same plot. At that time, we ultimately decided to build a bungalow – which we are now doing. Hence, this new thread…
Best regards and thanks in advance.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 635 sqm (6,839 sq ft)
Floor area ratio (FAR): 0.4
Site occupancy index: 0.3
Number of parking spaces: 2
Roof style: 35° to 45° pitch, hipped roof or gable roof
Distance to front property boundary (street side): max. 3 m (house must remain in current position)
Homeowner Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: Bungalow, hipped roof, 35° pitch
Basement, floors: no basement, 1 story, possible attic conversion later
Number of occupants, age: 2 persons (40 years old), probably no children, room can be separated if needed
Space requirements: We need one bedroom, bathroom, utility room, living area including kitchen, and a hobby room (gaming and crafting room). Walk-in closet and guest toilet were removed, even though they would be nice, other features took higher priority.
Overnight guests per year: infrequent, can be accommodated as is
Construction style: open and modern, including open kitchen
Fireplace: no
House Design
Designer:
- Designer from a construction company implemented our drawings
What do you like most? Why?
- Large living area, spacious bedroom
What do you dislike? Why?
- Honestly, we like everything
Personal budget for house including fittings: 260,000
Preferred heating system: air heat pump
Why is the design as it is now?
We initially sketched our design on paper, which the designer then realized. Further considerations and discussions with the designer shaped the final result.
Our main goal was a large living space with an open kitchen and a reading nook. Currently (in our present apartment) we have another room with my books (around 1,000) and desk, but I rarely spend time there, as I do everything in the living room. For this reason, we first reduced the number of rooms to enlarge the living area and bedroom (we omitted the walk-in closet to create even more space). The reading nook (located on the west side of the living area) is arranged so it can be separated as a room from the rest of the living room if needed.
We made sure the bedroom faces east to get morning light. We opted out of a guest toilet and instead planned a small storage room for odds and ends (dog supplies like food, leashes, vacuum cleaner, etc.) and made the utility room somewhat larger than the usual 8 sqm (86 sq ft).
Currently, we are still unsure about the following:
- Bathroom layout: I’d like to set back the shower slightly (see current floor plan) to make the bathroom feel more open/bigger. Somehow it still doesn’t feel quite ideal.
- Window arrangement: Does this make sense to you? Will we get enough light in the living area? The floor-to-ceiling windows to the terrace are on the east side, so only the morning sun comes in there. Are the south-facing windows sufficient?
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
Is there anything we have overlooked or forgotten? From your perspective, is anything highly unfavorable? Any improvements for the windows? How can the bathroom layout be optimized?
By the way, some time ago I created a thread about a 1.5-storey floor plan on the same plot. At that time, we ultimately decided to build a bungalow – which we are now doing. Hence, this new thread…
Best regards and thanks in advance.
Reluctance schrieb:
Well, then I have to ask: why do you complain only now that I don’t accept your help? I’m not complaining, please read everything carefully.
Reluctance schrieb:
So if I list now how I actually did accept your help, suddenly it doesn’t matter anymore. I didn’t say it doesn’t matter: it’s your design—you have to decide.
And yes: I am actually frustrated about some of the time I invested, which someone else here might have used or applied better.
But you will see that yourself if you don’t manage to arrange your sofa or kitchen or whatever (see above).
Draw all the furniture to scale as you want it.
We have 10 meters (33 feet) for cooking, dining, and living. The extra half meter (about 1.5 feet) I wanted is missing significantly.
Your living area currently feels like a kitchenette in a holiday apartment, with a tiny table for two, a small seating area, and an unused dance hall around the corner.
There is space for more. Move the living area into the dance hall, and you’ll have a decent kitchen and room for a table near the kitchen.
For this, the windows need to be changed.
We have 10 meters (33 feet) for cooking, dining, and living. The extra half meter (about 1.5 feet) I wanted is missing significantly.
Your living area currently feels like a kitchenette in a holiday apartment, with a tiny table for two, a small seating area, and an unused dance hall around the corner.
There is space for more. Move the living area into the dance hall, and you’ll have a decent kitchen and room for a table near the kitchen.
For this, the windows need to be changed.
I can only recommend that you follow the advice regarding the layout for furniture. For example, I also consider the kitchen to be critical. This is important for the building permit / planning permission because realistic furniture arrangements might still lead to adjustments in window placements or changes in window sizes.
Reluctance schrieb:
The entire room is only about 4.50 x 2.30 m (15 x 7.5 ft) or so (I would need to measure again)... that’s the size I can refer to. And I’m happy that it will be bigger in the future. Have you calculated how many cabinets you need, including the sink area and stove? Keep in mind that the amount of stuff usually increases over time rather than decreases.
Reluctance schrieb:
It’s also annoying to have to deal with that later... so I just sketch it out myself on paper and leave the planner’s drawing incomplete. So you’ve already drawn something? Please share it.
R
Reluctance7 Jul 2019 15:08haydee schrieb:
Your living space currently resembles a kitchenette like in a holiday apartment, with a small table for two, a small living area, and an unused dance hall just around the corner.
There is room for more. Shift the living area into the dance hall, and you will have a proper kitchen and space for a table next to it.
However, the windows would need to be changed. I do recognize the space issue regarding the kitchen and living room. Ultimately, I still somewhat want to keep the current layout because:
I have about 4 meters (13 feet) of bookshelves. I’d rather not place them directly in the main view (but I also don’t want a separate room for them—since I would never use it). That’s why the dance hall is intended for those books, seating areas, and places to put my laptop and such.
I prefer the living room not to face the street, but rather the garden. So swapping the “dance hall” with the living room is not my first choice.
What might make more sense is swapping the kitchen and the dance hall. But then I’d be the first to enter into the clutter of books and would have to walk through the entire apartment with my groceries to get to the kitchen. I’d have to move the entrance. Then again, we would lose the connection from the hobby room to the living room, which would also be a shame.
This is why the floor plan is the way it is now. Right now, to me, it feels like none of this will work at all. That worries me a bit—the planner wants to forward the floor plan to the surveyor tomorrow...
About the holiday-home-style kitchen: The kitchen shown in the planner’s floor plan is not accurate. I don’t know how big such a kitchen should be for ‘normal’ people; we cook about once or twice a week. We just need a reasonable amount of workspace and the necessary appliances. Regarding kitchen utensils, I’m quite minimalist—I don’t keep anything unnecessary. I hope that a 6-meter (20 feet) length can fit quite a bit, possibly with an island or something similar.
kbt09 schrieb:
I can only recommend that you take the advice about including furniture layouts seriously. I also see the kitchen as critical. For the building permit (planning permission), this is important because realistic furnishing might still require adjusting window locations or sizes. Our latest drawing is attached... maybe you can spot something there. The window sizes on the west side are no longer 100% correct; a double casement window wasn’t possible due to regulations, but that shouldn’t make a difference...
There is now a 1 by 2 meter (3 by 6 feet) island drawn in the kitchen—it could also be a table. We are basically open to either, depending on what fits better. We haven’t started detailed kitchen planning yet, and an island is not exactly inexpensive.
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