ᐅ Suggestions for Improving the Floor Plan of a House in a Green Environment
Created on: 5 Aug 2019 17:12
C
Cayman
Hello everyone,
After initial discussions with the architect, we are still not 100% satisfied, so I would like to ask the forum for suggestions. At the moment, I feel like I’m at a dead end with no way out, as every idea does not achieve the desired effects. The idea of having a secondary apartment is generally not bad, as housing is very scarce in our area.
Development Plan/Restrictions
Plot size: 4000 sqm (1 acre), of which 800 sqm (0.2 acres) is buildable
Slope: slight north-facing slope (approx. 1 m (39 inches) over 20 m (22 yards))
Roof type: flat roof
Architectural style: Bauhaus
Development plan attached
Client Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: flat roof, modern
Basement, floors: basement, ground floor, first floor
Number of people, age: two adults, a child on the way, minimum 2 children
Space requirement ground floor, upper floor: 175 sqm (1880 sq ft)
Office: home office
Guest bedrooms per year: 15
Open or closed architecture: open
Conservative or modern building method: modern
Kitchen island
Number of dining spaces: 8
Fireplace: yes
Balcony, roof terrace: possible, not planned
Carport
Utility garden
House design
Planned by:
-architect
What do you like most? Why?
the open design, the first floor is perfect. Views from the living and dining areas as well as from the kitchen into the greenery
What don’t you like? Why?
Kitchen next to the staircase, pantry on the south side, staircase on the north side, living room in the northeast
Cost estimate according to the architect/planner: 550k
Personal budget limit for the house including fittings: 650k
Preferred heating system: heat pump
If you have to give up something, which details/extras?
-can give up: fireplace
-can’t give up: kitchen island
Why does the design look like this? For example:
Which wishes were implemented by the architect?
The big wish was views into the greenery from the various rooms.
The house was designed to blend into the plot. Since it is located at the edge of a HQ100 flood zone, the design includes an elevated terrace to create the impression of a house by the lake.
The basement was planned because of my wife’s part-time business and the architect’s statement that filling in the site wouldn’t be cost-effective, so a basement almost pays off again.
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
How can the design be made more efficient and welcoming? (staircase/pantry) Does the living room in the northeast make sense?
After initial discussions with the architect, we are still not 100% satisfied, so I would like to ask the forum for suggestions. At the moment, I feel like I’m at a dead end with no way out, as every idea does not achieve the desired effects. The idea of having a secondary apartment is generally not bad, as housing is very scarce in our area.
Development Plan/Restrictions
Plot size: 4000 sqm (1 acre), of which 800 sqm (0.2 acres) is buildable
Slope: slight north-facing slope (approx. 1 m (39 inches) over 20 m (22 yards))
Roof type: flat roof
Architectural style: Bauhaus
Development plan attached
Client Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: flat roof, modern
Basement, floors: basement, ground floor, first floor
Number of people, age: two adults, a child on the way, minimum 2 children
Space requirement ground floor, upper floor: 175 sqm (1880 sq ft)
Office: home office
Guest bedrooms per year: 15
Open or closed architecture: open
Conservative or modern building method: modern
Kitchen island
Number of dining spaces: 8
Fireplace: yes
Balcony, roof terrace: possible, not planned
Carport
Utility garden
House design
Planned by:
-architect
What do you like most? Why?
the open design, the first floor is perfect. Views from the living and dining areas as well as from the kitchen into the greenery
What don’t you like? Why?
Kitchen next to the staircase, pantry on the south side, staircase on the north side, living room in the northeast
Cost estimate according to the architect/planner: 550k
Personal budget limit for the house including fittings: 650k
Preferred heating system: heat pump
If you have to give up something, which details/extras?
-can give up: fireplace
-can’t give up: kitchen island
Why does the design look like this? For example:
Which wishes were implemented by the architect?
The big wish was views into the greenery from the various rooms.
The house was designed to blend into the plot. Since it is located at the edge of a HQ100 flood zone, the design includes an elevated terrace to create the impression of a house by the lake.
The basement was planned because of my wife’s part-time business and the architect’s statement that filling in the site wouldn’t be cost-effective, so a basement almost pays off again.
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
How can the design be made more efficient and welcoming? (staircase/pantry) Does the living room in the northeast make sense?
ypg schrieb:
However, we don’t know where north is on your house.Looking at the building boundaries on the development plan and the position of the boundary on the ground floor, I almost suspect that the floor plans are (largely) oriented to north. But that’s just a guess.
I like the architectural style. The plot is nice, and the house seems it will be upscale. Considering the probably significant construction costs, I would actually give the children a bit more space. It’s a bit awkward to have a villa but then the kids come home and envy their schoolmates in apartments because of a larger bedroom.
Child II’s room could be enlarged by turning the roof above the entrance into a projection on the upper floor.
Child I’s room and another room could perhaps be adjusted by moving the wall northwards up to the building boundary or slightly shifting the house south.
My feeling is that a house like this should have children’s bedrooms of at least 15m2 (160 sq ft). I would consider 18m2 (194 sq ft) to be appropriate.
Thank you very much for the numerous responses.
Attached is the position of the house on the plot.
North is at the top. This means we look outside to the east and onto the greenery.
The view is also available on the ground floor. It was important to us to have views to the outside from the living, dining, and kitchen areas.
Strangers have limited visibility from the main street at the front, although that is also very restricted and not many people pass by.
Would it be possible to reduce the size of the bathroom to create more space for the children?
Attached is the position of the house on the plot.
North is at the top. This means we look outside to the east and onto the greenery.
The view is also available on the ground floor. It was important to us to have views to the outside from the living, dining, and kitchen areas.
Strangers have limited visibility from the main street at the front, although that is also very restricted and not many people pass by.
Would it be possible to reduce the size of the bathroom to create more space for the children?
Cayman schrieb:
Would it be possible to reduce the size of the bathroom to create more space for the children? How important is the library/sauna to you? Is having a view from the bathtub a "must-have"?
I think the bathroom is nice and fits the exclusive character of the house. It’s just that the children's rooms don’t really match that.
That’s odd. I actually like the design quite a bit, but some things that bother you also bother me a little. The kitchen partly in front of the stairs creates a sort of in-between feeling, neither inside nor outside. I find that uncomfortable. Also, you always have to carry the shopping bags around the island to the pantry – looks annoying. The kids’ rooms are clearly too small (in proportion), and the bathroom is huge.
On the other hand, I think the living room in the northeast is perfect.
What I would question:
- Is the extra second entrance really necessary? Who wants strangers entering their property? Even if you might need live-in caregivers in the future, contact would be close enough that sharing the main entrance would hardly be a problem. That space is desperately needed for a proper cloakroom, in my opinion.
- Does the bedroom really need the roof terrace? Does the house need a roof terrace at all?
I would prioritize enlarging the kids’ rooms upstairs first, and reduce the bathroom, bedroom, and dressing area to an optimal size.
- Unfortunately, I can’t immediately think of how to move the kitchen out of the hallway without increasing the size of the house.
On the other hand, I think the living room in the northeast is perfect.
What I would question:
- Is the extra second entrance really necessary? Who wants strangers entering their property? Even if you might need live-in caregivers in the future, contact would be close enough that sharing the main entrance would hardly be a problem. That space is desperately needed for a proper cloakroom, in my opinion.
- Does the bedroom really need the roof terrace? Does the house need a roof terrace at all?
I would prioritize enlarging the kids’ rooms upstairs first, and reduce the bathroom, bedroom, and dressing area to an optimal size.
- Unfortunately, I can’t immediately think of how to move the kitchen out of the hallway without increasing the size of the house.
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