ᐅ New single-family house construction, approximately 174 m² floor area, architectural design
Created on: 22 Nov 2019 07:51
M
mini_g!
Hello everyone,
After following this forum for quite a while, our own project is becoming more concrete. We have secured a plot of land and have spoken with various general contractors and an architect. So far, my wife and I like the architect’s design best. It is still a draft plan, but it already feels very "right" for us.
Therefore, I would appreciate your feedback. Are there any critical points we might be overlooking? What could be solved more cleverly?
I hope I have included everything needed. If not, I’m happy to provide more information. Unfortunately, the basement is still the old version; it has now been mirrored and the light shafts have been slightly changed. You can see this on the ground floor plan.
Looking forward to your feedback!
Thank you very much! mini
Development plan/restrictions
Plot size: 494 m2 (approximately 5313 sq ft); about 20.5 m (67 feet) wide on the street side, 24.2 m (79.5 feet) deep
Slope: no
Site coverage ratio: 0.4
Floor area ratio: not specified
Building setback: 3 meters (10 feet) from the street, 4 meters (13 feet) from adjacent property at the back
Edge construction: no
Number of parking spaces: 1.5 per residential unit
Number of floors: max. 2
Roof type: gable roof
Architectural style: classic-modern?
Orientation: ridge runs northwest
Maximum height/restrictions: eaves height 6.5 m (21 feet), ridge height 9.5 m (31 feet)
Other requirements: various, planting obligations, infiltration etc., but nothing really unusual nowadays
Clients’ requirements
Style, roof type, building type: classic modern, gable roof
Basement, floors: 2 full stories plus basement
Number of occupants, age: 2 adults in their mid-30s, 2 children aged 2 years
Space requirements on the ground floor: cloakroom, guest WC, utility room, kitchen, living and dining area
Space requirements on the upper floor: 2 children’s rooms, parents’ room, walk-in closets, children’s bathroom, parents’ bathroom
Office: family use plus possible home office about one day every two weeks
Guest beds per year: few; about 3?
Open or closed layout: open
Conservative or modern construction method: We consider ourselves modern but want a classic building shape on the outside. So the interior is rather open and modern, the exterior has a classic form.
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open kitchen with work island
Number of dining seats: usual 4-6, for events at least 12-16 people
Fireplace: no
Media wall for music/stereo: media wall for TV and books, no stereo
Balcony, roof terrace: balcony for the children
Garage, carport: garage plus carport
Kitchen garden, greenhouse: possibly later
Other wishes/special features/daily routine, reasons why certain things should or should not be included:
- Children’s bathroom
- Balcony on garage/carport accessible for both children (for friends etc. when they are older)
- Utility room next to kitchen on ground floor
- Covered entrance
- Spacious open living and dining area
- Open attic
House design
Planner: architect
What do you like most?
Open and spacious, all our wishes were taken into account. We wanted to keep the building’s main shape as simple as possible and avoid dormers, bay windows, and setbacks.
What do you not like? Why?
Could it possibly be a bit smaller? We don’t have to fully exhaust our budget...
Estimated price according to architect/planner: approx. $600,000
Personal price limit for the house, including fittings: -
Preferred heating system: heat pump with ground collector, possibly supplemented with photovoltaic. Maybe switch to a standard air-to-water heat pump?
If you had to give up something, which details or upgrades would you cut?
Difficult, we don’t really have anything we would cut.
Why did the design turn out as it is now? For example:
We spent a long time thinking about the floor plans, looked at many houses online and from friends/family. We wrote down everything we liked and also what we didn’t want. For example, a clear design without bay windows, setbacks, or similar features was important to us. This is what we took to the builders and the architect. The result is this plan.
What is the most important/fundamental question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
Are there any optimizations in the floor plan that we may have missed? Enough windows/daylight in general?
After following this forum for quite a while, our own project is becoming more concrete. We have secured a plot of land and have spoken with various general contractors and an architect. So far, my wife and I like the architect’s design best. It is still a draft plan, but it already feels very "right" for us.
Therefore, I would appreciate your feedback. Are there any critical points we might be overlooking? What could be solved more cleverly?
I hope I have included everything needed. If not, I’m happy to provide more information. Unfortunately, the basement is still the old version; it has now been mirrored and the light shafts have been slightly changed. You can see this on the ground floor plan.
Looking forward to your feedback!
Thank you very much! mini
Development plan/restrictions
Plot size: 494 m2 (approximately 5313 sq ft); about 20.5 m (67 feet) wide on the street side, 24.2 m (79.5 feet) deep
Slope: no
Site coverage ratio: 0.4
Floor area ratio: not specified
Building setback: 3 meters (10 feet) from the street, 4 meters (13 feet) from adjacent property at the back
Edge construction: no
Number of parking spaces: 1.5 per residential unit
Number of floors: max. 2
Roof type: gable roof
Architectural style: classic-modern?
Orientation: ridge runs northwest
Maximum height/restrictions: eaves height 6.5 m (21 feet), ridge height 9.5 m (31 feet)
Other requirements: various, planting obligations, infiltration etc., but nothing really unusual nowadays
Clients’ requirements
Style, roof type, building type: classic modern, gable roof
Basement, floors: 2 full stories plus basement
Number of occupants, age: 2 adults in their mid-30s, 2 children aged 2 years
Space requirements on the ground floor: cloakroom, guest WC, utility room, kitchen, living and dining area
Space requirements on the upper floor: 2 children’s rooms, parents’ room, walk-in closets, children’s bathroom, parents’ bathroom
Office: family use plus possible home office about one day every two weeks
Guest beds per year: few; about 3?
Open or closed layout: open
Conservative or modern construction method: We consider ourselves modern but want a classic building shape on the outside. So the interior is rather open and modern, the exterior has a classic form.
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open kitchen with work island
Number of dining seats: usual 4-6, for events at least 12-16 people
Fireplace: no
Media wall for music/stereo: media wall for TV and books, no stereo
Balcony, roof terrace: balcony for the children
Garage, carport: garage plus carport
Kitchen garden, greenhouse: possibly later
Other wishes/special features/daily routine, reasons why certain things should or should not be included:
- Children’s bathroom
- Balcony on garage/carport accessible for both children (for friends etc. when they are older)
- Utility room next to kitchen on ground floor
- Covered entrance
- Spacious open living and dining area
- Open attic
House design
Planner: architect
What do you like most?
Open and spacious, all our wishes were taken into account. We wanted to keep the building’s main shape as simple as possible and avoid dormers, bay windows, and setbacks.
What do you not like? Why?
Could it possibly be a bit smaller? We don’t have to fully exhaust our budget...
Estimated price according to architect/planner: approx. $600,000
Personal price limit for the house, including fittings: -
Preferred heating system: heat pump with ground collector, possibly supplemented with photovoltaic. Maybe switch to a standard air-to-water heat pump?
If you had to give up something, which details or upgrades would you cut?
Difficult, we don’t really have anything we would cut.
Why did the design turn out as it is now? For example:
We spent a long time thinking about the floor plans, looked at many houses online and from friends/family. We wrote down everything we liked and also what we didn’t want. For example, a clear design without bay windows, setbacks, or similar features was important to us. This is what we took to the builders and the architect. The result is this plan.
What is the most important/fundamental question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
Are there any optimizations in the floor plan that we may have missed? Enough windows/daylight in general?
mini_g! schrieb:
We’ve been thinking this over again. We don’t see a way to make it work. Because of the upper floor, the staircase location is basically fixed. One important point for us is to position the coat area so that access to the guest bathroom does not pass through the "dirty zone." I’m afraid we’ll have to stick with the "L" layout.???No, I definitely wouldn’t do that. I think the L-shape is very well designed, and the lounge area is quiet.
However, I would consider what will actually take place in the utility room. You might also move the front door further to the right according to the plan; this way, the wardrobe and restroom can be deeper, and the entrance to the utility room can be accessed from the hallway.
Also, I would try to reroute the wastewater pipes from the children’s bathroom more through the ceiling, so that a shaft is created nearer to the utility room rather than in the middle of the area between the kitchen and dining spaces.
I would also take the suggestions regarding the bedroom into account. I find having the headboard directly next to the passageway to the dressing room quite unpleasant.
However, I would consider what will actually take place in the utility room. You might also move the front door further to the right according to the plan; this way, the wardrobe and restroom can be deeper, and the entrance to the utility room can be accessed from the hallway.
Also, I would try to reroute the wastewater pipes from the children’s bathroom more through the ceiling, so that a shaft is created nearer to the utility room rather than in the middle of the area between the kitchen and dining spaces.
I would also take the suggestions regarding the bedroom into account. I find having the headboard directly next to the passageway to the dressing room quite unpleasant.
kbt09 schrieb:
No, I definitely wouldn’t do that. I think the L-shape is really well designed, and the chill-out area is nice and quiet. I’m honestly surprised that most people prefer to give a part of the sunny garden side to the utility room instead of the living spaces. That wouldn’t be an option for me. But okay. At least I would move the terrace more towards the center of the garden so you’re not sitting so close to the neighbor’s fence.
Well, the living area gets east, south, and west sunlight... but the west sunlight is only for looking at. The question is always, when do you actually use the sofa? In the evening to watch TV? For guests? My guests usually sit at the table, eating together, playing games, and so on.
Apologies, it’s been a busy day. I did check in but couldn’t respond.
We’re considering it but are having some difficulty letting go of the old layout. We need to prepare another update for the architect tomorrow; maybe then it will click.
Laundry definitely goes in the cellar.
There is enough space to rotate the bed if needed.
Best regards! mini_g!
ypg schrieb:We’ll take a look at that, thanks!
- Bathroom upstairs: I would swap the shower and toilet, and also extend the long window accordingly. Advantage: toilet somewhat hidden, but still with an outside view.
ypg schrieb:That’s my concern as well. It’s three meters (10 feet), which seems a bit narrow to me. With the L-shape layout, 3.50 meters (11.5 feet) should be possible, and for more, Katja’s suggestion makes sense.
- I think the access points to the terrace are too few.
kaho674 schrieb:You’re right, this option is possible. The reasoning is sound too. Drainage should be feasible due to the bathroom above.
???
We’re considering it but are having some difficulty letting go of the old layout. We need to prepare another update for the architect tomorrow; maybe then it will click.
kbt09 schrieb:That’s true, the garden side could be used more. Cars on the street would, at least theoretically, shine into the living room. Katja has a point there.
No, I definitely wouldn’t do that. I think the L-shape is really well done; the chill area is quiet.
kbt09 schrieb:Primarily storage for supplies and drinks for everyday use; the rest goes in the cellar. Vacuum cleaner and cleaning supplies; kitchen appliances not used regularly. Paper waste and recyclables. Some workspace for prepping or putting down dirty dishes. A simple metal sink for rinsing and maybe shoe cleaning?
I would consider what really needs to happen in the utility room?
Laundry definitely goes in the cellar.
kbt09 schrieb:The room should stay directly accessible from the kitchen. Otherwise, a smaller storage closet would suffice.
Maybe push the entrance door further to the right in the plan so the cloakroom and WC can be deeper and the utility room access can be from the hallway.
kbt09 schrieb:We will ask about that; maybe it’s still possible.
Also, I would try to have the plumbing waste from the kids’ bathroom rerouted more in the ceiling and have a shaft positioned more towards the utility room rather than cutting through the area between cooking and dining.
kbt09 schrieb:I don’t see a problem there. The side towards the passage would be mine; I currently sleep with my head next to the door and it’s fine.
I would also take on the suggestions for the bedroom. I always find a headboard right next to the door to the walk-in closet very uncomfortable.
There is enough space to rotate the bed if needed.
Best regards! mini_g!
kbt09 schrieb:
Well, the living area gets morning, midday, and afternoon sun... but the west-facing sun is only for looking at. The real question is, when do you actually use the sofa? In the evening for watching TV? For guests? In my experience, guests usually sit at the dining or family table. People eat together, play games, and so on.We crossed paths here. I would have said the same: visitors mostly sit at the dining or family table. The sofa is used less often.Similar topics