ᐅ Floor Plan Optimization for Urban Villa + Considerations for Land Elevation
Created on: 31 Jan 2020 13:29
S
Shiny86
Plot size 492 sqm (5293 sq ft)
Slope yes
Site coverage ratio?
Floor area ratio?
Building envelope, building line, and boundary?
Boundary development?
Number of parking spaces 2
Number of floors 2
Roof type Pyramid roof, 25 degrees
Architectural style Modern urban villa
Orientation Main entrance facing north
Maximum heights/limits
Additional requirements?
Clients’ Requirements
Style, roof type, building type
Modern urban villa with pyramid roof, 25 degrees
Basement, floors 2 full floors without basement
Number of occupants 4
Open kitchen, kitchen island
Number of parking spaces 8-10
Garage
House design
Who designed it?
-Architect
What do you particularly like? Why?
Large living area, master bathroom
What don’t you like? Why?
Utility room quite small and master bedroom small, children’s room somewhat too large
Why is the design as it is now?
The architect implemented the corresponding wishes
What do you think is especially good or bad about it?
Good: large living area
I am uncertain about the half-height window sizes and the swing direction of the doors
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
What do you think about the floor plans?
Slope yes
Site coverage ratio?
Floor area ratio?
Building envelope, building line, and boundary?
Boundary development?
Number of parking spaces 2
Number of floors 2
Roof type Pyramid roof, 25 degrees
Architectural style Modern urban villa
Orientation Main entrance facing north
Maximum heights/limits
Additional requirements?
Clients’ Requirements
Style, roof type, building type
Modern urban villa with pyramid roof, 25 degrees
Basement, floors 2 full floors without basement
Number of occupants 4
Open kitchen, kitchen island
Number of parking spaces 8-10
Garage
House design
Who designed it?
-Architect
What do you particularly like? Why?
Large living area, master bathroom
What don’t you like? Why?
Utility room quite small and master bedroom small, children’s room somewhat too large
Why is the design as it is now?
The architect implemented the corresponding wishes
What do you think is especially good or bad about it?
Good: large living area
I am uncertain about the half-height window sizes and the swing direction of the doors
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
- Where could it still be optimized? Would you recommend different window dimensions or sill heights?
- What do you think is poor or what would you do differently?
- A partition wall will be added in the walk-in closet. That would theoretically allow watching TV from the bed. I am considering a lightweight wall. I plan to place a 211cm (83 inches) Pax combination wardrobe in the closet. The closet is planned with a raw width of 218cm (86 inches). Do you think 218cm is enough for the Pax once the walls are plastered, or how wide should the rough dimensions preferably be?
- Is the hallway on the ground floor too narrow?
- Would you raise the ground level? The house would be 40cm (16 inches) below street level. If I build a terrace into the garden, it would be about 1m (3 ft) difference. You could raise only the house level, resulting in approximately 1.6m (5 ft) difference between terrace and garden. I don’t know anyone living below street level. Raising the garden would probably not be allowed without permits, and affected neighbors likely wouldn’t agree. On the sides of the house adjacent to neighbors, raising is permitted only up to certain limits. I am overwhelmed with the decision.
- Do you have any ideas for arranging the sofa differently and placing the TV sensibly? My husband doesn’t want the sofa back facing a window. I still need to get used to placing the sofa in the middle of the room.
- Is the kitchen size sufficient for a nice kitchen with an island?
What do you think about the floor plans?
Shiny86 schrieb:
Above all, that the shower can be easily retrofitted. Is it always possible to retrofit it, or do we need to plan ahead regarding the connections to ensure it can be added later? I believe it is possible to convert it later. How difficult or easy that will be depends on your architect’s assessment. It would probably make sense to install the washbasin now where the shower is intended to be, then remove it later, adjust the wall, and install the shower instead. However, for special requirements like a walk-in or level-access shower, it’s definitely best to consult a specialist.Pinky0301 schrieb:
There are stairlifts, too!
I never understand why many homeowners plan to live only on the ground floor when they get older, which often needs to be remodeled anyway. When the time comes that I definitely can’t manage the stairs anymore, what use is the rest of the house to me? That’s how I see it, at least...Can stairlifts be installed in any house, or do we need to consider something regarding the current staircase design or width?
Curly schrieb:
I would start the kitchen window directly at countertop height. How high are your ceilings?
Best regards,
Sabine Ground floor 2.55 m (8 ft 4 in)
Upper floor 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in)
From what height is countertop height considered? What do you think about this basil window? Does it look outdated?
We have considered choosing a door with a window instead of the basil window. We want to place only tall kitchen cabinets along the back kitchen wall and then have a large kitchen island in front of them. Then, between the tall cabinets and the kitchen island on the right, we could have a door with a window instead of the current window.
I’m just not sure how practical that is, since we would be committed to one kitchen layout forever. An L-shaped kitchen wouldn’t be possible in 20 years if there is a door with a window there. Maybe kitchen islands will no longer be popular in the future. I don’t want to limit my options.
Stairlift – power supply, sturdy wall, no spiral staircase, width depends on (stairs or walker/wheelchair), turning space at the stair landing.
Why is the bathroom downstairs not suitable? You can no longer manage stairs – unsteady on your feet, using a walking aid, probably even care service involved because dressing is also difficult. You are not the agile 65-year-old; for at least one of you, it’s borderline to still be cared for at home. You don’t take that step earlier.
Stores like Aldi and others offer small stools for the shower at low cost. – But you are no longer steady on your feet, somewhat insecure, and then there is the slippery floor.
Grab bar – shower too narrow
Walker – no turning space, you have to awkwardly back into the shower
Medical transport wheelchair (this is practical: you sit dry on it, are pushed in, shower comfortably, then pushed out or roll out, standing on a dry floor – no slip hazard)
Toilet – where to install grab bars for support when standing up, with a walker it becomes very tight again, assistance even more difficult
Brushing teeth, washing, etc. – all standing. No space for a seat. Care service not possible at all.
Rheumatism aches, a soothing bath is not possible, the tub is upstairs. (There are lifts for this, sometimes even covered by health insurance)
Search for barrier-free or zero-barrier. There you will find bathroom layouts, turning circles, dimensions, etc. It sounds good, then you think you’ll move to the ground floor in old age but... everything is different.
Try setting up the planned wall in your living room. Then arrange the bedroom and measure the distances, compare with the zero-barrier dimensions.
Our house is built wheelchair accessible. Not as perfect as one planned by a wheelchair user today, but still functional. So far, only one assessor has noticed this. The plan is that we can continue to use both floors.
Why is the bathroom downstairs not suitable? You can no longer manage stairs – unsteady on your feet, using a walking aid, probably even care service involved because dressing is also difficult. You are not the agile 65-year-old; for at least one of you, it’s borderline to still be cared for at home. You don’t take that step earlier.
Stores like Aldi and others offer small stools for the shower at low cost. – But you are no longer steady on your feet, somewhat insecure, and then there is the slippery floor.
Grab bar – shower too narrow
Walker – no turning space, you have to awkwardly back into the shower
Medical transport wheelchair (this is practical: you sit dry on it, are pushed in, shower comfortably, then pushed out or roll out, standing on a dry floor – no slip hazard)
Toilet – where to install grab bars for support when standing up, with a walker it becomes very tight again, assistance even more difficult
Brushing teeth, washing, etc. – all standing. No space for a seat. Care service not possible at all.
Rheumatism aches, a soothing bath is not possible, the tub is upstairs. (There are lifts for this, sometimes even covered by health insurance)
Search for barrier-free or zero-barrier. There you will find bathroom layouts, turning circles, dimensions, etc. It sounds good, then you think you’ll move to the ground floor in old age but... everything is different.
Try setting up the planned wall in your living room. Then arrange the bedroom and measure the distances, compare with the zero-barrier dimensions.
Our house is built wheelchair accessible. Not as perfect as one planned by a wheelchair user today, but still functional. So far, only one assessor has noticed this. The plan is that we can continue to use both floors.
@kaho674
What do you think about swapping the kitchen and living room? How would you approach it?
I would completely remove the windows where the kitchen currently is, and place the sofa against the wall with the TV on the opposite wall. That’s probably the best arrangement for the sofa.
But then the entrance to the living room would always be through the door between the kitchen and dining room, so you’d always have to walk through the dining room to get to the living room. Isn’t that inconvenient?
If you swapped them, there would be no window next to the kitchen since the garage is adjacent. You’d only have the garden doors as windows. But if you have the sink and cooktop on an island facing the outside, would the natural light be enough?
Could you maybe sketch something?
Also, isn’t the current width of 4.05 meters (13 feet) a bit narrow for watching TV comfortably?
What do you think about swapping the kitchen and living room? How would you approach it?
I would completely remove the windows where the kitchen currently is, and place the sofa against the wall with the TV on the opposite wall. That’s probably the best arrangement for the sofa.
But then the entrance to the living room would always be through the door between the kitchen and dining room, so you’d always have to walk through the dining room to get to the living room. Isn’t that inconvenient?
If you swapped them, there would be no window next to the kitchen since the garage is adjacent. You’d only have the garden doors as windows. But if you have the sink and cooktop on an island facing the outside, would the natural light be enough?
Could you maybe sketch something?
Also, isn’t the current width of 4.05 meters (13 feet) a bit narrow for watching TV comfortably?
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