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?
You’re right. I’m looking for the perfect all-in-one solution and afraid of messing something up. My mind is quite confused at the moment. But I do think we can still get the floor plan right. For example, we have the problem that we just don’t know where to put the sofa. My husband doesn’t like the idea of blocking a window with the sofa, but he also doesn’t want to place the sofa against the wall with the TV facing the window because he finds it too distracting outside and doesn’t want to look out while watching TV. Putting the sofa in the middle requires a lot of space. At the same time, we don’t want to block windows, like the middle single door. It’s really difficult. Ironically, we hardly ever watch TV anyway because we don’t have time.
Do you think external blinds (Raffstore) are important? Maybe we could save money by skipping them.
We will need to make the rooms bigger. A walk-in closet with only 1.5 wardrobes per wall is definitely not enough, and the large bathroom also lacks depth.
Do you think external blinds (Raffstore) are important? Maybe we could save money by skipping them.
We will need to make the rooms bigger. A walk-in closet with only 1.5 wardrobes per wall is definitely not enough, and the large bathroom also lacks depth.
Sofa in front of the window → parapet. Or you can simply block the window, which is quite common nowadays (although I’m not a fan of that either).
You will need shading for highly insulated rooms! In this case, venetian blinds have some advantages over roller shutters. Roller shutters should be the minimum option though. However, I wouldn’t start removing individual items in the middle of the planning process. The biggest savings come from proper design of the building structure and the basic features.
You don’t necessarily have to extend the house. It will work as is. Although I find that square-shaped houses are more challenging. Does it have to be roughly a cube, or could you also consider around 11 x 9.5 m (36 x 31 feet)? Of course, this depends on your plot of land.
You will need shading for highly insulated rooms! In this case, venetian blinds have some advantages over roller shutters. Roller shutters should be the minimum option though. However, I wouldn’t start removing individual items in the middle of the planning process. The biggest savings come from proper design of the building structure and the basic features.
You don’t necessarily have to extend the house. It will work as is. Although I find that square-shaped houses are more challenging. Does it have to be roughly a cube, or could you also consider around 11 x 9.5 m (36 x 31 feet)? Of course, this depends on your plot of land.
In my opinion, all the windows are too small. For example, we have a kitchen of a similar size, and the window is 2.25m (7 feet 5 inches) wide. I would definitely recommend making your narrow windows at least 1m (3 feet 3 inches) wide. Our bathroom window is 1.76m (5 feet 9 inches) wide, and that is just right.
Best regards,
Sabine
Best regards,
Sabine
@Lenschke
With the current dimensions, it only works if we reduce the width a bit in the living room so that the dressing room and master bathroom get a few more centimeters (inches).
Kaho suggested the staircase could be even narrower, but I’m not familiar with that. I also don’t want to feel cramped. Originally, we had a U-shaped staircase, but the landing staircase is easier to walk on since the step heights remain the same. I have two children under 2 years old. We carry laundry down to the utility room, so the choice of staircase is definitely important.
In the living room, I considered removing the middle single door. We chose it originally to maintain a light axis. Without it, the two French doors could be positioned more centrally. This way, you could place the sofa in front of the window and at least have a wall on the reclining side, and maybe one door could still be opened. Usually, you wouldn’t open it, but theoretically. What do you think about that?
We originally planned a square layout, typical for a townhouse. But that doesn’t really work because we value a large living area. Now, our upper floor space suffers because of that. So we’re thinking of going for a more elongated design. But with a width of 9.5 meters (31 feet), I’m worried it might make the living area too narrow.
With the current dimensions, it only works if we reduce the width a bit in the living room so that the dressing room and master bathroom get a few more centimeters (inches).
Kaho suggested the staircase could be even narrower, but I’m not familiar with that. I also don’t want to feel cramped. Originally, we had a U-shaped staircase, but the landing staircase is easier to walk on since the step heights remain the same. I have two children under 2 years old. We carry laundry down to the utility room, so the choice of staircase is definitely important.
In the living room, I considered removing the middle single door. We chose it originally to maintain a light axis. Without it, the two French doors could be positioned more centrally. This way, you could place the sofa in front of the window and at least have a wall on the reclining side, and maybe one door could still be opened. Usually, you wouldn’t open it, but theoretically. What do you think about that?
We originally planned a square layout, typical for a townhouse. But that doesn’t really work because we value a large living area. Now, our upper floor space suffers because of that. So we’re thinking of going for a more elongated design. But with a width of 9.5 meters (31 feet), I’m worried it might make the living area too narrow.
I also think you need to be careful not to overdo it. For example, we have a living room depth of 4.35 meters (14.3 feet), which I find spacious. 4 meters (13.1 feet) would have been enough for me. Your 4.50 meters (14.8 feet) might look nicer, but is it really worth it? You end up moving the staircase inconveniently toward the bottom of the plan. The dressing room and bathroom inevitably suffer, or you end up making the house unnecessarily larger.
Of course, it should appeal to you in the end. But the furnishing phase is still ahead, and the period after moving in is often the most expensive since you’re still missing many essentials. How large is the budget?
I might try again with the pantry later today. I don’t have the file here right now.
Oh, and I agree with @Curly: all the windows are too small.
Of course, it should appeal to you in the end. But the furnishing phase is still ahead, and the period after moving in is often the most expensive since you’re still missing many essentials. How large is the budget?
I might try again with the pantry later today. I don’t have the file here right now.
Oh, and I agree with @Curly: all the windows are too small.
Thank you @kaho674.
Maybe you could still create a 1m (3.3 ft) niche for a wardrobe.
Perhaps a niche in the guest toilet next to the entrance door to the WC?
Otherwise, I'll do the guest toilet plus a larger wardrobe.
If you have 4.35, then is it 4.40m (14.4 ft) for the shell construction?
Maybe you could still create a 1m (3.3 ft) niche for a wardrobe.
Perhaps a niche in the guest toilet next to the entrance door to the WC?
Otherwise, I'll do the guest toilet plus a larger wardrobe.
If you have 4.35, then is it 4.40m (14.4 ft) for the shell construction?
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