Hello everyone,
At our developer, a customer who had reserved a plot of land dropped out. Since the other plot faces south / southwest, we didn’t hesitate long and switched to that plot. The new plot is smaller, so we gave up on our bungalow dream. The plot number is 5.
To remind you: The plot is tied to the developer.
I have been thinking over the past few days about the arrangement and design of the rooms and the plot, and I would first like to know if the concept is okay. I am not concerned with details inside the rooms such as windows, doors, or bathroom design. That’s not possible anyway since I created the floor plan myself based on Gussek Haus floor plans. However, I tried to design it as well as possible. For this reason, I want to share the floor plan here for discussion. I’m mainly looking for feedback on the layout and room arrangement, as well as ideas, suggestions, or tips. Maybe you’ll also spot things that “just don’t work” or are not practical for everyday living.
I created the floor plan with RoomSketcher, but only used the free version, so many features are limited. Please ignore the room dimensions on the upper floor. There is a dormer in the area of the home office.
A few more details about the house.
Roof pitch 38°
Knee wall (Drempel) 100cm (39 inches)
External dimensions 12.85 x 9.60 m (42.2 x 31.5 feet) (enlarged, original dimensions of Gussek Haus models are smaller)
Unfortunately, I cannot show internal room dimensions because RoomSketcher does not allow it.
Attached again is the completed questionnaire.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 676m²
Slope: NO
Site coverage ratio: 0.4 (allowed exceedance 25 out of 100)
Floor area ratio: 0.6
Building envelope, building line, and boundaries: On the north side / south side approx. 20.5 m (67 feet) wide, west and east sides approx. 33 m (108 feet) wide, 3 m (10 feet) building setback on each side, rectangular plot, clearly visible in the pictures
Edge construction setback: 3 m (10 feet)
Number of parking spaces: no requirement
Number of stories: maximum 2 full stories
Roof style: Gable roof, hipped roof
Other requirements: Garage must be 5 m (16 feet) from the property boundary. Garage on the west side because the curb is lowered there.
Homeowners’ Requirements
Architectural style, roof type, building type: Doesn’t matter, initially considered a house with a gable roof, there is a dormer in the home office area
Basement, number of floors: No basement due to high groundwater level
Number of occupants, ages: 4 people aged 36 (female), 37 (male), 3 (child), 1 (child)
Space requirements on ground floor and upper floor:
Ground floor: Living/dining/kitchen area, utility room, guest WC with shower, hallway with coat area and stairs to upper floor, guest room / playroom
Upper floor: Master bedroom, 2 children’s rooms, bathroom, storage room, office
Office use: Family use or home office? Home office combined with family use
Guests per year: 1–2 times
Open or closed architecture: Closed architecture?
Conservative or modern style: A mix of both
Open kitchen, kitchen island: Closed kitchen with island would be nice but not a must; open kitchen is also an option
Number of dining seats: 4, with the option for 6
Fireplace: No
Music / stereo wall: Sound system in the living room
Balcony, roof terrace: No
Garage, carport: Space for 2 cars is required, preferably 3 to 4. Currently considering a garage (3 x 6 m / 9.8 x 19.7 feet) with a carport (3.6 m / 12 feet) in front, not sure if that works. Plus 2 parking spaces in front of the house.
Utility garden, greenhouse: No
Additional wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons why certain things should or shouldn’t be:
House Design
Who created the design:
- DIY - copy and combination of Gussek Haus models Lindenallee, Kiefernallee variant 1, and Buchenallee variant 2
What do you especially like? Why?
- Large closed kitchen with island and direct / short access to the terrace
- Living room close to the terrace
- Guest / playroom on the ground floor
- Storage room on the upper floor with washing machine and dryer
- Utility room with washing machine and dryer (yes, twice)
- 6 rooms
- Layout of rooms on the upper floor
What do you not like? Why?
- Location of the home office on the upper floor is not ideal in my view, but I could live with it
Price estimate from architect/planner: No new estimate so far
Personal price limit for house including features: 400,000
Preferred heating system: Heat pump
Why does the design look like it does now? For example:
Copy-paste of Gussek Haus models Lindenallee, Kiefernallee variant 1, and Buchenallee variant 2
What is the most important fundamental question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
Is the room layout okay?
At our developer, a customer who had reserved a plot of land dropped out. Since the other plot faces south / southwest, we didn’t hesitate long and switched to that plot. The new plot is smaller, so we gave up on our bungalow dream. The plot number is 5.
To remind you: The plot is tied to the developer.
I have been thinking over the past few days about the arrangement and design of the rooms and the plot, and I would first like to know if the concept is okay. I am not concerned with details inside the rooms such as windows, doors, or bathroom design. That’s not possible anyway since I created the floor plan myself based on Gussek Haus floor plans. However, I tried to design it as well as possible. For this reason, I want to share the floor plan here for discussion. I’m mainly looking for feedback on the layout and room arrangement, as well as ideas, suggestions, or tips. Maybe you’ll also spot things that “just don’t work” or are not practical for everyday living.
I created the floor plan with RoomSketcher, but only used the free version, so many features are limited. Please ignore the room dimensions on the upper floor. There is a dormer in the area of the home office.
A few more details about the house.
Roof pitch 38°
Knee wall (Drempel) 100cm (39 inches)
External dimensions 12.85 x 9.60 m (42.2 x 31.5 feet) (enlarged, original dimensions of Gussek Haus models are smaller)
Unfortunately, I cannot show internal room dimensions because RoomSketcher does not allow it.
Attached again is the completed questionnaire.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 676m²
Slope: NO
Site coverage ratio: 0.4 (allowed exceedance 25 out of 100)
Floor area ratio: 0.6
Building envelope, building line, and boundaries: On the north side / south side approx. 20.5 m (67 feet) wide, west and east sides approx. 33 m (108 feet) wide, 3 m (10 feet) building setback on each side, rectangular plot, clearly visible in the pictures
Edge construction setback: 3 m (10 feet)
Number of parking spaces: no requirement
Number of stories: maximum 2 full stories
Roof style: Gable roof, hipped roof
Other requirements: Garage must be 5 m (16 feet) from the property boundary. Garage on the west side because the curb is lowered there.
Homeowners’ Requirements
Architectural style, roof type, building type: Doesn’t matter, initially considered a house with a gable roof, there is a dormer in the home office area
Basement, number of floors: No basement due to high groundwater level
Number of occupants, ages: 4 people aged 36 (female), 37 (male), 3 (child), 1 (child)
Space requirements on ground floor and upper floor:
Ground floor: Living/dining/kitchen area, utility room, guest WC with shower, hallway with coat area and stairs to upper floor, guest room / playroom
Upper floor: Master bedroom, 2 children’s rooms, bathroom, storage room, office
Office use: Family use or home office? Home office combined with family use
Guests per year: 1–2 times
Open or closed architecture: Closed architecture?
Conservative or modern style: A mix of both
Open kitchen, kitchen island: Closed kitchen with island would be nice but not a must; open kitchen is also an option
Number of dining seats: 4, with the option for 6
Fireplace: No
Music / stereo wall: Sound system in the living room
Balcony, roof terrace: No
Garage, carport: Space for 2 cars is required, preferably 3 to 4. Currently considering a garage (3 x 6 m / 9.8 x 19.7 feet) with a carport (3.6 m / 12 feet) in front, not sure if that works. Plus 2 parking spaces in front of the house.
Utility garden, greenhouse: No
Additional wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons why certain things should or shouldn’t be:
House Design
Who created the design:
- DIY - copy and combination of Gussek Haus models Lindenallee, Kiefernallee variant 1, and Buchenallee variant 2
What do you especially like? Why?
- Large closed kitchen with island and direct / short access to the terrace
- Living room close to the terrace
- Guest / playroom on the ground floor
- Storage room on the upper floor with washing machine and dryer
- Utility room with washing machine and dryer (yes, twice)
- 6 rooms
- Layout of rooms on the upper floor
What do you not like? Why?
- Location of the home office on the upper floor is not ideal in my view, but I could live with it
Price estimate from architect/planner: No new estimate so far
Personal price limit for house including features: 400,000
Preferred heating system: Heat pump
Why does the design look like it does now? For example:
Copy-paste of Gussek Haus models Lindenallee, Kiefernallee variant 1, and Buchenallee variant 2
What is the most important fundamental question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
Is the room layout okay?
C
Chrisi190615 Apr 2020 18:0411ant schrieb:
Which upper floor exactly – and: for which house type?I have done both the upper floor and the ground floor. But since only the ground floor layout changed, I only posted that. The current house type is one-and-a-half stories with a pitched roof. That doesn’t mean we will definitely use this floor plan and turn it into a townhouse in the end.
Pinky0301 schrieb:
I don’t think the kitchen layout works. The spacing between the rows looks about the same as the depth of the cabinets, so only around 60cm (24 inches). That’s far too narrow. Maybe you should try using paper and pencil instead of an unrealistic program. I also like working with Sweet Home.I completely agree with you. At this stage, I was only concerned with the room layout. I’d rather leave out the cabinets on the interior wall, or remove the kitchen island.
kbt09 schrieb:
I actually find the new plan a bit less favorable, for example the guest bathroom. I’m not too concerned about access to the utility room in the first version since the washing machine and so on are planned upstairs.
You would still need to create a space for coats and shoes though, which could be done by moving the study door or the entrance door.
In general, I would lean more towards a two-story design because that lets you distribute the windows better in the upper floor.What do you find unfavorable about the guest bathroom in my floor plan? One thing I find a bit odd in my proposal is the coat closet in the corner of the utility room, but that could also be omitted. Also, entering the house and having the option to go left, right, or straight ahead feels a bit awkward to me. But in terms of available space and pathways, this proposal is better.
Curly schrieb:
If the house is going to be 12.85m (42.2 feet) wide and you subtract the exterior walls plus the interior wall between kitchen and living room, then furnish the kitchen as shown (with 1.10m (43 inches) spacing between rows and a 1m (39 inches) island), the living room width will only be 7.60m (25 feet). There’s no way a sofa as shown will fit in such a small space, especially with all that clearance around it. You should carefully consider how much space you actually need.
Best regards,
SabineThe kitchen needs to be smaller, meaning the island has to go or the cabinets along the interior wall.
11ant schrieb:
My approach would be not to enlarge the hybrid based on the two Gussek house inspirations randomly, but only where you feel it’s truly tight; then by switching from knee wall / dormer to a full-height upper story, you can eliminate all possible issues with insufficient ceiling heights in one stroke. That alone should be enough – where endless fiddling leads, as illustrated currently by @Shiny86 to my exhaustive amusement.I didn’t fully understand everything, but I take it you would prefer two full stories. I’m not ruling that out either right now, especially because of the windows and study room on the upper floor.
Chrisi1906 schrieb:
That doesn’t mean we’ll take the floor plan and turn it into a townhouse. If you make the attic floor the same size as the ground floor (so the full floor area as on the main floor, without reduced space due to sloped ceilings) — essentially a "townhouse" — you avoid all those head height issues even without increasing the footprint. So stick to the original floor plan size if you enlarge the attic/top floor by removing the slopes. Two enlargements at the same time are one too many.
Chrisi1906 schrieb:
I didn’t understand everything. What I meant: 1. only enlarge where something is actually too "tight"; 2. by changing from a one-and-a-half-story to a two-story house, all low height spots are automatically resolved; 3. don’t combine the two methods of “increasing exterior dimensions” and “replacing sloped ceilings with full height,” otherwise it becomes too much overall; 4. don’t over-perfect the design—StanSch did that excessively some time ago, and more recently Shiny86 has done so as well.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Chrisi1906 schrieb:
What do you find inconvenient about the guest bathroom in my floor plan? In general, I just don’t like it when the shower and toilet are placed side by side within about 2 m (6.5 ft). I prefer showers that span the full width of the guest bathroom, which can allow the bathroom width to be reduced to under 2 m (6.5 ft), even down to 150 cm (59 inches).
Don’t let yourself get unsettled now. You can pass this on to the architect with the note that if it’s possible to save some square meters or be more efficient, then they should do so. Personally, I hope this will help resolve the issue with the utility room/toilet. There is a better way to arrange this, but I don’t see @kbt09’s preference here—just a better use of the available space. Upstairs, the size will likely allow for an attic with 139mm (5.5 inches) calcium silicate bricks or something similar. Alternatively, you could follow the forum’s call for a two-story design, which would result in a much larger house that you don’t really need but which would definitely cost more.
ypg schrieb:
Don’t let yourself get unsettled now. You’re handing this over to the architect ... Exactly. It’s best not to include any measurements at all and just sketch a very rough outline by hand. Leave out doors and pathways. Just say that you generally like the layout as it is, how much you’re willing to spend, and which minimum room sizes should not be undercut. And of course, specify all the rooms you need. It’s also helpful to mention specifics like “I need at least a 2m (6.5 ft) wardrobe and a 4m (13 ft) closet for laundry on the upper floor.” You can also include sofa dimensions if it has to be moved or if the dream lounge has already been selected from the brochure. Otherwise, leave as much freedom as possible at first.
A
Alessandro16 Apr 2020 13:38In my experience, builders prefer when you provide them with your requirements for rooms, preferences, and budget (i.e., maximum living area). Then they can come up with a proposal.
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