ᐅ Feedback on Floor Plan – Are Size and Price Acceptable?
Created on: 28 Apr 2020 09:19
J
JohannFugger
Hello dear house building forum,
After a promising start working with our architect, there has been a significant drop in performance lately, and we’re no longer sure if he is really doing his best to achieve the optimal result for us.
--> Time for the house building forum!
Attached are the floor plans for the granny flat, first floor, attic, and exterior views.
Where we started / Basic information:
- Single-family home with shared wall – one child (10)
- Slightly sloped site – ideal for a small granny flat for later use by our child or for rental
- Roof pitch 38° – gable roof
- South-facing slope
- Plot approx. 650sqm (7000 sqft)
- The small extension at the rear living area on the ground floor came about because the neighbors want to build a noticeably longer house, so we’re trying to visually soften the resulting wall at our terrace
- My wife had a slipped disc, so we decided to plan a laundry chute from the basement to the first floor. The washing machines should definitely stay in the basement
- We are currently planning a simple gas heating system, photovoltaic system, and central mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
- Gas fireplace
- Open-plan design
Our main concerns at the moment:
- Is the size appropriate? On the plans, it all looks quite nice, but when the architect estimates a price of 545,000 EUR, it makes us wonder if everything really adds up. (The building plot also had to be paid for)
- Do you find the exterior look harmonious and balanced?
- Do you think a wardrobe of this size on the first floor is sufficient?
- We have currently commissioned the architect only up to phase 4 – do you think it makes sense to have him carry out the other construction phases as well, or should we rather hire an external construction expert? Phases 5 to 9 alone would cost another 45,000 EUR, which seems quite high to me.
We are already looking forward to your feedback and an open discussion!
Best regards
JohannFugger
After a promising start working with our architect, there has been a significant drop in performance lately, and we’re no longer sure if he is really doing his best to achieve the optimal result for us.
--> Time for the house building forum!
Attached are the floor plans for the granny flat, first floor, attic, and exterior views.
Where we started / Basic information:
- Single-family home with shared wall – one child (10)
- Slightly sloped site – ideal for a small granny flat for later use by our child or for rental
- Roof pitch 38° – gable roof
- South-facing slope
- Plot approx. 650sqm (7000 sqft)
- The small extension at the rear living area on the ground floor came about because the neighbors want to build a noticeably longer house, so we’re trying to visually soften the resulting wall at our terrace
- My wife had a slipped disc, so we decided to plan a laundry chute from the basement to the first floor. The washing machines should definitely stay in the basement
- We are currently planning a simple gas heating system, photovoltaic system, and central mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
- Gas fireplace
- Open-plan design
Our main concerns at the moment:
- Is the size appropriate? On the plans, it all looks quite nice, but when the architect estimates a price of 545,000 EUR, it makes us wonder if everything really adds up. (The building plot also had to be paid for)
- Do you find the exterior look harmonious and balanced?
- Do you think a wardrobe of this size on the first floor is sufficient?
- We have currently commissioned the architect only up to phase 4 – do you think it makes sense to have him carry out the other construction phases as well, or should we rather hire an external construction expert? Phases 5 to 9 alone would cost another 45,000 EUR, which seems quite high to me.
We are already looking forward to your feedback and an open discussion!
Best regards
JohannFugger
JohannFugger schrieb:
On the plan, everything looks quite nice, but when the architect quotes an estimated price of 545,000 EUR, you start to wonder if all of that is really accurate. (The building plot had to be paid for, too)Oh, did we misunderstand you? Did you think the architect priced the house TOO HIGH? Did you mean it should be cheaper?
J
JohannFugger28 Apr 2020 12:47Matthew03 schrieb:
Too bad, something different in terms of the floor plan...that was the plan – thanks for the positive feedback. Since everyone consistently mentions similar concerns regarding the budget, I guess I’ll have to reconsider... :-( such a shame...J
JohannFugger28 Apr 2020 12:51This may sound naive, but somehow I just don't understand the world anymore. We are contributing a significant amount of equity. The building plot is already paid for. And now, according to a consensus, we are supposed to finance another 600,000 to 700,000 EUR (approximately 650,000 to 760,000 USD)? Who and when is going to pay for that? And then there’s the architect, who first exceeds the budget and then adjusts the figures favorably. Maybe the idea of the caravan wasn’t such a bad one after all... :-(
I can understand that it is very disappointing and shocking when the dream falls apart. But the key advice has already been given here:
Build smaller, but more efficient.
Build simpler (with fewer recesses and projections).
Leave out the granny flat.
With that, it should definitely be possible to build something nice within your budget of 450,000 EUR, which many others would envy and would easily be enough for 3 people.
Build smaller, but more efficient.
Build simpler (with fewer recesses and projections).
Leave out the granny flat.
With that, it should definitely be possible to build something nice within your budget of 450,000 EUR, which many others would envy and would easily be enough for 3 people.
In a semi-detached house, it is quite unusual to place the staircase and pantry on the side where windows can be installed, and then position the dining area almost without any window. I would swap these and possibly relocate the entrance.
I also find the kitchen and dining area very small compared to the living room. I would remove the reading corner; you should actually be glad that the neighbor’s house wall makes your terrace a sheltered spot. It’s much more pleasant than having the neighbors sitting right next to you on their terrace. Better to have a flower bed along the neighbor’s wall with nice tall plants, and that’s enough. Currently, you only have your own white bay window wall to look at from the terrace.
We’re not supposed to ask, but what is the purpose of the drying room on the upper floor if you have a laundry chute and the washing machine is in the basement? That would be the ideal place for a walk-in closet with a window, as the current one is too small. The bedroom feels like a dark, stuffy cave with the tiny window around the corner in the bay. And whatever is left of the bathroom… no comment. In the children’s room, a window below the roof instead of a skylight would work fine. You have almost 2 meters (6.5 feet) knee wall, so as an alternative, there are these Cabrio windows—vertical windows that convert into roof windows—install two of those and you get a wonderfully bright bedroom with plenty of light and air.
For the children’s room, I would move the door to the left or right so that the room can later be divided down the middle if needed, giving each half its own access (resale value or unplanned additional children).
Regarding the open space: something like that only makes sense if there is a window up there. Right now, you are looking at a nearly 6-meter (20-foot) high wall! And on top of that, the open space is not even centered above the dining table, which looks odd.
So overall, it would be better to redesign, possibly mirror the house, placing the utility rooms on the windowless side and the living areas on the side with windows. Then the open space above the dining table would also make sense.
By the way, where is south actually?
I also find the kitchen and dining area very small compared to the living room. I would remove the reading corner; you should actually be glad that the neighbor’s house wall makes your terrace a sheltered spot. It’s much more pleasant than having the neighbors sitting right next to you on their terrace. Better to have a flower bed along the neighbor’s wall with nice tall plants, and that’s enough. Currently, you only have your own white bay window wall to look at from the terrace.
We’re not supposed to ask, but what is the purpose of the drying room on the upper floor if you have a laundry chute and the washing machine is in the basement? That would be the ideal place for a walk-in closet with a window, as the current one is too small. The bedroom feels like a dark, stuffy cave with the tiny window around the corner in the bay. And whatever is left of the bathroom… no comment. In the children’s room, a window below the roof instead of a skylight would work fine. You have almost 2 meters (6.5 feet) knee wall, so as an alternative, there are these Cabrio windows—vertical windows that convert into roof windows—install two of those and you get a wonderfully bright bedroom with plenty of light and air.
For the children’s room, I would move the door to the left or right so that the room can later be divided down the middle if needed, giving each half its own access (resale value or unplanned additional children).
Regarding the open space: something like that only makes sense if there is a window up there. Right now, you are looking at a nearly 6-meter (20-foot) high wall! And on top of that, the open space is not even centered above the dining table, which looks odd.
So overall, it would be better to redesign, possibly mirror the house, placing the utility rooms on the windowless side and the living areas on the side with windows. Then the open space above the dining table would also make sense.
By the way, where is south actually?
J
JohannFugger28 Apr 2020 13:05Würfel* schrieb:
So overall, it’s better to plan again (possibly mirror the house), with the utility rooms on the windowless side and the living areas on the side with windows. That way, the open space above the dining table also makes sense.Sounds reasonable – thanks...Similar topics