ᐅ Floor Plan: Semi-Detached House 8x12 m – Feedback and Creative Ideas Welcome :)
Created on: 28 Apr 2020 13:37
J
Jucruzlo
Hello everyone,
I’ve also been experimenting a bit with floor plans for our plot.
Background: At the moment, we are in contact with a general contractor (GC) and a prefab home builder. It will probably end up being a combination of an independent architect and a GC (thanks for the tip @ant11). However, it is very difficult to find an architect right now – but of course, I couldn’t just sit still and had to try a little myself. I worked with the app MagicPlan. Although we have already received a floor plan from the prefab builder, it really didn’t suit us at all. So, here we go – thank you in advance to everyone who takes a look :-*
I’m also happy to take any tips on how to find an architect who doesn’t only work on projects over 1 million (dollars/pounds). :-P
A quick note on orientation: The balcony on the upper floor and the living room face southwest. It has to be that way. The rear side borders directly onto open fields.
Development plan / restrictions
Plot size: 410m2 (4,410 sq ft)
Slope: no
Building window: 5m (16 ft) from the street, 12m (39 ft) house length, 8.1m (27 ft) width for the house, and 3m (10 ft) width for the garage. Plot dimensions 11.1m (36 ft) × 37m (121 ft)
Number of parking spaces: -
Number of floors: Max. 2 full floors, no knee walls allowed
Roof type: pitched roof with a 25–45 degree slope
Architectural style: any
Orientation: southwest
Maximum height / limits: ridge height 9m (30 ft), wall height max. 4.70m (15 ft)
Owners’ requirements
Style, roof type, building type: nice :-P
Basement, floors: no basement, almost 2 full floors (slight slopes from 1.80m (5 ft 11 in) due to prescribed wall height)
Number of people, age: 3 people, including a toddler (2 years old) – another child planned
Space requirement ground floor, upper floor: 140–160m2 (1,500–1,720 sq ft)
Office: guest room on ground floor used as office
Guests per year: currently rarely – in older age, space for parents/in-laws desired
Open or closed layout: open floor plan
Balcony, roof terrace: balcony for drying laundry
Garage, carport: garage – carport would also be acceptable if advantages prevail
House design
Designed by: me (trained architect through various apps :-P – just kidding)
What do you like most? Why?
What don’t you like? Why?
Why did the design turn out as it is now?
We wanted an open floor plan because we have a lot of visitors, and I always find it a shame to disappear into the kitchen while everything is happening in the living area. It was also important for us to have a separate parents’ area for complete privacy and a balcony for drying laundry in summer. A guest shower on the ground floor was needed, and it is important to me to do laundry on the upper floor (where the laundry is generated).
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan, summarized in 130 characters?
Note:
The windows are just placed approximately. I also don’t know how to view the exterior – of course, we will position the windows accordingly.
I’ve also been experimenting a bit with floor plans for our plot.
Background: At the moment, we are in contact with a general contractor (GC) and a prefab home builder. It will probably end up being a combination of an independent architect and a GC (thanks for the tip @ant11). However, it is very difficult to find an architect right now – but of course, I couldn’t just sit still and had to try a little myself. I worked with the app MagicPlan. Although we have already received a floor plan from the prefab builder, it really didn’t suit us at all. So, here we go – thank you in advance to everyone who takes a look :-*
I’m also happy to take any tips on how to find an architect who doesn’t only work on projects over 1 million (dollars/pounds). :-P
A quick note on orientation: The balcony on the upper floor and the living room face southwest. It has to be that way. The rear side borders directly onto open fields.
Development plan / restrictions
Plot size: 410m2 (4,410 sq ft)
Slope: no
Building window: 5m (16 ft) from the street, 12m (39 ft) house length, 8.1m (27 ft) width for the house, and 3m (10 ft) width for the garage. Plot dimensions 11.1m (36 ft) × 37m (121 ft)
Number of parking spaces: -
Number of floors: Max. 2 full floors, no knee walls allowed
Roof type: pitched roof with a 25–45 degree slope
Architectural style: any
Orientation: southwest
Maximum height / limits: ridge height 9m (30 ft), wall height max. 4.70m (15 ft)
Owners’ requirements
Style, roof type, building type: nice :-P
Basement, floors: no basement, almost 2 full floors (slight slopes from 1.80m (5 ft 11 in) due to prescribed wall height)
Number of people, age: 3 people, including a toddler (2 years old) – another child planned
Space requirement ground floor, upper floor: 140–160m2 (1,500–1,720 sq ft)
Office: guest room on ground floor used as office
Guests per year: currently rarely – in older age, space for parents/in-laws desired
Open or closed layout: open floor plan
Balcony, roof terrace: balcony for drying laundry
Garage, carport: garage – carport would also be acceptable if advantages prevail
House design
Designed by: me (trained architect through various apps :-P – just kidding)
What do you like most? Why?
- Garage access through utility room
- Few hallway areas but still with a wardrobe
- Open living concept and straight staircase (platform stairs couldn’t be depicted)
- Separate bathroom for kids
- Spacious walk-in closet
- Laundry room on upper floor
- Access through bedroom/bath to walk-in closet
What don’t you like? Why?
- No pantry on the ground floor
- Kids’ rooms on the north side
- Having to enter the parents’ walk-in closet first – would prefer two wall closets like houses in America
- Upper floor hallway very narrow and access to kids’ room 1 hardly feasible – on the other hand, I don’t like wasted space and enlarging the hallway would reduce kids’ room sizes. Any solutions?
- I find the garage quite practical but it takes away window area – will the ground floor be too dark, and should we rather go with a carport?
Why did the design turn out as it is now?
We wanted an open floor plan because we have a lot of visitors, and I always find it a shame to disappear into the kitchen while everything is happening in the living area. It was also important for us to have a separate parents’ area for complete privacy and a balcony for drying laundry in summer. A guest shower on the ground floor was needed, and it is important to me to do laundry on the upper floor (where the laundry is generated).
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan, summarized in 130 characters?
- General opinion on the floor plan
- See “what I don’t like” – suggestions for improvements welcome
Note:
The windows are just placed approximately. I also don’t know how to view the exterior – of course, we will position the windows accordingly.
haydee schrieb:
Only a frail elderly person should have the possibility to enter the bathroom with a walker or caregiver. Having a bathroom on a different floor is unsuitable for that. Care levels 4 and 5 (formerly level III) in a townhouse are wishful thinking, regardless of the architect’s ingenuity. Beyond a certain worst-case scenario, any plan becomes obsolete, and fate inevitably reshuffles the housing cards. This also applies to joyful events, such as when the first child gets a multiple sibling. No house is suitable for every situation.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
S
saralina8729 Apr 2020 15:12Due to the size of the house, I would also avoid trying to create a jack-of-all-trades. Things like the need for care are not predictable (strictly speaking, neither is the number of bedrooms required). One thing I’ve learned from our planning: when space is limited, sometimes you have to choose between "absolutely necessary" (for me, storage in the form of a pantry or utility room) and "would be nice" (a bathroom for the children).
Preparing the house for your own parents is a good idea, but I don’t think it will be feasible in this house.
I’m not sure how old your children are, but their rooms will likely become available again in about 20 years, so one of your parents could move in there. The staircase can be overcome using a lift.
I’m not sure how old your children are, but their rooms will likely become available again in about 20 years, so one of your parents could move in there. The staircase can be overcome using a lift.
Yes, that’s correct – it’s absolutely not about being prepared for every possible scenario. It’s purely about having the possibility to use the rooms, etc., at all times.
The downstairs guest room could initially be used as an office (and of course, it could remain that way if nothing else changes).
We could also use the bathroom downstairs if, at some point, only the lower level is occupied. So, I definitely don’t see it as wasted space. I also find it quite practical to quickly rinse the kids off downstairs when they come in covered in dirt from the playground.
Still, one could consider initially leaving out the shower downstairs and first building the pantry there (with all connections prepared). If we later realize a shower would be worthwhile, my pantry could give way. Or you could install no shower but just a hand shower and a floor drain like in old-style toilets—then accessibility wouldn’t be an issue since you can sit on the toilet while showering, but comfort is a different matter ... (just kidding).
And @11ant, of course, 60+ is far off. But we want to live there “forever” and therefore don’t just plan up to the wall. But you’re right – you can’t be ready for everything, and we don’t want that either. Still, it should fit some purposes.
And yes – a stairlift would also be an option – it should definitely be feasible with a half-landing staircase, or what do you think?
The downstairs guest room could initially be used as an office (and of course, it could remain that way if nothing else changes).
We could also use the bathroom downstairs if, at some point, only the lower level is occupied. So, I definitely don’t see it as wasted space. I also find it quite practical to quickly rinse the kids off downstairs when they come in covered in dirt from the playground.
Still, one could consider initially leaving out the shower downstairs and first building the pantry there (with all connections prepared). If we later realize a shower would be worthwhile, my pantry could give way. Or you could install no shower but just a hand shower and a floor drain like in old-style toilets—then accessibility wouldn’t be an issue since you can sit on the toilet while showering, but comfort is a different matter ... (just kidding).
And @11ant, of course, 60+ is far off. But we want to live there “forever” and therefore don’t just plan up to the wall. But you’re right – you can’t be ready for everything, and we don’t want that either. Still, it should fit some purposes.
FloHB123 schrieb:
I don’t know how old your children are, but their rooms will probably be free again in about 20 years, so a parent could move in there. The stairs can be managed by a lift.
And yes – a stairlift would also be an option – it should definitely be feasible with a half-landing staircase, or what do you think?
Similar topics