ᐅ City Villa with Home Office – Request for Feedback and Smart Optimization Ideas
Created on: 6 Jun 2020 19:31
A
AlexF76
Hello dear future homeowners and fellow builders!
We are currently in the planning phase of our house. The plot is purchased, now we just need to bring it to life/build on it.
We have received the first draft from the architect and already had a constructive discussion afterwards. I have now incorporated some of my ideas into the draft and adjusted it. It would be great if you could share your opinions on the house and the floor plan in general, and where you think clever improvements could be made or the size reduced. Currently, the whole thing is about 260 m² (2800 sq ft), and we would ideally like to end up under 250 m² (2700 sq ft). If that is not possible or only with too many compromises, that would be okay, but we would still like to optimize the floor plan.
Development Plan/Restrictions
Plot size: 1200 sqm (13,000 sq ft)
Slope: None, flat terrain, living in the North.
Site coverage ratio: 0.3
Floor area ratio: 0.6
Building envelope, building line and boundary: See site plan
Setback from border: 3 m (10 ft)
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 2
Ceiling height: 2.70 - 2.80 m (8.9 - 9.2 ft)
Roof style: See site plan
Architectural style: Urban villa with traditional clinker brick
Orientation: Main entrance facing west
Maximum height limits: Ridge height (FH) 8.50 m (28 ft), Eaves height (TH) 6.50 m (21 ft)
Homeowners’ Requirements
Architectural style, roof type, building type: Urban villa with traditional clinker brick
Basement, number of floors: No basement, 2 floors
Number of occupants and ages: 3 (43, 35, 2) hopefully one more child in the future and possibly an elderly parent later on
Space needed at ground floor and upper floor: 200-250 m² (2150-2700 sq ft)
Office use: Family use or home office? Home office, 8-12 hours daily
Guest overnight stays per year: On average 2-4 guests about 5 times a year, later most likely 1 parent living permanently
Open or closed layout: Open
Traditional or modern construction: More country style
Open kitchen, cooking island: Open kitchen with cooking island (cooking island not a must)
Number of seats for dining: 3-4 at the kitchen island, 10-12 at the dining table
Fireplace: Yes, please
Music/stereo wall: No
Balcony, roof terrace: Definitely
Garage, carport: Yes, garage for 2 cars and for winter birthday parties
Vegetable garden, greenhouse: Maybe later
Reasons for yes or no to certain features:
Balcony at the front so I can step out from the office occasionally and we can enjoy the setting sun in the west in the evenings.
The kitchen should definitely be bright with a view of the street, as my wife wanted, which is why it is unfortunately a bit far from the garage and utility room.
Guest room and guest WC should be barrier-free and large enough so that parents or we could live there later.
House Design
Origin of planning:
Rough drafts by me, first draft by the architect, current version is the first draft with my changes.
What do you particularly like and why?
Utility room (laundry) upstairs
Walk-in closet area
Minimal hallway despite many rooms
Bright
Possibility to separate living areas later
It’s not a run-of-the-mill design
What do you not like and why?
First of all, the large size! About 260 m² (2800 sq ft)! It would be great to reduce this below 250 m² (2700 sq ft) with a smarter layout. Otherwise:
Ground floor:
The kitchen could be a bit smaller without significantly affecting the exterior shape. Currently, there is no window directly offering a view to the terrace, maybe there is an idea for that.
I’m also unsure about the utility/technical room. Some say a technical room of 3-4 m² (32-43 sq ft) is enough, others recommend 6-8 m² (65-85 sq ft). What do you think? The utility room here would be without dryer and washing machine as these are upstairs. Maybe you have a good idea how to properly separate the technical room and utility room. Ideally, the utility room should still have natural light and direct access to the garage for groceries to be dropped off there (freezer) or drinks to be fetched during parties in the garage, allowing direct access to the utility room. The size of the technical room is still undecided. We plan either geothermal heat or air-to-water heat pumps and intend to install a photovoltaic system if the roof design makes sense. Because of the considerable size (initially it was 280 m² / 3000 sq ft), I have tried to reduce the size in some areas including the utility room. Now the question is whether the combined utility and technical room might become too narrow or cramped.
Regarding the fireplace, which is currently placed in the corner of the living room, we are still unsure if it fits there. Is the space sufficient and does it make sense to have it there? Our main concern is not heating the whole room with the fireplace, but rather the atmosphere it creates.
Also, the kitchen is quite far from the utility room and garage, but my wife wants it bright, which we understand and can live with.
No pantry adjacent to the kitchen, which is unfortunate. If anyone has ideas for that, please share.
Upper floor:
We generally like the upper floor, but it would be great if the utility room had enough space not only for the washing machine and dryer but also for ironing and hanging clothes that can’t go into the dryer. Is 6 m² (65 sq ft) sufficient? How should the washing machine, dryer, and furniture best be arranged?
Again, where can we save floor space upstairs? Especially the office is quite large and could be smaller, and the children’s rooms at 14-16 m² (150-170 sq ft) are actually sufficient.
Likewise, the walk-in closet should be less narrow, and the corner space might not be necessary. If you have ideas for that, please share. I tried to avoid the long narrow shape shown in (Obergeschoss-14-Alternative.jpg), but I am not very happy with the current result (Obergeschoss-16.jpg). This also compromises the bedroom size (will it become too tight?) and the children’s rooms. Which of the two proposals do you prefer? Or do you have a better idea?
The bathroom could also be reduced by 1-2 m² (11-22 sq ft) as long as it doesn’t feel cramped. All this depends on whether it’s feasible and makes sense, as well as coordinated with the ground floor.
Price estimate according to architect/planner:
2000 Euro (approx. $2150) per m² (sq ft price depends on region)
Personal budget for the house including fittings:
550,000 Euro (approx. $600,000) excluding land. We would prefer to stay under 500k. We do not want to end up with a "jam house" (meaning a house where the mortgage is so high you can’t even afford jam on your bread).
Preferred heating technology:
We have not decided yet between geothermal or air-to-water heat pump. No gas heating! If you have tips for this house, please let us know!
If you had to give up something, which features or finishes could you live without?
Smart home
If you had to give up something, which features or finishes are absolutely essential?
Open living/dining area
Welcoming entrance from the street
Garden and sunlight
Front balcony above the office
Guest room and guest WC with shower for future living of a parent
Sauna
Distance to TV should be at least 4.5 m (15 ft). Currently it’s 5 m (16.5 ft).
Why is the design like it is now?
Our wishes and ideas were implemented by the architect with additional creativity and experience. Unfortunately, there was initially too much hallway space and too little room for the technical room and guest room, and the walk-in closet had no natural light.
What do you think are its strongest and weakest points?
The total area is quite large; some rooms are bigger than we need, and in others, it would be great to have 1-3 m² (11-32 sq ft) more. But many factors depend on other conditions, like identical external footprints on ground and upper floors, access to other rooms, etc. Unfortunately, rooms are usually not fully independent.
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
General opinion about the floor plan and exterior – constructive critical feedback welcome
Ideas for optimizing room layout/placement and possible space savings
Are there any corridors or places that are too narrow or tight?
Creative and clever ideas to use space efficiently and make it cozy
Windows – better with slightly rounded or straight tops and with concrete surrounds or without? What do you like or dislike about the facade?
Roof – better with or without a mansard/hip extension?
PS:
The site plan is from the first draft; the middle and right parts have since been moved forward because we wanted more than 10 m (33 ft) of garden at the back.
The m² figures are approximate and may vary slightly.
On the front view, a window next to the garage is actually meant to be a side door.
Window placement on the floor plans is not always exact; I still need to adjust it.
If you have further questions, please ask, I will try to answer them.
Thank you very much for your help and feedback! We really appreciate it! I will upload updates and adjustments as we progress. We are very excited to see the final result!
Have a great weekend!
AlexF76
We are currently in the planning phase of our house. The plot is purchased, now we just need to bring it to life/build on it.
We have received the first draft from the architect and already had a constructive discussion afterwards. I have now incorporated some of my ideas into the draft and adjusted it. It would be great if you could share your opinions on the house and the floor plan in general, and where you think clever improvements could be made or the size reduced. Currently, the whole thing is about 260 m² (2800 sq ft), and we would ideally like to end up under 250 m² (2700 sq ft). If that is not possible or only with too many compromises, that would be okay, but we would still like to optimize the floor plan.
Development Plan/Restrictions
Plot size: 1200 sqm (13,000 sq ft)
Slope: None, flat terrain, living in the North.
Site coverage ratio: 0.3
Floor area ratio: 0.6
Building envelope, building line and boundary: See site plan
Setback from border: 3 m (10 ft)
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 2
Ceiling height: 2.70 - 2.80 m (8.9 - 9.2 ft)
Roof style: See site plan
Architectural style: Urban villa with traditional clinker brick
Orientation: Main entrance facing west
Maximum height limits: Ridge height (FH) 8.50 m (28 ft), Eaves height (TH) 6.50 m (21 ft)
Homeowners’ Requirements
Architectural style, roof type, building type: Urban villa with traditional clinker brick
Basement, number of floors: No basement, 2 floors
Number of occupants and ages: 3 (43, 35, 2) hopefully one more child in the future and possibly an elderly parent later on
Space needed at ground floor and upper floor: 200-250 m² (2150-2700 sq ft)
Office use: Family use or home office? Home office, 8-12 hours daily
Guest overnight stays per year: On average 2-4 guests about 5 times a year, later most likely 1 parent living permanently
Open or closed layout: Open
Traditional or modern construction: More country style
Open kitchen, cooking island: Open kitchen with cooking island (cooking island not a must)
Number of seats for dining: 3-4 at the kitchen island, 10-12 at the dining table
Fireplace: Yes, please
Music/stereo wall: No
Balcony, roof terrace: Definitely
Garage, carport: Yes, garage for 2 cars and for winter birthday parties
Vegetable garden, greenhouse: Maybe later
Reasons for yes or no to certain features:
Balcony at the front so I can step out from the office occasionally and we can enjoy the setting sun in the west in the evenings.
The kitchen should definitely be bright with a view of the street, as my wife wanted, which is why it is unfortunately a bit far from the garage and utility room.
Guest room and guest WC should be barrier-free and large enough so that parents or we could live there later.
House Design
Origin of planning:
Rough drafts by me, first draft by the architect, current version is the first draft with my changes.
What do you particularly like and why?
Utility room (laundry) upstairs
Walk-in closet area
Minimal hallway despite many rooms
Bright
Possibility to separate living areas later
It’s not a run-of-the-mill design
What do you not like and why?
First of all, the large size! About 260 m² (2800 sq ft)! It would be great to reduce this below 250 m² (2700 sq ft) with a smarter layout. Otherwise:
Ground floor:
The kitchen could be a bit smaller without significantly affecting the exterior shape. Currently, there is no window directly offering a view to the terrace, maybe there is an idea for that.
I’m also unsure about the utility/technical room. Some say a technical room of 3-4 m² (32-43 sq ft) is enough, others recommend 6-8 m² (65-85 sq ft). What do you think? The utility room here would be without dryer and washing machine as these are upstairs. Maybe you have a good idea how to properly separate the technical room and utility room. Ideally, the utility room should still have natural light and direct access to the garage for groceries to be dropped off there (freezer) or drinks to be fetched during parties in the garage, allowing direct access to the utility room. The size of the technical room is still undecided. We plan either geothermal heat or air-to-water heat pumps and intend to install a photovoltaic system if the roof design makes sense. Because of the considerable size (initially it was 280 m² / 3000 sq ft), I have tried to reduce the size in some areas including the utility room. Now the question is whether the combined utility and technical room might become too narrow or cramped.
Regarding the fireplace, which is currently placed in the corner of the living room, we are still unsure if it fits there. Is the space sufficient and does it make sense to have it there? Our main concern is not heating the whole room with the fireplace, but rather the atmosphere it creates.
Also, the kitchen is quite far from the utility room and garage, but my wife wants it bright, which we understand and can live with.
No pantry adjacent to the kitchen, which is unfortunate. If anyone has ideas for that, please share.
Upper floor:
We generally like the upper floor, but it would be great if the utility room had enough space not only for the washing machine and dryer but also for ironing and hanging clothes that can’t go into the dryer. Is 6 m² (65 sq ft) sufficient? How should the washing machine, dryer, and furniture best be arranged?
Again, where can we save floor space upstairs? Especially the office is quite large and could be smaller, and the children’s rooms at 14-16 m² (150-170 sq ft) are actually sufficient.
Likewise, the walk-in closet should be less narrow, and the corner space might not be necessary. If you have ideas for that, please share. I tried to avoid the long narrow shape shown in (Obergeschoss-14-Alternative.jpg), but I am not very happy with the current result (Obergeschoss-16.jpg). This also compromises the bedroom size (will it become too tight?) and the children’s rooms. Which of the two proposals do you prefer? Or do you have a better idea?
The bathroom could also be reduced by 1-2 m² (11-22 sq ft) as long as it doesn’t feel cramped. All this depends on whether it’s feasible and makes sense, as well as coordinated with the ground floor.
Price estimate according to architect/planner:
2000 Euro (approx. $2150) per m² (sq ft price depends on region)
Personal budget for the house including fittings:
550,000 Euro (approx. $600,000) excluding land. We would prefer to stay under 500k. We do not want to end up with a "jam house" (meaning a house where the mortgage is so high you can’t even afford jam on your bread).
Preferred heating technology:
We have not decided yet between geothermal or air-to-water heat pump. No gas heating! If you have tips for this house, please let us know!
If you had to give up something, which features or finishes could you live without?
Smart home
If you had to give up something, which features or finishes are absolutely essential?
Open living/dining area
Welcoming entrance from the street
Garden and sunlight
Front balcony above the office
Guest room and guest WC with shower for future living of a parent
Sauna
Distance to TV should be at least 4.5 m (15 ft). Currently it’s 5 m (16.5 ft).
Why is the design like it is now?
Our wishes and ideas were implemented by the architect with additional creativity and experience. Unfortunately, there was initially too much hallway space and too little room for the technical room and guest room, and the walk-in closet had no natural light.
What do you think are its strongest and weakest points?
The total area is quite large; some rooms are bigger than we need, and in others, it would be great to have 1-3 m² (11-32 sq ft) more. But many factors depend on other conditions, like identical external footprints on ground and upper floors, access to other rooms, etc. Unfortunately, rooms are usually not fully independent.
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
General opinion about the floor plan and exterior – constructive critical feedback welcome
Ideas for optimizing room layout/placement and possible space savings
Are there any corridors or places that are too narrow or tight?
Creative and clever ideas to use space efficiently and make it cozy
Windows – better with slightly rounded or straight tops and with concrete surrounds or without? What do you like or dislike about the facade?
Roof – better with or without a mansard/hip extension?
PS:
The site plan is from the first draft; the middle and right parts have since been moved forward because we wanted more than 10 m (33 ft) of garden at the back.
The m² figures are approximate and may vary slightly.
On the front view, a window next to the garage is actually meant to be a side door.
Window placement on the floor plans is not always exact; I still need to adjust it.
If you have further questions, please ask, I will try to answer them.
Thank you very much for your help and feedback! We really appreciate it! I will upload updates and adjustments as we progress. We are very excited to see the final result!
Have a great weekend!
AlexF76
Simplify the exterior appearance
For example, make the main building rectangular with two wings extending forward—one for the garage and one for the kitchen.
Remove the children's entrance
Remove the garage WC
Staircase matching the house style
Wardrobe
Make the kitchen more practical and somewhat smaller. Roller skates might be needed there.
I would suggest combining the master bedroom and office and having just one balcony.
The other rooms could also be arranged better if the overall volume is less fragmented.
Examples are difficult. The interior must match the exterior.
Visit model home exhibitions, for instance, the prefab home center in Langenhagen. There are several representative houses. Go into the kitchens and pretend to cook for a moment. Observe how the rooms feel.
Hanse offers a fairly classic villa design, while Huf represents simple luxury.
A house like yours should include a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery and some smart home features. Nobody would consider buying an E-Class car without ABS.
For example, make the main building rectangular with two wings extending forward—one for the garage and one for the kitchen.
Remove the children's entrance
Remove the garage WC
Staircase matching the house style
Wardrobe
Make the kitchen more practical and somewhat smaller. Roller skates might be needed there.
I would suggest combining the master bedroom and office and having just one balcony.
The other rooms could also be arranged better if the overall volume is less fragmented.
Examples are difficult. The interior must match the exterior.
Visit model home exhibitions, for instance, the prefab home center in Langenhagen. There are several representative houses. Go into the kitchens and pretend to cook for a moment. Observe how the rooms feel.
Hanse offers a fairly classic villa design, while Huf represents simple luxury.
A house like yours should include a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery and some smart home features. Nobody would consider buying an E-Class car without ABS.
haydee schrieb:
A house like yours should definitely have a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery as well as some smart home features. Nobody would choose an E-Class without ABS. Having the right car is also important. A German “premium brand” is a must! Brands like Hyundai, Skoda, or Kia just don’t cut it. What else would the neighbors think?
Everyone has different priorities. Smart home features, for example, are something you can easily live without—even in large houses. You won’t find a relatively new car without ABS. So the comparison isn’t quite accurate.
Hello everyone!
First of all, thank you for the additional feedback!
Regarding the irregular shapes, some of them only came about due to the reduction in square meters. The question then is: what is more expensive? One less corner but 5–10m² (54–108 sq ft) more, or one corner and 5–10m² (54–108 sq ft) less?
For example, the living room area—the depth was only 3m (10 feet) in the first draft, which we found far too shallow, so we increased it to 5m (16 feet) in depth. But if I also extend the guest room and dining room equally to keep everything in a straight line, then I end up with an extra 24m² (260 sq ft) on the ground floor and the same amount upstairs, totaling 48m² (520 sq ft) more! In that case, the two corners seem a bit more cost-effective. Or am I misunderstanding something?
If I move the left front part to the right, making the entire left side flush so that the side entrance downstairs and the storage room upstairs are eliminated, would the roof still be feasible? See the attachment, if I were to cut away that section.
The WC is already mentally removed from the plan. I have been thinking for a while about how to make the kitchen smaller without significantly affecting the exterior appearance.
@haydee, we also visited them and Viebrockhaus and used their room sizes as a reference. The bathroom is even similar to the one at Viebrockhaus. And comparing this with controlled ventilation and smart home features in such a house really seems questionable. What did those luxury villas do 20 years ago without smart home technology? I’m willing to make compromises, and I see it that way with smart home and possibly with controlled ventilation, although I would like to build everything “ready” for those systems, in case the budget permits in the future—meaning laying pipes for future cables where it makes sense. Oh, and by the way, I actually drive a Skoda and have no problem parking the car in front of the house.
And regarding the “staircase suitable for the house”—could you give me an example? I don’t need a grand staircase, especially if it adds another 20m² (215 sq ft), that would be like the expectation that a Mercedes must be parked in front of the house.
I’ll look into barrier-free design, thanks!
First of all, thank you for the additional feedback!
Regarding the irregular shapes, some of them only came about due to the reduction in square meters. The question then is: what is more expensive? One less corner but 5–10m² (54–108 sq ft) more, or one corner and 5–10m² (54–108 sq ft) less?
For example, the living room area—the depth was only 3m (10 feet) in the first draft, which we found far too shallow, so we increased it to 5m (16 feet) in depth. But if I also extend the guest room and dining room equally to keep everything in a straight line, then I end up with an extra 24m² (260 sq ft) on the ground floor and the same amount upstairs, totaling 48m² (520 sq ft) more! In that case, the two corners seem a bit more cost-effective. Or am I misunderstanding something?
If I move the left front part to the right, making the entire left side flush so that the side entrance downstairs and the storage room upstairs are eliminated, would the roof still be feasible? See the attachment, if I were to cut away that section.
The WC is already mentally removed from the plan. I have been thinking for a while about how to make the kitchen smaller without significantly affecting the exterior appearance.
@haydee, we also visited them and Viebrockhaus and used their room sizes as a reference. The bathroom is even similar to the one at Viebrockhaus. And comparing this with controlled ventilation and smart home features in such a house really seems questionable. What did those luxury villas do 20 years ago without smart home technology? I’m willing to make compromises, and I see it that way with smart home and possibly with controlled ventilation, although I would like to build everything “ready” for those systems, in case the budget permits in the future—meaning laying pipes for future cables where it makes sense. Oh, and by the way, I actually drive a Skoda and have no problem parking the car in front of the house.
And regarding the “staircase suitable for the house”—could you give me an example? I don’t need a grand staircase, especially if it adds another 20m² (215 sq ft), that would be like the expectation that a Mercedes must be parked in front of the house.
I’ll look into barrier-free design, thanks!
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