ᐅ Single-family house, 160 m² with basement, on a 500 m² plot of land
Created on: 9 Jun 2020 18:34
M
Murmelstein
Hi,
We have a 500m2 (5400 sq ft) plot where we would like to build.
We have now received the initial plans from our preferred construction company.
We need a basement because my wife and I both work from home, and we have three children who should each have their own room.
The attic is not really a good option due to the small dormer window and a building height limit of 9 meters (30 ft). The basement is quite expensive because of the clay soil, but in the end, we decided in favor of the basement, and the first financing simulations fit approximately a $680,000 build cost including additional construction expenses. The land is not included, of course.
I think the plans are already quite good, but I don’t have much expertise. A master bathroom was our request. The guest bathroom on the ground floor is there because we often have guests staying with us.
In my opinion, the pantry can be left out.
I planned the upstairs hallway once larger and once smaller to allow for a bigger children’s bathroom.
I miss the external staircase to the basement. If the stairs were on the right side, it would allow for "normal" windows in the basement offices. I have pointed this out. Also, the street runs roughly along the house from left to right and drops about one meter (3 ft).
I’m not sure about the layout of the "fitness" room; I think it might be structurally necessary. I want to bother the architect only once we are 100% sure we are going with this construction company.
What I generally don't like right now is that generic feel when looking at it, but the house is simply a standard two-story with a 30° pitched roof.
I would really like to know from your experience whether this covered terrace is a good idea or not.
Thanks in advance
We have a 500m2 (5400 sq ft) plot where we would like to build.
We have now received the initial plans from our preferred construction company.
We need a basement because my wife and I both work from home, and we have three children who should each have their own room.
The attic is not really a good option due to the small dormer window and a building height limit of 9 meters (30 ft). The basement is quite expensive because of the clay soil, but in the end, we decided in favor of the basement, and the first financing simulations fit approximately a $680,000 build cost including additional construction expenses. The land is not included, of course.
I think the plans are already quite good, but I don’t have much expertise. A master bathroom was our request. The guest bathroom on the ground floor is there because we often have guests staying with us.
In my opinion, the pantry can be left out.
I planned the upstairs hallway once larger and once smaller to allow for a bigger children’s bathroom.
I miss the external staircase to the basement. If the stairs were on the right side, it would allow for "normal" windows in the basement offices. I have pointed this out. Also, the street runs roughly along the house from left to right and drops about one meter (3 ft).
I’m not sure about the layout of the "fitness" room; I think it might be structurally necessary. I want to bother the architect only once we are 100% sure we are going with this construction company.
What I generally don't like right now is that generic feel when looking at it, but the house is simply a standard two-story with a 30° pitched roof.
I would really like to know from your experience whether this covered terrace is a good idea or not.
Thanks in advance
M
Murmelstein8 Jul 2020 16:0211ant schrieb:
It would definitely have a much better chance than trying to bend a crooked joint in several places. I will definitely tell her that. It makes sense. We're slowly getting desperate because we’re under a lot of time pressure. Well, let’s see what happens on Monday. I can still schedule meetings with architects for introductions anyway…P
pagoni20208 Jul 2020 18:08Murmelstein schrieb:
The idea with the 3 sinks was more humorous than serious. However, I read a different reason from you about that, and that is also how it’s marked in the design. From my own experience and in our circle, it’s usually the case that your growing kids no longer stand side by side at the sink giggling. Usually the older one goes down to the basement (where their room might be) looking for peace and quiet, and the other uses the parents’ bathroom or the main floor bathroom. I had a similarly idealistic misjudgment in my own thinking 30 years ago, so maybe I can relate a bit to your situation.
The same goes for the topic of architects and comments from relatives. I was also told back then that architects are expensive and usually not very good, and that you can do everything yourself. Take a look at how your advisors themselves live, then you can better judge their statements. Do you want to live like them? Politely but clearly tell the lady that you don’t like how things are going, and ask her to prepare 2 or 3 sketches—if necessary, just basic plans on paper as initial ideas. And hold back on the gimmicks; there won’t be enough room later for all sorts of extras.
Murmelstein schrieb:
I believe we simply don’t have endless options on the main floor. Not endless, but quite a few—you just can’t imagine them yet as a layperson. Even just by changing the building shape...
Murmelstein schrieb:
Podesttreppe (half-landing staircase) Could you please remove this word from your vocabulary? You’re thinking about things that might never appear in a well-designed floor plan. You’re not the one planning!
Murmelstein schrieb:
Maybe I should say exactly that... Yes, Ms. Meier, you need to tell her that you don’t like it that way. This kind of interaction won’t necessarily be different with a freelance architect. It’s even expected—how else will she know you want it differently?
Murmelstein schrieb:
Honestly, I was hoping that one of the planning experts here would make a “dirty” rough sketch so I could “help” her with it. Please snap out of therapy mode. If she really needs that, get up and leave immediately. Or do you just like diagnosing?
Murmelstein schrieb:
We’re slowly getting desperate because we unfortunately have time pressure. That’s a really bad situation... I don’t think the problem is that big. Talk to her and ask her to make some suggestions; let her create ideas on her own. Let her work completely independently—no half-landing stairs, no 3 sinks, no garage width restrictions, etc. Maybe then the knot will loosen and you can apply your adjustments afterward.
Don’t be upset with me, but I think you’re a bit too fixed or rigid, maybe because of the time pressure. Let her do her work, completely alone, and then post the drafts here. Maybe she’s just doing what you want so she can have peace.
M
Murmelstein8 Jul 2020 18:29pagoni2020 schrieb:
Don’t be mad at me, but I think you might be a bit too fixed or stubborn about this, maybe also due to time pressure. Just let her do it completely on her own and then post the drafts here. Maybe she’s just doing what you want to get some peace.That’s how it seems to me as well. I will do exactly that on Monday. So far, there have been no sketches or similar, just the plan from the first post, a fixed-price offer, and many detailed specifications from the scope of work description.Then we told her: garage too small, first kid’s room too cramped, and living room too small, and then came the latest plan.
Now she really should make some hand sketches to show what building volume fits inside the building envelope. Although the building envelope is already almost fully utilized except for a few centimeters here and there.
P
pagoni20208 Jul 2020 18:33Murmelstein schrieb:
Yes, that's how it seems to me. I will do the same on Monday. So far, there have been no sketches or anything like that, just the plan from the first post, a fixed-price quote, and many detailed specifications from the construction scope description.
Then we told them: garage too small, first child's bedroom too tight, and living room too small, and then the latest plan came.
Now she really should make some hand sketches showing what building volume fits within the building envelope. Although the building envelope is already almost fully utilized, except for a few centimeters here and there. Exactly... and she must be thinking the same last sentence, since you are a layperson and client. Just wait and see what comes out when she can design completely freely, as if it were her own house for this number of people.
I’m curious... better to wait a bit than to regret it for a lifetime!
M
Murmelstein8 Jul 2020 19:10pagoni2020 schrieb:
Exactly..... and she must think the last sentence too, because you are a layperson and a client. Just wait and see what happens when she can plan completely freely, as if it were her own house with this number of people.
Really curious..... better to wait a bit and then not regret it for a lifetime! Yes, all experience reports, articles, podcasts, and books say you should take plenty of time for planning.
Due to various circumstances, we now have only 2-3 months left to submit the building permit / planning permission application... this is really a big problem!
Murmelstein schrieb:
Due to various circumstances, we now only have 2-3 months left to submit the building permit / planning permission application...Then forget any detailed advice or clever suggestions and focus on an essential emergency plan, because there won’t be time for more:1. Scroll back to the beginning of the thread and review every post individually
2. Write down every concrete criticism mentioned
3. Print this list twice, once for your wife and once for yourself
4. Give yourselves each ten sticky dots; very important issues get two dots
5. Fixing these criticized points is the ONLY task for the planner:
The “worst” = most urgent points are those receiving the most dots combined from you and your wife; ALL points without dots will remain as they are or be addressed with the next house project.
You can forget about scheduling a meeting with an independent architect; with so little time left, better planning is not possible. Two to three months minus structural engineering, heating demand calculations, and the like (calculated from the planner’s return from vacation) amount to almost zero.
Use the rest of the planner’s vacation time to accept this approach. That’s my final word, over and out.
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