ᐅ Single-family home plot purchased – opinions on architect’s design
Created on: 15 Jul 2020 22:45
M
maleba89
We have purchased our building plot and have just received the drawings from our architect.
I wanted to gather some opinions and suggestions. Perhaps you have some ideas or feedback.
We also received another version of the plans with the same layout, but 1 meter (3 feet) shorter in length and 0.5 meter (20 inches) less in depth, although the floor plan remains the same.
We are considering positioning the house angled toward the street and orienting it more toward the south. The zoning plan / building permit allows this.
The stream on the property is piped underground, and building is permitted up to the stream boundary, provided no structural loads are placed over it. A terrace is allowed in that area.
I wanted to gather some opinions and suggestions. Perhaps you have some ideas or feedback.
We also received another version of the plans with the same layout, but 1 meter (3 feet) shorter in length and 0.5 meter (20 inches) less in depth, although the floor plan remains the same.
We are considering positioning the house angled toward the street and orienting it more toward the south. The zoning plan / building permit allows this.
The stream on the property is piped underground, and building is permitted up to the stream boundary, provided no structural loads are placed over it. A terrace is allowed in that area.
H
hampshire21 Jul 2020 09:24pagoni2020 schrieb:
This exterior design might have been chosen about 30 years ago That was my very first thought.
11ant schrieb:
Your profile states your age as "30" – which makes building for aging in place not very practical. I don’t believe that statement applies universally.
Würfel* schrieb:
I find the house very beautiful; I like the style. See, tastes really do differ.
Climbee schrieb:
Someone has money, but unfortunately taste can’t be bought. See above – that comment sounds somewhat arrogant.
Climbee schrieb:
Even so, it’s completely pointless and just costs money. The bay window is not pointless if it fulfills a personal dream or aesthetic preference. I wouldn’t build it myself, but I’m not a benchmark for other homeowners.
Climbee schrieb:
And the bedroom is still just the room used at night. Everyone lives differently. Maybe someone works shifts or loves having a nap with a view at midday, and suddenly that room is perfectly placed.
This shows how important it is to explain how you want to live—your dreams and preferences—instead of focusing immediately on the "what." A good architect (m/f/d) can work with that and design a suitable building.
Talk to the architect and describe your desired lifestyle, what you enjoy doing, your habits, what you don’t like… Show pictures of things, furniture, houses, materials, details—while knowing not everything can be included. Let the architect get to know you, then give her free rein with the design—if she’s passionate about it. What results will probably exceed your expectations. Of course, this also requires that you plan to contribute considerable DIY work during construction.
If you want to "play" with different styles, it’s crucial to consider proportion, moderation, and material combinations carefully. Adding a southern-style veranda to an otherwise Scandinavian-influenced house can work fantastically—or be a disaster. If that’s your wish, it’s probably a good idea to avoid many additional forms and accents, like a diamond-shaped roof window.
There’s a BMW E30 in the garage, which today is considered rather narrow. Other furnishings are drawn unusually slender as well, like the chairs at the dining and desk tables. This creates a distorted impression.
My Audi A4 Avant is 4.8m (15 ft 9 in) long. The garage has an internal length of 6.5m (21 ft 4 in) in the car area. If I subtract about 50–60cm (20–24 inches) for cabinets, that leaves 6m (19 ft 8 in) for the car, so there would be 1.2m (3 ft 11 in) of space behind the car. I thought that would be enough.
If it weren’t for the bay window, the bedroom would probably be too tight. The issue with the grid window is correct—I’ll have to disregard that.
The architect’s exterior designs don’t quite fit either. The windows shouldn’t have that many muntins (grilles). The windows in the hobby room and the adjacent children’s room won’t be floor-to-ceiling.
If it weren’t for the bay window, the bedroom would probably be too tight. The issue with the grid window is correct—I’ll have to disregard that.
The architect’s exterior designs don’t quite fit either. The windows shouldn’t have that many muntins (grilles). The windows in the hobby room and the adjacent children’s room won’t be floor-to-ceiling.
P
pagoni202021 Jul 2020 10:05maleba89 schrieb:
If I deduct about 50-60cm (20-24 inches) for cabinets, I have 6m (20 feet) left for the car, so there would be 1.2m (4 feet) of space behind the car. ...but then you would be closing the cabinet door with the front of the car—...of course, the garage is large enough, and it wouldn’t be a problem to turn or move around there now and then. However, I would find that uncomfortable in the living area.
maleba89 schrieb:
If the bay window wasn’t there, the bedroom would probably be too tight. I think this is exactly where the problem lies: you are constantly trying to fix one issue by creating another one elsewhere. This is a common challenge when making changes to an existing, functioning floor plan. The bay window (okay, I’m using this word again) is added because you want to create more space for the bedroom. However, the bay window in turn has consequences elsewhere, not least on the façade, roof, and so on.
Therefore, I would take the advice from @hampshire to heart in particular and try to free yourself completely from previous shapes and be open to something entirely new. So far, it seems more like a desperate tinkering with something.
Or just have this company build exactly as planned, if it’s to your liking, but also with the precisely matched materials intended for this design.
Do you use this terrace? Of course, you often see it on TV, sometimes with a swing underneath. But many people just want a garden that offers privacy.
Would the look be worth the money for you?
The look can definitely be achieved, following the example house. Porch, windows, color, wood.
For riding gear, I would get a separate room. Laundry possibly upstairs in the sleeping area.
I am now referring simply to the main design. Kitchen facing the terrace. In summer, the terrace is living space—eating, grilling, drinking. With children, you feel like you are outside all year long for the first few years. Short distances are not only practical, they also prevent sand dunes.
Bay windows—if any—should be rectangular.
A cloakroom is missing. It might be enough for two people, but not for four.
On the upper floor, move the bedroom out of the bay window and give it a cooler side. The bedroom is just impractical due to the bed position and the many glass elements. It’s huge but has no closet. A more functional layout without a bay window would even save space. I would seriously reconsider whether the bedroom should be located there at all.
Would the look be worth the money for you?
The look can definitely be achieved, following the example house. Porch, windows, color, wood.
For riding gear, I would get a separate room. Laundry possibly upstairs in the sleeping area.
I am now referring simply to the main design. Kitchen facing the terrace. In summer, the terrace is living space—eating, grilling, drinking. With children, you feel like you are outside all year long for the first few years. Short distances are not only practical, they also prevent sand dunes.
Bay windows—if any—should be rectangular.
A cloakroom is missing. It might be enough for two people, but not for four.
On the upper floor, move the bedroom out of the bay window and give it a cooler side. The bedroom is just impractical due to the bed position and the many glass elements. It’s huge but has no closet. A more functional layout without a bay window would even save space. I would seriously reconsider whether the bedroom should be located there at all.
Würfel* schrieb:
I really like the house; the style appeals to me.I was referring to the style of the Eksjöhus Rosenhill. A house like that on such a wonderful large plot really feels like a permanent vacation. If I ever had a holiday home, that would be exactly my kind of place. I myself live—in keeping with my name—in a cube-shaped flat-roof house. So, quite different.
Similar topics