ᐅ Improving the Floor Plan – How to Do It?

Created on: 20 Sep 2020 21:50
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LuiseRadiese
Hello!
Apparently, our floor plan, as we originally wanted it, is causing some practical issues.
We are planning a prefab house (9.42 x 9.42 meters (31 x 31 feet)) with a gable roof, knee wall height 1.60 meters (5 ft 3 in), and roof pitch of 25 degrees. At our request, the entrance is planned on the eaves side on the north.
We are actually happy with the ground floor. Our main priorities on the ground floor were an open living-dining area, a guest/workroom, and a guest toilet with shower. The utility room has a window that is located under the carport.

Now about the upper floor, which I like but is causing problems:

1. The door of the north-facing children's room opens against the window. Should it open into the room? Or open outward into the hallway, like the bedroom door is planned (why is it like that there…)?

2. The window in the master bedroom on the upper floor (south side) is planned without a roller blind. This is because a distance of 2.05 meters (6 ft 9 in) to the side wall with the roof slope must be maintained for a roller blind. In the current plan (open walk-in closet) the window could still be moved slightly. However, I wanted to close off the wall to the walk-in closet so that it is accessible from the hallway. According to my calculations, to fit the window there, the walk-in closet would have to be reduced by about 70 cm (28 inches), which is hardly possible.

Do you have any ideas for redesigns that could help us here?

Floor plan of an apartment: large living/dining area, kitchen, workspace, hallway, utility room, guest toilet/shower.


Floor plan of the upper floor: two children's rooms, master bedroom, walk-in closet, bathroom, gallery, stairs.
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haydee
21 Sep 2020 06:38
You mentioned a slope. How much within the building area?

Roller shutters are definitely recommended for shading.
Find out about the difference between an air-to-air heat pump and an air-to-water heat pump.
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Ysop***
21 Sep 2020 06:47
I don’t like the upper floor either. In addition to the points you mentioned, there is a child’s bedroom facing the dark north and the master bedroom (without shutters :eek) facing south. I would also design that differently in the next draft.
Pinky030121 Sep 2020 07:24
A bedroom facing south is a pity since it’s only used for sleeping. The children's room is better placed in the darker north-facing room. South orientation without shutters will be a nightmare; in summer, you’ll end up sleeping in a sauna.
@11ant made a good point: instead of adding a knee wall to a townhouse, it’s better to start with a different house type—which I’d call a one-and-a-half-story house—as the basis.
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LuiseRadiese
21 Sep 2020 07:52
haydee schrieb:

You mentioned a slope. How much within the building plot?

Definitely use roller shutters for shading.
Make sure to learn the difference between an air-to-air heat pump and an air-to-water heat pump.
The plot is 20 m (65.6 ft) wide and 25 m (82 ft) deep. It is fairly level for about the first 12 m (39.4 ft) and then drops by 1.75 m (5.7 ft) down to the property boundary. So, it’s a kind of terracing toward the south-facing garden.
Do you consider an air-to-air heat pump to be disadvantageous?
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ypg
21 Sep 2020 08:06
LuiseRadiese schrieb:

Do you consider the air-to-air heat pump to be disadvantageous?

Please avoid discussing technical issues in floor plan debates. Don’t mix everything up in your head. I also believe this is a case of choosing the wrong initial design.
11ant schrieb:

You need a different initial design (with a pitched roof top floor; some providers call this a "country house" – don’t worry, it’s not referring to the Forsthaus Falkenau style, the look can be urban and modern). Usually, you’re better off with rectangular rather than square floor plans.

LuiseRadiese schrieb:

I have to admit I’m a bit overwhelmed and don’t immediately know how to solve this.


First focus on the house and the design, then everything else. Read up here first. Unfortunately, we don’t know your ideas about the plot and how you intend to use it. But take a look at it and sketch as suggested in the advice thread. Try sketching roughly with rectangles or a grid. Then find a similar floor plan that already exists as a gable roof house. Have your builder calculate and redraw it as a 70, 55, and 40 cm (28, 22, and 16 inch) insulation thickness version, and then let it be discussed here. Choosing 40 cm (16 inch) insulation is like playing the lottery or buying stocks – the money has to be available. Spend your money instead on sensible windows at least 2 meters (6.5 feet) tall and smart kitchen planning.
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LuiseRadiese
21 Sep 2020 10:23
ypg schrieb:

Don't discuss technical details in floor plan debates. Don't mix everything up in your head.
I also believe: wrong original design.
This kind of response confuses me.
I didn't even bring up the heat pump topic...?