ᐅ Detailed Floor Plan for a Single-Family Home with Basement and Separate Apartment
Created on: 29 Dec 2020 15:11
H
Harakiri
Hello everyone,
I would like to get some crowd wisdom on our floor plan (I have already shared it here before regarding a specific detail and an earlier version – see here, but at that time the main focus was on the separation between garage and house).
A quick heads up, since this has been discussed before: unfortunately, the floor plans for the ground floor (GF) and upper floor (UF) are set in stone — they are part of a standard house model from a prefab house manufacturer that cannot be altered (or can, but not within our budget). So, feel free to give harsh criticism on those, but we probably won’t be able to make changes. We believe the floor plan fits our wishes and needs well.
Where we do have some flexibility is in the basement level, which we have to build separately under individual contracts.
There, we have some leeway within certain limits, and this is where my main questions are:
By the way, the site plan is oriented with north at the top, while the others are slightly rotated, but effectively north is still upwards.
For completeness, I have also filled out the questionnaire.
Development plan / restrictions
Plot size: 1018 sqm (10956 sq ft)
Slope: yes
Floor area ratio: no restrictions
Floor space index: no restrictions
Building envelope, building line, boundary: as in site plan
Adjacent buildings: no
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: no restrictions, according to surrounding buildings
Roof style: -
Architectural style: -
Orientation: -
Maximum heights / limits: -
Other requirements: retention cistern, fully biological small sewage treatment plant
Client requirements
Architectural style, roof style, building type: gable roof, rather classic
Basement, floors: basement + ground floor + upper floor
Number of people, age: 2 adults in early 40s, 2 small children, possibly 1 or 2 retirees in the separate apartment
Space requirements on ground and upper floors: as planned
Office, family use or home office?: possibly, if the apartment is not used as intended
Number of overnight guests per year: 10 to 20 (as long as apartment remains a guest unit)
Open or closed architecture: open
Conservative or modern construction: mixed
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open kitchen, peninsula
Number of dining seats: 6
Fireplace: no
Music/sound wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: yes
Garage, carport: garage, integrated in basement
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Special features: KfW 55 standard
House design
Planning by: architect for basement, prefab house manufacturer for ground and upper floors
What do you like most? Why? Utilization of limited building envelope and plot width
What don’t you like? Why? see questions
Cost estimate by architect/planner: not relevant
Personal price limit for house including fittings: not relevant
Preferred heating technology: brine-to-water heat pump
If you had to forgo anything, which details/extensions
- could be omitted: green roof on garage, possibly garage
- cannot be omitted: separate apartment
Why is the design the way it is now? For example:
Mixed standard design + individual/architect planning, largely implemented as desired.
Many thanks in advance for your help!
I would like to get some crowd wisdom on our floor plan (I have already shared it here before regarding a specific detail and an earlier version – see here, but at that time the main focus was on the separation between garage and house).
A quick heads up, since this has been discussed before: unfortunately, the floor plans for the ground floor (GF) and upper floor (UF) are set in stone — they are part of a standard house model from a prefab house manufacturer that cannot be altered (or can, but not within our budget). So, feel free to give harsh criticism on those, but we probably won’t be able to make changes. We believe the floor plan fits our wishes and needs well.
Where we do have some flexibility is in the basement level, which we have to build separately under individual contracts.
There, we have some leeway within certain limits, and this is where my main questions are:
- In the basement’s separate apartment living area, I’m unsure whether to locate the kitchen in the southeast corner (as currently suggested in the plans) or rather in the northwest, where the sofa is shown now. I could weigh up the pros and cons of both options...
- Compared to the current plan, I have decided to combine the two windows on the apartment’s south side into one large wide lift-and-slide door. Now I’m hesitating whether it might make sense to extend the ground floor roof terrace with a balcony of about 1 meter (3 feet) towards the south, so it would act as a small canopy over the basement window front. I’d like to install the lift-and-slide door as close to flush with the floor as possible and am somewhat concerned about precipitation. However, that would mean integrating it into the facade with a thermal break (Isokorb), which of course would be a bit more costly.
- I’m also not very happy with the bathroom layout in the apartment, but I don’t yet have any striking ideas on how to improve it. One requirement is that the bathroom be as age- and disability-friendly as possible — not necessarily to meet any specific standards, but to make it as practical as possible for such users (or for us in a few decades…).
- Recently – and this relates more to garden design – I’ve been unsure whether to plan light wells on the west side in front of the living/dining area and bedroom windows (as currently shown), or instead run a pathway around the house that goes just under the window sill height (around -30 cm (1 foot)) and compensate for the height differences with steps…
By the way, the site plan is oriented with north at the top, while the others are slightly rotated, but effectively north is still upwards.
For completeness, I have also filled out the questionnaire.
Development plan / restrictions
Plot size: 1018 sqm (10956 sq ft)
Slope: yes
Floor area ratio: no restrictions
Floor space index: no restrictions
Building envelope, building line, boundary: as in site plan
Adjacent buildings: no
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: no restrictions, according to surrounding buildings
Roof style: -
Architectural style: -
Orientation: -
Maximum heights / limits: -
Other requirements: retention cistern, fully biological small sewage treatment plant
Client requirements
Architectural style, roof style, building type: gable roof, rather classic
Basement, floors: basement + ground floor + upper floor
Number of people, age: 2 adults in early 40s, 2 small children, possibly 1 or 2 retirees in the separate apartment
Space requirements on ground and upper floors: as planned
Office, family use or home office?: possibly, if the apartment is not used as intended
Number of overnight guests per year: 10 to 20 (as long as apartment remains a guest unit)
Open or closed architecture: open
Conservative or modern construction: mixed
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open kitchen, peninsula
Number of dining seats: 6
Fireplace: no
Music/sound wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: yes
Garage, carport: garage, integrated in basement
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Special features: KfW 55 standard
House design
Planning by: architect for basement, prefab house manufacturer for ground and upper floors
What do you like most? Why? Utilization of limited building envelope and plot width
What don’t you like? Why? see questions
Cost estimate by architect/planner: not relevant
Personal price limit for house including fittings: not relevant
Preferred heating technology: brine-to-water heat pump
If you had to forgo anything, which details/extensions
- could be omitted: green roof on garage, possibly garage
- cannot be omitted: separate apartment
Why is the design the way it is now? For example:
Mixed standard design + individual/architect planning, largely implemented as desired.
Many thanks in advance for your help!
Thank you for the helpful suggestions!
Basement/in-law apartment -> if I understand your idea about the entrance/hallway correctly, I can picture the situation quite well visually, but I’m afraid it might not be structurally possible. I will need to check on that.
In the bathroom, I’m not entirely sure: the washbasin would be placed under the light well/window, right? That might be a bit inconvenient if you also want to have a mirror cabinet.
Ground floor -> we liked the open kitchen and hallway setup; I’m not sure if we want to close it off. The beam is implemented there as a steel girder, so that might be structurally tricky, I think. Opposite the stairs, our small library is currently planned.
Upper floor -> I just noticed that I had uploaded an older version of the upper floor plan: we have actually moved the bedroom door to the short wall, one of the few allowed changes. We hadn’t considered the idea of converting the roof slopes into a walk-in closet before, but that sounds very interesting! I still need to check the dimensions and think about how to possibly install sliding doors there (everything is drywall-clad).
Basement/in-law apartment -> if I understand your idea about the entrance/hallway correctly, I can picture the situation quite well visually, but I’m afraid it might not be structurally possible. I will need to check on that.
In the bathroom, I’m not entirely sure: the washbasin would be placed under the light well/window, right? That might be a bit inconvenient if you also want to have a mirror cabinet.
Ground floor -> we liked the open kitchen and hallway setup; I’m not sure if we want to close it off. The beam is implemented there as a steel girder, so that might be structurally tricky, I think. Opposite the stairs, our small library is currently planned.
Upper floor -> I just noticed that I had uploaded an older version of the upper floor plan: we have actually moved the bedroom door to the short wall, one of the few allowed changes. We hadn’t considered the idea of converting the roof slopes into a walk-in closet before, but that sounds very interesting! I still need to check the dimensions and think about how to possibly install sliding doors there (everything is drywall-clad).
Harakiri schrieb:
But I’m afraid it won’t be structurally possible. I need to check.You’ll have to take a look for yourself. I could also imagine swapping the living room and kitchen and keeping the wall along the building line. The room would feel more open towards the terrace without kitchen cabinets there.
Harakiri schrieb:
Would the washbasin be placed under the light well/window then?Light wells are flexible, just like the entire basement, so they can be moved.Harakiri schrieb:
Ground floor -> we liked the open kitchen and hallway, but I’m not sure if we want to close it off.The kitchen is not open. A layout like that is not open. Everyone has to go through the quiet zone to get to the fridge. That’s inconvenient with several people, for example in the evening or when the children’s friends come over. You will always be disturbed. Kids don’t stay small.Harakiri schrieb:
I still need to check the dimensions and consider how to possibly attach sliding doors there (it’s all drywall-clad).Build an independent wooden frame in front, with shelves and rods inside, then install Pax doors on tracks in front. I’m a woman, and if I have an idea, something like that can definitely be done 😉ypg schrieb:
You’ll have to take a look yourself. I could also imagine swapping the living room and kitchen, then keeping the horizontal partition wall as is. The room would feel more open towards the terrace without kitchen cabinets.Yes, that was one of my initial questions or considerations.
Light wells are flexible like the entire basement and can therefore be moved.True, but if the shower and sink (about 2 meters (6.5 feet) wide) are placed along the north wall (3.13 meters (10.3 feet)), there’s no room left for a 1.5-meter (5 feet) double window. On top of that, it would have to be shifted to the far right corner of the room, which might look a bit awkward.
The kitchen is not open. A G-shaped kitchen is not open.I’ve attached a kitchen design. For us, it would be open like that or at least have a nice connection to the dining area.
You would probably prefer a floor plan like the second standard layout of the model house (also attached).
Everyone has to walk through the quiet zone to get to the calcium silicate block wall. That’s disturbing with multiple people, for example in the evenings or when the kids’ friends are visiting. You will always be disturbed. Kids don’t stay small.Once the kids are grown up, they go to work and are too tired for friends in the evening. Problem solved. 😎
Attach a separate wooden frame in front, with shelves and rods inside, and sliding PAX doors in front. I’m a woman, and if I have an idea, something like that can be done 😉 Sure, basically anything is possible. But since Danwood only builds cold roofs, I have the vapor barrier on the slopes, so I’m a bit unsure there. What would definitely work is building a self-supporting structure, perhaps as a custom closet or even better by modifying our PAX. We really like the idea and will probably go ahead with it.
You’re right, I hadn’t gotten back to you. Here are some exterior views of the current status.
Once things are a bit more organized inside after the move, I will also upload some interior shots.
The separate apartment will remain unfinished inside for now – we’ll complete it gradually. In the end, we changed relatively little (or rather, could change). We left out the utility room in the separate apartment in favor of a spacious hallway/entrance area, where we hope the utility room functions can be integrated into the cupboards.
In the bathroom, we decided to skip the bathtub – but I don’t have an updated floor plan showing the new layout.
Once things are a bit more organized inside after the move, I will also upload some interior shots.
The separate apartment will remain unfinished inside for now – we’ll complete it gradually. In the end, we changed relatively little (or rather, could change). We left out the utility room in the separate apartment in favor of a spacious hallway/entrance area, where we hope the utility room functions can be integrated into the cupboards.
In the bathroom, we decided to skip the bathtub – but I don’t have an updated floor plan showing the new layout.
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