ᐅ Classic single-family house, 200 sqm (plus basement) – any tips?
Created on: 7 Feb 2021 08:37
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MucBauherr
Hello forum,
After some time of quietly reading along, the time has finally come to post our first drafts for our house here. Overall, we are quite satisfied with the designs, especially the ground floor. But that’s exactly the problem: we no longer see any alternatives and would therefore really appreciate if the forum could critically review the drafts without holding back. I will also try to keep updating here as the house construction, which is just starting, progresses. Many thanks and best regards from Bavaria.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 727 sqm (7,823 sq ft)
Slope: no
Floor area ratio: 0.10–0.24
Plot ratio: 0.38
Building envelope, building line and boundary: 9 meters (30 ft) from the street (north side); does not apply to garages
Edge development: Outbuildings (garages)
Number of parking spaces:
Number of floors:
Roof shape:
Style:
Orientation: southwest
Maximum heights / limits: n/a
Other requirements: Buildability according to § 34 Building Code; according to the building authority, the designs can be realized without problems.
Owner Requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: Classic detached single-family house with gable roof.
Basement, floors: basement + ground floor + attic (2 full stories)
Number of occupants, ages: three persons: 32, 30, 2 (+0)
Space requirements on ground and upper floors: 200 sqm (2,150 sq ft) plus
Office: family use or home office?: possibility for home office for 2 people
Overnight guests per year: 20
Open or closed layout: open
Conservative or modern style: modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open kitchen
Number of dining seats: at least 6
Fireplace: yes (currently missing in the plan; intended to be installed in the living room between the two large window panels)
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: yes (we don’t like the current balcony design; might plan a “shorter” upper floor and use the gained space for a balcony instead)
Garage, carport: double garage
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Other wishes / special features / daily routines, also reasons why something should or should not be included
House Design
Designed by: architect
What do you particularly like? Why?: We really like the ground floor with the large window areas facing south.
What do you not like? Why?: undecided on the upper floor; possibly too crowded?
Price estimate according to architect/planner: 800,000
Personal budget limit for the house including fittings: max. 1,000,000 (then including landscaping)
Preferred heating technology: not defined; personally, I am not a fan of air-to-water heat pumps.
If you have to give up certain details or fittings:
-can give up: basement atrium, finishing the basement bathroom now, wood/aluminum windows, the huge terrace, southern window sections made up of individual glass panels
-can’t give up: the overall size
Why has the design turned out as it is now? e.g.
Standard design from the planner?
Which wishes were implemented by the architect? Based on a room program we provided to the architect in advance.
A mix of many examples from various magazines…
What do you think is particularly good or bad about it? Possibly missing a certain “extra.”
What is the most important/fundamental question about the floor plan, summarized in 130 characters:
1. Is the architect’s price estimate roughly realistic?
2. Are there fundamental issues you think won’t work?
3. How could we loosen up the design a bit more?
PS: The furniture in the plans is still somewhat randomly placed. Nothing is final yet. Also, some windows are missing or are currently in the wrong places and are oversized.
Looking forward to your feedback. I will try to answer the questions in more detail especially over the weekend.
Best regards from Bavaria!
After some time of quietly reading along, the time has finally come to post our first drafts for our house here. Overall, we are quite satisfied with the designs, especially the ground floor. But that’s exactly the problem: we no longer see any alternatives and would therefore really appreciate if the forum could critically review the drafts without holding back. I will also try to keep updating here as the house construction, which is just starting, progresses. Many thanks and best regards from Bavaria.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 727 sqm (7,823 sq ft)
Slope: no
Floor area ratio: 0.10–0.24
Plot ratio: 0.38
Building envelope, building line and boundary: 9 meters (30 ft) from the street (north side); does not apply to garages
Edge development: Outbuildings (garages)
Number of parking spaces:
Number of floors:
Roof shape:
Style:
Orientation: southwest
Maximum heights / limits: n/a
Other requirements: Buildability according to § 34 Building Code; according to the building authority, the designs can be realized without problems.
Owner Requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: Classic detached single-family house with gable roof.
Basement, floors: basement + ground floor + attic (2 full stories)
Number of occupants, ages: three persons: 32, 30, 2 (+0)
Space requirements on ground and upper floors: 200 sqm (2,150 sq ft) plus
Office: family use or home office?: possibility for home office for 2 people
Overnight guests per year: 20
Open or closed layout: open
Conservative or modern style: modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open kitchen
Number of dining seats: at least 6
Fireplace: yes (currently missing in the plan; intended to be installed in the living room between the two large window panels)
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: yes (we don’t like the current balcony design; might plan a “shorter” upper floor and use the gained space for a balcony instead)
Garage, carport: double garage
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Other wishes / special features / daily routines, also reasons why something should or should not be included
House Design
Designed by: architect
What do you particularly like? Why?: We really like the ground floor with the large window areas facing south.
What do you not like? Why?: undecided on the upper floor; possibly too crowded?
Price estimate according to architect/planner: 800,000
Personal budget limit for the house including fittings: max. 1,000,000 (then including landscaping)
Preferred heating technology: not defined; personally, I am not a fan of air-to-water heat pumps.
If you have to give up certain details or fittings:
-can give up: basement atrium, finishing the basement bathroom now, wood/aluminum windows, the huge terrace, southern window sections made up of individual glass panels
-can’t give up: the overall size
Why has the design turned out as it is now? e.g.
Standard design from the planner?
Which wishes were implemented by the architect? Based on a room program we provided to the architect in advance.
A mix of many examples from various magazines…
What do you think is particularly good or bad about it? Possibly missing a certain “extra.”
What is the most important/fundamental question about the floor plan, summarized in 130 characters:
1. Is the architect’s price estimate roughly realistic?
2. Are there fundamental issues you think won’t work?
3. How could we loosen up the design a bit more?
PS: The furniture in the plans is still somewhat randomly placed. Nothing is final yet. Also, some windows are missing or are currently in the wrong places and are oversized.
Looking forward to your feedback. I will try to answer the questions in more detail especially over the weekend.
Best regards from Bavaria!
M
MucBauherr7 Feb 2021 20:00Without the plot! We have already purchased the land. We are in no rush and are taking everything very calmly.
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Pfalzpaulianer7 Feb 2021 20:04MucBauherr schrieb:
The prime spot is definitely facing south. I can totally understand your thoughts. It reminds me of my own childhood and youth. I probably wouldn’t have even known which direction my room faced 😀 Unfortunately, the issue with the bathroom drains remains.Well, the kitchen is at least nearby, and the architect will surely come up with a solution.MucBauherr schrieb:
That reminds me of my own childhood and youth. I think of my 24m² (258ft²) room, which didn’t get any sunlight even though the gable was fully glazed. So, I swapped that room with the storage room, about 8m² (86ft²), which had a double casement window facing south.
Okay, you’ve had different experiences, and I still turned out fine, but now I make sure there’s sunlight throughout the whole house. It’s not really about the view, but ultimately I would give up a large window—in a walk-in closet, whether it offers a view or can be seen into. It’s counterproductive.
Laugh... this is really about the location of a walk-in closet on the sunny side of the house—I can only shake my head.
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MucBauherr7 Feb 2021 21:44ypg schrieb:
I’m reminded of my 24sqm (258 sq ft) room that didn’t get any sunlight, even though the gable end was fully glazed. I ended up swapping that room with the storage room, which is about 8sqm (86 sq ft) and has a double casement window facing south.
Okay, you’ve had different experiences, and I turned out fine anyway, but now I make sure there’s sunlight throughout the entire house. Yes, it’s not about the view; ultimately, I would skip a large window — whether it offers views or overlooks — in a walk-in closet. It’s counterproductive.
Haha… this is really about the position of a walk-in closet on the sunny side of the house — I can only shake my head. If you can explain how I can remove the walk-in closet there and still use the space effectively, I’d be very grateful... And I also believe that some light will still get into the east and west sides of the children's rooms. So sure, if there’s a better way, I’m always open to it. Maybe I just don’t see it anymore.
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Gerddieter7 Feb 2021 22:49I don’t think your floor plan is bad!
However, considering the given basic conditions – you have an architect and a generous budget – I’m shocked at how little your architect has made of it... it rather reminds me of the typical boxy standard of general contractors...
I would definitely reconsider the large bathroom and walk-in closet on the south side...
Also, on each floor you have the bathroom or WC in a different corner of the house – that’s not exactly a masterstroke by the architect.
GD
However, considering the given basic conditions – you have an architect and a generous budget – I’m shocked at how little your architect has made of it... it rather reminds me of the typical boxy standard of general contractors...
I would definitely reconsider the large bathroom and walk-in closet on the south side...
Also, on each floor you have the bathroom or WC in a different corner of the house – that’s not exactly a masterstroke by the architect.
GD
First, I would verify the cost estimate, as it seems very tight. I roughly calculated: 240 m² (2,583 sq ft) of living area on the ground and upper floors, 120 m² (1,292 sq ft) of basement, with a large part designed to residential standards and all within the thermal envelope. There are many window surfaces, a double garage, a balcony, awkward bathroom layouts, and several other cost drivers. Also, this is in Bavaria. I don’t think one million will be enough, especially including the landscaping. When I roughly scale our cost calculation for this, I would expect closer to 1.2 million plus finishing and landscaping.