Good evening!
I’m hoping for some collective advice. We want to expand a two-family house – the options we considered at the time were either an extension or creating a usable attic by slightly raising the knee wall. I had major reservations about the first option because I’ve hardly ever seen an attractive extension. Then the architect sent me a design that I quite liked. However, it later turned out that structurally it only works with so many compromises that it’s unusable again. For several days now, I’ve been looking at this view and it only looks worse. It resembles a garage. But that’s not all – what was supposed to be a shaded area is unfortunately only 1.7m (5.6 ft) high. Yet that matches the balcony, as it was trimmed to the same width.
All parties involved, meaning us and the architect, generally get along well but are currently a bit stressed with each other. How does one handle a situation like this? By the way, we’re still puzzled about how the chaotic arrangement of windows on the garden side came about.
I’m hoping for some collective advice. We want to expand a two-family house – the options we considered at the time were either an extension or creating a usable attic by slightly raising the knee wall. I had major reservations about the first option because I’ve hardly ever seen an attractive extension. Then the architect sent me a design that I quite liked. However, it later turned out that structurally it only works with so many compromises that it’s unusable again. For several days now, I’ve been looking at this view and it only looks worse. It resembles a garage. But that’s not all – what was supposed to be a shaded area is unfortunately only 1.7m (5.6 ft) high. Yet that matches the balcony, as it was trimmed to the same width.
All parties involved, meaning us and the architect, generally get along well but are currently a bit stressed with each other. How does one handle a situation like this? By the way, we’re still puzzled about how the chaotic arrangement of windows on the garden side came about.
Tassimat schrieb:
Yes!! Because you have to pay the invoices the architect causes. The architect does not spend their own money. Oh dear! We had clearly stated that the 400 is the maximum turnkey price. As a lawyer, I would have some concerns if the architect then makes a proposal that is not feasible in this form at all and completely escapes liability.
Evolith seems to be the key issue overall and matches my initial impression. If living space can be created quite easily, why would anyone take on the challenge of an uncertain extension on a slope? We don’t want the children to take care of us, and they wouldn’t want that either. But easy-going multi-generational living isn’t a bad option. And if it doesn’t work out, then it doesn’t. In that case, I would either start a Methuselah shared household or just get rid of it completely and spend retirement at an attractive beach.
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pagoni202020 Apr 2021 14:23First of all, I believe it is difficult to accommodate several living scenarios at once. The idea that one might later want to move into the smaller living unit at some point sounds reasonable to me. Whether it is the youngest child (can she already walk or is she already riding a convertible electric toy car?) or parents or whoever else might live there initially, I would classify this as “secondary” since these are rather uncertain/unpredictable options. What the youngest might like could be a nightmare for the parent, or vice versa. One possibility might be to design one or more apartments (at least separable as an option), because as you write, you might need multiple apartments EN, so plural. Then better 2-3 small ones than one large one.
In this respect, I (or better, the architect) would put more thought into a sensible and flexible interior layout rather than finding an eye-catching facade that then consumes the budget needed for interior work. An extension can also look stylish if kept simple; it doesn’t necessarily have to be like an antler with carvings on it.
A well-known dream many women have... at some point, men don’t run away anymore, unless the food tastes bad or the beer brought to the couch is constantly warm.
...that, on the other hand, could be changed depending on your interests 🤨
As I said, I would invest significantly more in the interior. Perhaps in this case or for these planned options, an interior designer would be the right contact person for flexible living spaces and situations. By the way, in most cases, they can also plan the entire extension project.
...exactly, this should also come from the other side. From my point of view, the project still feels overloaded with usage variants, plus the “special” design by the architect, which will surely strain your budget. So far, it sounds like a jack-of-all-trades, and I would worry that the main motivation or the core idea might get lost in the process.
In this respect, I (or better, the architect) would put more thought into a sensible and flexible interior layout rather than finding an eye-catching facade that then consumes the budget needed for interior work. An extension can also look stylish if kept simple; it doesn’t necessarily have to be like an antler with carvings on it.
Schelli schrieb:
If my husband fell from the ladder or ran away with the neighbor
A well-known dream many women have... at some point, men don’t run away anymore, unless the food tastes bad or the beer brought to the couch is constantly warm.
Schelli schrieb:
I wouldn’t want to live alone in 170 sqm (about 1800 sq ft), detached and opposite a forest.
...that, on the other hand, could be changed depending on your interests 🤨
Schelli schrieb:
But once a budget is set, do you have to figure out if the project is feasible within that limit yourself?
As I said, I would invest significantly more in the interior. Perhaps in this case or for these planned options, an interior designer would be the right contact person for flexible living spaces and situations. By the way, in most cases, they can also plan the entire extension project.
Schelli schrieb:
Actually, I had no idea about this option at all,
...exactly, this should also come from the other side. From my point of view, the project still feels overloaded with usage variants, plus the “special” design by the architect, which will surely strain your budget. So far, it sounds like a jack-of-all-trades, and I would worry that the main motivation or the core idea might get lost in the process.
U-value and insertion requirements often conflict ;-)
A gable-end extension continuing the existing roof or an eaves-side extension with a lean-to roof interfere least with the existing building. If the downhill eaves side is already right on the edge, a gable-end extension is more suitable. Raising the knee wall is the most invasive option.
From a practical point of view, integrating the youngest child into the family house—which is generally not recommended—can easily lead to significantly higher costs compared to moving the youngest child out.
I would first conduct a detailed survey—classifying walls as load-bearing, bracing only, or neither load-bearing nor bracing. Then I would assign uses to all existing rooms, allowing walls in the second category to be moved and walls in the third category to be removed. I wouldn’t be surprised if the calculations, assuming the youngest child moves out, already worked out without needing an extension or any other expansion. I can even imagine that a starter apartment in the unraised attic would suffice for the youngest child. After this analysis, the rooms needed only in the expansion plan but not present in the existing building would be specifically identified. Again, I wouldn’t be surprised if these needs could be met from storage space in the basement. Pareto is the enemy of all unnecessary expenses ;-)
Of course, a designer architect would not approach it this way.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Schelli schrieb:
My basic idea was to create a usable attic space by raising the knee wall. I had several ideas for this and still believe that a relatively narrow, tall house can be designed very nicely. The architect, however, firmly rejected this and preferred an extension solution.
A gable-end extension continuing the existing roof or an eaves-side extension with a lean-to roof interfere least with the existing building. If the downhill eaves side is already right on the edge, a gable-end extension is more suitable. Raising the knee wall is the most invasive option.
From a practical point of view, integrating the youngest child into the family house—which is generally not recommended—can easily lead to significantly higher costs compared to moving the youngest child out.
I would first conduct a detailed survey—classifying walls as load-bearing, bracing only, or neither load-bearing nor bracing. Then I would assign uses to all existing rooms, allowing walls in the second category to be moved and walls in the third category to be removed. I wouldn’t be surprised if the calculations, assuming the youngest child moves out, already worked out without needing an extension or any other expansion. I can even imagine that a starter apartment in the unraised attic would suffice for the youngest child. After this analysis, the rooms needed only in the expansion plan but not present in the existing building would be specifically identified. Again, I wouldn’t be surprised if these needs could be met from storage space in the basement. Pareto is the enemy of all unnecessary expenses ;-)
Of course, a designer architect would not approach it this way.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
pagoni2020 schrieb:
Youngest child (can she already walk or is she already driving a convertible?)Cool 😉 The youngest is a newly qualified clinical psychologist and currently takes the bus. I think we definitely need to keep her close to us during the project duration!Schelli schrieb:
Nesthäkchen is a newly qualified clinical psychologist and currently drives a bus.Hopefully not for sightseeing tours. If it's a school bus, she will soon be flying the nest.https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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