Hello, I have been following this forum for a long time and find it always interesting. I thought I might share our planning here. We started planning at the end of 2018, began construction in 03/2019, and moved in by 12/2019.
We planned the floor plans, dimensions, materials, etc., ourselves and then hired a retired architect to create the construction drawings and structural engineering, as well as to submit the building permit / planning permission application. He also handled the approvals and insurance.
Since we live in a historic preservation area with classical architecture, we wanted to reflect this style in our house and I did a lot of research. I know nothing is perfect and it is a series of compromises (size, budget, historic style). We wanted about 120sqm (1292 sqft) of living space, aimed not to exceed a certain budget, and wanted to choose and plan all the trades ourselves (this really saves a lot of money!). I have almost no craftsmanship skills, yet we still did or helped with many tasks ourselves (preparations for the electrician, applying window and facade plaster molding ourselves, ceiling molding, wooden baseboards, cladding the carport, assembling the garden shed, distributing 55t (60 US tons) of soil, planting, manually drilling a garden well, etc.). Ok, my father-in-law helped a lot because he is handy.
We wanted to keep as much symmetry as possible and had a rough idea inspired by a Georgian house. Wooden sash windows and front door made by the local carpenter, facade plaster molding, ceiling height of 2.75m (9 ft) on the ground floor, and a hipped roof with clay tiles.
The staircase was a bit challenging because the hallway is central and the dimensions we set (somewhat arbitrarily) limited a straight staircase. The stair builder managed it nevertheless using some tricks (a bit steeper and with a longer tread or something like that).
Since I talked a lot with energy consultants and wanted a reasonable price-performance/use balance, we made the following decisions:
* Energy standard just enough to meet requirements (saves construction costs)
* Therefore, deliberately only double-glazed windows
* Gas condensing boiler with underfloor heating and gas fireplace
* Solar thermal system for hot water (I would have preferred to skip this as a cost driver; in summer you don’t need 270l (71 gallons) of hot water and in winter the sun usually isn’t sufficient despite the south-facing side)
* No electric window openers (but conduits were installed)
* 36.5cm (14.4 inches) aerated concrete walls on the outside and 17.5/11.5cm (6.9/4.5 inches) limestone interior walls
* Interior walls plastered with cement plaster to Q3 level (relatively smooth)
* Plumbing and heating company installed everything. Toilets, sinks, faucets were bought by us (all Villeroy & Boch and GROHE, mostly via eBay)
* Floor tiles and parquet also bought by us and then installed by professionals
The total cost excluding the land was €297,000 (about USD 320,000) including connections and exterior works, garden planting (partly €500 (about USD 540) per tree), double carport, 12sqm (129 sqft) garden shed, 150sqm (1615 sqft) paving, 24sqm (258 sqft) travertine terrace, insurance, surveying, 55t (60 US tons) of topsoil (we added about 20-30cm (8-12 inches) of soil), kitchen and appliances, electric garden gate, and masonry gate pillars (including historically accurate pillar caps) etc.
Land size: 680sqm (7320 sqft)
Living space: 122sqm (1313 sqft)
* 29sqm (312 sqft) living room
* 11.5sqm (124 sqft) kitchen
* 7.5sqm (81 sqft) utility room (laundry hangs from the ceiling with Foxydry)
* approx. 9.5sqm (102 sqft) hallway downstairs
* 11.5sqm (124 sqft) children’s room
* 9sqm (97 sqft) guest room/library/study
* approx. 9.3sqm (100 sqft) bathroom with shower, freestanding bathtub, toilet, bidet, washbasin
* approx. 20sqm (215 sqft) bedroom with walk-in closet/wardrobe
* The attic is currently an unheated storage room but could still be developed.
The space is sufficient, sometimes missing 0.5-1m (1.6-3.3 ft) here and there, but more space would have come at significantly higher construction costs.
What do you think of the floor plan? Any questions?
I’ve attached some pictures to give you a rough idea.
We planned the floor plans, dimensions, materials, etc., ourselves and then hired a retired architect to create the construction drawings and structural engineering, as well as to submit the building permit / planning permission application. He also handled the approvals and insurance.
Since we live in a historic preservation area with classical architecture, we wanted to reflect this style in our house and I did a lot of research. I know nothing is perfect and it is a series of compromises (size, budget, historic style). We wanted about 120sqm (1292 sqft) of living space, aimed not to exceed a certain budget, and wanted to choose and plan all the trades ourselves (this really saves a lot of money!). I have almost no craftsmanship skills, yet we still did or helped with many tasks ourselves (preparations for the electrician, applying window and facade plaster molding ourselves, ceiling molding, wooden baseboards, cladding the carport, assembling the garden shed, distributing 55t (60 US tons) of soil, planting, manually drilling a garden well, etc.). Ok, my father-in-law helped a lot because he is handy.
We wanted to keep as much symmetry as possible and had a rough idea inspired by a Georgian house. Wooden sash windows and front door made by the local carpenter, facade plaster molding, ceiling height of 2.75m (9 ft) on the ground floor, and a hipped roof with clay tiles.
The staircase was a bit challenging because the hallway is central and the dimensions we set (somewhat arbitrarily) limited a straight staircase. The stair builder managed it nevertheless using some tricks (a bit steeper and with a longer tread or something like that).
Since I talked a lot with energy consultants and wanted a reasonable price-performance/use balance, we made the following decisions:
* Energy standard just enough to meet requirements (saves construction costs)
* Therefore, deliberately only double-glazed windows
* Gas condensing boiler with underfloor heating and gas fireplace
* Solar thermal system for hot water (I would have preferred to skip this as a cost driver; in summer you don’t need 270l (71 gallons) of hot water and in winter the sun usually isn’t sufficient despite the south-facing side)
* No electric window openers (but conduits were installed)
* 36.5cm (14.4 inches) aerated concrete walls on the outside and 17.5/11.5cm (6.9/4.5 inches) limestone interior walls
* Interior walls plastered with cement plaster to Q3 level (relatively smooth)
* Plumbing and heating company installed everything. Toilets, sinks, faucets were bought by us (all Villeroy & Boch and GROHE, mostly via eBay)
* Floor tiles and parquet also bought by us and then installed by professionals
The total cost excluding the land was €297,000 (about USD 320,000) including connections and exterior works, garden planting (partly €500 (about USD 540) per tree), double carport, 12sqm (129 sqft) garden shed, 150sqm (1615 sqft) paving, 24sqm (258 sqft) travertine terrace, insurance, surveying, 55t (60 US tons) of topsoil (we added about 20-30cm (8-12 inches) of soil), kitchen and appliances, electric garden gate, and masonry gate pillars (including historically accurate pillar caps) etc.
Land size: 680sqm (7320 sqft)
Living space: 122sqm (1313 sqft)
* 29sqm (312 sqft) living room
* 11.5sqm (124 sqft) kitchen
* 7.5sqm (81 sqft) utility room (laundry hangs from the ceiling with Foxydry)
* approx. 9.5sqm (102 sqft) hallway downstairs
* 11.5sqm (124 sqft) children’s room
* 9sqm (97 sqft) guest room/library/study
* approx. 9.3sqm (100 sqft) bathroom with shower, freestanding bathtub, toilet, bidet, washbasin
* approx. 20sqm (215 sqft) bedroom with walk-in closet/wardrobe
* The attic is currently an unheated storage room but could still be developed.
The space is sufficient, sometimes missing 0.5-1m (1.6-3.3 ft) here and there, but more space would have come at significantly higher construction costs.
What do you think of the floor plan? Any questions?
I’ve attached some pictures to give you a rough idea.
B
Bertram10024 Sep 2021 10:19I have never been in a single so-called Bauhaus house that truly felt beautiful and cozy. The proportions just didn’t work for me. Often, I also found them simply too large. Such a big floor area doesn’t really suit my way of living. Professionally, I have done many home visits. The coziest homes were always townhouses and variations of those.
Among other reasons, I find terraced houses (row houses) “nice,” meaning the interior offers many possibilities (and I’m probably in the minority with this opinion): the limited space and restricted lighting options allow for a good, functional floor plan that naturally fills with life without being too dominant. I don’t find light everywhere interesting, and the same goes for space everywhere.
I’m a true fan of old architecture that respects proportions and functionality. In my city, there are plenty of townhouses built as terraced houses, in all sizes. These are so cozy and functional because they have a well-thought-out design.
Among other reasons, I find terraced houses (row houses) “nice,” meaning the interior offers many possibilities (and I’m probably in the minority with this opinion): the limited space and restricted lighting options allow for a good, functional floor plan that naturally fills with life without being too dominant. I don’t find light everywhere interesting, and the same goes for space everywhere.
I’m a true fan of old architecture that respects proportions and functionality. In my city, there are plenty of townhouses built as terraced houses, in all sizes. These are so cozy and functional because they have a well-thought-out design.
G
Georgian201924 Sep 2021 10:23Steffi33 schrieb:
The carport itself already represents a break in style. Using a light color only makes this more noticeable. On the other hand, a very dark color allows structures to blend into the natural surroundings, cleverly concealing the style contrast.
This is often seen with modern extensions added to beautiful old houses. We’ll see, it might be repainted later. The paint cost of 300-400 € doesn’t make much difference.
B
Bertram10024 Sep 2021 10:28Georgian2019 schrieb:
Let’s see, maybe it will be repainted. The 300–400 € paint cost doesn’t make much difference.I would probably enclose the front side in a style that matches. A carport just isn’t very attractive (really, never, not at all), and at your place, you can even see it from the porch entrance. I would visually upgrade it (if not even physically 😀) into an outbuilding. That would fit the style of the era: the attended car just lives in the outbuilding.G
Georgian201924 Sep 2021 10:29Bertram100 schrieb:
I have never been in a so-called Bauhaus house that really felt beautiful and cozy. The proportions never seemed right to me. Often, I also found them simply too large. Such a big floor area doesn’t really appeal to me as a living space. Professionally, I have done many home visits. The most comfortable ones were always the townhouses and their variations.
Among other reasons, that’s why I find mid-terrace houses “nice,” meaning from the inside they offer many possibilities (and I’m probably in the minority here): the limited space and restricted access to natural light allow for a good, functional floor plan that naturally fills with life without dominating the space. I don’t find rooms with light everywhere or space everywhere interesting.
I’m a real fan of old architecture that respects proportions and functionality. In my city, there are plenty of townhouses as mid-terrace houses, in all sizes. They are so cozy and functional because they are well designed. London leads the way: most townhouses are terraced houses with only two window fronts – front and back. Areas like Belgravia and others are an unaffordable dream, both in terms of façade architecture and interior design/layouts. The English tend to prefer the small, fully furnished parlor... because it’s cozy and individual. A 50sqm (540 sq ft) living room with tiled flooring, a corner sofa, and a 55” 8K TV mounted on the wall... cozy is something else.
B
Bertram10024 Sep 2021 10:31Georgian2019 schrieb:
Corner sofaAn invention of the interior design devil. 😀 It reliably ruins nearly every room, except for furniture showrooms.I was immediately happy to see from your photos that you don’t have one. 😀
Georgian2019 schrieb:
If only symmetry were at least considered! Symmetry is not a requirement. It is the easiest way to create a harmonious appearance.
Georgian2019 schrieb:
Anything symmetrical is pleasing to the eye, whether in a beautiful face, interior decoration, or architecture. … but seeing symmetry everywhere can become quite boring. Many rely on symmetry because they don’t know how else to achieve balance. However, there are many who can do it differently—for example, using the golden ratio, yes—and they use little or no symmetry anymore. It’s all about the right amount.
Good design is therefore not defined by being symmetrical but should be harmoniously balanced. Look at nature, landscaped beds, gardens, facades, modular furniture, kitchen fronts, and so on.
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