ᐅ Floor plan of a semi-detached house, 7 by 16 meters, on a 390-square-meter plot in a residential development
Created on: 8 Oct 2021 10:28
M
Marc1990
Hello everyone,
we are currently in the middle of planning the floor plan. Unfortunately, I don’t have the architect’s drawing yet, but I wanted to get your opinions already. I’m afraid the house might be too dark because of the north-facing side, so I actually want to include as many windows as possible.
Thanks in advance!
Development plan / restrictions
Plot size: 390
Slope: no
Site coverage ratio 0.4
Floor area ratio 0.4
Building envelope, building line, and boundary fully utilized
Edge development
Number of parking spaces: 1
Number of floors: 1
Roof type: gable roof 38 degrees
Requirements of the builders
Style, roof type, building type: modern
Basement, floors: ground floor, first floor, attic
Number of occupants, age: 4 (2 adults + 2 children aged 4 & 3), but more children are planned
Office: family use or home office?
Guest bedrooms per year: 5-10
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open & island
Number of dining seats: 6-8
Fireplace: no
Carport later: yes
Utility garden
Other wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons why certain things are desired or not: I would like everything open on the ground floor. Since we have the north side, I’m worried it will be too dark, so I try to plan windows everywhere or doors with side panels. The utility/technical room must be behind the kitchen. First floor: knee wall at 50cm (20 inches). 2 children’s bedrooms & 1 bedroom with walk-in closet. If more children come, the parents will move to the attic. I also want a laundry/utility room upstairs.
Attic: to be finished later.
House design
Planning by: self-planned
What do you particularly like? Why? Open, spacious living area
What do you not like? Why? Bathroom and toilet arrangement bothers me
Preferred heating system: not decided yet, probably heat pump
If you have to give up any details or additions
- can give up: upstairs utility room, freestanding bathtub
- cannot give up: kitchen layout, windows
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
Can I plan the windows better so it stays nice and bright? And I don’t like the bathroom 100%, would appreciate tips.
we are currently in the middle of planning the floor plan. Unfortunately, I don’t have the architect’s drawing yet, but I wanted to get your opinions already. I’m afraid the house might be too dark because of the north-facing side, so I actually want to include as many windows as possible.
Thanks in advance!
Development plan / restrictions
Plot size: 390
Slope: no
Site coverage ratio 0.4
Floor area ratio 0.4
Building envelope, building line, and boundary fully utilized
Edge development
Number of parking spaces: 1
Number of floors: 1
Roof type: gable roof 38 degrees
Requirements of the builders
Style, roof type, building type: modern
Basement, floors: ground floor, first floor, attic
Number of occupants, age: 4 (2 adults + 2 children aged 4 & 3), but more children are planned
Office: family use or home office?
Guest bedrooms per year: 5-10
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open & island
Number of dining seats: 6-8
Fireplace: no
Carport later: yes
Utility garden
Other wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons why certain things are desired or not: I would like everything open on the ground floor. Since we have the north side, I’m worried it will be too dark, so I try to plan windows everywhere or doors with side panels. The utility/technical room must be behind the kitchen. First floor: knee wall at 50cm (20 inches). 2 children’s bedrooms & 1 bedroom with walk-in closet. If more children come, the parents will move to the attic. I also want a laundry/utility room upstairs.
Attic: to be finished later.
House design
Planning by: self-planned
What do you particularly like? Why? Open, spacious living area
What do you not like? Why? Bathroom and toilet arrangement bothers me
Preferred heating system: not decided yet, probably heat pump
If you have to give up any details or additions
- can give up: upstairs utility room, freestanding bathtub
- cannot give up: kitchen layout, windows
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
Can I plan the windows better so it stays nice and bright? And I don’t like the bathroom 100%, would appreciate tips.
ypg schrieb:
I agree with you. When it comes to furnishing, that’s hands-on 😉
But here, the suggestion was to let the kids handle the floor plan drawing – not the furnishing 😉
I have to smile a bit, since I have a granddaughter that age myself 🙂 My older daughter does the same with furnishing. She places all the desired objects in her room using a tablet.
As long as the girls want, they will share one bedroom and use the other as a playroom. That’s the plan, but we’ll see how it turns out once we’re living there and they get older.
Would it actually bring more light if I swap the couch and TV and place a window behind the couch as well? My concern is that eventually a house will be built on the left side (which is very likely), and I won’t get any benefit from the north-facing windows...
Slowly but surely, I’m starting to doubt this plot.
M
Myrna_Loy12 Oct 2021 12:50What does your architect suggest? You have more than 100 sqm (1,076 sq ft) of floor space, so there’s no reason to despair. However, you need a GOOD architect, not just someone who delivers the usual cookie-cutter developer designs.
Look at it this way: the north side has the advantage that you don’t have to worry about shading and won’t have problems with overheated living spaces. You just need to let go of your fixed ideas about the kitchen and street side.
I see a major issue in your current plan: low ceilings combined with very long rooms.
So once again, my question: How is your neighbor building? Would a recessed upper floor or, for example, a single-sloped roof be possible? What kind of exemption have you been granted?
I would seriously consider building somewhat shorter and instead immediately finish the upper floor. Otherwise, you’ll end up with oddly shaped rooms later on. The upper floor can initially be used as a playroom, with the children in one room. The rest could be divided into a utility room and bathroom. And I would strongly reconsider the 2.30 m (7 ft 7 in) ceiling height. That is less than the usual minimum requirement for living areas and could become a deal breaker when selling later.
Even the 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in) ceiling height can, given the floor area, ruin the open, spacious impression you want. It might make the large room feel smaller than, for example, a room that is 2 m (6 ft 7 in) shorter but with 2.70 m (8 ft 10 in) ceilings.
I would also look into whether it’s possible to move the staircase further forward and make it a single flight, perhaps with a quarter turn. Otherwise, noise from the living area—and large, low rooms tend to be noisy—will carry straight upstairs. So I’d design the front quarter of the house to include technical rooms, bathroom, utility space, and the staircase area with a cloakroom, maybe separated by a glass wall, and then place the living area with kitchen beyond that.
Look at it this way: the north side has the advantage that you don’t have to worry about shading and won’t have problems with overheated living spaces. You just need to let go of your fixed ideas about the kitchen and street side.
I see a major issue in your current plan: low ceilings combined with very long rooms.
So once again, my question: How is your neighbor building? Would a recessed upper floor or, for example, a single-sloped roof be possible? What kind of exemption have you been granted?
I would seriously consider building somewhat shorter and instead immediately finish the upper floor. Otherwise, you’ll end up with oddly shaped rooms later on. The upper floor can initially be used as a playroom, with the children in one room. The rest could be divided into a utility room and bathroom. And I would strongly reconsider the 2.30 m (7 ft 7 in) ceiling height. That is less than the usual minimum requirement for living areas and could become a deal breaker when selling later.
Even the 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in) ceiling height can, given the floor area, ruin the open, spacious impression you want. It might make the large room feel smaller than, for example, a room that is 2 m (6 ft 7 in) shorter but with 2.70 m (8 ft 10 in) ceilings.
I would also look into whether it’s possible to move the staircase further forward and make it a single flight, perhaps with a quarter turn. Otherwise, noise from the living area—and large, low rooms tend to be noisy—will carry straight upstairs. So I’d design the front quarter of the house to include technical rooms, bathroom, utility space, and the staircase area with a cloakroom, maybe separated by a glass wall, and then place the living area with kitchen beyond that.
ypg schrieb:
I have to smile a bit, I have a granddaughter that age myselfYeah. The "older ones" just can't manage it, so the "little ones" have to bring in their input. 😀M
Myrna_Loy12 Oct 2021 13:01driver55 schrieb:
Yeah. The "older generation" just can’t get it done, so it’s time for the "younger ones" to bring their input. 😀If my parents planned it, everything would look like Hundertwasser meets Bauhaus. 😱Myrna_Loy schrieb:
What does your architect suggest? You have more than 100 sqm (1,076 sq ft) of floor area, so there’s no reason to be discouraged. But you do need a GOOD architect, not someone offering just the usual cookie-cutter developer solutions.
Look at it this way: the north side has the advantage that you don’t have to worry about shading or overheating living spaces. You just need to let go of your fixed ideas about the kitchen location and street side.
I see a major problem in your current plan: low ceilings combined with very long rooms.
So, once again, how is the neighbor building? Would a stepped floor level or, for example, a shed roof be possible? What kind of exemption have you been granted?
I would seriously consider building a bit shorter but fully finishing the attic floor right away. Otherwise, you’ll end up with oddly shaped rooms later on. The attic could initially be a playroom, with the children’s bedrooms set up there. The rest could be used as a utility room and bathroom. And I would really reconsider the 2.30 m (7 ft 7 in) ceiling height. That’s lower than what is usually required for living spaces and could become a deal breaker when you sell later.
Even the 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in) ceiling height can ruin the open, spacious feeling you want with this floor area, making a large room feel smaller than a room that is 2 m (6 ft 7 in) shorter but has 2.70 m (8 ft 10 in) ceilings. It has to be a gable roof. The neighbor is building exactly the same as we are. I will also ask about the 2.30 m ceiling height; it has been discussed.
Myrna_Loy schrieb:
What does your architect suggest? You have more than 100 sqm (1,076 sq ft) of floor area, so there’s no reason to be discouraged. But you do need a GOOD architect, not someone offering just the usual cookie-cutter developer solutions.
Look at it this way: the north side has the advantage that you don’t have to worry about shading or overheating living spaces. You just need to let go of your fixed ideas about the kitchen location and street side.
I see a major problem in your current plan: low ceilings combined with very long rooms.
So, once again, how is the neighbor building? Would a stepped floor level or, for example, a shed roof be possible? What kind of exemption have you been granted?
I would seriously consider building a bit shorter but fully finishing the attic floor right away. Otherwise, you’ll end up with oddly shaped rooms later on. The attic could initially be a playroom, with the children’s bedrooms set up there. The rest could be used as a utility room and bathroom. And I would really reconsider the 2.30 m (7 ft 7 in) ceiling height. That’s lower than what is usually required for living spaces and could become a deal breaker when you sell later.
Even the 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in) ceiling height can ruin the open, spacious feeling you want with this floor area, making a large room feel smaller than a room that is 2 m (6 ft 7 in) shorter but has 2.70 m (8 ft 10 in) ceilings.
I would, for example, look into whether the staircase could be moved further forward and then designed as a single flight, maybe with a quarter turn. Otherwise, noise from the living area—these big, low rooms tend to be quite loud—will travel directly upstairs. So in the front quarter of the house, create a space for technical equipment, bathroom, utility room, and staircase area with a coat closet—perhaps separated by a glass wall—and then start the living area with kitchen and so on behind that. Unfortunately, we can’t raise the ceiling height. I haven’t been able to reach my architect today. More information will follow.
I want to keep the option open to add a child’s room on the upper floor. Honestly, I like the upper floor as it is except for the known lighting issue.
And on the ground floor, he said it’s good, but I should be aware it will feel narrow. He didn’t like the idea of a side entrance because when you enter the room, you should be able to see all the way to the terrace. That apparently makes the space feel larger. Oh, and when I asked if it might be tight between the staircase and dining table, he said that once finished, it will feel like standing in a ballroom. The idea (see attachment, entrance only on the west side) is absolutely beautiful, but the upper floor just doesn’t fit with it—and definitely not the attic because of the staircase.
I found the ground floor quite nice before posting here 😀 I just needed more light.
But I understand all the objections.
Myrna_Loy schrieb:
If my plans were like that, everything designed by Hundertwasser would look like Bauhaus. 😱 For us, it’s the opposite: she’s not really good with corners yet, but according to the doctor, she should be able to handle pencils well already 😀
Myrna_Loy schrieb:
For example, I would look into whether the staircase could be moved further forward and be single-flight, I already did that, which the original poster also likes. However, the staircase has to be centered because of the load-bearing wall.
Myrna_Loy schrieb:
So once again, my question: How is the neighbor building? I don’t think his south-facing orientation will be a serious problem. Also, I’d bet that if a family is planned there, another room will be added downstairs, so that the ceiling heights in the main living areas of normal size won’t really matter.
Marc1990 schrieb:
My concern is that eventually a house will be built on the left (which will probably happen), and I won’t get any daylight from the north-facing windows... I think your windows on the ground floor are sufficient. The standard is 1/10th of the room size. The windows on the east plus 4–6 sqm (43–65 sq ft) or 8 sqm (86 sq ft) additionally on the north side, so that the room center gets daylight, should be enough.
That you’ll have to switch on task lighting in the middle of the room after about 3 p.m. or so is something I experience even with 4 sqm (43 sq ft) of south-facing windows at my kitchen island.
Marc1990 schrieb:
Slowly but surely, I’m doubting the plot. No need to. But maybe plan a bit more according to the plot instead of stubbornly sticking to old ideas. This especially applies to the living room!!!
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