ᐅ Design of a Single-Family House Floor Plan (Convertible to a Two-Family Home for Later Use) on a Sloped Site
Created on: 1 Apr 2021 21:58
S
Seppl's Häusle
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 440 m² (4,736 ft²)
Slope: steep slope of 30° - 40° in the rear area, 7-10 m (23-33 ft) towel-shaped plateau along the street
Floor area ratio: not applicable, suitable
Gross floor area ratio: not applicable, suitable
Building envelope, building line, and boundary: no zoning plan, building permit for another project already approved
Edge development: single-family house, 2 full stories, mostly gable roof, but also flat and hipped roofs
Number of parking spaces: 2 required (no trapped parking space)
Number of stories: 2 full stories plus partial basement on the south-facing slope
Roof type: gable roof
Design style: open to planning
Orientation: hillside facing southwest
Maximum heights / limits: unknown
Other requirements: no zoning plan
Owners’ Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: gable roof, timeless both inside and out
Basement, stories: partial basement (on the slope) + 2 full stories (see cross-section)
Number of people, ages: 2 adults + 2 children
Space needed on ground and upper floor: approx. 85 m² (915 ft²) per floor
Office: initially none, if needed in guest room or basement
Overnight guests per year: hopefully many 🙂
Open or closed architecture: compromise, as the two apartments should remain separable in old age on ground and upper floor
Conservative or modern construction: as above
Open kitchen, kitchen island: yes
Number of dining seats: minimum 4
Fireplace: yes, in the conservatory
Balcony, roof terrace: yes, on the basement level, 2.5 m (8 ft) facing south
Garage, carport: yes, on the east side by the main entrance
Utility garden, greenhouse: terraced garden planned with usable areas
Other wishes / special features: no water connection in the basement to avoid a lifting system. Therefore, laundry room in the upper floor instead of basement. It is located by the stairwell so it can still be used in old age when the upper-floor apartment is separated by a door.
House Design
Who designed it:
Planner from a construction company together with us
What is especially liked? Why?
Open floor plan on the ground floor combined with private retreat areas on each floor. Bay window facing south (downhill side), conservatory, and terrace there as well
What is disliked? Why?
Basement and shape of the basement are not entirely satisfactory but likely cannot be changed due to staircase position in the stairwell.
WC and room on the ground floor feel cramped; have not found a better solution as access should not be through the main hallway
Cost estimate: none yet
Personal price limit including fittings: as long as we stay under 5 million, everything is fine 😀
Preferred heating system: solar combined with pellet heating
What you could live without
-could live without:
Upper floor bathroom is still very large; could be smaller
-cannot live without:
Ability to separate living units for old age, bay window in the living room
Why is the design like this?
The plot has a towel-shaped plateau measuring 22 m (72 ft) wide and 7-10 m (23-33 ft) long. The house’s mass will be placed there. A seating area/garden is planned to the west with access from the kitchen via a few meters of wooden terrace. The slope on the south side drops steeply. The garage and a parking space at the driveway will be located on the east side.
Windows are positioned symmetrically from the outside perspective, which is why their arrangement on the ground and upper floor appears a little unusual.
What is the most important/fundamental question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
We want to use the plot as it is, not fight against it. The unobstructed south view should be emphasized. The sightline from the entrance through the hallway, glass door over the dining table to the garden in the west should make the house feel spacious. Three old trees on the plot will be integrated into the garden. Inside, we aim for minimalism and a timeless living feel.
We welcome all suggestions and ideas but also have clear concepts that can hopefully already be seen in the floor plan.
Is there anything you think we should consider or improve?
Thank you very much for your support 🙂
Plot size: 440 m² (4,736 ft²)
Slope: steep slope of 30° - 40° in the rear area, 7-10 m (23-33 ft) towel-shaped plateau along the street
Floor area ratio: not applicable, suitable
Gross floor area ratio: not applicable, suitable
Building envelope, building line, and boundary: no zoning plan, building permit for another project already approved
Edge development: single-family house, 2 full stories, mostly gable roof, but also flat and hipped roofs
Number of parking spaces: 2 required (no trapped parking space)
Number of stories: 2 full stories plus partial basement on the south-facing slope
Roof type: gable roof
Design style: open to planning
Orientation: hillside facing southwest
Maximum heights / limits: unknown
Other requirements: no zoning plan
Owners’ Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: gable roof, timeless both inside and out
Basement, stories: partial basement (on the slope) + 2 full stories (see cross-section)
Number of people, ages: 2 adults + 2 children
Space needed on ground and upper floor: approx. 85 m² (915 ft²) per floor
Office: initially none, if needed in guest room or basement
Overnight guests per year: hopefully many 🙂
Open or closed architecture: compromise, as the two apartments should remain separable in old age on ground and upper floor
Conservative or modern construction: as above
Open kitchen, kitchen island: yes
Number of dining seats: minimum 4
Fireplace: yes, in the conservatory
Balcony, roof terrace: yes, on the basement level, 2.5 m (8 ft) facing south
Garage, carport: yes, on the east side by the main entrance
Utility garden, greenhouse: terraced garden planned with usable areas
Other wishes / special features: no water connection in the basement to avoid a lifting system. Therefore, laundry room in the upper floor instead of basement. It is located by the stairwell so it can still be used in old age when the upper-floor apartment is separated by a door.
House Design
Who designed it:
Planner from a construction company together with us
What is especially liked? Why?
Open floor plan on the ground floor combined with private retreat areas on each floor. Bay window facing south (downhill side), conservatory, and terrace there as well
What is disliked? Why?
Basement and shape of the basement are not entirely satisfactory but likely cannot be changed due to staircase position in the stairwell.
WC and room on the ground floor feel cramped; have not found a better solution as access should not be through the main hallway
Cost estimate: none yet
Personal price limit including fittings: as long as we stay under 5 million, everything is fine 😀
Preferred heating system: solar combined with pellet heating
What you could live without
-could live without:
Upper floor bathroom is still very large; could be smaller
-cannot live without:
Ability to separate living units for old age, bay window in the living room
Why is the design like this?
The plot has a towel-shaped plateau measuring 22 m (72 ft) wide and 7-10 m (23-33 ft) long. The house’s mass will be placed there. A seating area/garden is planned to the west with access from the kitchen via a few meters of wooden terrace. The slope on the south side drops steeply. The garage and a parking space at the driveway will be located on the east side.
Windows are positioned symmetrically from the outside perspective, which is why their arrangement on the ground and upper floor appears a little unusual.
What is the most important/fundamental question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
We want to use the plot as it is, not fight against it. The unobstructed south view should be emphasized. The sightline from the entrance through the hallway, glass door over the dining table to the garden in the west should make the house feel spacious. Three old trees on the plot will be integrated into the garden. Inside, we aim for minimalism and a timeless living feel.
We welcome all suggestions and ideas but also have clear concepts that can hopefully already be seen in the floor plan.
Is there anything you think we should consider or improve?
Thank you very much for your support 🙂
askforafriend3 Apr 2021 23:25April Fools.
S
Seppl's Häusle17 Oct 2021 21:22At the personal request of @11ant, I would like to share here how your comments and a new planning approach have influenced the project. We reconsidered everything and repositioned the house half a meter (20 inches) deeper into the terrain and one meter (39 inches) further from the road, which the hillside location allowed us to fully basement the building, opening up many options.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 440 m² (4736 sq ft)
Slope: steep hillside with 30° - 40° in the rear section, 7-10 m (23-33 feet) towel-shaped plateau at the road
Floor area ratio (FAR): not applicable
Plot ratio: not applicable
Building boundaries, building line and limits: no development plan, building permit for another project already exists
Surrounding buildings: single-family houses, 2 full stories, mostly gable roofs but also flat and hip roofs
Number of parking spaces: 2 required
Number of stories: 2 full floors + basement (souterrain) on the south-facing slope
Roof type: gable roof
Design style: free planning
Orientation: hillside location facing southwest
Maximum building heights/limits: unknown
Other conditions: no development plan
Client Requirements
Style, roof design, building type: gable roof, timeless both inside and out
Basement, floors: basement including basement living space + 2 full floors
Number of residents, age: 2 adults + 2 children
Space needs on ground floor and upper floor: about 140 m² (1507 sq ft) of living space + 20 m² (215 sq ft) storage area in total
Office: 1 fully functional office, optional second office space in guest room if needed
Guest stays per year: hopefully many 🙂
Open or closed layout: balanced, since the two apartments should be separable for later use
Conservative or modern construction: timber frame construction, as ecological and economical as possible
Open kitchen, cooking island: open kitchen design
Number of dining seats: minimum 4
Fireplace: yes, in the conservatory
Balcony, roof terrace: yes, located in the southwest, directly adjoining the conservatory and wrapping around the corner
Garage, carport: carport on the east side near the main entrance
Utility garden, greenhouse: terraced garden with planned usable areas
Other wishes / special features: two main entrances, one on the north side and one at the carport on the east side
House Design
Designed by: independent planner
What do you particularly like? Why?: very efficient space usage on the upper floor, open design facing south, relatively closed facade to the north
What do you dislike? Why?: We probably have to decide between a wardrobe next to the east main entrance or a small pantry; there is no dedicated pantry space in the kitchen
Estimated cost: hopefully under 700,000€
Personal budget limit for house including fittings: 700,000€
Preferred heating system: solar combined with pellet heating
If you have to give up
-you can give up: layout and room arrangement, finishing the basement in the first years
-you cannot give up: separability of living units for later use
Why did the design turn out the way it did?
As described, it was a rather long process until the floor plan was finalized. The plot is challenging and the budget limited. There is a strong desire for sustainable and ecological construction. We want to keep maintenance and energy costs as low as possible in the future.
What is the most important/fundamental question about the floor plan, summarized in 130 characters?
I believe that your own home is the most important thing.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 440 m² (4736 sq ft)
Slope: steep hillside with 30° - 40° in the rear section, 7-10 m (23-33 feet) towel-shaped plateau at the road
Floor area ratio (FAR): not applicable
Plot ratio: not applicable
Building boundaries, building line and limits: no development plan, building permit for another project already exists
Surrounding buildings: single-family houses, 2 full stories, mostly gable roofs but also flat and hip roofs
Number of parking spaces: 2 required
Number of stories: 2 full floors + basement (souterrain) on the south-facing slope
Roof type: gable roof
Design style: free planning
Orientation: hillside location facing southwest
Maximum building heights/limits: unknown
Other conditions: no development plan
Client Requirements
Style, roof design, building type: gable roof, timeless both inside and out
Basement, floors: basement including basement living space + 2 full floors
Number of residents, age: 2 adults + 2 children
Space needs on ground floor and upper floor: about 140 m² (1507 sq ft) of living space + 20 m² (215 sq ft) storage area in total
Office: 1 fully functional office, optional second office space in guest room if needed
Guest stays per year: hopefully many 🙂
Open or closed layout: balanced, since the two apartments should be separable for later use
Conservative or modern construction: timber frame construction, as ecological and economical as possible
Open kitchen, cooking island: open kitchen design
Number of dining seats: minimum 4
Fireplace: yes, in the conservatory
Balcony, roof terrace: yes, located in the southwest, directly adjoining the conservatory and wrapping around the corner
Garage, carport: carport on the east side near the main entrance
Utility garden, greenhouse: terraced garden with planned usable areas
Other wishes / special features: two main entrances, one on the north side and one at the carport on the east side
House Design
Designed by: independent planner
What do you particularly like? Why?: very efficient space usage on the upper floor, open design facing south, relatively closed facade to the north
What do you dislike? Why?: We probably have to decide between a wardrobe next to the east main entrance or a small pantry; there is no dedicated pantry space in the kitchen
Estimated cost: hopefully under 700,000€
Personal budget limit for house including fittings: 700,000€
Preferred heating system: solar combined with pellet heating
If you have to give up
-you can give up: layout and room arrangement, finishing the basement in the first years
-you cannot give up: separability of living units for later use
Why did the design turn out the way it did?
As described, it was a rather long process until the floor plan was finalized. The plot is challenging and the budget limited. There is a strong desire for sustainable and ecological construction. We want to keep maintenance and energy costs as low as possible in the future.
What is the most important/fundamental question about the floor plan, summarized in 130 characters?
I believe that your own home is the most important thing.
Seppl's Häusle schrieb:
At the personal request of @11ant, I would like to show here what your comments and a new design approach have led to.This makes me happy in two ways: as a kind gesture for myself, and for you, because it means I can still help you in time:
The tenant of the granny flat accesses their apartment in two ways: either through the hallway of the main unit or through their conservatory, then through the dressing room acting as an entrance area. Unfortunately, the roof overhang in front of the children’s bedroom windows serves more as an obstruction to the view than as desirable shading; however, it does keep the area under the desks bright and warm. Although the dimensions on the drawing are a disaster, I can still see enough to recognize that it’s full of amateur mistakes. What does the planner—or rather, the draftsman—do for a living?
At least the floors are now aligned above each other. That’s a start! (although it will still take a while) 🙂
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
S
Seppl's Häusle18 Oct 2021 07:2411ant schrieb:
that it just swarms with botched jobs What exactly do you mean? A bullet-point list or similar would be helpful.
ypg schrieb:
Much of it is not habitable, usable … or anything at all! What exactly do you mean? A bullet-point list or similar would be helpful.
S
Seppl's Häusle18 Oct 2021 07:2711ant schrieb:
The tenant of the granny flat can access their apartment in two ways: either through the hallway of the main residence or through their conservatory, then via the dressing room used as an entrance area.Or the upper floor could be the granny flat (or would that then be called an “upper flat” :p), so that only a drywall partition is needed in the main hallway, creating two apartments with separate entrances 😉
It’s intended to be an option for later in life, not to be implemented right away.
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