Hello,
we have been following this forum for some time now and have finally received our first draft from the architect. We are not entirely satisfied and wanted to ask for advice here before our next meeting with the architect.
We were unsure whether we are allowed to post the architect’s plan here directly, so we redrafted it ourselves, but the most important details should still be visible.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 350m2 (3,767 sq ft)
Slope: no
Site coverage ratio (floor area ratio for ground area): 0.4
Floor area ratio (total floor area in relation to plot size): 1.2
Building envelope, building line and boundary line
Edge development: yes
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 2 + attic
Roof type: gable roof with 46° pitch
Architectural style: ?
Orientation
Maximum heights / limits: wall height up to 7.5m (25 ft) above street level, house length directly affects roof height due to fixed roof pitch and thus influences setback distances.
Other requirements: terraced development pattern (house/garage/house/garage…), fire separation wall without windows on the west side
Homeowners’ Requirements
Architectural style, roof type: gable roof mandatory
Basement, number of floors: without basement (due to cost)
Number of occupants, age: 4 people (ages 34, 33, 4, 2)
Space requirements on ground floor: utility/technical room, kitchen, living room, dining area, guest WC
Space requirements on upper floor: bedroom, walk-in closet, bathroom, office, laundry room
Space requirements in attic floor: children’s rooms 1 and 2, bathroom
Office use: both family use and home office, currently 95% home office
Guests per year: not relevant
Open or closed layout: open, but living room and kitchen separated by dining area
Conservative or modern style:
Open kitchen with island; kitchen island desired but not at any cost
Number of dining seats: 6-8
Fireplace: no
Music/stereo wall: TV in living room
Balcony, roof terrace: no balcony
Garage, carport: double carport + extension for bicycles and small workbench (two parking spaces must be provided, tandem parking is not allowed)
Utility garden, greenhouse: only a small vegetable and herb bed
Other wishes/particulars/daily routine, including reasons why some things should or should not be included:
KNX system (brother-in-law is a master electrician but has no own company), controlled residential ventilation, photovoltaic system, window seat on the ground floor, bathtub not necessary; my wife has always liked the idea of a straight staircase—if it fits well here, we are open to suggestions.
House Design
Who created the design: architect, first draft
What do you particularly like? Why?
What do you not like? Why?
Window arrangement (exterior view)
Ground floor: living room is too small, guest WC too narrow
Upper floor: access to laundry room through the bathroom, too many doors in the bedroom (doors to bedroom and walk-in closet to be removed)
Attic floor: children’s room 1 has only one window, knee wall only 0.75m (2.5 ft); we will increase it to 1.1m (3.6 ft), cross gable not symmetrical, cross gable might be omitted to save space for more photovoltaic panels
The attic floor will be completely redesigned. Children’s rooms on the east side, bathroom in the northwest, and storage in the southwest.
Cost estimate according to architect/planner: €550,000
Personal budget for the house including fittings: €450,000 (including owner contributions)
Preferred heating technology: ground-source heat pump + photovoltaic, probably air-to-water heat pump + photovoltaic for cost reasons
If you have to give up something, on which details/additional features
-can you give up: kitchen island, bathtub
-can you not give up:
Why is the design the way it is now? For example:
Which wishes were implemented by the architect? The architect’s room program was implemented.
What makes it particularly good or bad in your opinion?
We initially only considered a rectangular house; with the cube shape we gain some space on the ground floor and a double carport is possible. Also, with the current height (12.25m / 40 ft), the house must be at least 4.9m (16 ft) away from the neighboring property (12.25 * 0.4) according to regulations.
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
How can we best arrange the ground floor so that especially the living room doesn’t feel cramped?
We are also considering extending the house by 11m (36 ft).
we have been following this forum for some time now and have finally received our first draft from the architect. We are not entirely satisfied and wanted to ask for advice here before our next meeting with the architect.
We were unsure whether we are allowed to post the architect’s plan here directly, so we redrafted it ourselves, but the most important details should still be visible.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 350m2 (3,767 sq ft)
Slope: no
Site coverage ratio (floor area ratio for ground area): 0.4
Floor area ratio (total floor area in relation to plot size): 1.2
Building envelope, building line and boundary line
Edge development: yes
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 2 + attic
Roof type: gable roof with 46° pitch
Architectural style: ?
Orientation
Maximum heights / limits: wall height up to 7.5m (25 ft) above street level, house length directly affects roof height due to fixed roof pitch and thus influences setback distances.
Other requirements: terraced development pattern (house/garage/house/garage…), fire separation wall without windows on the west side
Homeowners’ Requirements
Architectural style, roof type: gable roof mandatory
Basement, number of floors: without basement (due to cost)
Number of occupants, age: 4 people (ages 34, 33, 4, 2)
Space requirements on ground floor: utility/technical room, kitchen, living room, dining area, guest WC
Space requirements on upper floor: bedroom, walk-in closet, bathroom, office, laundry room
Space requirements in attic floor: children’s rooms 1 and 2, bathroom
Office use: both family use and home office, currently 95% home office
Guests per year: not relevant
Open or closed layout: open, but living room and kitchen separated by dining area
Conservative or modern style:
Open kitchen with island; kitchen island desired but not at any cost
Number of dining seats: 6-8
Fireplace: no
Music/stereo wall: TV in living room
Balcony, roof terrace: no balcony
Garage, carport: double carport + extension for bicycles and small workbench (two parking spaces must be provided, tandem parking is not allowed)
Utility garden, greenhouse: only a small vegetable and herb bed
Other wishes/particulars/daily routine, including reasons why some things should or should not be included:
KNX system (brother-in-law is a master electrician but has no own company), controlled residential ventilation, photovoltaic system, window seat on the ground floor, bathtub not necessary; my wife has always liked the idea of a straight staircase—if it fits well here, we are open to suggestions.
House Design
Who created the design: architect, first draft
What do you particularly like? Why?
What do you not like? Why?
Window arrangement (exterior view)
Ground floor: living room is too small, guest WC too narrow
Upper floor: access to laundry room through the bathroom, too many doors in the bedroom (doors to bedroom and walk-in closet to be removed)
Attic floor: children’s room 1 has only one window, knee wall only 0.75m (2.5 ft); we will increase it to 1.1m (3.6 ft), cross gable not symmetrical, cross gable might be omitted to save space for more photovoltaic panels
The attic floor will be completely redesigned. Children’s rooms on the east side, bathroom in the northwest, and storage in the southwest.
Cost estimate according to architect/planner: €550,000
Personal budget for the house including fittings: €450,000 (including owner contributions)
Preferred heating technology: ground-source heat pump + photovoltaic, probably air-to-water heat pump + photovoltaic for cost reasons
If you have to give up something, on which details/additional features
-can you give up: kitchen island, bathtub
-can you not give up:
Why is the design the way it is now? For example:
Which wishes were implemented by the architect? The architect’s room program was implemented.
What makes it particularly good or bad in your opinion?
We initially only considered a rectangular house; with the cube shape we gain some space on the ground floor and a double carport is possible. Also, with the current height (12.25m / 40 ft), the house must be at least 4.9m (16 ft) away from the neighboring property (12.25 * 0.4) according to regulations.
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
How can we best arrange the ground floor so that especially the living room doesn’t feel cramped?
We are also considering extending the house by 11m (36 ft).
Thank you very much for the quick and clear feedback.
There was indeed a mistake with the budget. The loan limit is set at 450,000 euros (approximately 450k€). We still have about 100,000 euros (approximately 100k€) in equity. DIY work will be added on top of that.
We will handle most of the electrical and gas/water installations ourselves.
We will also do some of the masonry and interior work ourselves. My father-in-law is a bricklayer, and the company he works for will most likely get the contract.
However, I cannot yet estimate the total amount of DIY work involved.
@SoL Thanks for the suggestions. I had noted most of those myself as well.
- The comment about the window in the stairwell is a good point, but I don’t have an idea for this yet since there is a fire protection wall on the west side.
- The rooms in the attic would definitely get a roof window. As mentioned above, the attic will be completely redesigned.
- The wall in the bedroom is intended to be a low wall, but I am not entirely satisfied with it yet.
I will provide the 2-meter (6.5 feet) line later tonight, although we will definitely increase the knee wall from 75cm (30 inches) to 110cm (43 inches).
Best regards, Stegott.
There was indeed a mistake with the budget. The loan limit is set at 450,000 euros (approximately 450k€). We still have about 100,000 euros (approximately 100k€) in equity. DIY work will be added on top of that.
We will handle most of the electrical and gas/water installations ourselves.
We will also do some of the masonry and interior work ourselves. My father-in-law is a bricklayer, and the company he works for will most likely get the contract.
However, I cannot yet estimate the total amount of DIY work involved.
@SoL Thanks for the suggestions. I had noted most of those myself as well.
- The comment about the window in the stairwell is a good point, but I don’t have an idea for this yet since there is a fire protection wall on the west side.
- The rooms in the attic would definitely get a roof window. As mentioned above, the attic will be completely redesigned.
- The wall in the bedroom is intended to be a low wall, but I am not entirely satisfied with it yet.
I will provide the 2-meter (6.5 feet) line later tonight, although we will definitely increase the knee wall from 75cm (30 inches) to 110cm (43 inches).
Best regards, Stegott.
Stegott schrieb:
-The wall in the bedroom is supposed to be a low wall, but I’m not completely satisfied with it.What is the purpose of the wall? If it doesn’t serve a purpose, the height doesn’t matter. In that case, just leave it out.
SoL schrieb:
What purpose is the wall supposed to serve?
If it has no purpose, its height doesn’t matter. Then just leave it out.The wall is there so that the bed or the bedside table isn’t standing in the middle of the room.
K a t j a schrieb:
Do you actually have two cars, or is the second parking space just for show? We really do have two cars. We also considered parking them one behind the other, but the local authority does not allow that. It might be possible to plan the parking space in front of the house. We don’t necessarily need a double carport.
Similar topics