ᐅ Home Construction 2.0 – Initial Floor Plan Draft

Created on: 30 Mar 2022 10:35
K
kati1337
Development Plan/Restrictions
Plot size – approx. 1000m² (0.25 acres)
Slope – yes, about one full story along the length of the house
Number of parking spaces – 4 (2 of which are carport or garage)
Number of floors – no restrictions
Roof style – anything except flat roof
Architectural style – rural, classic

Homeowners’ Requirements
Style, roof type, building type – no Bauhaus, rather country house style
Basement, stories – 2 full stories
Number of occupants, ages – currently 3: 37, 30, 2
Space needs on ground and upper floors
Office: family use or home office? Both fully remote: Home office is a permanent workplace for both
Occasional guests per year – 4-6?
Conservative or modern construction – conservative
Open kitchen, island – open but L-shaped, with an island
Number of dining seats – at least 8, with room for more
Fireplace – no
Music/stereo wall – no
Balcony, roof terrace – no
Garage, carport – yes
Utility garden, greenhouse – possibly, no major importance
Other wishes/special features/daily routine, including reasons why certain things are preferred or avoided:
- Space for a Christmas tree in the living/dining area
- “Nerd cave”: a larger hobby room for retro games, preferably without windows -> no UV exposure
- Home gym – room for at least one rack and some additional equipment
- Cooking, dining, and living areas open and arranged in a corner layout
- Pantry desired
- Cloakroom area near the entrance for jackets and shoes
- 2 children’s bedrooms plus guest room
- Parents’ bedroom with walk-in closet
- Utility/laundry room on the sleeping floor

House Design
Designed by:
- Architect
What do you especially like? Why?
- All the wishes we sent over two pages of text have been perfectly incorporated
- Large, symmetrical pantry
- Very open, spacious living area
- Option to convert the gym into a second office if needed for work
- All children’s bedrooms are the same size

What don’t you like? Why?
- It is simply very large – pricing is at the upper limit of what we can afford
- Posts (presumably for structural reasons) in the living/dining area
- Office could possibly be a bit bigger, but the house is already huge

Price estimate according to architect/planner: Fixed-price turnkey offers from two providers so far likely to be in the range of 490,000–520,000 (currency not specified)
Personal price limit for the house, including fittings: 500,000
Preferred heating system: Heat pump, central ventilation system, air conditioning

If you had to give up something, which details/expansions
- Could give up: maybe one room, open areas in the hallway
- Cannot give up: ventilation system, air conditioning, pantry, basically almost everything else 😀

Why did the design turn out the way it is? For example:
Which wishes were fulfilled by the architect? Simply all of them. We had communicated our wishes in writing, and the design fully reflects our complete “wish list.”

What makes it particularly good or bad in your opinion?
Everything we need is included; it’s large, inviting, open, bright, and leaves no wishes unfulfilled. However, the price is close to the maximum monthly financial burden we want to accept.

What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
My husband is completely thrilled with this floor plan, and he’s usually not so easily enthusiastic. 😀
I also find it very well done. But it’s clearly the fact that all our wishes are included that makes it great for us.
I’m just curious to hear your opinion.
Here, @Pinkiponk – I just went ahead and posted it. 🙂

Floor plan: Ground floor with parents’ bedroom, children’s rooms, bathroom, hallway, guest room, double garage.


Floor plan of a house: kitchen, dining/living area, office, gym, hobby room, terrace.
P
Pinkiponk
2 Apr 2022 12:19
Jasmin schrieb:

We have a ceiling height of 2.58m (8 feet 5 inches) and windows that are 2.10m (6 feet 11 inches) high! If others don’t mind, for me there is too much wall space above.
I think your point is very good. I have generally noticed that people often talk and write about floor-to-ceiling windows/doors, but almost never about ceiling-height windows/doors, which I personally find more attractive. Unfortunately, we couldn’t implement this ourselves because our home builder doesn’t offer it. Other builders have also declined.

If I remember correctly, but others here might know better, ceiling-height windows/doors let in more light than floor-to-ceiling ones.

By the way, welcome to the forum. It’s great to have you here. :-)
gutentag2 Apr 2022 12:24
kati1337 schrieb:

We are open to completely different floor plans if anyone has something that they think goes in that direction—feel free to share, for example, check out thread XY. Always welcome.

No plot, no floor plans.

What good is the most beautiful hillside house floor plan if it doesn’t fit your plot and the surroundings?

Do you see the point?
gutentag2 Apr 2022 12:27
Pinkiponk schrieb:

By the way, welcome to the forum. Glad you’re here. 🙂
I’d like to echo that.
H
haydee
2 Apr 2022 12:31
Is there a soil survey report?
Are the structural engineer’s requirements for this house included in the land costs?
Not at this time.
How are the below-grade walls constructed? Kati, I have already mentioned several times that this will be an additional cost.
kati13372 Apr 2022 12:57
haydee schrieb:

Is there a soil report?
Have the structural engineer’s requirements for this house on the plot been included in the pricing?
Not at that time.
How are the walls in contact with the ground specified? Kati, I have already pointed out several times that this is an additional cost.

The soil report, including dynamic probing and foundation recommendation, as well as the structural engineering, are included in the pricing.

Did you build with a general contractor or manage individual contracts? On what basis should walls in contact with the ground be additional costs? That wouldn’t be legally justifiable from a contract perspective if they offer a complete residential building on this specific plot (which has been clearly identified and surveyed by them) according to their scope of work, and then later claim that walls in contact with the ground are not part of the offer?!
The unknown factor in this equation is the earthworks required after the soil report, as well as any disposal costs—if the soil cannot be stored on the property.
M
motorradsilke
2 Apr 2022 13:03
Pinkiponk schrieb:

I think your comment is very good. I have generally noticed that people often talk and write about floor-to-ceiling windows or patio doors, but almost never about ceiling-height windows or patio doors, which I personally find more attractive. Unfortunately, we couldn't implement that ourselves because our house manufacturer doesn’t offer it. Other house manufacturers have also declined.

I also can’t imagine how that would be feasible, since the housing for the roller shutters is installed above the window.
In the case of a bungalow, there is also the ring beam.
Ours start a good 40cm (16 inches) below the ceiling, but going higher wouldn’t be possible for the reasons mentioned.

However, I wouldn’t want that anyway because I need the space for curtains.