Dear community,
I am currently in discussions with general contractors and starting the building planning process. One of the most important aspects for us is the orientation of the house.
Our preference is to orient the house towards the back of the plot, meaning a wide window front with views from the living room, kitchen, dining area, etc.
Our plot faces northwest. I am attaching a screenshot from Google Maps. The red arrow indicates the north direction.
Do you have any tips or ideas on how we can find a good compromise and possibly get some architectural help? I want to avoid having the main orientation facing the neighbors.
Thank you very much!
I am currently in discussions with general contractors and starting the building planning process. One of the most important aspects for us is the orientation of the house.
Our preference is to orient the house towards the back of the plot, meaning a wide window front with views from the living room, kitchen, dining area, etc.
Our plot faces northwest. I am attaching a screenshot from Google Maps. The red arrow indicates the north direction.
Do you have any tips or ideas on how we can find a good compromise and possibly get some architectural help? I want to avoid having the main orientation facing the neighbors.
Thank you very much!
G
gregman2227 Jun 2022 08:23The plot is approximately 24m (79 feet) wide and 44m (144 feet) long.
In the Google Earth image, you can find the compass needle indicating the orientation. The red arrow points exactly north.
In the Google Earth image, you can find the compass needle indicating the orientation. The red arrow points exactly north.
Our terrace faces northwest, as does the play area.
This means the patio doors also face northwest.
At the current temperatures, it’s wonderful.
However, it’s not summer and hot all year round.
In spring, the northwest side is about 4 weeks behind the south-facing garden, which is why there is a small seating area on the south side.
The brightness also varies during the darker half of the year.
In the open-plan living area, there is a southwest-facing window that on some days seems to let in more light than the large doors.
Upstairs, the children’s room with a southwest window and a small west window still gets enough natural light, while the adjacent room with a northwest orientation needs artificial lighting. Both rooms are the same size and layout, with the same window area.
Seating area on the south side – for having coffee in spring or late autumn.
Plan the open living area so that windows (for example, in the kitchen) can bring light into the house from the south.
This means the patio doors also face northwest.
At the current temperatures, it’s wonderful.
However, it’s not summer and hot all year round.
In spring, the northwest side is about 4 weeks behind the south-facing garden, which is why there is a small seating area on the south side.
The brightness also varies during the darker half of the year.
In the open-plan living area, there is a southwest-facing window that on some days seems to let in more light than the large doors.
Upstairs, the children’s room with a southwest window and a small west window still gets enough natural light, while the adjacent room with a northwest orientation needs artificial lighting. Both rooms are the same size and layout, with the same window area.
Seating area on the south side – for having coffee in spring or late autumn.
Plan the open living area so that windows (for example, in the kitchen) can bring light into the house from the south.
gregman22 schrieb:
The plot is approximately 24m (79 feet) wide and 44m (144 feet) long. Thank you.
And what about the legend of the zoning plan? The written, important part with floor area ratio and so forth?
G
gregman2227 Jun 2022 09:16There is no specific indication of the floor area ratio. Instead, the building envelope is defined directly.
The building envelope covers an area of 155m² (1,668 ft²). Two full stories plus an attic are allowed.
Additionally, in the initial quick draft, the general contractor proposed a building footprint of 11m (36 ft) depth and 13.5m (44 ft) width.
The building envelope covers an area of 155m² (1,668 ft²). Two full stories plus an attic are allowed.
Additionally, in the initial quick draft, the general contractor proposed a building footprint of 11m (36 ft) depth and 13.5m (44 ft) width.
gregman22 schrieb:
Once the development plan (155m2 (1670 sq ft) footprint, 2 full stories) It’s also stated here (I overlooked it)
gregman22 schrieb:
We are planning around 300m2 (3,230 sq ft) of total living space. Okay, then I arrive at about 250m2 (2,690 sq ft) of living space including a granny flat, plus roughly 80-90m2 (860-970 sq ft) of basement.
Around €900,000, so (nicely calculated). Including everything, about €1 million.
Is it worth the forum’s time to consider this, or is it a pipe dream where you’ll have to cut down to 160-180m2 (1,720-1,940 sq ft) anyway because of the costs?
What about parking space? Carport, double garage?
G
gregman2227 Jun 2022 10:26ypg schrieb:
It’s also mentioned here (I missed that).
Ok, so I’m looking at about 250 sqm (2700 sq ft) of living space including the granny flat, plus around 80–90 sqm (860–970 sq ft) of basement.
About €900,000 then (a rough estimate). So around €1 million total.
Is it worth considering for the forum, or is it a pipe dream where you’d end up having to reduce to 160–180 sqm (1700–1900 sq ft) anyway due to costs?
What about parking space? Carport, double garage? The budget is feasible. By including all floors—ground floor, first floor, and attic—our goal was to reach around 300 sqm (3200 sq ft) including the granny flat, but without a basement.
Parking spaces are planned and are not included in the building footprint. There is space allocated for them separately. We plan to place the double garage to the right of the house.
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