ᐅ New Single-Family Home Construction – Join Us on Our Journey!
Created on: 4 Aug 2022 16:13
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gregman22
Dear community,
We are finally getting a step closer to realizing our dream of building a single-family home.
The plot has been purchased, building plans have been reviewed, construction method decided, and so on. We have now commissioned the architect of the general contractor (GC) of our choice with the planning task and are currently fine-tuning the house design. I would love to take you along on this journey and incorporate your valuable feedback.
At this stage, the focus is on the house design.
Basic data:
Plot: 1062m2 (11,433 sq ft); approx. 25.5m x 41.64m (84 ft x 137 ft)
Orientation: Northwest -> The arrow in the screenshot of the 3D view points south
Desired room layout:
Ground floor:
First floor:
Attic:
Note: I am still discussing this with the architect. Due to the hipped roof shape, the actual living area has shrunk too much. Therefore, further discussion is needed to accommodate the other rooms. I had underestimated the ratio of gross floor area to usable living space.
Basement:
Additional plans:
Now to my first questions for you:
My biggest construction challenge at the moment is the layout of the attic. There are two alternatives:
- Change the roof type, which would increase costs but provide more usable living space in the attic
- Give up the playroom on the first floor, convert it into a guest room, and build only the two offices in the attic (no guest room or bathroom)
Thank you in advance for your comments.
We are finally getting a step closer to realizing our dream of building a single-family home.
The plot has been purchased, building plans have been reviewed, construction method decided, and so on. We have now commissioned the architect of the general contractor (GC) of our choice with the planning task and are currently fine-tuning the house design. I would love to take you along on this journey and incorporate your valuable feedback.
At this stage, the focus is on the house design.
Basic data:
Plot: 1062m2 (11,433 sq ft); approx. 25.5m x 41.64m (84 ft x 137 ft)
Orientation: Northwest -> The arrow in the screenshot of the 3D view points south
Desired room layout:
Ground floor:
- Large living/dining area with adjacent (but separable) kitchen at the bottom left, plus a gallery overlooking the first floor
- Utility room
- Guest toilet
- Garage
- Separate apartment at the top right with its own entrance for parents-in-law
First floor:
- Gallery overlooking the ground floor
- 2 children’s bedrooms with a shared bathroom
- 1 playroom (initially a home cinema room, later to be repurposed) above the garage
- Master wing with main bedroom, dressing room, and bathroom
Attic:
Note: I am still discussing this with the architect. Due to the hipped roof shape, the actual living area has shrunk too much. Therefore, further discussion is needed to accommodate the other rooms. I had underestimated the ratio of gross floor area to usable living space.
- 2 separate offices
- 1 guest bedroom
- 1 small guest bathroom
Basement:
- 1 technical room
- 1 laundry room
- 1 storage room
- Large fitness room
- Wellness room with sauna
Additional plans:
- Air-to-air heat pump or air-to-water heat pump
- Photovoltaic system with/without battery storage
- Possible pool (3.5/4m x 8m or 3.5/4m x 12m) with heat pump (and countercurrent system)
- Sauna in the basement room
- Air conditioning for various rooms
- Smart home system – most likely via KNX
- Garden: Currently planning 2 terraces – one to the left, slightly more to the south, and one facing the main part of the plot further north
Now to my first questions for you:
- How do the floor plans strike you? Do they make sense in terms of the dynamics of family life?
- The location of the separate apartment was chosen based on our wish. We wanted a strict, clearly defined spatial separation with a separate entrance. Do you have any comments on this?
- Do you consider the utility rooms in the basement to be adequately sized (considering KNX, heat pump, etc.)?
My biggest construction challenge at the moment is the layout of the attic. There are two alternatives:
- Change the roof type, which would increase costs but provide more usable living space in the attic
- Give up the playroom on the first floor, convert it into a guest room, and build only the two offices in the attic (no guest room or bathroom)
Thank you in advance for your comments.
gregman22 schrieb:
From the start, it was clear that the architect wouldn’t support us through phase 8 of the services, due to the distance from the site. So he only handles the planning with us and acts as a link to the other service providers (e.g., general contractor). Yes, I had a vague memory of that, but today I’m too lazy to scroll back through the whole thread. The knowledge that “when it comes down to it, I’m far away” can tempt you into “artist’s designs” — but don’t worry, I’m not going to start “hunting on @Gerddieter’s territory” by setting off the warning light on the cost estimates 🙂
gregman22 schrieb:
That made me smile. How are we supposed to have that kind of experience? [...] That’s exactly why I’m asking the community here for advice. There certainly are “visual thinkers” with good spatial imagination—you don’t have to have studied for it. However, I get the impression that the availability of affordable 3D software is making people less likely to think spatially on their own. Asking the community for advice can be risky if you don’t know how to properly evaluate their suggestions.
Sunshine387 schrieb:
With that kind of budget, ceiling heights of 2.8m (9 feet) or more are a must. I don’t necessarily agree with that in principle, but I would also consider the contrast between single-story and vaulted spaces.
Sunshine387 schrieb:
Brick never needs painting or repair. Even brick isn’t self-cleaning—particles “patinate” every facade.
Sunshine387 schrieb:
Without dormers, you’ll have the living quality of a volume-builder house at the price of a million-dollar villa. I don’t see a McMansion nightmare with frills on (pseudo) strict shapes as a desirable alternative.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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Costruttrice23 Sep 2022 16:29Sunshine387 schrieb:
That’s why I prefer brick veneer. It looks visually nicer, and light-colored brick veneer immediately looks much better. Especially with this budget, a durable and low-maintenance solid construction is a must. Brick veneer never needs painting or repairs. Wood, on the other hand, looks like an old house after just a few years without regular maintenance. It’s interesting how different opinions can be! I personally can’t really imagine brick veneer. If I remember correctly, the house is supposed to be built near Munich. Brick veneer is absolutely uncommon there and, in my opinion, doesn’t really fit the area.
The photos and style reminded me of a house from a house series on BR. I just looked it up; the house I’m thinking of appeared in season 6, “House with Garden.” It also has a wooden exterior, though of course, I don’t know what condition it’s in now.
But honestly, the question of the facade wouldn’t be the first thing I would focus on anyway.
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Sunshine38723 Sep 2022 16:42It’s true that the location should also be considered. However, I’ve noticed considerable color changes and green spots on the exterior walls of wooden houses in the area after just a few years, especially on the weather-facing side. This might not be representative for all cases, and with regular maintenance, these issues can probably be managed. Personally, I didn’t want to commit to that (not to mention the costs). It might also be possible to go for a modern combination of render and facade panels instead. But definitely not just plain white render, as that would simply look too standard on a house like that.
Costruttrice schrieb:
If I remember correctly, the house is supposed to be built in the Munich area. Brick cladding is absolutely uncommon there and doesn’t really fit in, in my opinion. Well, this huge thing (also not black and without both Porsches parked conspicuously in front of the garage) is the boss on this street anyway ;-)
Sunshine387 schrieb:
You could also consider a modern combination of plaster and facade panels. But just plain white plaster would look too standard. For a house like this. Yes, white plaster alone might give you the “standard” look, but it won’t add tasteful subtlety.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
S
Sunshine38723 Sep 2022 16:53The point about the air space might be valid, but it doesn’t change the feeling of looking into a 9-meter (30 feet) long area where the last 5 meters (16 feet) are actually made to feel even more oppressive by that air space. After all, with a ceiling height of 2.6 meters (8.5 feet), once you subtract insulation, screed, and floor covering, what remains? A height of 2.4 to 2.45 meters (7.9 to 8 feet). That is even lower than many volume builders construct. In fact, some typical German townhouses might have higher ceilings. I don’t think anyone could reasonably expect a homebuyer to accept that with this budget.
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Costruttrice23 Sep 2022 17:0511ant schrieb:
Well, this thing also comes in non-black I probably need a new iPhone, because I didn’t see this thing here as black, but rather as (dark brown) wood :p.
I wouldn’t want a wooden facade for the reasons others have mentioned—I don’t like the uneven weathering.
A facade with Trespa panels would appeal to me and fits well with a minimalist building design.
For us, everything was settled quickly—except plaster, nothing else is allowed, so that works too…
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