ᐅ Suggestions for the floor plan of a single-family house, approximately 175 sqm, with a pitched roof

I’m venturing into this part of the forum to share our floor plan for discussion. I’m hoping for constructive feedback and ideas in case improvements would be advisable.

We want a bright house of about 160-170 sqm (1700-1830 sq ft). We would prefer an open staircase design, but it should not interfere with the floor plan. The flat roof dormer is more than just a nice-to-have... 🙂

Overall, we like the current floor plan very much, but since we are building novices, we would like to go over it with you experts to identify any possible issues. As we haven’t signed the contract with the general contractor yet, there are unfortunately no detailed dimensions available. The furnishing in the kitchen, bathroom, and living area is not yet fixed, so please don’t focus too much on those!

Orientation: the street and entrance are on the north side, terrace faces southwest.

Development plan / restrictions
Plot size: 854 sqm (9190 sq ft)
Slope: no
Site coverage ratio: 0.4
Floor area ratio: 0.8
Building envelope, building line and boundary: 3 m (10 ft) from plot boundary
Edge development: garage approx. 1 m (3 ft) northeast
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of storeys: max. 2 full floors
Roof type: gable roof 30-45°, hipped roof 25-35°, shed roof, flat roof possible
Style: modern
Orientation: southwest
Maximum height/building limits: ridge height 8.50 m (28 ft)
Additional requirements: driveway max. 4 m (13 ft) wide

Client requirements
Style, roof type, building type: modern gable roof house (without eaves)
Basement, floors: no basement; 1.5 or 2 storeys; cold roof
Number of people, ages: 4 people (42, 41, 8, 5)
Room requirements on ground floor: kitchen, living, office, shower/WC, utility room; upper floor: sleeping, dressing room, 2 children’s rooms, bathroom, reading corner
Office: used for family or home office? 1 home office
Number of overnight guests per year: max 2
Open or closed architecture: open and bright
Conservative or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open (but no direct view to living area), kitchen island if possible
Number of dining seats: 6 (preferably extendable to at least 8)
Fireplace: bioethanol / water vapor fireplace
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no, but projecting bay window on upper floor
Garage, carport: garage or carport (6x9 m (20x30 ft) – position and storage room next to or behind garage not fixed yet – orientation on plot either lengthwise or widthwise)
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Further wishes / special features / daily routine, also reasons for decisions:

• Seating window on upper floor (bay window) – to hopefully bring plenty of light into the hallway and provide a nice view
• Open staircase (straight or with landing, no preference)
• Kitchen without direct line of sight from living area
• Office preferably with garden access

House design
Origin of the design: original floor plan from Gussek House “Zypressenallee,” adapted to our needs and wishes by a general contractor’s planner

What do you like most and why? We like the layout and orientation of the ground floor, with sightlines from the entrance area

What do you like least and why? Uncertainty whether the kitchen is too tight; arrangement options for living room (sofa, piano!, bioethanol fireplace?) – possibly remove the middle square window in the living area on the ground floor in favor of more space for furniture?

Price estimate from architect/planner: 600,000 EUR (including garage, additional construction costs)
Personal price limit for house including equipment: 600,000 EUR
Preferred heating system: air-to-water heat pump

If you have to give up on certain details or extras:
- Can give up: staircase, 10 sqm (110 sq ft) of living space
- Cannot give up: bay window on upper floor (I just really like this nesting box)

Why is the design as it is now? For example:
The desire for a bay window with reading window and open architecture was implemented, combining examples from various magazines...

What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
see above

Hello 🙂

Regarding the kitchen, I would recommend visiting a forum that is dedicated solely to that topic. Looking at the kitchen layout, I get the impression that you should start planning the kitchen now. If I’m seeing it correctly, you have a floor-to-ceiling window there, which unfortunately breaks up the furniture arrangement.

Ysop*** schrieb:

Hello 🙂

Regarding the kitchen, I would recommend visiting a forum that focuses solely on this topic. Looking at the kitchen floor plan, I get the feeling that you should start planning the kitchen now. If I’m seeing it correctly, you have a full-height window there, which unfortunately breaks up the layout.

Yes, you are absolutely right! Kitchen planning is our next important task. The narrow full-height window was intended to bring light into the hallway and serve as a visual axis, but it is not a must-have if it makes the kitchen completely impractical.

And plan very effective shading for the reading bay window; with a southwest orientation, it otherwise becomes extremely bright and hot in that corner.

Where is the terrace planned? Also on the southwest side? Then the kitchen would be "quite far away."

Myrna_Loy schrieb:

And plan very effective shading for the reading bay window, otherwise with a southwest orientation it will become extremely bright and hot in that corner.

Correct, it would then practically not be usable as intended.
On the ground floor, I would move the utility room door upward on the plan so that it is opposite the garage door. This increases the usable space in the utility room and makes the door less prominent in the hallway.

Addendum: What is the exterior door in the office for? It doesn’t lead to the terrace, so would it only be for bringing in dirt?