ᐅ Suggestions for the floor plan of a single-family house, approximately 175 sqm, with a pitched roof
Created on: 4 Nov 2022 22:51
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epinephrin
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:
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
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
I think the design is quite good.
In some areas, in my opinion, it is a bit too generous. The bathroom is amazing, and the hallway also feels oversized. The office, on the other hand, is quite narrow. That would be fine as an office, but as a concert hall for the piano? Will the son or daughter just practice there, or is it meant for playing music together?
Unfortunately, the living room feels a bit uncomfortable because it becomes a walkthrough room. The utility room would be too small for me since there is no laundry room on the upper floor. The second door takes up a lot of space and, in my opinion, makes little sense.
Overall, it’s not a disaster if you can live with it like this. If it were mine, for this house size, I would include a pantry and a laundry room, and reduce the floor space a bit in the bathroom and hallway. More functionality and less "wow" factor.
In some areas, in my opinion, it is a bit too generous. The bathroom is amazing, and the hallway also feels oversized. The office, on the other hand, is quite narrow. That would be fine as an office, but as a concert hall for the piano? Will the son or daughter just practice there, or is it meant for playing music together?
Unfortunately, the living room feels a bit uncomfortable because it becomes a walkthrough room. The utility room would be too small for me since there is no laundry room on the upper floor. The second door takes up a lot of space and, in my opinion, makes little sense.
Overall, it’s not a disaster if you can live with it like this. If it were mine, for this house size, I would include a pantry and a laundry room, and reduce the floor space a bit in the bathroom and hallway. More functionality and less "wow" factor.
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Myrna_Loy5 Nov 2022 09:44I assume the living room is less of a thoroughfare since the route often goes directly to the kitchen.
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Myrna_Loy5 Nov 2022 09:47What I really don’t like is the master bedroom. The bed seems to want to hide itself in front of all the window areas. Also, the left side of the bed has two doors within reach.
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Bertram1005 Nov 2022 09:50Yes, the hallway space is in the wrong place. It would be much more practical to have it in front of the door rather than along the staircase.
I would move the toilet under the stairs and reconsider the downstairs shower (maybe needed for the dog, but otherwise, I don’t think anyone wants to shower near the main entrance if there’s also a shower upstairs). This would allow the entrance recess in the hallway to be enlarged to the right.
In the garage, I would probably remove the partition between the garage and the storage room. I would definitely add a door at the front for sliding bikes out or something similar. I can’t tell if there is a door drawn in there.
I would move the toilet under the stairs and reconsider the downstairs shower (maybe needed for the dog, but otherwise, I don’t think anyone wants to shower near the main entrance if there’s also a shower upstairs). This would allow the entrance recess in the hallway to be enlarged to the right.
In the garage, I would probably remove the partition between the garage and the storage room. I would definitely add a door at the front for sliding bikes out or something similar. I can’t tell if there is a door drawn in there.
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epinephrin5 Nov 2022 10:00Myrna_Loy schrieb:
Where is the terrace planned? Also on the southwest side? Then the kitchen would be “quite far away.” The terrace is planned to wrap around the corner toward the south/west and would be accessible through the large sliding windows. We thought about the distance for a long time but couldn’t find another solution because I prefer the kitchen to be separated from the living area, and I don’t actually find the distance that far…?
SoL schrieb:
Correct, it wouldn’t be practically usable as intended.
On the ground floor, I would move the utility room door to the top of the plan so that it faces the garage door. That increases the usable space in the utility room and makes the door less prominent in the hallway.
Addendum: What is the external door in the office for? It doesn’t lead to the terrace, so wouldn’t it just bring dirt inside? The reading bay window will definitely be shaded with external venetian blinds, that’s the plan. Is that enough?
I’ll take another look at the utility room door. The door in the office is actually a floor-to-ceiling window. But you’re right, no terrace is planned there yet. We hadn’t considered that before. Thanks for the hint! 🙂
What are you planning to do with the large hallway? I find it a bit too big... and it seems a shame to have an open staircase but hardly see any of it while living there. It almost feels like a hall... somewhat uncomfortable 🙁
Overall, the design might work. I would also move the doors in the utility room, but you have to say that the parents’ bedroom feels somewhat unplanned. The hallway gets those protrusions on the left and right due to the position of the staircase and the gallery.
This is because of the staircase being positioned sideways. I like that, but I’m already concerned about furnishing the living room (two opposing two-seat sofas and having to turn your head to watch TV??). Also, the feeling of sitting in the living room between two exits. Then there is the kitchen, which is difficult to furnish (unless you like a U-shaped layout with a dance floor in the middle)... so you might end up with the hallway and kitchen as dance floors, the living room useless for watching TV, and the window seat not really for sitting and enjoying the view. That would be a deal-breaker for me—out of the house and back to the drawing board.
Overall, the design might work. I would also move the doors in the utility room, but you have to say that the parents’ bedroom feels somewhat unplanned. The hallway gets those protrusions on the left and right due to the position of the staircase and the gallery.
This is because of the staircase being positioned sideways. I like that, but I’m already concerned about furnishing the living room (two opposing two-seat sofas and having to turn your head to watch TV??). Also, the feeling of sitting in the living room between two exits. Then there is the kitchen, which is difficult to furnish (unless you like a U-shaped layout with a dance floor in the middle)... so you might end up with the hallway and kitchen as dance floors, the living room useless for watching TV, and the window seat not really for sitting and enjoying the view. That would be a deal-breaker for me—out of the house and back to the drawing board.
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