Hello,
we would like to build an accessible bungalow for our parents. Our architect has already created a second design, but we are still not completely satisfied with it. More on that later.
Development Plan/Restrictions
Plot size: 562m² (6046 ft²)
Slope: no
Site coverage ratio 0.3
Floor area ratio 0.6
Building envelope, building line and boundary see site plan
Edge development as in NRW (North Rhine-Westphalia)
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of storeys: 2
Roof shape
Architectural style
Orientation -
Maximum heights/limits -
Other requirements -
Client Requirements
Architectural style, roof shape, building type: Bungalow with hipped roof and double garage
Basement, storeys -
Number of occupants, age: 2, 65
Space requirement on ground floor and upper floor: Ground floor only, but with fixed concrete stairs to attic as storage
Office: family use or home office? Hobby room for crafting / ironing
Guests per year: 0
Open or closed layout: rather closed
Conservative or modern construction -
Open kitchen, kitchen island: Separate kitchen with table for 3 people
Number of dining seats: 6 in dining room
Fireplace: no
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: double garage
Utility garden, greenhouse -
House Design
Designed by:
- Architect
What do you particularly like? Why? -
What do you not like? The floor area of 120m² (1290 ft²) is actually too small. Especially the living room with the sofa placed in the room is not appealing and takes up a lot of space.
Personal budget for the house including fittings: not relevant for now
Preferred heating system: heat pump
Why is the design the way it is now?
Second draft by the architect
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
Desired is a bungalow with double garage. Separate kitchen with enough work surface, small pantry. Living and dining rooms. An extra room for crafting/ironing or later use as a bedroom for a caregiver. Bathroom to be barrier-free with bathtub (the bathtub does not need to be barrier-free, only the shower, toilet and sink). My parents want a terrace facing east to enjoy the morning sun while having breakfast; natural shade from the house at midday and evening would be great.
I have attached the site plan and current floor plan.
What ideas do you have to optimize the house design? I have also considered integrating the garage partly into the house to possibly gain more space. Or, in the second plan, placing the kitchen crosswise and moving the living room further back. This would create more space on the lower level, but the question is how best to use it. Moreover, the pantry would no longer be integrated.
we would like to build an accessible bungalow for our parents. Our architect has already created a second design, but we are still not completely satisfied with it. More on that later.
Development Plan/Restrictions
Plot size: 562m² (6046 ft²)
Slope: no
Site coverage ratio 0.3
Floor area ratio 0.6
Building envelope, building line and boundary see site plan
Edge development as in NRW (North Rhine-Westphalia)
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of storeys: 2
Roof shape
Architectural style
Orientation -
Maximum heights/limits -
Other requirements -
Client Requirements
Architectural style, roof shape, building type: Bungalow with hipped roof and double garage
Basement, storeys -
Number of occupants, age: 2, 65
Space requirement on ground floor and upper floor: Ground floor only, but with fixed concrete stairs to attic as storage
Office: family use or home office? Hobby room for crafting / ironing
Guests per year: 0
Open or closed layout: rather closed
Conservative or modern construction -
Open kitchen, kitchen island: Separate kitchen with table for 3 people
Number of dining seats: 6 in dining room
Fireplace: no
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: double garage
Utility garden, greenhouse -
House Design
Designed by:
- Architect
What do you particularly like? Why? -
What do you not like? The floor area of 120m² (1290 ft²) is actually too small. Especially the living room with the sofa placed in the room is not appealing and takes up a lot of space.
Personal budget for the house including fittings: not relevant for now
Preferred heating system: heat pump
Why is the design the way it is now?
Second draft by the architect
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
Desired is a bungalow with double garage. Separate kitchen with enough work surface, small pantry. Living and dining rooms. An extra room for crafting/ironing or later use as a bedroom for a caregiver. Bathroom to be barrier-free with bathtub (the bathtub does not need to be barrier-free, only the shower, toilet and sink). My parents want a terrace facing east to enjoy the morning sun while having breakfast; natural shade from the house at midday and evening would be great.
I have attached the site plan and current floor plan.
What ideas do you have to optimize the house design? I have also considered integrating the garage partly into the house to possibly gain more space. Or, in the second plan, placing the kitchen crosswise and moving the living room further back. This would create more space on the lower level, but the question is how best to use it. Moreover, the pantry would no longer be integrated.
Stefan67422578 schrieb:
I sat down today and came up with the following floor plan. Hmm... You can see yourself that a bungalow isn’t really suitable for aging in place if a resident has to walk through the entire house to get from the bed to the bathroom. The walk-in closet offers very little space to move around (I assume that the narrow space is meant as a walk-in closet?), and the hallway as a large open area wastes valuable living space?!
What do you think of our suggestions, @Stefan67422578?
S
Stefan6742257819 Dec 2022 07:08ypg schrieb:
Hmm... You can see yourself that a bungalow isn’t really age-appropriate if a resident has to walk through the entire house to get from the bed to the bathroom. The walk-in closet barely has enough room to move around (I assume the narrow space is meant as a closet?), and the hallway, which is as large as a dance floor, wastes a lot of usable living space, right?!
What do you think of our suggestions, @Stefan67422578? Thank you for the suggestions; both are good. I will show them to my parents. On Saturday, I worked on the drawings again together with my parents.
My parents like the solution. My mother definitely wants to keep her wardrobe in the bedroom and still have a walk-in closet. (More like a storage room with wardrobes than a walk-in closet. The wall would be built as a lightweight partition so it can be removed if needed, creating more space in the bedroom. The only downside is, yes, the route from the bedroom to the bathroom goes through the whole house. We will now have the architect draw the variants and see what they think about it.
Place the bathroom closer to the bedroom. The distance could potentially lead to awkward situations. It is also more comfortable and healthier not to have to walk lightly dressed through the living room and hallway. It is enough if one person has a cold and the other has guests.
Use graph paper, draw the floor plan and include all existing or desired furniture to scale, including the clearance area.
Not just the table, but also the chairs.
Tables often take up large areas. You should allow at least 80cm (32 inches) between the edge of the table and the wall.
If you have a table measuring 100 x 200cm (39 x 79 inches), the total space required would be 260 x 360cm (102 x 142 inches).
Not just the table, but also the chairs.
Tables often take up large areas. You should allow at least 80cm (32 inches) between the edge of the table and the wall.
If you have a table measuring 100 x 200cm (39 x 79 inches), the total space required would be 260 x 360cm (102 x 142 inches).
We also have a bungalow. Our conclusion: The hallway becomes the central hub you walk through several times a day. So, it’s worth putting some effort into making it as attractive as possible.
Another very important point (also from my experience with my grandmother): The bathroom should be located directly next to the bedroom. As you get older, bladder control weakens, and anyone who has experienced a strong urge during pregnancy knows that every meter counts.
Regarding a double garage: My father-in-law didn’t want to give up his motorcycle because he said he still rides it. But honestly, does your father really still use it, and if so, for how much longer? Age affects everyone. Planning for a double garage just for that is a waste of space and money. It’s better to have a single garage as a workshop with a door leading to the garden. Behind the garage, you can have a small carport to cover the motorcycle. In front of the garage, add a large carport for the car(s).
Regarding house shape: A bungalow in a simple rectangular design is often awkward and creates uncomfortable hallways. See if you can achieve an L-shape. This way, you get a covered terrace, and you can place the rooms much more effectively.
Another very important point (also from my experience with my grandmother): The bathroom should be located directly next to the bedroom. As you get older, bladder control weakens, and anyone who has experienced a strong urge during pregnancy knows that every meter counts.
Regarding a double garage: My father-in-law didn’t want to give up his motorcycle because he said he still rides it. But honestly, does your father really still use it, and if so, for how much longer? Age affects everyone. Planning for a double garage just for that is a waste of space and money. It’s better to have a single garage as a workshop with a door leading to the garden. Behind the garage, you can have a small carport to cover the motorcycle. In front of the garage, add a large carport for the car(s).
Regarding house shape: A bungalow in a simple rectangular design is often awkward and creates uncomfortable hallways. See if you can achieve an L-shape. This way, you get a covered terrace, and you can place the rooms much more effectively.
haydee schrieb:
Place the bathroom closer to the bedroom.That was decided for us, maximum distance from the toilet to the bed 3-4m (10-13 feet),
and no fixed lighting at night,
otherwise it wakes you up.
Set the first design aside and start working on option 2.
Similar topics