ᐅ Floor plan of a single-family house with a basement and garage
Created on: 1 Feb 2023 09:51
W
Waldbewohner
Hello everyone,
here is another floor plan for constructive discussion.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: approx. 860m² (0.21 acres)
Slope: no, level ground
Building envelope, building line and boundary: see sketch
Edge development: garage
Number of parking spaces: double garage
Number of floors: 2 + basement
Roof type: gable, ridge running east-west
Style: house
Orientation: in the attached sketches, north is at the top, meaning the house will stand "straight"
Maximum height / limits: N/A
Additional requirements: all specifications have been considered by the planner
Homeowners’ Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: see sketch
Basement, floors: 2 + basement
Number of occupants, age: 2 adults, 1 toddler, provision for up to 1 more child
Space requirements on ground floor and upper floor: see sketch
Office: family use or home office? both, thanks to KVM switch, easily possible
Overnight guests per year: 5-10 nights
Open or closed architecture: rather open
Conservative or modern construction: rather modern
Open kitchen, cooking island: cooking island not a must, but probably useful
Number of dining seats: 4 for regular use, 8 for visitors (expandable table?), can be extended with beer garden benches for many guests
Fireplace: yes
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: balcony as per sketch
Garage, carport: double garage with workshop
Utility garden, greenhouse: raised beds preferred
Other wishes/special features/daily routine, also reasons for preferences or exclusions:
See the text below
House Design
Who designed it: planner from a construction company after several iterations
What do you particularly like? Why?: in our opinion, the plan is open and modern, yet still "cozy" and "comfortable"
What don’t you like? Why?: nothing bothers us in this iteration anymore
Price estimate from architect/planner: N/A
Personal price limit for the house including fittings: N/A
Preferred heating technology: probably air-to-water heat pump
If you had to give up, which details/extensions
-could you give up:
-could not give up:
Why did the design turn out as it is now? E.g.
Standard design from planner?: no
Which requests were implemented by the architect? All
What is the most important/fundamental question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
After many iterations with several planners, we now have a design that we not only have no objections to but really like and look forward to.
Does the forum see it the same way?
The biggest discussion points are probably the corridor in the upper floor hallway and the balcony in general.
However, these were two features we really liked and were more or less fixed. Essentially, our wish “gimmicks.”
It should be noted that the garden will be on the south side; behind the garden there is a little-used footpath and beyond that (with a slight slope) a small stream and meadow. So, the view would be quite nice.
Otherwise, the plot is located on a curve (street to the north), with a neighboring property and a garage built on the boundary to the west, and also a lightly used footpath on the west side.
Life will mainly take place south and southwest of the house.
here is another floor plan for constructive discussion.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: approx. 860m² (0.21 acres)
Slope: no, level ground
Building envelope, building line and boundary: see sketch
Edge development: garage
Number of parking spaces: double garage
Number of floors: 2 + basement
Roof type: gable, ridge running east-west
Style: house
Orientation: in the attached sketches, north is at the top, meaning the house will stand "straight"
Maximum height / limits: N/A
Additional requirements: all specifications have been considered by the planner
Homeowners’ Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: see sketch
Basement, floors: 2 + basement
Number of occupants, age: 2 adults, 1 toddler, provision for up to 1 more child
Space requirements on ground floor and upper floor: see sketch
Office: family use or home office? both, thanks to KVM switch, easily possible
Overnight guests per year: 5-10 nights
Open or closed architecture: rather open
Conservative or modern construction: rather modern
Open kitchen, cooking island: cooking island not a must, but probably useful
Number of dining seats: 4 for regular use, 8 for visitors (expandable table?), can be extended with beer garden benches for many guests
Fireplace: yes
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: balcony as per sketch
Garage, carport: double garage with workshop
Utility garden, greenhouse: raised beds preferred
Other wishes/special features/daily routine, also reasons for preferences or exclusions:
See the text below
House Design
Who designed it: planner from a construction company after several iterations
What do you particularly like? Why?: in our opinion, the plan is open and modern, yet still "cozy" and "comfortable"
What don’t you like? Why?: nothing bothers us in this iteration anymore
Price estimate from architect/planner: N/A
Personal price limit for the house including fittings: N/A
Preferred heating technology: probably air-to-water heat pump
If you had to give up, which details/extensions
-could you give up:
-could not give up:
Why did the design turn out as it is now? E.g.
Standard design from planner?: no
Which requests were implemented by the architect? All
What is the most important/fundamental question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
After many iterations with several planners, we now have a design that we not only have no objections to but really like and look forward to.
Does the forum see it the same way?
The biggest discussion points are probably the corridor in the upper floor hallway and the balcony in general.
However, these were two features we really liked and were more or less fixed. Essentially, our wish “gimmicks.”
It should be noted that the garden will be on the south side; behind the garden there is a little-used footpath and beyond that (with a slight slope) a small stream and meadow. So, the view would be quite nice.
Otherwise, the plot is located on a curve (street to the north), with a neighboring property and a garage built on the boundary to the west, and also a lightly used footpath on the west side.
Life will mainly take place south and southwest of the house.
H
hanghaus20232 Feb 2023 12:37ypg schrieb:
This corridor between the garage and the house might look cool on the plan, but in reality, it is exactly that: dark, damp, and potentially a dirt trap due to wind.With a glass roof and a glass wall, it can even look good.W
Waldbewohner2 Feb 2023 12:52Thanks for the input.
A few thoughts on that:
@hanghaus:
Thank you for taking the time and even drawing a plan.
I actually think your ideas are very good, but I don’t believe we will consider them anymore.
In my opinion, the pantry is sufficiently sized, especially given our ample basement area. One might argue, "But you have to use the stairs!" Yes, you do, but how often? Probably once a week, if at all.
On the other hand, I don’t want to reduce the office space because I work a lot from home, use my office extensively for personal matters, and my partner should be able to work in there simultaneously if needed.
We did consider a master bathroom upstairs at one point, although in a different location.
We abandoned it for cost and practical reasons—we simply don’t need it. For starters, having four washing options (3 showers + 1 bathtub) for 2.5 people feels excessive (a second child is not yet planned). Secondly, I want to give our son the possibility to use the bathtub without having to walk through the master suite. I think it would be unfair to give him only a toilet with a sink. And thirdly, privacy is something we can manage; both of us grew up with much more challenging bathroom-sharing situations in our families ;-)
Your suggestions have actually made us reflect on our decisions and confirm that we are satisfied with them.
@ ypg:
That’s a good point about the passage.
A shed roof with a north-south slope is now also under consideration for the garage roof (and also covering the entrance area).
I will discuss with the carpenter how to avoid having a dark, cold corridor and instead create a reasonably cozy entrance space.
@ Katja:
Well, once you decide to have a basement, these rooms just come with it ;-)
So far, not every room has a dedicated function, but these get assigned faster than you expect.
Hobby room, laundry, technical room, storage. Maybe also a workshop, and then the rooms are all used up.
Your point about the corridor being too large is valid, I’ll take another look at that.
@ 11ant:
I will also take another look at the issue of the "oversized bricks."
@ everyone:
Yes, yes, the beloved passage to the pantry… ;-)
Our (not yet finalized) decision is driven less by current trends and more by the available space.
Also, the kitchen island was not a must-have, it just seemed convenient. Once the kitchen planning becomes more concrete, I have no problem reconsidering both.
A few thoughts on that:
@hanghaus:
Thank you for taking the time and even drawing a plan.
I actually think your ideas are very good, but I don’t believe we will consider them anymore.
In my opinion, the pantry is sufficiently sized, especially given our ample basement area. One might argue, "But you have to use the stairs!" Yes, you do, but how often? Probably once a week, if at all.
On the other hand, I don’t want to reduce the office space because I work a lot from home, use my office extensively for personal matters, and my partner should be able to work in there simultaneously if needed.
We did consider a master bathroom upstairs at one point, although in a different location.
We abandoned it for cost and practical reasons—we simply don’t need it. For starters, having four washing options (3 showers + 1 bathtub) for 2.5 people feels excessive (a second child is not yet planned). Secondly, I want to give our son the possibility to use the bathtub without having to walk through the master suite. I think it would be unfair to give him only a toilet with a sink. And thirdly, privacy is something we can manage; both of us grew up with much more challenging bathroom-sharing situations in our families ;-)
Your suggestions have actually made us reflect on our decisions and confirm that we are satisfied with them.
@ ypg:
That’s a good point about the passage.
A shed roof with a north-south slope is now also under consideration for the garage roof (and also covering the entrance area).
I will discuss with the carpenter how to avoid having a dark, cold corridor and instead create a reasonably cozy entrance space.
@ Katja:
Well, once you decide to have a basement, these rooms just come with it ;-)
So far, not every room has a dedicated function, but these get assigned faster than you expect.
Hobby room, laundry, technical room, storage. Maybe also a workshop, and then the rooms are all used up.
Your point about the corridor being too large is valid, I’ll take another look at that.
@ 11ant:
I will also take another look at the issue of the "oversized bricks."
@ everyone:
Yes, yes, the beloved passage to the pantry… ;-)
Our (not yet finalized) decision is driven less by current trends and more by the available space.
Also, the kitchen island was not a must-have, it just seemed convenient. Once the kitchen planning becomes more concrete, I have no problem reconsidering both.
H
hanghaus20232 Feb 2023 13:24I also think the floor plan is quite good. What bothers me is that the staircase goes the wrong way. The first step starts from the open living area? But that’s a matter of personal preference.
I made the pantry and the walk-in closet the same size right away, partly so walls line up vertically. 😉
Waldbewohner schrieb:
@hanghaus:
Thanks for taking the trouble to even draw a plan.
I actually like your ideas a lot, but I don’t think we will consider them anymore.
In my opinion, the pantry is sufficiently sized, especially considering our generous basement area.
The pantry, as shown, is hardly usable in my opinion. I was thinking more of a backup kitchen.
Yes, the kitchen planning is also quite interesting. That should be finished before applying for the building permit / planning permission. It won’t be easy.
Some might say, “But you have to use the stairs!” Yes, you do, but how often? Probably once a week, if that.
Using the stairs keeps you fit.
On the other hand, I don’t want to reduce the home office space because I work a lot from home, also use it privately, and my partner should still be able to work in it at the same time if necessary.
My design actually has it a bit larger. 😉
We actually planned a master bathroom upstairs at one point, though in a different location.
We discarded it for cost reasons and practicality; we simply don’t need it. First, I find four washing facilities (three showers and one bathtub) for 2.5 people quite extravagant (a second child is not yet considered). Second, I want to give our son the option to use the bathtub without having to go through the parents’ area. I think it’s unfair to make him use a separate toilet and sink. And third, we can manage the privacy issue—we’re both used to much more complicated washing situations from our own childhood homes. ;-)
I must have missed that. Two bedrooms, two sinks. If you sell later, there will probably be at least two kids. The bathtub could also be in the kids’ bathroom.
Bathtubs are overrated. I’ve used mine once in 20 years.
Your suggestions do make us rethink our decisions. And confirm that we are still happy with them.
I made the pantry and the walk-in closet the same size right away, partly so walls line up vertically. 😉
Waldbewohner schrieb:
A shed roof (with a north-south slope) is now also being considered for the garage roof (and at the same time as a canopy for the entrance area).
I will discuss with the carpenter how we can make sure it doesn’t turn into a dark, cold corridor but rather a reasonably cozy entrance space. I was expecting a canopy with at least some glass panels, if not fully glazed. Important: close it off at the back with a door, otherwise the wind howls loudly and strongly inside, it will blow you over.
Waldbewohner schrieb:
@ K a t j a: Well, once you decide to have a basement under the house, these rooms just exist ;-)
So far, not every room has a dedicated purpose, but they get assigned faster than you think.
Hobby room, utility room, mechanical room, storage. Then possibly a workshop, and the rooms are all used up.
The point about the hallway being too large is valid; I will take another look at that. I would recommend furnishing these spaces even if the use isn’t finalized yet. For example, you might later regret not having enough space for something like a table tennis table.
You have planned a very large area as a garage roof – if everything is not already finalized, consider incorporating extensive or intensive green roofing there. Depending on your budget, commitment, and time available for future maintenance, you can at least partially offset the additional built-up area.
hanghaus2023 schrieb:
I also think the floor plan is quite good. What bothers me is that the staircase goes the wrong way. The entrance from the open living area? But that's a matter of personal preference. Better than having the basement stairs in the living area. I think it’s good.
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