ᐅ Floor Plan Optimization for Renovation: Converting a Two-Family House into a Single-Family Home, Built in 1957
Created on: 3 Feb 2023 12:09
L
letosaspe
Dear forum members,
I have been reading various sections for a while and have already gained a lot of very helpful information – thank you for that!!
We have purchased a two-family house built in 1957, which we plan to completely renovate (energy-efficient refurbishment + interior finishing) and use as a single-family home.
We are very happy to receive help and constructive feedback on the floor plans!
Here is the slightly modified questionnaire:
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 454 sqm (4,886 sq ft)
Slope: yes
Adjacent buildings: no
Number of parking spaces: 1 garage
Roof type: gable
Owners’ Requirements
Basement, floors: basement + 2 full floors + attic to be partially converted
Number of occupants, ages: 3 people, aged 32, 38 and 10 months
Room requirements on ground floor and upper floor:
Ground floor – living room, dining area, kitchen, guest toilet
Upper floor – 3 bedrooms + bathroom
Office: office for 2 people needed, partially home office planned in attic
Guest stays per year: 3 times per year
Open or closed architecture: rather closed, based on existing conditions
Open kitchen, kitchen island: closed kitchen also acceptable
Number of dining seats: 4–6
Fireplace: yes
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: yes
Garage, carport: garage available, additional parking space to be created
House Design
Who created the design: do-it-yourself
What is particularly liked? Why?
The upper floor has evenly sized rooms and a sufficiently large bathroom; orientation of living and dining areas toward the south side facing the garden with large window fronts
What is disliked? Why?
Layout of hallway, guest bathroom, kitchen including doors and access on the ground floor is “complicated”; kitchen may be open or closed, should not be a constant thoroughfare; is loss of two-family house character acceptable?
Cost estimate from architect/designer:
400,000–500,000
Personal maximum budget for renovation including fittings: 500,000
Preferred heating system: air-to-water heat pump with photovoltaic system
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
Does the two-family house character get lost by opening the staircase area on the ground floor with a glass door/front? How can the hallway, guest toilet, and kitchen area on the ground floor be optimally designed?
Attached are the original construction plans showing the current condition and the plans/ideas we have created so far.
Many thanks and best regards
letosaspe
I have been reading various sections for a while and have already gained a lot of very helpful information – thank you for that!!
We have purchased a two-family house built in 1957, which we plan to completely renovate (energy-efficient refurbishment + interior finishing) and use as a single-family home.
We are very happy to receive help and constructive feedback on the floor plans!
Here is the slightly modified questionnaire:
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 454 sqm (4,886 sq ft)
Slope: yes
Adjacent buildings: no
Number of parking spaces: 1 garage
Roof type: gable
Owners’ Requirements
Basement, floors: basement + 2 full floors + attic to be partially converted
Number of occupants, ages: 3 people, aged 32, 38 and 10 months
Room requirements on ground floor and upper floor:
Ground floor – living room, dining area, kitchen, guest toilet
Upper floor – 3 bedrooms + bathroom
Office: office for 2 people needed, partially home office planned in attic
Guest stays per year: 3 times per year
Open or closed architecture: rather closed, based on existing conditions
Open kitchen, kitchen island: closed kitchen also acceptable
Number of dining seats: 4–6
Fireplace: yes
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: yes
Garage, carport: garage available, additional parking space to be created
House Design
Who created the design: do-it-yourself
What is particularly liked? Why?
The upper floor has evenly sized rooms and a sufficiently large bathroom; orientation of living and dining areas toward the south side facing the garden with large window fronts
What is disliked? Why?
Layout of hallway, guest bathroom, kitchen including doors and access on the ground floor is “complicated”; kitchen may be open or closed, should not be a constant thoroughfare; is loss of two-family house character acceptable?
Cost estimate from architect/designer:
400,000–500,000
Personal maximum budget for renovation including fittings: 500,000
Preferred heating system: air-to-water heat pump with photovoltaic system
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
Does the two-family house character get lost by opening the staircase area on the ground floor with a glass door/front? How can the hallway, guest toilet, and kitchen area on the ground floor be optimally designed?
Attached are the original construction plans showing the current condition and the plans/ideas we have created so far.
Many thanks and best regards
letosaspe
L
letosaspe3 Feb 2023 23:27I have now combined the old plans with the new ideas as suggested.
Yellow indicates demolition, red indicates new construction.
I hope this is okay and easy to read.
Yellow indicates demolition, red indicates new construction.
I hope this is okay and easy to read.
Dear all, please don’t forget that we are dealing with an existing building here. I think it’s quite good as it is.
I’ll just ask directly and cheerfully, what’s the story with the pit? Does it have a solid foundation that might support building a porch? If it can be used, I would consider options along those lines (or variations depending on size):
I would add a roof over the exterior stairs or possibly enclose them entirely. Of course, that depends on the budget.
Regarding the missing wall in the living room, I’d have some structural concerns. It probably won’t work without a beam. However, I think a double door would be sufficient.
I would hardly change the basement at all. Why do you want to tear everything out? That would be a structural nightmare. Choose the best room and make it nicely into an office—I would lean towards the laundry room. (By the way, how does the window there fit with the terrace?)
I’ll just ask directly and cheerfully, what’s the story with the pit? Does it have a solid foundation that might support building a porch? If it can be used, I would consider options along those lines (or variations depending on size):
I would add a roof over the exterior stairs or possibly enclose them entirely. Of course, that depends on the budget.
Regarding the missing wall in the living room, I’d have some structural concerns. It probably won’t work without a beam. However, I think a double door would be sufficient.
I would hardly change the basement at all. Why do you want to tear everything out? That would be a structural nightmare. Choose the best room and make it nicely into an office—I would lean towards the laundry room. (By the way, how does the window there fit with the terrace?)
K a t j a schrieb:
I would hardly, if at all, change the basement. Why do you want to tear everything out there? The "empty space" is the attic, not the basement!
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