ᐅ Floor Plan Design: Single-Family Home with Basement on an 800 sqm Plot
Created on: 16 Apr 2024 22:51
B
Bruno492
Hello everyone,
Until now, we have been silent readers and would now like to share our current planning status. We are planning a single-family house with a basement. The current plans are initial drafts that incorporate our requirements and wishes. We hope that some of you can provide appropriate feedback.
The development plan is oriented to the north, meaning the house is rotated about 45°.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size → 794 m² (8,544 sq ft), parcel 10
Slope → No
Site coverage → 140 m² (1,507 sq ft) for the house + 60 m² (646 sq ft) for the garage
Floor area ratio →
Building envelope, building line and boundary → see development plan
Edge development → Yes
Number of parking spaces → 2
Number of floors → 2 full floors
Roof type → symmetrical gable roof, 20° – 32°
Style → not specified
Orientation → see development plan
Maximum heights / limits → permitted wall height 5.50 m (18 ft) up to max. 6.00 m (20 ft) for 2 full floors
Further specifications → municipality is generally very open to deviations (e.g. garage/house setback deviations already approved)
Owners’ Requirements
Style, roof type, building type → classic (traditional) single-family house, gable roof, solid wood construction (solid wood wall)
Basement, floors → basement + 2 full floors
Number of occupants, age → 4 (31, 30, 1 month), planning 2 children’s bedrooms
Space requirements ground floor (GF), upper floor (UF) → GF (kitchen, dining, living, office, WC with shower, pantry, cloakroom); UF (parents’ bedroom, 2 x children, multifunctional room (overflow room, guest, storage), bathroom)
Office: family use or home office? → both (both can sometimes work from home simultaneously)
Guests per year → 12
Open or closed architecture → kitchen/dining open and spacious, living room smaller and separated (retreat area)
Conservative or modern construction → rather conservative traditional with a modern touch
Open kitchen, kitchen island → open kitchen with island and seating area
Number of dining seats → 6 - 8
Fireplace → yes (wood stove with viewing window and firebrick lining)
Music/stereo wall → no
Balcony, roof terrace → no
Garage, carport → double garage (optionally garage + carport)
Utility garden, greenhouse → no
Additional wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons for preferences →
GF: For us, the kitchen/dining area is the central space of the house and should be designed generously. The open kitchen with an island should also have seating attached to the exterior wall. The pantry is deliberately placed towards the north and does not need to be a hidden pantry directly next to the kitchen (with the current location, it’s also easily accessible from the living room). A wood stove with a viewing window will be placed in the dining area, connecting visually with the living room. If possible, a seating window in the dining area with a view towards the forest/field would be great. The living room should be a private, separate, relatively small retreat. The office should be on the ground floor so it can also be used as a bedroom if needed. The WC should be equipped with a shower. A separate cloakroom is intended to keep the hallway tidy. The additional hallway area may also serve as access to the garage. A staircase at the entrance area is an absolute no-go for us, so the staircase is located at the rear of the house. The stairway leads directly towards the bathroom in the evening, which we find optimal.
UF: We are not yet very happy with the layout. The second child’s room is relatively narrow. The guest room is too small (about 8-10 m² / 86-108 sq ft) and the first child’s room too large. The bathroom can certainly be reduced in size; we do not need a luxury bathroom. The goal on the upper floor is to make the most of the unobstructed view (field/forest) towards the northwest.
Basement: Also not optimal yet. The straight staircase makes it less convenient. We would appreciate tips here.
Garage: The garage rotation and its placement at the front of the plot has already been approved by the municipality. The garage’s length along the boundary (max. 9 m / 30 ft) will still be shortened. Whether there will be internal access to the garage from the house is still open; if necessary, a separate exterior entrance is sufficient.
House Design
Who designed it → Do-it-Yourself
What do you like most? Why? → We like the room layout, especially the placement of rooms on the ground floor in relation to the plot. The upper floor (unequal children’s rooms) and especially the basement still need optimization.
What don’t you like? Why? → The children’s rooms are relatively narrow (3.245 m / 10.6 ft)
Price estimate according to architect/planner: approx. 500,000 € + basement
Personal price limit for house including fittings: 750,000 €
Preferred heating system: heat pump with trench collector + underfloor heating (wood stove as backup)
If you had to give up, which details/extras
-could you give up: guest room on the upper floor, separate cloakroom in the hallway, internal access to garage from the house
-could not give up: everything else
Why has the design ended up like this?
Standard design from the planner? → No. We searched through what felt like thousands of floor plans online. For a long time, a half-landing or spiral staircase was set, with access from the north side and compliance with the building envelope. With a garage width of about 7 m (23 ft) and a desired passage between garage and house, the house would be very close to the property boundary on the southwest side, making garden use less optimal. The layout with the straight staircase happened by chance and we actually like it quite well, as it allows good access to the relatively many rooms. Access to the house would then be from the street side. By rotating the garage and placing it at the front of the property, the house can be moved further north/east, improving garden usability in the southwest.
Which requests were implemented by the architect? → A mix from many examples found in various magazines...
What makes it, in your opinion, particularly good or bad?
We are open to constructive improvement suggestions. Fundamentally, the house’s placement on the plot may also be questioned.
Thank you very much for your ideas.
Best regards
Until now, we have been silent readers and would now like to share our current planning status. We are planning a single-family house with a basement. The current plans are initial drafts that incorporate our requirements and wishes. We hope that some of you can provide appropriate feedback.
The development plan is oriented to the north, meaning the house is rotated about 45°.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size → 794 m² (8,544 sq ft), parcel 10
Slope → No
Site coverage → 140 m² (1,507 sq ft) for the house + 60 m² (646 sq ft) for the garage
Floor area ratio →
Building envelope, building line and boundary → see development plan
Edge development → Yes
Number of parking spaces → 2
Number of floors → 2 full floors
Roof type → symmetrical gable roof, 20° – 32°
Style → not specified
Orientation → see development plan
Maximum heights / limits → permitted wall height 5.50 m (18 ft) up to max. 6.00 m (20 ft) for 2 full floors
Further specifications → municipality is generally very open to deviations (e.g. garage/house setback deviations already approved)
Owners’ Requirements
Style, roof type, building type → classic (traditional) single-family house, gable roof, solid wood construction (solid wood wall)
Basement, floors → basement + 2 full floors
Number of occupants, age → 4 (31, 30, 1 month), planning 2 children’s bedrooms
Space requirements ground floor (GF), upper floor (UF) → GF (kitchen, dining, living, office, WC with shower, pantry, cloakroom); UF (parents’ bedroom, 2 x children, multifunctional room (overflow room, guest, storage), bathroom)
Office: family use or home office? → both (both can sometimes work from home simultaneously)
Guests per year → 12
Open or closed architecture → kitchen/dining open and spacious, living room smaller and separated (retreat area)
Conservative or modern construction → rather conservative traditional with a modern touch
Open kitchen, kitchen island → open kitchen with island and seating area
Number of dining seats → 6 - 8
Fireplace → yes (wood stove with viewing window and firebrick lining)
Music/stereo wall → no
Balcony, roof terrace → no
Garage, carport → double garage (optionally garage + carport)
Utility garden, greenhouse → no
Additional wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons for preferences →
GF: For us, the kitchen/dining area is the central space of the house and should be designed generously. The open kitchen with an island should also have seating attached to the exterior wall. The pantry is deliberately placed towards the north and does not need to be a hidden pantry directly next to the kitchen (with the current location, it’s also easily accessible from the living room). A wood stove with a viewing window will be placed in the dining area, connecting visually with the living room. If possible, a seating window in the dining area with a view towards the forest/field would be great. The living room should be a private, separate, relatively small retreat. The office should be on the ground floor so it can also be used as a bedroom if needed. The WC should be equipped with a shower. A separate cloakroom is intended to keep the hallway tidy. The additional hallway area may also serve as access to the garage. A staircase at the entrance area is an absolute no-go for us, so the staircase is located at the rear of the house. The stairway leads directly towards the bathroom in the evening, which we find optimal.
UF: We are not yet very happy with the layout. The second child’s room is relatively narrow. The guest room is too small (about 8-10 m² / 86-108 sq ft) and the first child’s room too large. The bathroom can certainly be reduced in size; we do not need a luxury bathroom. The goal on the upper floor is to make the most of the unobstructed view (field/forest) towards the northwest.
Basement: Also not optimal yet. The straight staircase makes it less convenient. We would appreciate tips here.
Garage: The garage rotation and its placement at the front of the plot has already been approved by the municipality. The garage’s length along the boundary (max. 9 m / 30 ft) will still be shortened. Whether there will be internal access to the garage from the house is still open; if necessary, a separate exterior entrance is sufficient.
House Design
Who designed it → Do-it-Yourself
What do you like most? Why? → We like the room layout, especially the placement of rooms on the ground floor in relation to the plot. The upper floor (unequal children’s rooms) and especially the basement still need optimization.
What don’t you like? Why? → The children’s rooms are relatively narrow (3.245 m / 10.6 ft)
Price estimate according to architect/planner: approx. 500,000 € + basement
Personal price limit for house including fittings: 750,000 €
Preferred heating system: heat pump with trench collector + underfloor heating (wood stove as backup)
If you had to give up, which details/extras
-could you give up: guest room on the upper floor, separate cloakroom in the hallway, internal access to garage from the house
-could not give up: everything else
Why has the design ended up like this?
Standard design from the planner? → No. We searched through what felt like thousands of floor plans online. For a long time, a half-landing or spiral staircase was set, with access from the north side and compliance with the building envelope. With a garage width of about 7 m (23 ft) and a desired passage between garage and house, the house would be very close to the property boundary on the southwest side, making garden use less optimal. The layout with the straight staircase happened by chance and we actually like it quite well, as it allows good access to the relatively many rooms. Access to the house would then be from the street side. By rotating the garage and placing it at the front of the property, the house can be moved further north/east, improving garden usability in the southwest.
Which requests were implemented by the architect? → A mix from many examples found in various magazines...
What makes it, in your opinion, particularly good or bad?
We are open to constructive improvement suggestions. Fundamentally, the house’s placement on the plot may also be questioned.
Thank you very much for your ideas.
Best regards
N
Nice-Nofret17 Apr 2024 13:08Explained using the example of the storage room what is going wrong for you: You have too many wasted circulation areas. The so-called storage room adjacent to the garage is hardly usable because you have included far too many passageways. Throughout the entire house, there is too much circulation space compared to usable space.
Besides that, you believe that by incorporating all wishes and options you will be happier – this leads to major compromises for the rooms that are actually used.
Besides that, you believe that by incorporating all wishes and options you will be happier – this leads to major compromises for the rooms that are actually used.
Schorsch_baut schrieb:
You like doors, don’t you?
Seven doors within an area of 7 x 5 m (23 x 16 ft) is quite a statement. That’s what I thought too when I inspected the extension.
Hello first of all, unfortunately the design doesn’t score well with me.
Bruno492 schrieb:
The floor plan with the straight staircase came about by chance I can see that. Chance is the opposite of planning, but you spent way too much time working on the ground floor on your own, and _for you_ (see your long paragraph about the ground floor) perfected it instead of looking at the whole picture.
Unfortunately, I find fundamental aspects poorly resolved, but more on that shortly.
Bruno492 schrieb:
We are still not happy with the layout. Bruno492 schrieb:
Also not ideal yet. So why not start either planning properly or hand it over to someone else?
Bruno492 schrieb:
Personal price limit for the house, including fixtures: €750,000 That’s substantial. I assume this is supposed to cover everything including kitchen and additional building costs if a planner (which planner?) estimates the house at €500,000 without a basement?
180 m² (1,938 sq ft) living space €540,000
90 m² (969 sq ft) basement €140,000
Garage with workshop €60,000?
Additional building costs €50,000
External landscaping €50,000
Kitchen and lighting €30,000
Now to some points:
The entrance platform in this form is a trip hazard and needs to be larger.
The cloakroom is barely usable for a family, as it is too narrow, short, and small, with virtually no movement space; also, the workshop door is disruptive.
The workshop shape makes it hardly usable.
You mostly view the staircase from below. You don’t mentally reach the heart of the house—the hallway leads into darkness… That’s not pleasant when it could be different.
Dining area is too tight for the stove, room too small for a stove.
It’s always bold to build against every structural rule and plan load-bearing walls around the staircase in opposing directions. But maybe wood is more forgiving? I don’t know. The external dimensions also don’t match between the different floors…
Yes, the bathroom is too large, the guest room too small, closet doors won’t open there, laundry chute in the wrong room.
Overall, it’s a lot of 1980s style with angled components and a long central corridor.
Has the slope been considered regarding the basement?
In the living room, you don’t want any view?
Really kitchen seating at a breakfast bar still?
The slope isn’t considered at all except for the view from the bedroom?
Overall, a big house without added value—many areas feel cramped, and the basement isn’t included at all.
Bruno492 schrieb:
The children’s rooms are relatively narrow (3.245 m) Since when is 3.2 m (10.5 ft) narrow? That’s the width of a wide family wardrobe. There are spacious row houses where children’s rooms get by with about 2.4 m (7.9 ft) width (have to). It’s not ideal, but kids usually survive it without psychological issues.
Sorry for the harsh words—few may see it differently—I see the wasted potential of a lot of land. Soft words won’t help except to generate lots of forum traffic from the back and forth about moving walls.
A 1m (3 ft) height difference within the building plot is not very large, but it is also not negligible enough to be completely ignored. The 750K is a decent budget and, for me, the reason not to pursue the design any further. Without going into details: it is all far too cramped.
Both factors are enough for me to advise you to consult an architect. Please make sure to choose one who truly deserves the title.
Both factors are enough for me to advise you to consult an architect. Please make sure to choose one who truly deserves the title.
K
Kreisrund18 Apr 2024 08:30Bruno492 schrieb:
Who is responsible for the planning: --> Do-it-YourselfI probably will never understand it. Why do you try to do it yourselves instead of going to a professional who has studied this for many years? Do you also draw up your own contracts and repair your own car?S
Schorsch_baut18 Apr 2024 09:02ypg schrieb:
Since when is 3.20 meters (10.5 feet) narrow? That is the width of a large family wardrobe. There are more spacious terraced houses where children's rooms have to manage with about 2.40 meters (7.9 feet) width. It's not ideal, but usually children get through it without psychological issues.With over 200 square meters (2,150 square feet) of living space, well-planned children's rooms should have a few extra square meters. You may allow yourself the luxury of a minimalist bedroom, but for the kids, the room must accommodate a desk, toys, study materials, a computer, a lounge area, and a wardrobe. And I’m deliberately not even mentioning the toys that also need storage. We have enough LEGO to build a city. The neighbors have the matching Barbie population.
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