ᐅ Floor plan design for a single-family house, 165 sqm, without a basement, on a 400 sqm plot

Created on: 10 Aug 2023 09:33
M
Maulwurfbau
At the request of 11ant, here is a post with the completed list ;-) Unfortunately, he still doesn’t have a crystal ball.
Providing all information possible/available at this point in time.

Development Plan / Restrictions

Plot size: 400 sqm (4300 sq ft)
Slope: No, and no means no!
Floor space index (FSI): 0.4
Floor area ratio (FAR): ?
Building envelope, building line and boundary: Yes, available.
Edge development: Possible with garage.
Number of parking spaces: at least 1, preferably 2
Number of storeys: 1-2
Roof type: Gable roof (pitch minimum 31°, maximum 45°)
Architectural style: ??
Orientation: Gable end facing
Maximum heights / limits: Roof ridge 6-7 m (20-23 ft), eaves 9-12 m (30-39 ft)
Other requirements: No brick facades allowed. Driveway or space in front of garage at least 6 m (20 ft). Red roof tiles mandatory, light facade.

Homeowners’ Requirements
Architectural style, roof type, building type: Gable roof, fixed
Basement, storeys: 2 full storeys without basement
Number of occupants, age: 4 people (2 toddlers)
Space requirements on ground floor and upper floor:
Office: Family use or home office? Office of approx. 12 sqm (130 sq ft) is a must.
Guest bedrooms per year: Few
Open or closed architecture: ? Whatever that means.
Conservative or modern construction style: rather modern construction.
Open kitchen, cooking island: Open kitchen, possibly with cooking island
Number of dining seats: 6
Fireplace: NO
Music / stereo wall: Not planned, TV location is quite important.
Balcony, roof terrace: NO
Garage, carport: Garage desired. Carport with storage box also conceivable.
Utility garden, greenhouse: NO
Further wishes / special features / daily routine, preferably with reasons for choices:
Laundry room on the upper floor. They want to do laundry where it is generated and where it must be returned clean. Anything else is a hassle, at least for us.

House Design
Who designed the plan: Architect

What do you particularly like? Why?
Everything we provided as basic information and what our daily life requires has been implemented.
We like the clear lines/structure.
The open space in the hallway.
The connection/proximity of all rooms on ground and upper floors that need water/sewage. So no funny business with the bathroom upstairs in one corner and the utility room diagonally opposite on the ground floor. Personally, I like that.
No bay windows or other awkward extensions.
Laundry room upstairs where the washer and dryer are planned.

What don’t you like? Why?
The living room might be a bit too exposed for us. It could also be a cozy nook with TV without direct view of the kitchen. Cooking and eating together openly is liked; the living room could be a bit more separate. Currently, the floor plan shows it like a narrow, rather shadowy corner.
The somewhat narrow bedroom upstairs is not a dealbreaker but not 100% pleasing.

Price estimate according to architect/planner:
-
Personal price limit for the house, including fixtures and fittings:
500-575k
Preferred heating system:
Predefined, ground source heat pump with collector. Cold local heating network.

If you have to give up, which details/extras
-can you do without:
The small additional room for the father upstairs.
Garage, as mentioned carport also conceivable.

-can you not do without:
Office.
Storage box at garage or carport.
Children’s rooms.

Why is the design the way it is now? e.g.
The design turned out this way because the architect implemented our wishes and requirements almost 1:1. This preliminary layout resulted in this first version.

What do you consider particularly good or bad?
See what we like and what not. We don’t find anything particularly bad. Rather, not entirely optimal.

What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?

Position garage flush with house or set back?

43.5 sqm (468 sq ft) + 4 sqm (43 sq ft) pantry sufficient as “all-purpose room”?

Same floor plan possibly mirrored? Then office on south side, sun all day, blinds always down. Same issue upstairs with bedroom in summer at least. Entrance farther from parking space.

The building method will be timber frame construction with a local timber builder.

This is a first sketch after clarifying needs/wishes with the architect.
Floor plan of a house with living, dining, kitchen, office, hallway, terrace, and garage.

Floor plan of a storey with hallway, bedroom, children’s room, dressing room, bathroom.

Site plan of house with red property boundary, building footprint, north arrow, street names.
M
Maulwurfbau
16 May 2024 16:34
Sorry. Here is the floor plan. We actually don’t want to make any more changes to it now.
Ground floor plan of a house with terrace, garage, living room, dining area, kitchen, office, utility room.
H
hanse987
16 May 2024 17:32
The room, with the high sill height of the window, has a feel similar to a basement room. But you need to decide what is more important to you: external symmetry or the spatial experience inside? For me, even with a 90cm (35 inch) sill height, the 80cm (31.5 inch) tall window would still feel too low. The top edge of the glass would only be about 1.60m (5 feet 3 inches) above the floor.
K
kbt09
16 May 2024 19:12
Why is there only such a narrow strip of windows in the home office? As it is now, you can’t see outside while standing. How about something like this:


Exterior view of a two-story house with a pitched roof, window facade, entrance, and garage.
K a t j a16 May 2024 19:45
Maulwurfbau schrieb:

The east facade looks a bit unbalanced.

Not just that, if you ask me.
Maulwurfbau schrieb:

It was planned from the inside out, and the windows have a purpose.

Yes, like letting in light, for example. Your windows remind me more of loopholes. This will be a bunker.
M
Maulwurfbau
16 May 2024 19:46
hanse987 schrieb:

The room has a basement-like feel due to the high window sill height. But you need to decide what’s more important to you: exterior symmetry or the feel of the room inside? For me, even a 90cm (35 inches) sill height would make the 80cm (31.5 inches) tall window too low. The top edge of the glass would then be only about 1.60m (5 ft 3 in) above the floor.

The room feeling inside is more important. The sill height is something to reconsider—perhaps setting it between 100 and 110cm (39 to 43 inches). That way, you can look outside while sitting and, if you are of average height, also when standing. Basement-like is actually a pretty accurate description. Thanks.
M
Maulwurfbau
16 May 2024 19:47
kbt09 schrieb:

Why is there only a narrow window strip in the home office? As it is now, you can’t see outside while standing. How about something like this:

grundrissentwurf-einfamilienhaus-165qm-ohne-keller-auf-400qm-grundstueck-662464-1.png

We had that in mind as well, but we don’t want to introduce a completely new window type or shape.