ᐅ Floor Plan Optimization for a Single-Family House of 140 m² on a Narrow Plot

Created on: 21 Aug 2024 22:51
J
JP_2024
Hello everyone,

We have the opportunity to purchase a plot of land including a house. However, the existing house is in such a condition that it requires demolition. Our plan is to build a new, small single-family home with approximately 140 m² (1,507 sq ft) of living space. Since we would like to include a basement and the current house already has one, our options for positioning the new house are somewhat limited.

We have already received a first draft from a prefabricated house manufacturer. I have incorporated this floor plan into the site plan and made a rough layout of the outdoor areas. Now, I would like to gather your expert opinions on this design. In the near future, I also plan to contact a local construction company or architect to get another offer – possibly with a more concrete idea of the floor plan.

Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 710 m² (7,645 sq ft)
Slope: no
Floor area ratio (FAR): -
Gross floor area ratio (GFAR): 2
Building window, building line, and boundary: marked building line does not officially exist according to the city building authority
Edge development: -
Number of parking spaces: -
Number of floors: -
Roof type: -
Architectural style: -
Orientation: -
Maximum height / restrictions: -
Other specifications: -

Homeowner Requirements
Architectural style, roof type, building type: gable roof or hip roof
Basement, number of floors: basement plus 1.5 or 2 floors
Number of occupants, ages: 2 adults (ages 30/31), 1 child (1 year old), with another child planned
Space needs on ground floor (GF) and upper floor (UF): GF ideally with office and pantry, UF bedroom with small dressing room, two children’s rooms, and a bathroom
Office: family use or home office: home office, should also accommodate a sofa bed (guest room) if possible
Overnight guests per year: 2-3
Open or closed architecture: -
Conservative or modern design: modern design
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open kitchen
Number of dining seats: minimum 4, expandable to about 12 for special occasions
Fireplace: not necessary
Music/sound wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: garage if budget allows
Utility garden, greenhouse: -
Additional wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons for preferences: house should be planned with a basement since cellar excavation will already be available after demolition.

House Design
Who created the plan: prefabricated house manufacturer
-planner from a construction company
-architect
-do-it-yourself

What do you particularly like? Why?
The floor plan largely meets our wishes on the ground floor: an entrance on the north side, an office overlooking the driveway, a kitchen with an adjoining pantry, and an open living and dining area. On the upper floor, there is the option to set up a second home office space if both of us need to work from home at the same time.

What do you dislike? Why?
The straight staircase looks appealing but unfortunately takes up a lot of space on the upper floor, making the children’s rooms quite small. Additionally, the office on the ground floor does not have room for a sofa bed. The arrangement of doors in the entrance area and the staircase access from the living and dining area to the upper floor are also not ideal with children.

Price estimate according to architect/planner: €300,000 (from top of foundation slab, excluding flooring, painting, interior doors, etc.)
Personal budget limit for the house including equipment:
Preferred heating technology: air-to-water heat pump

If you have to give up some details/features, which ones?
-can be given up: pantry / straight staircase
-cannot be given up: office, basement

Why has the design turned out this way? For example:
Standard design from the planner? Standard floor plan from the prefabricated house manufacturer?
Which wishes were implemented by the architect?
A mix of many examples from various magazines...
In your opinion, what makes it particularly good or bad?

Thank you very much for your opinions and support.

Site plan with plots, road layout, and building structures


Architectural drawing of a house with basement; section and west view.


Scan of a building regulation document with sections 1–7 (usage, dimensions, construction method).


Scan of a development plan page with usage types (mixed-use, residential) and playground.


Floor plan of a house: open kitchen/living/dining area, home office, hallway, cloakroom, WC, stairs


Floor plan of a house: two children’s rooms, sleeping area with dressing room, gallery, bathroom, stair access.


Basement floor plan: basement 1 (14.52 m² (156 sq ft)), basement 2 (30.72 m² (331 sq ft)), hallway, utility room, stairs.


Section through a multi-story house with basement, staircase, roof structure, and dimensions


Section of a building with staircase, roof structure, foundations, and measurements


Site plan: house floor plan on color-coded plot, garden in green, terrace in orange, parking in gray.
J
JP_2024
22 Aug 2024 10:43
ypg schrieb:

From which side can the plot be accessed? Where is the utility connection?

Gas:

Property map with the plot marked in red, buildings in yellow, and purple lines.


Water:

Site plan: parcels with gray buildings, blue and green lines, parcel numbers.


Electricity via overhead lines...

Unfortunately, I don’t have more information about the current project status.
S
Steffi33
22 Aug 2024 12:33
Could the straight staircase be rotated 180 degrees? That way, you would go upstairs directly from the hallway.
S
Steffi33
22 Aug 2024 12:44
… also move the guest toilet to where the pantry is (then omit the pantry), use the cloakroom as a niche where the guest toilet currently is, then the guest bed can be placed in the office instead of the desk. The stair door to the basement should be accessible from the kitchen. The pantry can then be located in the basement.
J
JP_2024
22 Aug 2024 13:06
Steffi33 schrieb:

Would it be possible to rotate the straight staircase 180 degrees? Then you would go upstairs directly from the hallway.

Hello Steffi,

Thank you for your suggestion. That could definitely be done, but then the basement entrance would be accessed from the living room! I imagine that would feel a bit strange.
Steffi33 schrieb:

… also move the guest bathroom to where the pantry is (giving up the pantry), have a wardrobe recessed where the guest bathroom is now, and then the guest bed in the office would replace the desk. The door to the basement stairs would then be from the kitchen. The pantry could be relocated to the basement.

I’ll have to sketch that out; I can’t really visualize it at the moment. But thanks a lot!
K a t j a22 Aug 2024 14:38
Maybe this could be an option for placing the garage? For tools, a permit-free wooden shed could be placed in the back part of the garden.

Floor plan: Large 9.5×9.5 m (31×31 ft) square on the right; small rectangle at the bottom left.
RomeoZwo22 Aug 2024 15:28
I would advise against the idea of placing the new house on the site of the old one.