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.
H
hanghaus2023
23 Aug 2024 10:41
Give less importance to the cars. Keep the basement largely intact. This way, you still have plenty of garden space.

Site plan: red outline, blue house 12×8 m (39×26 ft), two outbuildings SP and CP.
H
hanghaus2023
23 Aug 2024 11:05
Or like this. Are there floor plans of the existing basement?

Floor plan of a property with red outline, blue house 9.12×11 m (30×36 ft)
J
JP_2024
23 Aug 2024 11:15
Hello hanghaus2023,

thank you for your suggestion.
Yes, there is one... but only in modest quality.
See below, although the house was strangely built as a mirror image.

Basement floor plan with hallway, cellar rooms, laundry room, and storage for wood/coal.


Mirrored floor plan

Architectural floor plan of a house with rooms, hallway, staircase, dimension lines, and north direction.


I am currently working on drawing a floor plan based on your suggestions.
As soon as I am finished, I will share it with you.
H
hanghaus2023
23 Aug 2024 11:41
I hope I understood this correctly. Somehow, the basement doesn’t really fit with the house. The plot is oriented towards the north.


Site plan of a plot with red boundary and a small interior image in the center.
K a t j a23 Aug 2024 11:41
@hanghaus2023 the building line is no longer relevant.
H
hanghaus2023
23 Aug 2024 11:45
K a t j a schrieb:

@hanghaus2023 the building line is no longer relevant.
I understand that. But if I want to keep the basement, you should follow it. Demolishing and rebuilding the basement easily costs around 110,000.

It seems the basement is bigger than expected. Or are there still additional structures?

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