ᐅ Small Bungalow Floor Plan – Potential for Improvement?

Created on: 3 Dec 2024 08:18
N
Newbee-BW
Hello,
unfortunately, my post simply disappeared again yesterday, so I’ll try my luck once more.
A brief introduction: I am 48, female, single, and based in northern Baden-Württemberg.

I’m still at the very beginning of my house-building planning but already own a plot of land, for which I will sign the purchase contract in the coming weeks.
I want a small, single-story house without a basement, with a small, low-maintenance garden and nothing fancy.
It is unclear whether another person might move in ever, so I don’t want to plan for that at this point.
Basically, it would depend on the cost what 10-15 m² (100-160 sq ft) more would mean, as my budget is naturally limited.

Room plan
Kitchen + Dining + Living + Work approx. 40 m² (430 sq ft)
Bedroom approx. 14 m² (150 sq ft)
Dressing room -
Work/Guest/Child room approx. 10 m² (110 sq ft) optional
Bathroom + WC approx. 7 m² (75 sq ft)
Hallway approx. 5 m² (55 sq ft)
Utility room approx. 8 m² (85 sq ft)
Guest WC -
Storage room -
Total approx. 75 - 85 m² (810 - 915 sq ft)

Questionnaire regarding the floor plan:












































































































































































Development plan / restrictions
Plot size 392 m² (4,220 sq ft)
Slope North-south gradient approx. 1.5 m on 21 m (5 ft on 69 ft)
Site coverage ratio 0.4
Floor area ratio 0.8
Building envelope, building line and boundary see development plan
Edge development Setbacks according to open construction style
Number of parking spaces 1.5 (rounded up) per dwelling unit, so 2
Number of stories II (two stories)
Roof type Pitch 38–43°, half-hip roof or double shed roof
Architectural style ?
Orientation East-West
Maximum heights / limits 8.5 m (28 ft)
Further requirements Cistern of 4.5 m³ (160 cu ft) recommended
Garage: with gable roof or green flat roof, carports?
Filling allowed up to 1.8 m (6 ft)
Builder’s requirements
Style, roof form, building type Exemption from gable roof at 30°? Bungalow
Basement, number of floors One story without basement
Number of people, age see introduction
Space requirements on ground and upper floors Ground floor 75-80 m² (810 - 860 sq ft)
Office: family use or home office? Home office, integrated in living-dining area
Number of overnight guests per year 0–1
Open or closed architecture ?
Traditional or modern construction style ?
Open kitchen, kitchen island Kitchen island with depth like regular kitchen cabinets, followed by dining table
Number of dining seats max 4
Fireplace Undecided
Music / stereo wall No
Balcony, roof terrace No
Garage, carport 1 carport, 1 parking space
Vegetable garden, greenhouse No
Further wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons why some things should be included or not - No separate office for home office because I don’t want to spend most of the day in a smaller room but rather in the living room with a view of the garden
- Retractable staircase to the attic (additional storage space)
- Wall in bedroom for wardrobe at least 2.75 m (9 ft) long
- Wall in living room at least 2.45 m (8 ft) long for lowboard with TV
- Bathtub – uncertain if necessary
- Larger shower 90 x 120 cm (36 x 47 inches) with tiled partition wall (avoid glass wall)
House design
Who designed the plan: DIY, based on floor plans from Hanse Haus and various other small house providers
What do you like? Why? Open living-dining-working area in the southern part of the house, utility room not directly next to the bedroom (noise from technical equipment)
What do you dislike? Why? Possibly the hallway / entrance area is rather small
Cost estimate according to architect / planner: ?
Personal price limit for the house, incl. equipment: 250,000–270,000 Euros (approx. 270,000–290,000 USD) turnkey, excluding foundation slab, earthworks, secondary building costs, furnishings, and landscaping
Preferred heating system: Not yet decided, possibly underfloor heating
Other considerations Maximum house length 11.5 m (38 ft) because plot width approx. 18 m (59 ft) minus carport 3 m (10 ft) minus setback 2.5 m (8 ft) minus 1 m (3 ft) buffer in case plot is shorter than 18 m (measured on Boris BW)
Carport position could also be on the west side
To maximize green space and deal with the slope: house with long side parallel to the street
No preference yet regarding solid construction or timber frame, KfW 55 or 40 or X standard
Outdoor facilities - Patio approx. 15 m² (160 sq ft) level with the house
- Lawn may have slope
- Carport with parking space in front
Earthworks Southern boundary: retaining wall needed to manage slope, neighbors (right and left) have done this with 1.4 m (4.5 ft) L-shaped concrete blocks or hollow blocks,
rough offer from earthworks company is available (wall, grading, compacting and preparations for foundation slab, foundation slab, patio and carport [= crane location], graveling, drainage, grounding ring, multi-utility lines, site setup etc. all together approx. 60,000 Euros)

Attached are a section of the development plan and a rough drawing of the house (green), carport (blue) and patio (yellow) on the screenshot from Boris BW.
I have also attached my first attempts at floor plans (once with the entrance in the north and once in the east). I probably used the wrong tool for drafting, but I hope something can still be understood or used.
I look forward to constructive feedback.
Thank you in advance for your time.
Floor plan of a residential house: open living area with kitchen, two bedrooms, bathroom, parking space.

Floor plan of a house with living room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, garage and outdoor area.

Aerial view of a plot boundary map with parcel lines and colored markings.

Site plan with orange parcels, blue boundary lines and green marked plot at bottom.
11ant8 Dec 2024 18:27
Newbee-BW schrieb:

I actually made sure that the bathroom is always directly next to the bedroom and that there is another room between the utility room and the bedroom.
I think your bathroom/bedroom layout is fine. Washing machines can be installed with vibration isolation.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
11ant8 Dec 2024 18:35
Newbee-BW schrieb:

because I always thought avoiding a hallway would be better, since it is often just "dead" space.

Your attempts are surprisingly successful despite this incorrect design assumption. Circulation areas usually increase when trying to reduce them.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
N
Newbee-BW
8 Dec 2024 19:42
ypg schrieb:

too close to the two-story house on the left side of the plan
Well, on the right side there is now also a two-story house.
ypg schrieb:

I don’t even want to ask what the circles on the street mean.
That’s probably a planting requirement for the front garden zone (30% should be planted with native shrubs and young trees), but practically no one in this area follows it. If you drive through the northern part of the new development (where many houses already have completed landscaping), you won’t see a single plant. Everything is paved right up to the street.
ypg schrieb:

2 square meters, but they really add value.
Yes, absolutely, a really good idea!
ypg schrieb:

But I will say upfront: personally, I don’t like it.
I actually like it a lot. I would just do the terrace a bit differently and maybe adjust the windows a little, but otherwise I think it’s great! Many thanks.
Y
ypg
8 Dec 2024 20:42
11ant schrieb:

Washing machines can be installed with vibration isolation.
Have you recently stood next to a nearly new washing machine and not noticed it running?

Here is one more with a rotated cabinet:


Floor plan of a house from above: living room, dining area, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, bathroom, terrace, garden.



3D model of a house with garden, carport, wooden pergola, and a standing person in front
Y
ypg
8 Dec 2024 21:14
Newbee-BW schrieb:

Well, there is now also a two-story building on the right.
But if you really love sunlight and plan the carport on the east side, then that neighbor won’t matter to you.
Newbee-BW schrieb:

Everything paved all the way to the street.
Terrible. Well, at least some bushes provide privacy.
11ant9 Dec 2024 00:10
ypg schrieb:

Have you recently stood next to a brand-new washing machine and not noticed that it was running?
It’s not me, but the original poster who is reluctant to have the utility room directly next to the bedroom.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/