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:
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.
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.
N
Newbee-BW11 Dec 2024 21:32ypg schrieb:
Which do you prefer? Split or combined? I find the split option more interesting. My first designs were square, and so was the open-plan area, because I assumed that this kind of building shape is more cost-effective than an L-shaped design or something similar. Whether I can really afford or want a “special shape” will still have to be seen. But I already think it looks nicer than just square...
ypg schrieb:
You could also think outside the box and position the carport at the front, but to be honest, it fits quite well on the east side. Yes, I agree, and especially that the entrance is recessed—I really like that. It provides some protection from wind and rain and prevents a direct view inside from the street.
@ypg your thoughts are very helpful. I think the position in the northwest corner works very well as it is.
N
Newbee-BW11 Dec 2024 21:39With my last sentence, I meant the position of the bedroom…
N
Newbee-BW11 Dec 2024 21:43Arauki11 schrieb:
We have a direct view out into the open fields with the sheep…a dream… I can’t really imagine a workspace in the middle of the room, I’ve never had that before. I need to think about that, thanks.
Newbee-BW schrieb:
Do you mean the wall behind the couch or the one with the door to the open-plan area?The door to the open-plan area, assuming there would be a cabinet or sideboard there so that it wouldn’t be visible from the side. Just a small idea, but it can also work without a door. There should definitely be some natural light there though.Newbee-BW schrieb:
I also see the wall with the door as optional. I could imagine a half-height wall there, which would be a nice place to put a plant.It’s all a matter of personal taste, and you have to like plants too. Just an idea. The ideas about the toilet and bathtub were also just suggestions, and it’s good that you have a clear opinion on those—you’re lucky. I’ve sometimes struggled with such details for days.I could probably manage with less natural light in the shower; we rely on artificial lighting on the ground floor if needed. But of course, if natural light is available, you can definitely use it.
Newbee-BW schrieb:
You’ve hit a sore spot—I really have no direction yet regarding the heating system.
I’m also torn about the fireplace. I can’t easily or cheaply get firewood; I’d basically have to buy it regularly. Logistically, it’s also not so simple since I don’t have a trailer for my car. On the other hand, a fireplace is really nice and creates a great atmosphere and warmth on cold days. But then there are the purchase costs, chimney sweep fees, and the cost of the wood. Yeah, it’s complicated.I could resolve that easily for me since we both wanted a fireplace and I had one for 30 years. I don’t just calculate the costs; for me, it’s also about the enjoyment of watching the fire all evening. I don’t have a trailer anymore either and order wood through an online platform including delivery from the local area, which is more common down where you are than here in the east. Right now, I also have these dark, compressed logs—I once had two pallets delivered costing about 300.- per pallet/ton.You just have to really like it, and then it works because in a well-insulated house you only need to heat occasionally with it. The chimney sweep is usually local, so that’s not a problem. I prefer that to the technicians for modern systems who spend hours in the house and still can’t find the error. That’s more of a nightmare for me.
You can calculate the costs endlessly; the initial purchase of wood is significantly cheaper and involves less technical effort than an air-to-water heat pump but is of course something completely different. I love it, but it can be done differently.
Newbee-BW schrieb:
…a dream…
I can’t really imagine the workspace in the middle of the room; I’ve never had that before. I’ll have to think about it—thanks.That’s exactly what brainstorming is for—ruling things out one after another to get more clarity!N
Newbee-BW11 Dec 2024 22:26Arauki11 schrieb:
For example, I prefer this over technicians of modern devices who spend hours in the house and still can’t find the fault. To me, that’s rather frustrating.Yeah, I agree, even though I work in the IT industry. The less technology, the less complex and less prone to errors it is. On the other hand, it’s obviously easier to just turn up the heating than to start a fire first. I’ll be thinking this over for a while…Similar topics