ᐅ Two-story single-family house without a basement, with an outbuilding and driveway on the south side
Created on: 12 Jan 2025 21:11
L
leinoelHello! Happy New Year to you all!
My husband and I recently purchased a plot of land and are currently busy planning how our house should look. I have already read several forum posts and have been able to take away a few tips – many thanks for that!
We are now gathering initial quotes to roughly estimate whether our current plans are completely off, within budget, or if we might even be able to plan a bit more generously. We aimed for a compact design but still allowed for a bit of luxury – at least on paper. We would appreciate feedback on our plan – both positive and negative comments are very welcome.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 1000m2 (10,764 sq ft)
Slope: no, flat plot
Site coverage ratio: no restrictions
Floor area ratio: no restrictions
Building envelope, building line, and boundary: street side 3–5 m (10–16 ft), 3 m (10 ft) on both left and right sides, rear building boundary about 30 m (98 ft) – so plenty of space
Edge development – what does this mean? Open construction method is required; neighbors are at least 3 m (10 ft) from the property boundary
Number of parking spaces: 2 cars
Number of storeys: no requirements; we want 2 above-ground storeys but no basement (due to high groundwater level)
Roof type: pitched roof is mandatory; our idea is shown in the elevations (maximum roof area facing south for photovoltaic panels). Whether this makes sense cost-wise will depend on the quotes. Otherwise, it will be a traditional gable roof with the ridge running parallel to the street
Architectural style: Bauhaus or modern country house style (we like the combination of plaster and wood)
Orientation: garden to the northeast, street to the southwest
Maximum heights/limits: maximum building height at the building line 7 m (23 ft), maximum ridge height 8.5 m (28 ft)
Additional requirements
Homeowners’ Requirements
Architectural style, roof shape, building type: modern country house style, pitched roof, two storeys without basement
Basement, storeys: no basement, 2 storeys
Number of occupants, ages: 4 people, 37 years, 33 years, 4 years, 1 year
Space requirements on ground floor and upper floor: Ground floor: living-dining-kitchen area, home office/guest room, bathroom, utility room, cloakroom; Upper floor: 3 bedrooms, bathroom, laundry/storage room
Office use: family use or home office? Home office twice a week, sleeping accommodation for parents-in-law
Guest stays per year: 3–4 weeks
Open or closed layout: living areas on the ground floor open but preferably with the option to install a sliding door later when the children are older and visitors come, in order to have some privacy
Conservative or modern construction: open to both
Open kitchen, kitchen island: absolutely open to the dining room; a kitchen island would be my wish but takes a lot of space ... might end up as a peninsula instead
Number of dining seats: 4 people, but should have space for up to 15 people for events like Christmas or birthdays – it’s fine if an additional large table is placed in the living room and the sofa moved temporarily
Fireplace: YES
Music/stereo wall: not a must
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: yes, carport in the front building setback; behind that, a garage as a basement substitute room plus a room for a sauna (alternatively, placing the sauna inside the main building is also fine, but we didn’t manage that in our planning; the sauna should measure at least 2 m x 2 m (6.5 ft x 6.5 ft))
Utility garden, greenhouse: no greenhouse, but a few fruit trees are already on the plot; we want to add native perennials and small vegetable beds to be cultivated with the children
Further wishes/special features/daily routine, also reasons for why certain things should or should not be included: we want at least one living room to have a view of the garden – so to the north. Therefore, the living rooms are arranged in an L-shape. The other two living rooms should face the street (south). This street has very little traffic and currently a nice undeveloped view (it is farmed). The toilet on the upper floor should be a separate room. Maximizing afternoon sunlight in the living rooms would be desirable (appropriate sun protection for the hot period is planned).
House Design
Who designed the plan:
- Do-it-Yourself
What do you particularly like? Why? I especially like our plot because it is so quiet, and we are already looking forward to sleeping with open windows in summer. I like the – compared to our current home – large bathroom where, hopefully, people won’t bump into each other brushing their teeth and where there is still space for a laundry hamper. The kitchen next to the dining area is also very important to us. We don’t have that now, and it can be a challenge with the children.
What do you not like? Why? The entrance area – I’m not sure whether there will be enough space for our clothes. Also, perhaps it would be practical to have a direct connection from the garage into the house. I also worry that the long corridor between the buildings might be too dark.
Price estimate according to architect/planner: we are currently waiting for this
Personal price limit for the house, including fittings: €600,000 (about 600,000), but we would prefer to target €500,000 (about 500,000)
Preferred heating technology: geothermal (deep drilling or horizontal collector)
If you have to give up on details/extensions
- can you do without: lift-and-slide door (a hinged door is also fine), straight staircase, kitchen island, staircase from living room to upper floor
- cannot do without: guest room, garden view from at least one living room, bathroom on the ground floor, separate toilet on the upper floor
Why is the design the way it is?
We conducted a needs analysis and arranged the rooms according to cardinal directions (lighting is important to me — it will also be important later). After many pencil sketches and moving paper furniture around, this design finally emerged. This is the first one I haven’t completely reworked after just a few days. Let’s see if it stays that way 😀
My husband and I recently purchased a plot of land and are currently busy planning how our house should look. I have already read several forum posts and have been able to take away a few tips – many thanks for that!
We are now gathering initial quotes to roughly estimate whether our current plans are completely off, within budget, or if we might even be able to plan a bit more generously. We aimed for a compact design but still allowed for a bit of luxury – at least on paper. We would appreciate feedback on our plan – both positive and negative comments are very welcome.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 1000m2 (10,764 sq ft)
Slope: no, flat plot
Site coverage ratio: no restrictions
Floor area ratio: no restrictions
Building envelope, building line, and boundary: street side 3–5 m (10–16 ft), 3 m (10 ft) on both left and right sides, rear building boundary about 30 m (98 ft) – so plenty of space
Edge development – what does this mean? Open construction method is required; neighbors are at least 3 m (10 ft) from the property boundary
Number of parking spaces: 2 cars
Number of storeys: no requirements; we want 2 above-ground storeys but no basement (due to high groundwater level)
Roof type: pitched roof is mandatory; our idea is shown in the elevations (maximum roof area facing south for photovoltaic panels). Whether this makes sense cost-wise will depend on the quotes. Otherwise, it will be a traditional gable roof with the ridge running parallel to the street
Architectural style: Bauhaus or modern country house style (we like the combination of plaster and wood)
Orientation: garden to the northeast, street to the southwest
Maximum heights/limits: maximum building height at the building line 7 m (23 ft), maximum ridge height 8.5 m (28 ft)
Additional requirements
Homeowners’ Requirements
Architectural style, roof shape, building type: modern country house style, pitched roof, two storeys without basement
Basement, storeys: no basement, 2 storeys
Number of occupants, ages: 4 people, 37 years, 33 years, 4 years, 1 year
Space requirements on ground floor and upper floor: Ground floor: living-dining-kitchen area, home office/guest room, bathroom, utility room, cloakroom; Upper floor: 3 bedrooms, bathroom, laundry/storage room
Office use: family use or home office? Home office twice a week, sleeping accommodation for parents-in-law
Guest stays per year: 3–4 weeks
Open or closed layout: living areas on the ground floor open but preferably with the option to install a sliding door later when the children are older and visitors come, in order to have some privacy
Conservative or modern construction: open to both
Open kitchen, kitchen island: absolutely open to the dining room; a kitchen island would be my wish but takes a lot of space ... might end up as a peninsula instead
Number of dining seats: 4 people, but should have space for up to 15 people for events like Christmas or birthdays – it’s fine if an additional large table is placed in the living room and the sofa moved temporarily
Fireplace: YES
Music/stereo wall: not a must
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: yes, carport in the front building setback; behind that, a garage as a basement substitute room plus a room for a sauna (alternatively, placing the sauna inside the main building is also fine, but we didn’t manage that in our planning; the sauna should measure at least 2 m x 2 m (6.5 ft x 6.5 ft))
Utility garden, greenhouse: no greenhouse, but a few fruit trees are already on the plot; we want to add native perennials and small vegetable beds to be cultivated with the children
Further wishes/special features/daily routine, also reasons for why certain things should or should not be included: we want at least one living room to have a view of the garden – so to the north. Therefore, the living rooms are arranged in an L-shape. The other two living rooms should face the street (south). This street has very little traffic and currently a nice undeveloped view (it is farmed). The toilet on the upper floor should be a separate room. Maximizing afternoon sunlight in the living rooms would be desirable (appropriate sun protection for the hot period is planned).
House Design
Who designed the plan:
- Do-it-Yourself
What do you particularly like? Why? I especially like our plot because it is so quiet, and we are already looking forward to sleeping with open windows in summer. I like the – compared to our current home – large bathroom where, hopefully, people won’t bump into each other brushing their teeth and where there is still space for a laundry hamper. The kitchen next to the dining area is also very important to us. We don’t have that now, and it can be a challenge with the children.
What do you not like? Why? The entrance area – I’m not sure whether there will be enough space for our clothes. Also, perhaps it would be practical to have a direct connection from the garage into the house. I also worry that the long corridor between the buildings might be too dark.
Price estimate according to architect/planner: we are currently waiting for this
Personal price limit for the house, including fittings: €600,000 (about 600,000), but we would prefer to target €500,000 (about 500,000)
Preferred heating technology: geothermal (deep drilling or horizontal collector)
If you have to give up on details/extensions
- can you do without: lift-and-slide door (a hinged door is also fine), straight staircase, kitchen island, staircase from living room to upper floor
- cannot do without: guest room, garden view from at least one living room, bathroom on the ground floor, separate toilet on the upper floor
Why is the design the way it is?
We conducted a needs analysis and arranged the rooms according to cardinal directions (lighting is important to me — it will also be important later). After many pencil sketches and moving paper furniture around, this design finally emerged. This is the first one I haven’t completely reworked after just a few days. Let’s see if it stays that way 😀
Welcome!
Your design is interesting, but I have to ask: Do you really want to carry coffee, cups, and plates through the lounge area every time you go to the terrace? The terrace and garden are the homeowner’s living room in the summer. I understand your “light” dilemma due to the somewhat unfortunate northeast orientation. But maybe there’s a more elegant solution?
Your design is interesting, but I have to ask: Do you really want to carry coffee, cups, and plates through the lounge area every time you go to the terrace? The terrace and garden are the homeowner’s living room in the summer. I understand your “light” dilemma due to the somewhat unfortunate northeast orientation. But maybe there’s a more elegant solution?
W
wiltshire12 Jan 2025 21:44I quite like the layout, and it fits well with your ideas. Of course, a straight staircase requires a lot of circulation space, which makes the construction cost per usable living area somewhat higher. The cost estimators per square meter in this forum can give you more details; I’m not fully up to date, so this is just a general note.
The hallway leading to the front door is naturally a bit darker. Too dark? Probably not. When the sun is gone, a light fixture will do the job. Maybe you could even go the other way and let a vine grow over it, creating a sheltered entrance alcove. My bigger concern would be that the living rooms might get too dark—I don’t see any light on the long wall facing southeast. Also, I would appreciate having some morning sun in the bedroom.
Yes, the other route is quite long—and even longer if the kids want to go to the northeast terrace. I would address this by adding another terrace in front of the kitchen. I’m generally a fan of having several cozy spots to relax on the property anyway.
The hallway leading to the front door is naturally a bit darker. Too dark? Probably not. When the sun is gone, a light fixture will do the job. Maybe you could even go the other way and let a vine grow over it, creating a sheltered entrance alcove. My bigger concern would be that the living rooms might get too dark—I don’t see any light on the long wall facing southeast. Also, I would appreciate having some morning sun in the bedroom.
K a t j a schrieb:
Do you really want to carry coffee, cups, and plates through the chill-out area every time to get to the terrace?
Yes, the other route is quite long—and even longer if the kids want to go to the northeast terrace. I would address this by adding another terrace in front of the kitchen. I’m generally a fan of having several cozy spots to relax on the property anyway.
K a t j a schrieb:
Welcome!
Your design is interesting, but I have to ask: Do you really want to be carrying coffee, cups, and plates through the lounge area every time you go out to the terrace? The terrace and garden are essentially the homeowner’s living room in the summer. I understand your “light” dilemma because of the somewhat unfortunate northeast orientation. But maybe there is a more elegant solution? Wow, thanks for the quick feedback! Yes, I completely agree, that will definitely annoy me... but unfortunately, I haven’t found a more elegant solution yet. Somehow the kitchen measurements never quite fit well. We currently have it like this anyway, so at least it won’t be a downgrade 😀 At least this way I have a shorter route from the front door to the kitchen for groceries and the bathroom is nearby because of the plumbing. Ideally, we will have two terraces. A small one on the south side where you might still be able to sit during the shoulder season – I can then go directly outside from the kitchen. But I’m open to suggestions; maybe I just haven’t thought it through well enough...
leinoel schrieb:
The bathroom on the upper floor should be a separate roomThat’s exactly what I’m looking for. Do you mean the kids’ bathroom? To me, an “extra WC” means the toilet is separated. But okay...
The shower is more like a foot bath, so small?!
On one hand, I like that you’ve also organized the front area of the property somewhat. Also that the children’s rooms are positioned on the sunny side. But now comes the “but,” and I’ll start at the beginning:
The various regional building regulations are similar yet different. However, I don’t know any state building code that allows more than 12 meters (39 feet) of setback development on one side.
leinoel schrieb:
Setback development – what does that mean?The question refers to how much setback development is allowed on each side. Usually, it’s 9 meters (30 feet) to one side, maximum 15 meters (49 feet). What you have drawn in is more than 12 meters (39 feet). Also, I believe a sauna counts as a living space, and if not, then it’s not permitted to plan and build a room with a heat source as setback development. At least the sauna located there is therefore not allowed. Probably the storage room isn’t either.
Regarding the design: I find the utility room too small. Since the WC and utility room depend on their location, I would position the utility room with a short plumbing run towards the street, and the WC towards the garden, especially because of a sauna planned in the garden.
You want a view, you want sunlight—both completely understandable. I agree with Katja: put the kitchen next to the main terrace and vegetable garden. The vegetable garden needs partial shade, so not facing south.
Ask yourselves when during which months you use the living room and sofa: in the darker months, the sun is only available during the day on weekends. In summer, you want to be in the garden all day. Is the living room really well placed where it is?
About the divided living room: do you want to exclude each other from using the fireplace in the evening? I simply say: the staircase is poorly located for a household with children.
I notice the 80 cm (31 inch) doors (sorry, everything is a bit pixelated). These should be widened to 100 cm (39 inch). The guest WC and kids’ bathroom can stay as is.
There is no wardrobe. As a reader of some threads, you should know the importance of that.
A 24 sqm (258 sq ft) hallway only on the upper floor makes one’s mouth dry.
Regarding the roof: I just can’t get along with it. From the street, it looks like half a house.
I like the idea of the entrance area, especially because it allows for attractive design solutions with minimal effort; the adjacent extension with the sauna is well designed, but the sauna could just as easily be placed elsewhere on the property without significant additional cost.
It is intended to be a wooden carport, and there are design options to allow more light, so the entrance area does not become too dark.
I would carefully review the rather small utility room in terms of the necessary equipment. I also find it practical to store at least a few small items (tools, etc.) there.
The hallway, partly due to the straight staircase, feels like a long tunnel, which I generally do not like. I miss natural daylight in that area. Although the foyer takes up space, it currently offers little room for a coat rack, shoes, and similar items.
I am somewhat skeptical about having a fireplace alongside underfloor heating; in this case, I would prefer to have a large window instead. In fact, the window areas seem rather sparse overall, considering the specific requirements.
The living room really starts only after the beam, so I find the planned space for it quite tight. I would also be interested in the actual furniture layout as marked on the plans.
I would seriously reconsider the shape of the staircase, as it significantly affects the rooms behind it and, to put it mildly, somewhat disadvantages them.
The stairwell and hallway could also be rather dark on the upper floor.
It is intended to be a wooden carport, and there are design options to allow more light, so the entrance area does not become too dark.
I would carefully review the rather small utility room in terms of the necessary equipment. I also find it practical to store at least a few small items (tools, etc.) there.
The hallway, partly due to the straight staircase, feels like a long tunnel, which I generally do not like. I miss natural daylight in that area. Although the foyer takes up space, it currently offers little room for a coat rack, shoes, and similar items.
I am somewhat skeptical about having a fireplace alongside underfloor heating; in this case, I would prefer to have a large window instead. In fact, the window areas seem rather sparse overall, considering the specific requirements.
The living room really starts only after the beam, so I find the planned space for it quite tight. I would also be interested in the actual furniture layout as marked on the plans.
I would seriously reconsider the shape of the staircase, as it significantly affects the rooms behind it and, to put it mildly, somewhat disadvantages them.
The stairwell and hallway could also be rather dark on the upper floor.
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