ᐅ Floor Plan Design for Single-Family Home (167 m²) – Feedback
Created on: 13 Jan 2025 14:04
J
Josy1990
Dear Forum,
We have revised our house plan together with a planner and are now very satisfied with it. However, I would be interested to hear your thoughts or if you have any suggestions for us. Thank you!
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size – approx. 700m2 (8,400 sq ft)
Slope – no
Site coverage – approx. 168m2 (1,810 sq ft)
Floor area ratio – 81.5m2 (880 sq ft, ground floor), 86.1m2 (927 sq ft, first floor)
Building envelope, setback line, and boundary
Edge development –
Number of parking spaces – 1-2 cars, but not directly next to the house
Number of floors – 2 stories
Roof type – gable roof (approx. 15°)
Architectural style – inspired by the architecture of the adjacent wine cellars (gable roof with tiles), interpreted in a modern way (large windows)
Orientation – west
Maximum height / limitations – unknown
Additional requirements – The building area already has a concrete slab foundation (old garage, structural integrity confirmed). On three sides it borders halls. To the north is a hall with a sloping roof (lowest point about 1.6m (5 ft 3 in) high near the front, sloping up to about 2.8m (9 ft 2 in) towards the east). To the east, the adjacent hall is as high as the ground floor; from the utility room there should be a door leading into it. To the south are my grandmother’s house and garden.
Client Requirements
Style, roof type, building type – inspired by the architecture of the adjacent wine cellars (gable tiled roof), modern interpretation (large windows), single-family house
Basement, floors – no basement, ground floor, first floor, and an unfinished, unheated attic
Number of residents, ages – 3 people (37, 33, 1) and a dog
Space requirements on ground/first floor –
Office: family use or home office? – home office for two planned on the first floor
Overnight guests per year – ?
Open or closed layout – open
Traditional or modern construction – modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island – open kitchen with island, sliding window above the worktop
Number of dining seats – 6-8
Fireplace – yes (on the north side in the plan), with open viewing window, integrated seating area; should partially heat the floor heating system; flue should extend slightly beyond the north wall
Music / stereo wall – unknown
Balcony, roof terrace – terrace only
Garage, carport – yes, but not directly attached to the house; located in the southwest corner of the garden to shield the neighboring utility building to the south and west
Kitchen garden, greenhouse – kitchen garden for play, living, and gardening
Other wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons for choices or exclusions
House Design
Planning by:
DIY together with a planner
What do you like most? Why?
The open layout and large window fronts (only possible on the west side on the ground floor)
What do you like least? Why? – none
Estimated cost according to architect/planner: 510,000 euros
Personal budget limit for the house including finishes: 550,000
Preferred heating technology: heat pump, fireplace, underfloor heating
If you had to give up something, which details or features
- could you give up: not really anything, but open to discussion with good arguments 🙂
- couldn’t give up: large, floor-to-ceiling windows in the living-dining area
Why is the design as it is? For example:
The conditions and the wish to reuse the existing built area somewhat limit the plan and possibilities. The adjacent halls limit windows to the west on the ground floor. To the north, a higher, long window above the dining bench can help make the space feel more open. In my opinion, the living room/niche does not necessarily need a window.
The views from the first floor to the east, north, and west are nice, overlooking the town and vineyards. Therefore, I want large windows there and have planned the office and bedroom in this area.
We have revised our house plan together with a planner and are now very satisfied with it. However, I would be interested to hear your thoughts or if you have any suggestions for us. Thank you!
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size – approx. 700m2 (8,400 sq ft)
Slope – no
Site coverage – approx. 168m2 (1,810 sq ft)
Floor area ratio – 81.5m2 (880 sq ft, ground floor), 86.1m2 (927 sq ft, first floor)
Building envelope, setback line, and boundary
Edge development –
Number of parking spaces – 1-2 cars, but not directly next to the house
Number of floors – 2 stories
Roof type – gable roof (approx. 15°)
Architectural style – inspired by the architecture of the adjacent wine cellars (gable roof with tiles), interpreted in a modern way (large windows)
Orientation – west
Maximum height / limitations – unknown
Additional requirements – The building area already has a concrete slab foundation (old garage, structural integrity confirmed). On three sides it borders halls. To the north is a hall with a sloping roof (lowest point about 1.6m (5 ft 3 in) high near the front, sloping up to about 2.8m (9 ft 2 in) towards the east). To the east, the adjacent hall is as high as the ground floor; from the utility room there should be a door leading into it. To the south are my grandmother’s house and garden.
Client Requirements
Style, roof type, building type – inspired by the architecture of the adjacent wine cellars (gable tiled roof), modern interpretation (large windows), single-family house
Basement, floors – no basement, ground floor, first floor, and an unfinished, unheated attic
Number of residents, ages – 3 people (37, 33, 1) and a dog
Space requirements on ground/first floor –
Office: family use or home office? – home office for two planned on the first floor
Overnight guests per year – ?
Open or closed layout – open
Traditional or modern construction – modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island – open kitchen with island, sliding window above the worktop
Number of dining seats – 6-8
Fireplace – yes (on the north side in the plan), with open viewing window, integrated seating area; should partially heat the floor heating system; flue should extend slightly beyond the north wall
Music / stereo wall – unknown
Balcony, roof terrace – terrace only
Garage, carport – yes, but not directly attached to the house; located in the southwest corner of the garden to shield the neighboring utility building to the south and west
Kitchen garden, greenhouse – kitchen garden for play, living, and gardening
Other wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons for choices or exclusions
House Design
Planning by:
DIY together with a planner
What do you like most? Why?
The open layout and large window fronts (only possible on the west side on the ground floor)
What do you like least? Why? – none
Estimated cost according to architect/planner: 510,000 euros
Personal budget limit for the house including finishes: 550,000
Preferred heating technology: heat pump, fireplace, underfloor heating
If you had to give up something, which details or features
- could you give up: not really anything, but open to discussion with good arguments 🙂
- couldn’t give up: large, floor-to-ceiling windows in the living-dining area
Why is the design as it is? For example:
The conditions and the wish to reuse the existing built area somewhat limit the plan and possibilities. The adjacent halls limit windows to the west on the ground floor. To the north, a higher, long window above the dining bench can help make the space feel more open. In my opinion, the living room/niche does not necessarily need a window.
The views from the first floor to the east, north, and west are nice, overlooking the town and vineyards. Therefore, I want large windows there and have planned the office and bedroom in this area.
You should be aware that you are investing hundreds of thousands of euros into a house that will feel like a bunker. Even if one side has a completely open wall of windows, this is not a house worth spending 500K or more on. Even an apartment has more window surfaces. It feels like being in a prison cell. I would advise you to reconsider this nonsense.
If you want to use the space, demolish the halls. Are they important? Are they needed? If so, really all of them? The question would also be how they look and whether you’d want to live among these halls. Are they authentic and somehow attractive?
Alternatively, use the area the lot still offers, if development is permitted.
If you want to use the space, demolish the halls. Are they important? Are they needed? If so, really all of them? The question would also be how they look and whether you’d want to live among these halls. Are they authentic and somehow attractive?
Alternatively, use the area the lot still offers, if development is permitted.
What kind of building is shown in the photo?
Windows can still be possible on 2 sides. This is also true for any middle terraced house, so I don’t even find it unusual or absurd. My glossy architecture books mostly show such niche solutions. They are interesting but often very expensive houses. And yes, I understand that many people have no use for such houses.
If done properly, designs like these can work without feeling like a prison cell.
I am attracted to these designs and discussions. Usually, I engage with them. But not here, because too many of the conditions that are supposedly present are neither explained nor shown.
If someone says a connected hall offers a 2–3 meter (6.5–10 feet) space for a window, then I want to see it.
If a large room that already lacks natural light is also faced with a concrete slab, then I have nothing more to say.
If a chimney stack is attached to a hall, I cannot believe it from a fire safety perspective.
And if you have to cross the hallway upstairs just to use the toilet right before showering, then there is nothing substantive I can grasp about that. And they talk about an involved architect.
Now I am supposed to google another thread to somehow get an overview. Respect!
The minimum should be drone or Google Maps images.
K a t j a schrieb:
building directly attached to 2 other buildings, so that there are no windows on 3 (!) sides?
Windows can still be possible on 2 sides. This is also true for any middle terraced house, so I don’t even find it unusual or absurd. My glossy architecture books mostly show such niche solutions. They are interesting but often very expensive houses. And yes, I understand that many people have no use for such houses.
K a t j a schrieb:
It feels like being in a prison cell.
If done properly, designs like these can work without feeling like a prison cell.
I am attracted to these designs and discussions. Usually, I engage with them. But not here, because too many of the conditions that are supposedly present are neither explained nor shown.
If someone says a connected hall offers a 2–3 meter (6.5–10 feet) space for a window, then I want to see it.
If a large room that already lacks natural light is also faced with a concrete slab, then I have nothing more to say.
If a chimney stack is attached to a hall, I cannot believe it from a fire safety perspective.
And if you have to cross the hallway upstairs just to use the toilet right before showering, then there is nothing substantive I can grasp about that. And they talk about an involved architect.
Now I am supposed to google another thread to somehow get an overview. Respect!
The minimum should be drone or Google Maps images.
ypg schrieb:
Windows are possible on two sides. Josy1990 schrieb:
The adjoining halls on the ground floor only allow windows on the west side. You mean the skylight strip makes it comparable to a mid-terrace house?
Josy1990 schrieb:
On the north side, a higher-set, long window can be installed above the dining bench to make the room feel a bit more open. I have my doubts.
Josy1990 schrieb:
Okay, okay. I’d better post a photo of the current situation. Please let me know if this changes your opinion?! Yes, wonderful – you’ve already gained space. The shed can go, right? That really looks like junk. Hopefully, there’s no asbestos installed.
The building is the garage…
That’s fine, then I don’t expect any further feedback if the existing information isn’t sufficient. I understand.
An elevated window or light strip, as it is correctly called in technical terms, would be possible here over a length of 2-3 meters (7-10 feet).
]
This idea has been discarded and is no longer part of this plan! However, I still consider a covered entrance and terrace to be essential.
ypg schrieb:
.
I’m interested in these designs and discussions. Usually, I engage with them.
But not here, because there are simply too many supposed situations that are neither explained nor shown.
If someone thinks that an attached hall offers the possibility for a window in 2-3 meters (7-10 feet), then I want to see it.
That’s fine, then I don’t expect any further feedback if the existing information isn’t sufficient. I understand.
An elevated window or light strip, as it is correctly called in technical terms, would be possible here over a length of 2-3 meters (7-10 feet).
]
ypg schrieb:
.
If you place a concrete slab in front of a large room that already receives little natural light, then I have no more comments.
This idea has been discarded and is no longer part of this plan! However, I still consider a covered entrance and terrace to be essential.
ypg schrieb:Interesting perspective. But I don’t agree at all. For example, I don’t like having the toilet inside the bathroom. It’s a matter of taste.
.
And if you have to cross the hallway on the upper floor to quickly use the toilet right before showering, then I find there is nothing substantial or practical to latch onto in that.
Josy1990 schrieb:
A raised window or clerestory, to use the correct technical term, could be installed here over a length of 2-3 m (6.5-10 feet). However, it still makes the room feel like a basement space.
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