ᐅ Floor Plan Discussion / Single-Family Home on a Narrow Lot with Northeast Orientation
Created on: 16 Jan 2025 07:05
Z
Zitronenwalter
Hello everyone,
I came across this forum while working on our floor plan and looking for experience reports from potentially suitable home builders.
Since there are already detailed and technically knowledgeable discussions here, I would like to present our proposed floor plan for discussion. The plot is located in a new development area, with neighboring buildings from the older stock to the southwest.
Overall, we are quite satisfied with the design in terms of maximizing the use of the plot. However, we are somewhat uncertain about the orientation and size of the windows in the living-dining area (is the glazing sufficient, or will it be too dark in winter?), as well as the location of the main terrace (will it be shaded in the mornings during summer and extremely hot in the evenings?).
We welcome your opinions on the floor plan/layout, especially regarding our “pain points” or anything else you notice (both positive and negative).
Development Plan/Restrictions
Plot size: 500 sqm (5,382 sq ft)
Slope: none
Site occupancy index (floor area ratio): 0.4
Gross floor area ratio: 2
Building envelope, building line, and boundaries
Edge development: none
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 2 full stories
Roof type: gable roof
Architectural style: classic/modern
Orientation: SW/NE
Maximum heights/restrictions: see cross-sections
Additional requirements: roof overhang 0.5 m (20 inches)
Client Requirements
Architectural style, roof type, building type: classic/modern, gable roof with minimal pitch preferred, single-family house
Basement, floors: basement, 2 full stories
Number of residents, ages: 5 (37, 37, 5, 3, 0)
Room requirements on ground and upper floors: 3 children’s bedrooms
Office: family use on the ground floor, home office in the basement
Guest overnight stays per year: approximately 10
Open or closed layout: open
Conservative or modern construction: conservative-modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: kitchen island
Fireplace: no
Music/sound wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: double garage
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Additional wishes/particulars/day schedule, and reasons for any inclusions or exclusions: none to mention
House Design
Who planned the design: architect, fine-tuning by us
What do you particularly like? Why?:
Short and direct routes (e.g., kitchen to dining, kitchen to terrace, garage to entrance). Efficient use of space and plot. Clear separation between living and entrance/mudroom areas. All bedrooms on one level with the option to create a simple gallery for the children later.
What do you dislike? Why?:
Uncertainty about the orientation of the living corner with the TV and the wall by the staircase. Does this block off the living-dining area too much from the south? Unfortunately, I have no idea how to change this without drastically disrupting the entire floor plan.
Price estimate according to architect/planner: approximately €700,000 (house including ancillary costs, excluding garage)
Personal budget limit for the house, including fittings: (€700,000)
Preferred heating technology: heat pump/underfloor heating
If you had to omit something, which details/extensions
-can you do without:
-cannot do without:
Why did the design turn out this way? For example:
Which wishes were fulfilled by the architect? Large living-dining area with lift-and-slide door, as much garden space as possible, double garage or carport
I came across this forum while working on our floor plan and looking for experience reports from potentially suitable home builders.
Since there are already detailed and technically knowledgeable discussions here, I would like to present our proposed floor plan for discussion. The plot is located in a new development area, with neighboring buildings from the older stock to the southwest.
Overall, we are quite satisfied with the design in terms of maximizing the use of the plot. However, we are somewhat uncertain about the orientation and size of the windows in the living-dining area (is the glazing sufficient, or will it be too dark in winter?), as well as the location of the main terrace (will it be shaded in the mornings during summer and extremely hot in the evenings?).
We welcome your opinions on the floor plan/layout, especially regarding our “pain points” or anything else you notice (both positive and negative).
Development Plan/Restrictions
Plot size: 500 sqm (5,382 sq ft)
Slope: none
Site occupancy index (floor area ratio): 0.4
Gross floor area ratio: 2
Building envelope, building line, and boundaries
Edge development: none
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 2 full stories
Roof type: gable roof
Architectural style: classic/modern
Orientation: SW/NE
Maximum heights/restrictions: see cross-sections
Additional requirements: roof overhang 0.5 m (20 inches)
Client Requirements
Architectural style, roof type, building type: classic/modern, gable roof with minimal pitch preferred, single-family house
Basement, floors: basement, 2 full stories
Number of residents, ages: 5 (37, 37, 5, 3, 0)
Room requirements on ground and upper floors: 3 children’s bedrooms
Office: family use on the ground floor, home office in the basement
Guest overnight stays per year: approximately 10
Open or closed layout: open
Conservative or modern construction: conservative-modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: kitchen island
Fireplace: no
Music/sound wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: double garage
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Additional wishes/particulars/day schedule, and reasons for any inclusions or exclusions: none to mention
House Design
Who planned the design: architect, fine-tuning by us
What do you particularly like? Why?:
Short and direct routes (e.g., kitchen to dining, kitchen to terrace, garage to entrance). Efficient use of space and plot. Clear separation between living and entrance/mudroom areas. All bedrooms on one level with the option to create a simple gallery for the children later.
What do you dislike? Why?:
Uncertainty about the orientation of the living corner with the TV and the wall by the staircase. Does this block off the living-dining area too much from the south? Unfortunately, I have no idea how to change this without drastically disrupting the entire floor plan.
Price estimate according to architect/planner: approximately €700,000 (house including ancillary costs, excluding garage)
Personal budget limit for the house, including fittings: (€700,000)
Preferred heating technology: heat pump/underfloor heating
If you had to omit something, which details/extensions
-can you do without:
-cannot do without:
Why did the design turn out this way? For example:
Which wishes were fulfilled by the architect? Large living-dining area with lift-and-slide door, as much garden space as possible, double garage or carport
Just a few more comments on the notes from my fellow posters
Otherwise, I still find the plan quite impressive this evening.
Arauki11 schrieb:From what I understand about the light well, it actually provides a significant amount of light, especially from the south. It’s no comparison to the parallel thread with the windowless basement study. However, I do find @wiltshire’s suggestion to work on the ground floor and only go to the basement when guests are present very reasonable.
I find the 12 sqm (130 sq ft) study rather small, especially considering the general fact that the workspace is in the basement with a light well.
Arauki11 schrieb:If you plan the kitchen so that the tall cabinets, possibly with a storage niche in the stairwell, are hidden, then the counter and island would likely be about 280 cm (110 inches) wide. As a confirmed fan of kitchen islands with sinks, I would place the cooktop on the counter and the sink rather where the cooktop is currently indicated. If it’s possible to include a storage niche in the tall cabinet wall, then one or two items could still fit on the countertop next to the cooktop, creating a wonderful peninsula accessible from all sides.
About 41 sqm (440 sq ft) of open living space for 5 people is by no means much, and nearly 18 sqm (195 sq ft) of that is for the kitchen, which ultimately doesn’t offer that much storage space.
Arauki11 schrieb:See above, this might offer a bit more countertop space, but due to the distance and resulting corners, not necessarily more storage (dead corners vs. good corners). What is really good, however, is the direct access to the terrace.
The extra exit from the kitchen takes away space for additional furniture and is not really necessary.
wiltshire schrieb:T-shaped bathroom layouts certainly have their merits, but in a room less than 300 cm (120 inches) wide with a window by the shower, I don’t think this solution works that well.
We have been living with a T-shaped bathroom layout for almost six years (even without a bathtub), and it works perfectly. In a household of five, there will be some coordination needed for bathroom use, but that is unrelated to the "T" layout itself.
Otherwise, I still find the plan quite impressive this evening.
kbt09 schrieb:
From what I understand, the light well does provide a significant amount of natural light, especially from the south. It’s not comparable to the parallel thread where the basement office has no windows at all. However, I find @wiltshire’s suggestion to primarily work on the ground floor and only use the basement office when visitors are present quite appropriate. I agree. I know a few people who carry out their office work in rather disadvantaged spaces in their new homes, such as in the basement or, even worse, in the attic. I honestly can’t relate to that, especially if the need for a home office was known or foreseeable before construction. Having a workspace that you enjoy entering or spending time in—whatever form that takes—should be an absolute must-have in a new build. I’d be willing to give up various other perks for that. Therefore, the idea of only working in the basement occasionally seems very reasonable.
I don’t think the whole thing is bad at all. What bothers me (and apparently others as well) the most is the kitchen being too small, the visible terrace, and the wind tunnel between the garage and the house. All of this would be resolved if the kitchen were widened with a bay window extension so that it aligns with the garage. Upstairs, it might be worth considering enlarging the small children’s room as well, but it’s not necessary. Possibly, the garage could also be made a bit bigger to provide more space. In any case, I find the path to the garden something to think about, but its current location is extremely impractical.
Arauki11 schrieb:
A workplace that you enjoy entering or spending time in, no matter how I design it, Arauki11 schrieb:
or rather unattractive in the attic. But the one has nothing to do with the other. You constantly assume from your own perspective.
Instead of saying: if the attic is nicely designed, so that you like to enter it, however you want to design it yourself, an office can also be pleasant in the attic, you put it down.
K a t j a schrieb:
but extremely inconvenient in this location. Yes. I’m just imagining in summer, or whenever, going in and out—the active living—but always being seen from the street.
H
hanghaus202316 Jan 2025 20:13I like the design. What else is there to say?
hanghaus2023 schrieb:
I like the design. What more is there to say? I’m hoping that @Zitronenwalter will respond. Although the floor plan seems fairly good, there are five people, so the kitchen, cloakroom, living room, and storage areas will be quite tight. For people who live more disciplined or minimalist lifestyles, it might still work. However, I had wondered why the basement spaces are more generous compared to the actual living areas, which are rather limited in size. We’ll see…Similar topics