ᐅ Floor plan for a single-family house replacement build next to a timber-framed house under historic preservation
Created on: 31 Dec 2025 18:23
S
skuddelHello dear forum members,
We are a young family ready to take on the adventure of building a house. Over the course of the year, we managed to purchase a plot of land. It is located in a rural area near a large city in eastern Germany and measures almost 3000sqm (0.74 acres), bordering a forest. Currently, there are several buildings on the property. One of these is a listed half-timbered house from the 19th century, with its gable facing the street. Slightly offset is a single-family house built in 1966 (building no. 32 on the layout plan), which we plan to dismantle and replace with a new building on the same site, oriented in the same direction. Our vision is for the new building to create the appearance of a two-sided courtyard. From the street side, the new build should look like a converted barn. In discussions with our architect and through shared considerations, we have developed the following floor plan:
Development Plan / Restrictions
There is no formal development plan; building must comply with §34BauGB (German building code), meaning the building footprint is roughly aligned with the sightline of neighboring houses. According to the building authority, various house types are possible (bungalow, two stories, etc.) since these exist in the area. However, due to the listed building, the conservation authority has imposed an environmental protection requirement, meaning the new building must harmonize with the local streetscape. A modern cubic house would not be suitable. This is also why we aim for the two-sided courtyard style. The ridge height is key for our case officer: the new building must not be significantly taller than the old farmhouse (the farmhouse’s ridge height is 7.9m (26 ft)).
Plot size: 3000sqm (0.74 acres)
Slope: slight downhill from the street to the house
Floor area ratio
Gross floor area ratio
Building envelope, building line and boundary
Edge development
Number of parking spaces:
Number of storeys:
Roof shape:
Architectural style:
Orientation:
Maximum heights / limits:
Client Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: 1.5 storeys, gable roof with 40-45° pitch, no basement
Number and age of residents: currently 4 persons (34+34+7+3, possibly 1 more child)
Space requirements: Ground floor with kitchen, living room, dining area, bathroom with shower, utility room (laundry/storage); upper floor with 2 children’s rooms, 1 bedroom, 1 dressing room (planned as a third children’s room if needed); bathroom with bathtub
Office/guest room: no home office, occasional guests about once every two months, 2 persons for several days—accommodated in the farmhouse
Open or closed architecture: closed
Conservative, rather enclosed construction
Number of dining seats: fixed for 5 people, extendable to 8-10
Fireplace: tiled stove
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: carport planned as boundary building with NW neighbor
Utility garden, greenhouse: yes, currently two greenhouses exist; plans for sheep and chickens
Additional Wishes / Special Features / Daily Routine:
Window shutters, window sizes preferably uniform (differences between upper and lower floor are acceptable but shape should remain similar)
Access to the terrace from kitchen and dining area; currently, the driveway is on the SE side next to the farmhouse. To protect the listed building and due to a lack of space for two cars, and because there is a second curb cut, we will move the driveway to the NW side and place a carport there along the street side. This will shorten the path to the kitchen for unloading groceries, etc. The main entrance will remain on the SE side, as it offers a shorter route to the outbuildings/farmhouse/heating room/bike shed, etc.
In coordination with the builder and heating/plumbing experts, we plan to integrate the heating room into an existing outbuilding so that the utility room inside the house can be used solely for laundry/storage.
The façade on the street side might feature a terrace door/floor-to-ceiling window possibly with a sliding wooden gate to evoke a barn-like appearance.
Initially, the gable room on the upper floor was intended as a dressing room, but since it offers the best garden view, we swapped it with the room currently labeled as dressing room on the plan; this room could be used as a third children’s room if needed. We prefer the luxury of having only a bed in the bedroom and no wardrobes, but in case of a third child, a wardrobe could be placed in the gable room.
We want to implement a half-landing staircase also considering aging; we also plan a laundry hatch at the half-landing to avoid carrying laundry across the whole house.
Natural light from two directions on the upper floor was important to us, so each room also has a skylight. The fixed children’s rooms face west towards the street, and each has one window to the north and one to the south.
For the main living areas—the kitchen and dining room—it was important to have a view and access to the garden. The living room has been moved to the north/northwest since it is less important to us; we expect to spend a lot of time outdoors. With the floor-to-ceiling window/terrace door in the living room, we want to capture light even in autumn and winter.
House Design
Designed by:
- DIY and architect
What do you particularly like? Why? Appearance; on the ground floor, separation of “dirty area” from
What do you dislike? Why?
Price estimate according to architect/planner:
Personal price limit for the house including fixtures:
Preferred heating technology: combination of heat pump and gas heating (for the farmhouse)
If you had to give up something, which details/extensions
- Could you give up? We would like to reduce some square meters, especially on the upper floor, but aren’t sure how or where. We are open to ideas to make the floor plan a bit more compact, especially considering the children moving out in the distant future.
- Could not give up:
Why did the design turn out as it did? For example:
We like the architecture of settlement houses or country houses in Brandenburg. We also tried to consider sightlines inside the house. We prefer a straightforward style and want something rather traditional in view of the listed farmhouse.
We are unsure if the kitchen layout will work. It is not yet fully furnished. However, we like the idea of a peninsula with a view of the garden. We also plan to add a bench at the peninsula (with the window/door behind it) so people can chat or kids can quickly eat something.
Unfortunately, I was not able to add a compass to the floor plans. The bay window faces the garden, i.e., east.
If I forgot something, please feel free to ask and I will try to answer.
Overall, we look forward to your comments. Until then, we wish you a pleasant last day of 2025.
We are a young family ready to take on the adventure of building a house. Over the course of the year, we managed to purchase a plot of land. It is located in a rural area near a large city in eastern Germany and measures almost 3000sqm (0.74 acres), bordering a forest. Currently, there are several buildings on the property. One of these is a listed half-timbered house from the 19th century, with its gable facing the street. Slightly offset is a single-family house built in 1966 (building no. 32 on the layout plan), which we plan to dismantle and replace with a new building on the same site, oriented in the same direction. Our vision is for the new building to create the appearance of a two-sided courtyard. From the street side, the new build should look like a converted barn. In discussions with our architect and through shared considerations, we have developed the following floor plan:
Development Plan / Restrictions
There is no formal development plan; building must comply with §34BauGB (German building code), meaning the building footprint is roughly aligned with the sightline of neighboring houses. According to the building authority, various house types are possible (bungalow, two stories, etc.) since these exist in the area. However, due to the listed building, the conservation authority has imposed an environmental protection requirement, meaning the new building must harmonize with the local streetscape. A modern cubic house would not be suitable. This is also why we aim for the two-sided courtyard style. The ridge height is key for our case officer: the new building must not be significantly taller than the old farmhouse (the farmhouse’s ridge height is 7.9m (26 ft)).
Plot size: 3000sqm (0.74 acres)
Slope: slight downhill from the street to the house
Floor area ratio
Gross floor area ratio
Building envelope, building line and boundary
Edge development
Number of parking spaces:
Number of storeys:
Roof shape:
Architectural style:
Orientation:
Maximum heights / limits:
Client Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: 1.5 storeys, gable roof with 40-45° pitch, no basement
Number and age of residents: currently 4 persons (34+34+7+3, possibly 1 more child)
Space requirements: Ground floor with kitchen, living room, dining area, bathroom with shower, utility room (laundry/storage); upper floor with 2 children’s rooms, 1 bedroom, 1 dressing room (planned as a third children’s room if needed); bathroom with bathtub
Office/guest room: no home office, occasional guests about once every two months, 2 persons for several days—accommodated in the farmhouse
Open or closed architecture: closed
Conservative, rather enclosed construction
Number of dining seats: fixed for 5 people, extendable to 8-10
Fireplace: tiled stove
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: carport planned as boundary building with NW neighbor
Utility garden, greenhouse: yes, currently two greenhouses exist; plans for sheep and chickens
Additional Wishes / Special Features / Daily Routine:
Window shutters, window sizes preferably uniform (differences between upper and lower floor are acceptable but shape should remain similar)
Access to the terrace from kitchen and dining area; currently, the driveway is on the SE side next to the farmhouse. To protect the listed building and due to a lack of space for two cars, and because there is a second curb cut, we will move the driveway to the NW side and place a carport there along the street side. This will shorten the path to the kitchen for unloading groceries, etc. The main entrance will remain on the SE side, as it offers a shorter route to the outbuildings/farmhouse/heating room/bike shed, etc.
In coordination with the builder and heating/plumbing experts, we plan to integrate the heating room into an existing outbuilding so that the utility room inside the house can be used solely for laundry/storage.
The façade on the street side might feature a terrace door/floor-to-ceiling window possibly with a sliding wooden gate to evoke a barn-like appearance.
Initially, the gable room on the upper floor was intended as a dressing room, but since it offers the best garden view, we swapped it with the room currently labeled as dressing room on the plan; this room could be used as a third children’s room if needed. We prefer the luxury of having only a bed in the bedroom and no wardrobes, but in case of a third child, a wardrobe could be placed in the gable room.
We want to implement a half-landing staircase also considering aging; we also plan a laundry hatch at the half-landing to avoid carrying laundry across the whole house.
Natural light from two directions on the upper floor was important to us, so each room also has a skylight. The fixed children’s rooms face west towards the street, and each has one window to the north and one to the south.
For the main living areas—the kitchen and dining room—it was important to have a view and access to the garden. The living room has been moved to the north/northwest since it is less important to us; we expect to spend a lot of time outdoors. With the floor-to-ceiling window/terrace door in the living room, we want to capture light even in autumn and winter.
House Design
Designed by:
- DIY and architect
What do you particularly like? Why? Appearance; on the ground floor, separation of “dirty area” from
What do you dislike? Why?
Price estimate according to architect/planner:
Personal price limit for the house including fixtures:
Preferred heating technology: combination of heat pump and gas heating (for the farmhouse)
If you had to give up something, which details/extensions
- Could you give up? We would like to reduce some square meters, especially on the upper floor, but aren’t sure how or where. We are open to ideas to make the floor plan a bit more compact, especially considering the children moving out in the distant future.
- Could not give up:
Why did the design turn out as it did? For example:
We like the architecture of settlement houses or country houses in Brandenburg. We also tried to consider sightlines inside the house. We prefer a straightforward style and want something rather traditional in view of the listed farmhouse.
We are unsure if the kitchen layout will work. It is not yet fully furnished. However, we like the idea of a peninsula with a view of the garden. We also plan to add a bench at the peninsula (with the window/door behind it) so people can chat or kids can quickly eat something.
Unfortunately, I was not able to add a compass to the floor plans. The bay window faces the garden, i.e., east.
If I forgot something, please feel free to ask and I will try to answer.
Overall, we look forward to your comments. Until then, we wish you a pleasant last day of 2025.
Happy New Year!
Maybe you could sketch the planned situation on the site plan for a better understanding?
and the outbuilding as well. Ultimately, you need a nearby connection point for the house. Moving the technical systems into a separate building is neither the easiest nor the most practical solution. After all, the pipes will need to be insulated.
So: you have drawn your ideas yourselves, and the architect then redrew them? Has she provided you with any advisory support?
Where exactly?
I find the house design anything but relaxed. It involves many compromises and elements that will make daily life in the house complicated.
No, the number of kitchen units is very limited and might barely be enough for a two-person household. The fridge is drawn too small and there is a lack of storage space. Due to the window locations, the room is only partially suitable for a functional and comfortable furnishing. But the worst issue is access and the kitchen’s position in the house. There are no short routes to the kitchen; instead, you have to pass through the quiet living room area and past the dining table. However, there is also hardly any circulation space at the dining area for moving around freely.
I recently wrote about what should at least be accommodated for a five-person household:
But now regarding the overall floor plan:
To me, the house is nowhere functional, practical, or suitable for a family.
The two built-in closets in front of the guest bathroom will probably cause shoes to be parked in front of the bathroom door. With more than one child, the two walls constrict the space. Access to the kitchen is missing. Quickly doing house chores, putting away groceries after returning home, or grabbing a quick drink isn’t possible. (The remark that the back door leads into the kitchen is only a workaround.) Everyone must squeeze through the narrow door past the quiet area and dining table. If you are unlucky, the kitchen door is open. (By the way, it is drawn with a fake width of 700mm (28 inch).) Accidents are likely. There is no TV in front of the sofa, only a bulky and poorly positioned tiled stove. The chimney is not shown either.
There is no space for cabinets or shelves except for the two coat closets on the ground floor.
There is also no free area where children could play, a Christmas tree could be placed, or the family could do activities or similar together.
And the luxury here is a wall too narrow to accommodate a 140cm (55 inch) wide bed with the door at the head end, nothing more?
…which then would be planned as a smaller, unplanned wardrobe on the right side? Is that luxury? To me, the bed size, door location, and the fact that there is a planned third child show only makeshift solutions.
I would disregard the situation 20 years or more from now. And if it comes to that, grandchildren could rest in those rooms, while toddlers might sleep in a different building.
skuddel schrieb:
Currently, access is on the southeast side, adjacent to the farmhouse. To protect the listed building and because there is not enough space for two cars, and since a second curb cut exists there, we will move the driveway to the northwest side and place a carport next to the street there. This will create a shorter route to the kitchen for unloading groceries, etc. The main entrance will still be on the southeast side, as it provides a shorter path to the outbuilding/farmhouse/boiler room/bike shed, etc.
Maybe you could sketch the planned situation on the site plan for a better understanding?
skuddel schrieb:
In consultation with the builder and heating/plumbing specialists, we plan to integrate the boiler room into an existing outbuilding
and the outbuilding as well. Ultimately, you need a nearby connection point for the house. Moving the technical systems into a separate building is neither the easiest nor the most practical solution. After all, the pipes will need to be insulated.
skuddel schrieb:
Who created the design:
- DIY and architect
So: you have drawn your ideas yourselves, and the architect then redrew them? Has she provided you with any advisory support?
skuddel schrieb:
We also tried to consider sightlines within the house
Where exactly?
skuddel schrieb:
We prefer a low-key style and want something that is rather traditional, especially in view of the listed farmhouse.
I find the house design anything but relaxed. It involves many compromises and elements that will make daily life in the house complicated.
skuddel schrieb:
We are unsure whether the kitchen will work as planned. It is not yet fully furnished.
No, the number of kitchen units is very limited and might barely be enough for a two-person household. The fridge is drawn too small and there is a lack of storage space. Due to the window locations, the room is only partially suitable for a functional and comfortable furnishing. But the worst issue is access and the kitchen’s position in the house. There are no short routes to the kitchen; instead, you have to pass through the quiet living room area and past the dining table. However, there is also hardly any circulation space at the dining area for moving around freely.
I recently wrote about what should at least be accommodated for a five-person household:
ypg schrieb:
...Generally in the kitchen: A 600mm (24 inch) tall cabinet for crockery, one for the oven and cooking equipment, one for the fridge. A total of 1200mm (48 inch) length for the sink, waste bin, and dishwasher. Wall cabinets for glasses and cups. What else is needed: about the size of a 600mm (24 inch) base cabinet – reachable storage for spices and oils/vinegars, drawers for cutlery, foil and the like, another for hand appliances, one for storage containers, one for blender jars of all kinds. One for cookbooks and other bits (sets, napkins, etc.). But I can assure you, these are just minimum or rough estimates. For example, for two people we already need more pots, because the tall cabinet includes two devices, but pots and pans are more numerous. We also need more crockery, as I love dishes. The rule is: everything you use daily should have its place in the kitchen. Some people need their Thermomix (or similar) always within reach. By now, maybe also the air fryer is included. Kitchen requirements and cooking habits change.
Work surfaces: Your doubled countertop on the island should be reviewed with your usage in mind. Ours is only 950mm (37 inch) deep, but for me it’s a no-go to cut bread there (due to crumbs) in the dining area. Also, slicing away from the sink is a personal consideration. If you want a 900mm (36 inch) stove and value symmetry, that leaves only 450mm (18 inch) on each side of the stove. Is that enough for chopping and preparing a baking tray? If next to the sink there is a coffee machine, kettle, and baby food maker, workspace quickly becomes tight for a sandwich. Bread: we store ours accessible in the tall pantry cabinet. For five people, bread is no longer stored in the pantry, nor is the fruit bowl.
And @Arauki11 seems to have the same problem I do: individual dietary needs—lactose intolerance, other allergies, one teenager shakes protein, another is vegan, the householder must avoid sugar. So the housewife might want to hide in the pantry to enjoy her diet undisturbed while the rest of the countertop is full of shakers, protein, supplements, and all sorts of things 😉 As said before: everyday items in the kitchen, bulk supplies in the pantry.
But now regarding the overall floor plan:
To me, the house is nowhere functional, practical, or suitable for a family.
The two built-in closets in front of the guest bathroom will probably cause shoes to be parked in front of the bathroom door. With more than one child, the two walls constrict the space. Access to the kitchen is missing. Quickly doing house chores, putting away groceries after returning home, or grabbing a quick drink isn’t possible. (The remark that the back door leads into the kitchen is only a workaround.) Everyone must squeeze through the narrow door past the quiet area and dining table. If you are unlucky, the kitchen door is open. (By the way, it is drawn with a fake width of 700mm (28 inch).) Accidents are likely. There is no TV in front of the sofa, only a bulky and poorly positioned tiled stove. The chimney is not shown either.
There is no space for cabinets or shelves except for the two coat closets on the ground floor.
There is also no free area where children could play, a Christmas tree could be placed, or the family could do activities or similar together.
skuddel schrieb:
Actually, we value the luxury of having only a bed in the bedroom and no cabinets.
And the luxury here is a wall too narrow to accommodate a 140cm (55 inch) wide bed with the door at the head end, nothing more?
skuddel schrieb:
If there is a third child, a closet could also be placed in the gable room.
…which then would be planned as a smaller, unplanned wardrobe on the right side? Is that luxury? To me, the bed size, door location, and the fact that there is a planned third child show only makeshift solutions.
skuddel schrieb:
in some distant years
I would disregard the situation 20 years or more from now. And if it comes to that, grandchildren could rest in those rooms, while toddlers might sleep in a different building.
Hello ypg,
Thank you very much for your thoughts.
First, I have added the site plan, both in the floor plan and in a Google Maps screenshot, since the setback areas on the cadastral map appear visually too large and two outbuildings are missing. I hope my markings make sense and provide a somewhat clearer picture.
I will see if I can respond using your quoting style. I still need to practice that a bit.
The kitchen is currently not yet finalized and more of an initial working draft. We are aware that especially storage space and tall cabinets are currently shown as insufficient. Originally, tall cabinets were planned at the bottom right/left of the plan; however, we decided against them in favor of more natural light and the current window arrangement.
We planned the refrigerator to be 90cm (35 inches) wide. We currently use a 60cm (24 inch) fridge-freezer combo and intend to keep that.
Thanks also for your note about things people usually need. We do a lot ourselves and felt that the kitchen size (compared to all previous ones) was quite large. We will review this again.
In the living/dining area, we plan to have a kitchen sideboard as well as two shelves. In the hallway by the stairs, there will be a mirrored cabinet with an adjacent bench, where shoes can be stored underneath and wall hooks above for the current outerwear. All other coats/shoes etc. we plan to store in the niche in front of the downstairs bathroom (2 m (6.5 feet) high to the ceiling). We thought we had followed your advice from many other threads regarding storage. 😉
Thanks to your input, we have changed the kitchen location again and moved it to where the living room was. Window adjustments have also been made. A wind rose has been added as well. The map excerpts are oriented to true north. In the version with the kitchen in the west, it can now be accessed via a door to the north, near the driveway/parking.
However, this floor plan still has the "problem" of the living room being very exposed, which you pointed out. Regarding the TV: we do not have one and are not planning to. We would probably use a projector and screen if needed.
The chimney shaft placeholder is a 40x40cm (16x16 inch) wall in the living/dining room adjacent to the kitchen wall.
Thank you very much for your thoughts.
First, I have added the site plan, both in the floor plan and in a Google Maps screenshot, since the setback areas on the cadastral map appear visually too large and two outbuildings are missing. I hope my markings make sense and provide a somewhat clearer picture.
I will see if I can respond using your quoting style. I still need to practice that a bit.
No, the number of kitchen cabinets is very limited and barely sufficient for a two-person household. The refrigerator is drawn too small; storage space is lacking. Due to the window positions, the room is only partially suitable for a functional and comfortable furnishing. But the worst issue is the access and location within the house. There are no short routes inside the house to the kitchen; instead, one must pass through the living room relaxation area and by the dining table. However, there is also no real circulation space in the dining area for unrestricted movement.
The kitchen is currently not yet finalized and more of an initial working draft. We are aware that especially storage space and tall cabinets are currently shown as insufficient. Originally, tall cabinets were planned at the bottom right/left of the plan; however, we decided against them in favor of more natural light and the current window arrangement.
We planned the refrigerator to be 90cm (35 inches) wide. We currently use a 60cm (24 inch) fridge-freezer combo and intend to keep that.
Thanks also for your note about things people usually need. We do a lot ourselves and felt that the kitchen size (compared to all previous ones) was quite large. We will review this again.
There is no surface available for cabinets or shelving except for the two coat closets on the ground floor. There is also no free space where children could play, where a Christmas tree could stand, or where the family could do activities or similar.
In the living/dining area, we plan to have a kitchen sideboard as well as two shelves. In the hallway by the stairs, there will be a mirrored cabinet with an adjacent bench, where shoes can be stored underneath and wall hooks above for the current outerwear. All other coats/shoes etc. we plan to store in the niche in front of the downstairs bathroom (2 m (6.5 feet) high to the ceiling). We thought we had followed your advice from many other threads regarding storage. 😉
Thanks to your input, we have changed the kitchen location again and moved it to where the living room was. Window adjustments have also been made. A wind rose has been added as well. The map excerpts are oriented to true north. In the version with the kitchen in the west, it can now be accessed via a door to the north, near the driveway/parking.
However, this floor plan still has the "problem" of the living room being very exposed, which you pointed out. Regarding the TV: we do not have one and are not planning to. We would probably use a projector and screen if needed.
The chimney shaft placeholder is a 40x40cm (16x16 inch) wall in the living/dining room adjacent to the kitchen wall.
Hmm... if I understand correctly, you need to imagine the floor plan rotated 90° to the left. The entrance is now on one side (south), and the planned new driveway is supposed to be on the opposite side (north).
And the kitchen is now away from the possible terrace on the east side? Also, the path to the kitchen always passes by the sofa and the fireplace. If the sofa is also meant for watching TV, I wonder where the TV will be placed. And how does the fireplace fit into the upper floor?
Why is the kitchen always connected with the "G" and the "artificial" second hallway, now on the right side of the floor plan, whereas in the first version it was at the bottom of the plan? While this creates square meters on paper, it does not really allow for a functional kitchen layout.
Unfortunately, the dimension chains in your program are quite unusual. It would be better to have dimension chains that measure the individual wall sections within the rooms. The kitchen only seems to have a room depth of about 310 to max. 340 centimeters (about 10ft to 11ft) — right?
And the kitchen is now away from the possible terrace on the east side? Also, the path to the kitchen always passes by the sofa and the fireplace. If the sofa is also meant for watching TV, I wonder where the TV will be placed. And how does the fireplace fit into the upper floor?
Why is the kitchen always connected with the "G" and the "artificial" second hallway, now on the right side of the floor plan, whereas in the first version it was at the bottom of the plan? While this creates square meters on paper, it does not really allow for a functional kitchen layout.
Unfortunately, the dimension chains in your program are quite unusual. It would be better to have dimension chains that measure the individual wall sections within the rooms. The kitchen only seems to have a room depth of about 310 to max. 340 centimeters (about 10ft to 11ft) — right?
Papierturm2 Jan 2026 18:11First of all, Happy New Year!
I am feeling a bit conflicted about the plans in several ways. On one hand, I personally like the planned house elevation on two sides (though, for example, the west elevation less so). At the same time, I get the impression that the design is somewhat backwards. In other words, I fear that the interior layout of the house may not work very well in everyday life.
The house also feels very divided. For example, on the west side on the ground floor there is only one window. On the south side, there is also only one window on the ground floor.
Orienting the living areas to the northeast can be done, but it has a big effect on the lighting. And there can be good reasons to do so nonetheless. I don’t know the property here, so I’m not sure if it is really such a good idea. In the second plan, the living areas on the ground floor will be quite dark in the afternoon and constantly in the shade — direct sunlight will only be available early in the morning.
A few other aspects also caught my attention immediately. Some have already been mentioned (for example, the kitchen). But also:
I would recommend reviewing the room layout again to consider if the rooms are arranged well overall. If yes, then that is fine. If not (and the move of the kitchen already suggests to me that the site and lighting conditions have not been sufficiently considered), then it should go back to the drawing board.
I am feeling a bit conflicted about the plans in several ways. On one hand, I personally like the planned house elevation on two sides (though, for example, the west elevation less so). At the same time, I get the impression that the design is somewhat backwards. In other words, I fear that the interior layout of the house may not work very well in everyday life.
The house also feels very divided. For example, on the west side on the ground floor there is only one window. On the south side, there is also only one window on the ground floor.
Orienting the living areas to the northeast can be done, but it has a big effect on the lighting. And there can be good reasons to do so nonetheless. I don’t know the property here, so I’m not sure if it is really such a good idea. In the second plan, the living areas on the ground floor will be quite dark in the afternoon and constantly in the shade — direct sunlight will only be available early in the morning.
A few other aspects also caught my attention immediately. Some have already been mentioned (for example, the kitchen). But also:
- Bathroom upstairs: You initially walk into a wall.
- Both bathrooms: Dimensions are missing, but I assume that the towel heaters are located in areas where water might splash occasionally, even if rarely. If they are electrically powered, this is definitely something to be aware of.
- Apart from the furniture, I also do not like the positioning of the kitchen in either plan. The relocation also worries me. I currently lack a clear idea of the property: How exactly will the house be situated on the site? Where is the terrace access? Likewise, I have no clear idea yet of how daily life in the house is supposed to look. Where will the furniture be placed? How will the rooms be used? At the moment, I see the kitchen as inconveniently “hidden” and only accessible after a kind of obstacle course. In the second plan, the living areas have been moved to the darkest spot (on the ground floor).
I would recommend reviewing the room layout again to consider if the rooms are arranged well overall. If yes, then that is fine. If not (and the move of the kitchen already suggests to me that the site and lighting conditions have not been sufficiently considered), then it should go back to the drawing board.
Papierturm schrieb:
I would recommend reconsidering the room layout to ensure that the spaces are well arranged overall. I agree.
Without looking at the floor plan, just considering the house itself (which was probably chosen because of its appearance), I would place the entrance facing north towards the planned parking spaces. Then I would arrange the living areas to create two terraces: one facing the forest for peace and relaxation in the garden, and one facing the courtyard as an activity terrace with a dining area designed in a cozy rustic style.
Then you can read:
skuddel schrieb:
From the street side, the new building can look like a renovated barn. Apparently, it is not fixed in which direction the gable faces. In the listed building, the gable faces forward.
I would create a counterpart to the listed building, set back a bit further to form a courtyard. Possibly spruce up the outbuildings a bit and place a sheltered terrace between the buildings.
Outlined here roughly, of course, no dimensions are available as the plot size is unknown.
The terraces are not fixed, and the outbuildings were just roughly indicated.
A good amount of natural light will be guaranteed, even in the upper floor living/sleeping/children’s rooms.
Is it really necessary to place the bedroom in the bay window room? I don’t see any significant advantage, as the room interior doesn’t offer more than other rooms. And the view? Well, what good is the beautiful view if you’re sleeping? That can be enjoyed in the bathroom for everyone 🙂
Basically, you should provide as much space for a projector screen as for a TV. The relaxation area should not be a walkthrough space, and the kitchen should be the last room you enter.
I don’t think the island solution in a closed room is ideal either. It just takes up space. You might just as well look out into the garden if the countertop is placed in front of a window. The little ones don’t really care where they eat, as long as the food tastes good and they have company.
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