ᐅ 10x10 m urban villa (approximately 1,670 sq ft, 6 rooms), fine-tuning welcome
Created on: 20 Aug 2017 14:34
C
Changeling
Ground Floor:
Upper Floor:
Outdoor Areas:
Positioned on the Plot:
Development Plan / Restrictions:
The plot may only be built on the southern half; otherwise, there are no particular restrictions.
Plot size: 900 square meters (approx. 30 x 30 meters / 98 x 98 feet)
Slope: No, only on the west side does the land slope down 3 meters (10 feet) toward the street at the end of the plot. On the north side, there is a retaining wall because the plot is about 2 meters (7 feet) above street level there. Therefore, access by vehicle is only possible from the south.
Clients’ Requirements
Style, Roof Shape, Building Type: A two-story urban villa with a pyramid hip roof (square hipped roof), since the upper floor has no sloped ceilings.
Basement: No basement, as it is too expensive, impractical, and involves additional construction risks.
Number of Occupants, Age: 2 adults (30 years old), 1 child (3 years old), with 1-2 more children planned.
Living Room: A large, open living area was important to us as this is where life happens. A computer corner is planned in the lower right corner since we spend more time at the computer than watching TV. We also work a lot from home and do not want to be confined to a separate room.
Fireplace: Yes.
Guest Room: Also used as storage space, which is especially useful since there is no basement.
Kitchen: The stove and sink are not in their final positions yet – a cooking island is undesirable because of the extractor hood and impractical due to splashing.
Technical / Utility Room: Also serves as a pantry and should be filled with shelves up to the ceiling.
Children’s Rooms: Size should be adequate.
Bedroom: Almost too large, but necessary due to the large wardrobe and double bed.
Bathroom: The design is still at an early stage; for example, the shower is planned as a built-in enclosure without a cabin.
Terrace: Important to us, along with a covered area so we can leave items outside occasionally.
Garage, Carport: As large as possible! It should be a wooden carport, fully closed at the front with sectional doors, and open or closed at the rear as needed. We currently use our garage as a "second living room" and for storing garden tools and similar items. Due to the long car, space will be tight; likely the terrace will be slightly smaller and the carport deeper (or the roof overhang on the left extended). The additions on the far left are planned later as a garden shed or similar and are therefore not a fixed part of the house. The covered connection to the house is a must, so we can enter without getting wet. The lower part facing the street is purely for privacy and is not a solid wall.
Garden: We will build our greenhouse ourselves as we have it now.
House Design:
Planning by: Planner from a construction company; outdoor areas added by us.
What do you particularly like? Why?: The numerous outbuildings and large carport for space, the large living room with open kitchen (also for space). Also, the level access to the terrace (which we don’t have currently).
What do you dislike? Why?: The basement level feels a bit cramped (utility room/kitchen small), while the upper floor is very spacious, but so far this is the best solution.
Cost Estimate by Architect/Planner: $290,000 USD with a maximum of +10% overrun.
Insulation / Construction: Unfortunately, it is built only to the 2016 Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV) standards; I would have preferred better insulation, but it is likely too expensive. The masonry consists of calcium silicate blocks (20 cm / 8 inches outside + 16 cm / 6 inches EPS (polystyrene) insulation boards).
Heating System: Ground-source heat pump (brine-water) with earth probe; gas connection would be too expensive and we do not want oil heating.
If you had to give up features / expansions
- Could you do without: At most one fewer children’s room; the rest should stay as is...
- Could you not do without: Everything? That would be difficult.
Why did the design turn out the way it is?
We reviewed suggestions from the planner, spent a weekend designing alternatives ourselves, and ultimately found the current compromise. It includes essentially all our wishes.
The design could have been better if the house orientation had been different; otherwise, the kitchen/terrace/dining area wouldn’t all have to be squeezed next to the carport. However, since the street is on the south side and the northern half of the plot cannot be built on, the house must be positioned as it is and the terrace on the south side to catch the sun. We do not want the carport on the east side, as that would place the house further toward the center of the plot and make the terrace fully visible from the neighboring house to the south.
A similar-sized building plot on the east side will be developed with another single-family urban villa.
What is the most important / fundamental question regarding the floor plan in 130 characters?
What do you think? What could be improved or is missing? Any concerns?
Upper Floor:
Outdoor Areas:
Positioned on the Plot:
Development Plan / Restrictions:
The plot may only be built on the southern half; otherwise, there are no particular restrictions.
Plot size: 900 square meters (approx. 30 x 30 meters / 98 x 98 feet)
Slope: No, only on the west side does the land slope down 3 meters (10 feet) toward the street at the end of the plot. On the north side, there is a retaining wall because the plot is about 2 meters (7 feet) above street level there. Therefore, access by vehicle is only possible from the south.
Clients’ Requirements
Style, Roof Shape, Building Type: A two-story urban villa with a pyramid hip roof (square hipped roof), since the upper floor has no sloped ceilings.
Basement: No basement, as it is too expensive, impractical, and involves additional construction risks.
Number of Occupants, Age: 2 adults (30 years old), 1 child (3 years old), with 1-2 more children planned.
Living Room: A large, open living area was important to us as this is where life happens. A computer corner is planned in the lower right corner since we spend more time at the computer than watching TV. We also work a lot from home and do not want to be confined to a separate room.
Fireplace: Yes.
Guest Room: Also used as storage space, which is especially useful since there is no basement.
Kitchen: The stove and sink are not in their final positions yet – a cooking island is undesirable because of the extractor hood and impractical due to splashing.
Technical / Utility Room: Also serves as a pantry and should be filled with shelves up to the ceiling.
Children’s Rooms: Size should be adequate.
Bedroom: Almost too large, but necessary due to the large wardrobe and double bed.
Bathroom: The design is still at an early stage; for example, the shower is planned as a built-in enclosure without a cabin.
Terrace: Important to us, along with a covered area so we can leave items outside occasionally.
Garage, Carport: As large as possible! It should be a wooden carport, fully closed at the front with sectional doors, and open or closed at the rear as needed. We currently use our garage as a "second living room" and for storing garden tools and similar items. Due to the long car, space will be tight; likely the terrace will be slightly smaller and the carport deeper (or the roof overhang on the left extended). The additions on the far left are planned later as a garden shed or similar and are therefore not a fixed part of the house. The covered connection to the house is a must, so we can enter without getting wet. The lower part facing the street is purely for privacy and is not a solid wall.
Garden: We will build our greenhouse ourselves as we have it now.
House Design:
Planning by: Planner from a construction company; outdoor areas added by us.
What do you particularly like? Why?: The numerous outbuildings and large carport for space, the large living room with open kitchen (also for space). Also, the level access to the terrace (which we don’t have currently).
What do you dislike? Why?: The basement level feels a bit cramped (utility room/kitchen small), while the upper floor is very spacious, but so far this is the best solution.
Cost Estimate by Architect/Planner: $290,000 USD with a maximum of +10% overrun.
Insulation / Construction: Unfortunately, it is built only to the 2016 Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV) standards; I would have preferred better insulation, but it is likely too expensive. The masonry consists of calcium silicate blocks (20 cm / 8 inches outside + 16 cm / 6 inches EPS (polystyrene) insulation boards).
Heating System: Ground-source heat pump (brine-water) with earth probe; gas connection would be too expensive and we do not want oil heating.
If you had to give up features / expansions
- Could you do without: At most one fewer children’s room; the rest should stay as is...
- Could you not do without: Everything? That would be difficult.
Why did the design turn out the way it is?
We reviewed suggestions from the planner, spent a weekend designing alternatives ourselves, and ultimately found the current compromise. It includes essentially all our wishes.
The design could have been better if the house orientation had been different; otherwise, the kitchen/terrace/dining area wouldn’t all have to be squeezed next to the carport. However, since the street is on the south side and the northern half of the plot cannot be built on, the house must be positioned as it is and the terrace on the south side to catch the sun. We do not want the carport on the east side, as that would place the house further toward the center of the plot and make the terrace fully visible from the neighboring house to the south.
A similar-sized building plot on the east side will be developed with another single-family urban villa.
What is the most important / fundamental question regarding the floor plan in 130 characters?
What do you think? What could be improved or is missing? Any concerns?
Climbee schrieb:
For us, two parking spaces that are individually accessible are mandatory for a single-family house; so parking one behind the other would not be allowed in a new development.
[.I find that a bit unusual. For most plots of land (at least where I am), this is often not possible because they are simply too small. Especially new build plots are getting smaller and smaller!
Best regards,
Sabine
Curly schrieb:
I find that a bit strange. For most plots (at least here where I am), that’s not possible because they are simply too small. Especially new development plots keep getting smaller!
Best regards,
SabineSite plans are usually adapted to the size or surrounding conditions of the plots. Therefore, requirements for parking spaces on the property itself are unlikely to be found in densely populated areas where plots are smaller.
Building plots in rural areas without direct road access and parking options will have different regulations.
That’s why I say: you should first gather information, and only once the main framework is clearly defined should you begin detailed planning.
So, before discussing things like the shower or toilet, you first need to know approximately where and how you want to build everything. That doesn’t seem to have happened here. There is still uncertainty about many aspects.
My clear recommendation is to collect information about what is allowed, what is not, what requirements must be met, where there are restrictions (building regulations/planning permission, budget, etc.), and where there is flexibility.
Then develop a rough concept of how the land can and should be built on (for example, where the garage/carport, terrace, house, access points should be placed, at what levels, and what is required for this). ONLY THEN should you start thinking about where the couch might fit or whether the toilet should go here or there.
It’s understandable that there is a strong temptation to start building your “house” right away, but if there are constraints to consider, even the best plan won’t help—for example, if the site has a slope or if there are specific regulations.
Here, the interior layout has already been discussed, and the garage moves from left to right and back again. That can’t work.
Budget: I would consider creating a coherent concept adapted to the site and maybe first only building the necessary parts, then developing the rest over the coming years. For example, in my suggestion: first just build the essential retaining walls.
In my opinion, it makes more sense to realize a well-thought-out design step by step than to rush into something that might work well elsewhere under different conditions but unfortunately does not fit here. The result will always be unsatisfactory because it is unsuitable.
So, before discussing things like the shower or toilet, you first need to know approximately where and how you want to build everything. That doesn’t seem to have happened here. There is still uncertainty about many aspects.
My clear recommendation is to collect information about what is allowed, what is not, what requirements must be met, where there are restrictions (building regulations/planning permission, budget, etc.), and where there is flexibility.
Then develop a rough concept of how the land can and should be built on (for example, where the garage/carport, terrace, house, access points should be placed, at what levels, and what is required for this). ONLY THEN should you start thinking about where the couch might fit or whether the toilet should go here or there.
It’s understandable that there is a strong temptation to start building your “house” right away, but if there are constraints to consider, even the best plan won’t help—for example, if the site has a slope or if there are specific regulations.
Here, the interior layout has already been discussed, and the garage moves from left to right and back again. That can’t work.
Budget: I would consider creating a coherent concept adapted to the site and maybe first only building the necessary parts, then developing the rest over the coming years. For example, in my suggestion: first just build the essential retaining walls.
In my opinion, it makes more sense to realize a well-thought-out design step by step than to rush into something that might work well elsewhere under different conditions but unfortunately does not fit here. The result will always be unsatisfactory because it is unsuitable.
C
Changeling6 Sep 2017 11:04ypg schrieb:
You are overlooking the first posts in this thread. When you are advised to pay attention to the orientation of the rooms and the sun path, that is constructive – but if you then place the bathroom and the "hobby room" in the sunniest corners, one can only repeat the advice or recommend consulting an architect. True. A constructive suggestion would be to simply mirror the upper floor vertically. Problem solved.
To put this into perspective: As children, we had our rooms facing east, with a house and a tree right in front. I can’t recall ever giving it any thought, let alone being bothered by it.
@Climbee: I don’t think there is such a limitation here. As mentioned, we will consult with the planner using two alternatives (carport arranged in tandem on the east vs. carport side-by-side on the west) to get advice. Maybe it will be something entirely different (carport side-by-side on the south with an 8 x 12-meter (26 x 39-foot) house or stepped to fit the building envelope). We’ll see. I’ve probably rushed into things too quickly, especially since the basic architectural design is still unclear (or I haven’t made that clear enough).
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