ᐅ 160 m² single-family house with timber frame construction on a north-facing slope, including a basement
Created on: 26 Aug 2018 17:03
L
Lbx
Hello,
below you will find our (almost) final floor plan. Only a few adjustments and changes to the windows are still being made. We would appreciate your feedback.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Construction according to Paragraph 34 of the Building Code. Neighboring buildings are 1.5 to 2 stories with pitched roofs.
Plot Size
3000m2 (approximately 0.74 acres), building area around 600m2 (0.15 acres) along the street
Slope
Approximately 2m (6.6 feet) diagonal incline where the house will be located, rising from southwest to northeast
Orientation
South (uphill side)
Client Requirements: Style, Roof Type, Building Type
Single-family house, pitched roof (most cost-effective), rather open design
Basement, Floors
Full basement + 2 floors
Number of Occupants, Age
2 adults + 2 children (planned)
Room Requirements on Ground Floor and Upper Floor
Open kitchen + dining area + living room, pantry, study, guest WC, parents’ area (bedroom, walk-in closet, bathroom), children’s area (2 bedrooms + bathroom), garage, utility room, storage room
Office: Family use or home office?
Family use + emergency children’s bedroom
Overnight Guests per Year
1-2
Open or Closed Architecture
Rather open
Conservative or Modern Building Style
Rather modern
Open Kitchen, Kitchen Island
Open kitchen, island not necessary
Number of Dining Seats
6
Fireplace
No
Music / Stereo Wall
5.1 surround, approx. 3 meters (10 feet) for TV, etc.
Balcony, Roof Terrace
No
Garage, Carport
In the basement
House Design
Who Created the Plan:
Floor plan from a construction company, modified according to our wishes by the planner of a prefab house company (structural engineer)
What Do You Like Especially? Why?
- Separate parents’ area
- Open design with living room accessible from two sides
- Staircase on the north side, where the street is
- Garage inside the house
- Large windows facing south
- Living room + kitchen + dining areas facing south
- Open ridge ceiling on the upper floor
What Do You Dislike? Why?
- Low, small windows on the upper floor due to the 1.8m (5.9 feet) knee wall height – we will probably raise this to 2.10m (6.9 feet)
- Boring exterior appearance
- Small study room, but currently the best compromise for us
- Kitchen windows not floor-to-ceiling, will be changed
- Possibly too few windows
Cost Estimate from Architect / Planner:
Approximately 400,000 Euro turnkey, including photovoltaic system and natural fiber insulation (ecological) fixed-price offer including basement, electric garage door, etc.
Laminate flooring
External roller blinds in living/kitchen/dining areas
No controlled mechanical ventilation.
No waterproof concrete basement (no “white tank” system).
Personal Price Limit for the House, Including Equipment:
House including all ancillary costs 470,000 Euro
Preferred Heating Technology:
Air-to-water heat pump + photovoltaic system
If You Had to Cut Back, Which Details / Extensions Could You Forgo:
Basement, but due to the slope it does not make much economic sense. Otherwise, we have already cut back as much as we can imagine.
Why Does the Design Look Like It Does Now?
We liked the design from the start, especially the south orientation of all main rooms suits the plot very well.
What Is the Most Important / Basic Question About the Floor Plan in 130 Characters or Less?
1. From what knee wall height do windows including rolling shutters below the knee wall really make sense? At 1.8m (5.9 feet) knee wall, windows would be at hip height, which is not a solution for us. For example, in the children’s room, a desk should fit underneath.
2. According to the soil report, we have about 1m (3.3 feet) of soil class 4 and below that soil class 5-6. What costs could be expected for earthworks on a sloped site?
3. Do you think a mechanical ventilation system is essential in a timber frame house? According to two reputable prefab house providers, it is mostly unnecessary and mainly important only for allergy sufferers.
A small note on the attached files: in the Google Maps image, south is at the top and the plot is where the two yellow markers are. In the views, I sketched around a bit unfortunately.
below you will find our (almost) final floor plan. Only a few adjustments and changes to the windows are still being made. We would appreciate your feedback.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Construction according to Paragraph 34 of the Building Code. Neighboring buildings are 1.5 to 2 stories with pitched roofs.
Plot Size
3000m2 (approximately 0.74 acres), building area around 600m2 (0.15 acres) along the street
Slope
Approximately 2m (6.6 feet) diagonal incline where the house will be located, rising from southwest to northeast
Orientation
South (uphill side)
Client Requirements: Style, Roof Type, Building Type
Single-family house, pitched roof (most cost-effective), rather open design
Basement, Floors
Full basement + 2 floors
Number of Occupants, Age
2 adults + 2 children (planned)
Room Requirements on Ground Floor and Upper Floor
Open kitchen + dining area + living room, pantry, study, guest WC, parents’ area (bedroom, walk-in closet, bathroom), children’s area (2 bedrooms + bathroom), garage, utility room, storage room
Office: Family use or home office?
Family use + emergency children’s bedroom
Overnight Guests per Year
1-2
Open or Closed Architecture
Rather open
Conservative or Modern Building Style
Rather modern
Open Kitchen, Kitchen Island
Open kitchen, island not necessary
Number of Dining Seats
6
Fireplace
No
Music / Stereo Wall
5.1 surround, approx. 3 meters (10 feet) for TV, etc.
Balcony, Roof Terrace
No
Garage, Carport
In the basement
House Design
Who Created the Plan:
Floor plan from a construction company, modified according to our wishes by the planner of a prefab house company (structural engineer)
What Do You Like Especially? Why?
- Separate parents’ area
- Open design with living room accessible from two sides
- Staircase on the north side, where the street is
- Garage inside the house
- Large windows facing south
- Living room + kitchen + dining areas facing south
- Open ridge ceiling on the upper floor
What Do You Dislike? Why?
- Low, small windows on the upper floor due to the 1.8m (5.9 feet) knee wall height – we will probably raise this to 2.10m (6.9 feet)
- Boring exterior appearance
- Small study room, but currently the best compromise for us
- Kitchen windows not floor-to-ceiling, will be changed
- Possibly too few windows
Cost Estimate from Architect / Planner:
Approximately 400,000 Euro turnkey, including photovoltaic system and natural fiber insulation (ecological) fixed-price offer including basement, electric garage door, etc.
Laminate flooring
External roller blinds in living/kitchen/dining areas
No controlled mechanical ventilation.
No waterproof concrete basement (no “white tank” system).
Personal Price Limit for the House, Including Equipment:
House including all ancillary costs 470,000 Euro
Preferred Heating Technology:
Air-to-water heat pump + photovoltaic system
If You Had to Cut Back, Which Details / Extensions Could You Forgo:
Basement, but due to the slope it does not make much economic sense. Otherwise, we have already cut back as much as we can imagine.
Why Does the Design Look Like It Does Now?
We liked the design from the start, especially the south orientation of all main rooms suits the plot very well.
What Is the Most Important / Basic Question About the Floor Plan in 130 Characters or Less?
1. From what knee wall height do windows including rolling shutters below the knee wall really make sense? At 1.8m (5.9 feet) knee wall, windows would be at hip height, which is not a solution for us. For example, in the children’s room, a desk should fit underneath.
2. According to the soil report, we have about 1m (3.3 feet) of soil class 4 and below that soil class 5-6. What costs could be expected for earthworks on a sloped site?
3. Do you think a mechanical ventilation system is essential in a timber frame house? According to two reputable prefab house providers, it is mostly unnecessary and mainly important only for allergy sufferers.
A small note on the attached files: in the Google Maps image, south is at the top and the plot is where the two yellow markers are. In the views, I sketched around a bit unfortunately.
S
Schnurrbart26 Aug 2018 18:47So does a child’s bedroom have a window ranging from 55 cm to 1.20 m (22 inches to 47 inches)? The kind you can’t look out of, but everyone can see in -.-
A full story is not possible due to the building permit / planning permission? That’s ridiculous, and the entire design is dead. You need something with rooms on the gable sides.
In new (= very well insulated) houses, exhaust air heat pumps are also an option (combines heating and ventilation) – I wouldn’t build without ventilation; the comfort gain is very significant; the building envelope becomes airtight, whether wood, concrete, or corrugated metal.
A full story is not possible due to the building permit / planning permission? That’s ridiculous, and the entire design is dead. You need something with rooms on the gable sides.
In new (= very well insulated) houses, exhaust air heat pumps are also an option (combines heating and ventilation) – I wouldn’t build without ventilation; the comfort gain is very significant; the building envelope becomes airtight, whether wood, concrete, or corrugated metal.
Hmm, this isn’t really a great design, is it?
The parent’s area feels like a never-ending race with people constantly brushing past each other. The doors are located as far apart as possible, probably to meet a minimum size requirement for the dressing room window. Who wants to live like this forever?
It’s hard to create a cozy atmosphere in the living area. The layout of the entrance door – kitchen – dining room immediately makes me feel uncomfortable, like I’d want to escape. Even the living room ends up as a passageway, which ruins the last chance for a feeling of comfort and security.
In my opinion, the main issue is the location of the staircase. If it were placed directly along the exterior wall, there would be more flexibility and options for accessing both the living area and the other rooms.
The design of the entrance area also feels rather uninspired. This can definitely be improved. But I guess you just want to rearrange the windows now...
The parent’s area feels like a never-ending race with people constantly brushing past each other. The doors are located as far apart as possible, probably to meet a minimum size requirement for the dressing room window. Who wants to live like this forever?
It’s hard to create a cozy atmosphere in the living area. The layout of the entrance door – kitchen – dining room immediately makes me feel uncomfortable, like I’d want to escape. Even the living room ends up as a passageway, which ruins the last chance for a feeling of comfort and security.
In my opinion, the main issue is the location of the staircase. If it were placed directly along the exterior wall, there would be more flexibility and options for accessing both the living area and the other rooms.
The design of the entrance area also feels rather uninspired. This can definitely be improved. But I guess you just want to rearrange the windows now...
What is the ventilation concept like?
Is there already a structural calculation included in the price?
What about the earthworks?
Are you really sure you don’t want a waterproof concrete wall (WU wall) on the slope?
What about the landscaping? This can be costly, especially on a slope. Be cautious about postponing it or doing it yourself. Often, an excavator is needed—for filling in some areas, digging out others, and possibly disposing of material. Not all excavated soil can or should be reused for filling. If there is a retaining wall, it will be made of L-shaped concrete blocks.
What exactly is included in the offer?
How complete is, for example, the electrical installation, and which brands are used for sanitary fixtures?
Your budget is tight.
Basement
The garage seems tight for two vehicles, but spacious for one.
A lot has already been said about the floor plan. I would take the suggestions into account.
An entrance through the basement is quite common here. I would have used the basement as living space and planned living rooms there.
Is there already a structural calculation included in the price?
What about the earthworks?
Are you really sure you don’t want a waterproof concrete wall (WU wall) on the slope?
What about the landscaping? This can be costly, especially on a slope. Be cautious about postponing it or doing it yourself. Often, an excavator is needed—for filling in some areas, digging out others, and possibly disposing of material. Not all excavated soil can or should be reused for filling. If there is a retaining wall, it will be made of L-shaped concrete blocks.
What exactly is included in the offer?
How complete is, for example, the electrical installation, and which brands are used for sanitary fixtures?
Your budget is tight.
Basement
The garage seems tight for two vehicles, but spacious for one.
A lot has already been said about the floor plan. I would take the suggestions into account.
An entrance through the basement is quite common here. I would have used the basement as living space and planned living rooms there.
I find controversial designs always interesting and tend to treat them with more care than the standard ones.
From the outside, the box shape is obviously plain; inside, it’s a bit chaotic.
Could it be that someone got stuck on a specific feature with the staircase and another person just made the idea look a bit prettier?
What I notice:
I don’t find the entrance area welcoming. The house feels neither warm nor cozy at the bottom. I’d probably want to leave quickly. This might be due to the long corridor along the exterior wall. There is also little space to store coats or comfortably take off shoes, or vice versa.
Then on the ground floor: With the U-shaped kitchen, you’re basically creating a second hallway along the south wall that then snakes around the sofa to the stairs.
Upstairs, I don’t like the dressing room, although I’m a fan of closets in long hallways. Here, however, it creates an uncomfortable passageway to the bedroom and bathroom. The toilet is far too distant from the bed for someone who might be older.
Hmm… fundamentally, I would change the staircase and its location.
In the basement: an open entry area with at least a 2 x 3 meter (6.5 x 10 feet) hallway and built-in closet with a bench, so it feels cozy! Aside from that: possibly the study and utility room. There’s enough space. The cellar room would then be more of a storage or “dead” room.
On the ground floor, the dining area should be the central space, open to the kitchen and living room, ideally spanning the entire south side. Maybe a straight staircase, but I’m not sure — that would need to evolve naturally. The living room definitely should not be a passage room.
The layout of the bedrooms upstairs would then follow. The arrangement of bedroom, dressing area, and bathroom should be planned more thoughtfully.
A ventilation system makes sense in any house built to energy-saving regulations.
From the outside, the box shape is obviously plain; inside, it’s a bit chaotic.
Could it be that someone got stuck on a specific feature with the staircase and another person just made the idea look a bit prettier?
What I notice:
I don’t find the entrance area welcoming. The house feels neither warm nor cozy at the bottom. I’d probably want to leave quickly. This might be due to the long corridor along the exterior wall. There is also little space to store coats or comfortably take off shoes, or vice versa.
Then on the ground floor: With the U-shaped kitchen, you’re basically creating a second hallway along the south wall that then snakes around the sofa to the stairs.
Upstairs, I don’t like the dressing room, although I’m a fan of closets in long hallways. Here, however, it creates an uncomfortable passageway to the bedroom and bathroom. The toilet is far too distant from the bed for someone who might be older.
Hmm… fundamentally, I would change the staircase and its location.
In the basement: an open entry area with at least a 2 x 3 meter (6.5 x 10 feet) hallway and built-in closet with a bench, so it feels cozy! Aside from that: possibly the study and utility room. There’s enough space. The cellar room would then be more of a storage or “dead” room.
On the ground floor, the dining area should be the central space, open to the kitchen and living room, ideally spanning the entire south side. Maybe a straight staircase, but I’m not sure — that would need to evolve naturally. The living room definitely should not be a passage room.
The layout of the bedrooms upstairs would then follow. The arrangement of bedroom, dressing area, and bathroom should be planned more thoughtfully.
A ventilation system makes sense in any house built to energy-saving regulations.
P.S. The front door can easily be located closer to the garage passage door. With two floor-to-ceiling windows on the left and right of the door, sufficient natural daylight will enter. The office could be placed on the west side, that is, northwest.
... and be sure to use the gable ends for standard windows, for example, both children's rooms facing west; this way, the issue with the knee wall will not arise.
... and be sure to use the gable ends for standard windows, for example, both children's rooms facing west; this way, the issue with the knee wall will not arise.
Lbx schrieb:
The design is, in its basic features (ground floor, children's room), a typical draft from a high-end prefabricated house company.At least the prices can't be that high if they respond so carelessly to a sloped plot, simply placing the entrance to the basement there.https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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