Hello everyone,
After many intensive discussions and planning sessions with modular and solid house manufacturers, we have now decided on a solid construction house. We have already received some possible plans, but none have fully convinced us so far. Every time, there was something off with the rooms, their orientation, or size. So we took some graph paper and replanned based on the existing plans. Over the weekend, I transferred this plan to the computer and uploaded it here.
Thanks to reading a lot on this forum, I was able to eliminate some sources of error on my own. However, there are certainly things I have not considered yet, and I am hoping for further constructive criticism and improvement suggestions from you.
It is known that the house offers only limited storage space through the utility room. Therefore, a 6 x 8m (20 x 26 ft) garage is planned, as well as a roof pitch of 25 degrees to use the attic space, and an enclosed storage area under the staircase landing.
I have one more question regarding the garage roof. Would you make it accessible and equip it with a railing for an additional cost of €10,000 (about $11,000)? With the 23.5m (77 ft) lot width, maintaining a 3m (10 ft) setback from the neighboring property on both sides would still be possible.
Here are some details:
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 680 sqm (7319 sq ft) – 23.5m x 29m (77 ft x 95 ft)
Terrain: Level
Site coverage ratio: 0.4
Floor area ratio: 0.8
Number of storeys: 2 full floors
Roof type: Hip roof / pyramid roof
Maximum heights/limits: Ridge height 10m (33 ft), eaves height 6m (20 ft)
Owners’ Requirements
Building type: City villa
Basement: No basement
Number of occupants, age: 2 adults, 30 years old; 2 children planned later
Office: Family use and possibly home office
Overnight guests per year
Open kitchen, kitchen island: desired
Number of dining seats: 6 – 10 possible
Fireplace: nice to have
Balcony: accessible from both children’s bedrooms
Garage: Double garage
House Design
Planner: myself
Estimated cost according to architect/planner: €250,000 – €280,000 (about $275,000 – $310,000)
Preferred heating system: Ground source heat pump with borehole
Thanks very much for your feedback
Best regards
Invi85
After many intensive discussions and planning sessions with modular and solid house manufacturers, we have now decided on a solid construction house. We have already received some possible plans, but none have fully convinced us so far. Every time, there was something off with the rooms, their orientation, or size. So we took some graph paper and replanned based on the existing plans. Over the weekend, I transferred this plan to the computer and uploaded it here.
Thanks to reading a lot on this forum, I was able to eliminate some sources of error on my own. However, there are certainly things I have not considered yet, and I am hoping for further constructive criticism and improvement suggestions from you.
It is known that the house offers only limited storage space through the utility room. Therefore, a 6 x 8m (20 x 26 ft) garage is planned, as well as a roof pitch of 25 degrees to use the attic space, and an enclosed storage area under the staircase landing.
I have one more question regarding the garage roof. Would you make it accessible and equip it with a railing for an additional cost of €10,000 (about $11,000)? With the 23.5m (77 ft) lot width, maintaining a 3m (10 ft) setback from the neighboring property on both sides would still be possible.
Here are some details:
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 680 sqm (7319 sq ft) – 23.5m x 29m (77 ft x 95 ft)
Terrain: Level
Site coverage ratio: 0.4
Floor area ratio: 0.8
Number of storeys: 2 full floors
Roof type: Hip roof / pyramid roof
Maximum heights/limits: Ridge height 10m (33 ft), eaves height 6m (20 ft)
Owners’ Requirements
Building type: City villa
Basement: No basement
Number of occupants, age: 2 adults, 30 years old; 2 children planned later
Office: Family use and possibly home office
Overnight guests per year
Open kitchen, kitchen island: desired
Number of dining seats: 6 – 10 possible
Fireplace: nice to have
Balcony: accessible from both children’s bedrooms
Garage: Double garage
House Design
Planner: myself
Estimated cost according to architect/planner: €250,000 – €280,000 (about $275,000 – $310,000)
Preferred heating system: Ground source heat pump with borehole
Thanks very much for your feedback
Best regards
Invi85
Based on your suggestions, I have made a few changes to the floor plan. Some rooms were reduced in size to create additional storage space, some windows were removed or replaced, and I added a dedicated recess for a coat rack.
In the first revision, I had reduced the bathroom upstairs to make room for a second utility room. However, after discussing it with my parents, I reversed this change. Their point was that if there’s ever a problem with the washing machine or its hose, the mess will be much worse if the machine is located on the upper floor.
Additionally, I managed to give the "box" a roof for a better visual appearance.
Thank you for your feedback
In the first revision, I had reduced the bathroom upstairs to make room for a second utility room. However, after discussing it with my parents, I reversed this change. Their point was that if there’s ever a problem with the washing machine or its hose, the mess will be much worse if the machine is located on the upper floor.
Additionally, I managed to give the "box" a roof for a better visual appearance.
Thank you for your feedback
S
Sebastian7917 Jul 2015 07:11A brief note about the garage: You will never comfortably fit two cars along with bicycles inside – I was also misled by the drawings for a long time.
I agree with Lexmaul79 regarding the garage. A quick calculation: a car today is almost 2.10 m (7 feet) wide including mirrors (see the signage on highways in construction zones). You also need some space to get out. Let’s cautiously assume 3 m (10 feet) of space per car, which means 6 m (20 feet) total width including space on both sides and between the cars. The garage has an external width of 8 m (26 feet). Subtracting 6 m (20 feet) for the cars and at least 50 cm (20 inches) for wall thickness leaves about 1.5 m (5 feet) remaining. You can count the space beside the cars, so maybe you get about 1 m (3 feet) on each side for bikes and such. However, the drawing suggests at least 1.6 m (5.3 feet), but with the way the cars are shown, you wouldn’t be able to get out of one of them. Parking a car backwards might work to park closer together, as you only need to get out on the driver’s side.
And bicycles are not the only things stored in the garage: lawn mowers, wheelbarrows, 3-4 trash bins, etc., usually need space as well.
Don’t get me wrong, the point is just to avoid the illusion of a ballroom in the garage. Most garages aren’t wider than 8 m (26 feet), but it gets tighter than the drawing suggests — that’s the message here. It’s often the same with furniture shown in plans.
And bicycles are not the only things stored in the garage: lawn mowers, wheelbarrows, 3-4 trash bins, etc., usually need space as well.
Don’t get me wrong, the point is just to avoid the illusion of a ballroom in the garage. Most garages aren’t wider than 8 m (26 feet), but it gets tighter than the drawing suggests — that’s the message here. It’s often the same with furniture shown in plans.
At 8 meters (26 feet) wide, you should be able to fit several bicycles inside. However, there likely won’t be as much free space left as shown in the picture.
Our garage is only 5.40 meters (17.7 feet) wide due to plot size restrictions. It just fits because it’s a steel garage.
With an 8-meter width minus two masonry walls at 0.24 meters (0.79 feet) each, and a standard interior dimension for a precast concrete garage of 2.8 meters (9.2 feet) on each side, around 1.9 meters (6.2 feet) still remain.
If you want to park the cars comfortably, you might only have about 1.50 meters (4.9 feet) of space left.
Regarding the floor plan itself, I’m not sure if it has really improved.
The very large bathroom remains unchanged. The situation in the living room, dining area, and kitchen hasn’t really eased up.
Usually, to accommodate a couch and wall unit, you need about 4 meters (13 feet) of wall space, but in your case, it’s probably only around 3.60 meters (11.8 feet).
The couch is relatively small at 2.50 meters (8.2 feet) long. With a depth of 90 centimeters (35 inches), that leaves only about 1.40 meters (4.6 feet) of sitting space. An armchair is likely deeper than 0.69 meters (27 inches).
For the bathroom, you should also consider what you’ll place in front of the three windows to keep the room bright but still maintain privacy from the neighbors.
Our garage is only 5.40 meters (17.7 feet) wide due to plot size restrictions. It just fits because it’s a steel garage.
With an 8-meter width minus two masonry walls at 0.24 meters (0.79 feet) each, and a standard interior dimension for a precast concrete garage of 2.8 meters (9.2 feet) on each side, around 1.9 meters (6.2 feet) still remain.
If you want to park the cars comfortably, you might only have about 1.50 meters (4.9 feet) of space left.
Regarding the floor plan itself, I’m not sure if it has really improved.
The very large bathroom remains unchanged. The situation in the living room, dining area, and kitchen hasn’t really eased up.
Usually, to accommodate a couch and wall unit, you need about 4 meters (13 feet) of wall space, but in your case, it’s probably only around 3.60 meters (11.8 feet).
The couch is relatively small at 2.50 meters (8.2 feet) long. With a depth of 90 centimeters (35 inches), that leaves only about 1.40 meters (4.6 feet) of sitting space. An armchair is likely deeper than 0.69 meters (27 inches).
For the bathroom, you should also consider what you’ll place in front of the three windows to keep the room bright but still maintain privacy from the neighbors.
Hi,
As a layperson, I find the floor plan quite nice! Overall, it’s a well-rounded design. However, I agree about the garage situation. It could get pretty tight unless you’re driving two small cars like Smarts.
What I don’t like so much has already been mentioned. The kitchen layout doesn’t seem very optimal, and the large bathroom on the upper floor doesn’t feel particularly cozy.
As a layperson, I find the floor plan quite nice! Overall, it’s a well-rounded design. However, I agree about the garage situation. It could get pretty tight unless you’re driving two small cars like Smarts.
What I don’t like so much has already been mentioned. The kitchen layout doesn’t seem very optimal, and the large bathroom on the upper floor doesn’t feel particularly cozy.
Hello,
I also noticed a few things while looking at your plan:
Regarding the ground floor:
I would either remove the recess in the wall leading to the utility room or make it deep enough to really fit a good coat rack.
The storage closet looks very narrow. Will a shelf fit in there without you having to squeeze through it?
The path to the shower in the guest bathroom is quite cramped, going past the toilet.
I would rather plan a broom cupboard in the office or slightly enlarge the utility room and leave out the storage closet. This would also save you a sliding door on the wall.
The kitchen looks like a typical fitted kitchen from a standard rental apartment to me. It doesn’t always have to be a high-end kitchen with an island costing thousands of dollars, but for a family it seems a bit basic.
As for the garage, I would build it longer, something like 7 x 7 meters (23 x 23 feet) or 6 x 8 meters (20 x 26 feet). I think you’d get more usable space that way, without having to constantly watch where the wheels are when you open the car doors.
Regarding the upper floor:
The bathroom is huge but doesn’t really make good use of the space. You could easily save at least 4 m² (43 sq ft).
I’m not a fan of the layout of the children’s bedrooms and the storage closet. I don’t think it looks good if the doors are right next to each other. Maybe you can find a way to use the space that the bathroom doesn’t need for the storage closet and arrange two children’s rooms at the lower end of the plan.
I also noticed a few things while looking at your plan:
Regarding the ground floor:
I would either remove the recess in the wall leading to the utility room or make it deep enough to really fit a good coat rack.
The storage closet looks very narrow. Will a shelf fit in there without you having to squeeze through it?
The path to the shower in the guest bathroom is quite cramped, going past the toilet.
I would rather plan a broom cupboard in the office or slightly enlarge the utility room and leave out the storage closet. This would also save you a sliding door on the wall.
The kitchen looks like a typical fitted kitchen from a standard rental apartment to me. It doesn’t always have to be a high-end kitchen with an island costing thousands of dollars, but for a family it seems a bit basic.
As for the garage, I would build it longer, something like 7 x 7 meters (23 x 23 feet) or 6 x 8 meters (20 x 26 feet). I think you’d get more usable space that way, without having to constantly watch where the wheels are when you open the car doors.
Regarding the upper floor:
The bathroom is huge but doesn’t really make good use of the space. You could easily save at least 4 m² (43 sq ft).
I’m not a fan of the layout of the children’s bedrooms and the storage closet. I don’t think it looks good if the doors are right next to each other. Maybe you can find a way to use the space that the bathroom doesn’t need for the storage closet and arrange two children’s rooms at the lower end of the plan.
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