Hello everyone,
We are fortunate to have acquired a plot in a new development area. However, the building envelope seems to be designed more for a duplex than for a detached single-family home. Since our neighbors and we would prefer a detached single-family house, we are looking for solutions and improvements to the architect’s floor plan. As our family owns a construction company and we are receiving a “discount” because of this, we are somewhat tied to the architect, even though the design doesn’t always maximize the potential.
Therefore, I would like to ask you to take a look at the floor plan. I have also attached another draft of my own. I am open to suggestions and opinions.
First, the required information:
Development Plan / Restrictions: Development plan attached
Plot size: 446m² (4799 sq ft)
Slope: none
Site coverage ratio: 0.4
Floor area ratio: 0.8
Building envelope: 11 x 13.5m (36 x 44 ft), but due to setback, max. 8.5 x 13.5m (28 x 44 ft)
Building line and boundaries: –
Edge development: –
Number of parking spaces: 1.5
Number of floors: 2
Roof style: all types allowed
Architectural style: modern
Orientation: northwest
Maximum height/restrictions: eaves height 6m (20 ft)
Client Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: modern single-family house with a hipped roof
Basement, floors: no basement, but two full floors plus attic
Number of people, ages: three people plus dog (32/30/1/1)
Space requirements, ground floor and upper floor:
Ground floor – preferably guest room and pantry
Office: family use
Guest stays per year: ~40 overnight stays from family members
Open or closed layout: open living/dining/kitchen area
Conservative or modern construction: a bit of both
Open kitchen, kitchen island: cooking (half) island
Number of dining seats: 5
Fireplace: none
Sound/TV wall: standard TV wall
Balcony, roof terrace: none
Garage, carport: garage as shown on the plan
Utility garden, greenhouse: none
Other wishes / special features / daily routine:
House Design
Planning by:
- Architect from a construction company
- Attached is a draft without exact dimensions, created DIY by you with Floorplanner
What do you especially like?
Orientation of living rooms towards south/southwest, space utilized under the stairs
What do you not like?
Side entrance. Because the entrance is on the side and the garage is set back, parking will be awkward and there is no room to place a doormat in front of the door…
Only 3.5m (11.5 ft) width for the living room, 4m (13 ft) would be preferable. However, I don’t like the hallway/staircase in my own design either because the stairs feel cramped and the hallway is quite long.
Architect/planner's price estimate: approximately €330,000 turnkey
Personal price limit for the house, including equipment: €330,000
Preferred heating technology: air-to-water heat pump with controlled ventilation system
What can you give up, if necessary?
- Possible to give up: garage, to gain 50cm (20 inches) more space closer to the property boundary
- Cannot give up: guest room on the ground floor would be desirable
We are fortunate to have acquired a plot in a new development area. However, the building envelope seems to be designed more for a duplex than for a detached single-family home. Since our neighbors and we would prefer a detached single-family house, we are looking for solutions and improvements to the architect’s floor plan. As our family owns a construction company and we are receiving a “discount” because of this, we are somewhat tied to the architect, even though the design doesn’t always maximize the potential.
Therefore, I would like to ask you to take a look at the floor plan. I have also attached another draft of my own. I am open to suggestions and opinions.
First, the required information:
Development Plan / Restrictions: Development plan attached
Plot size: 446m² (4799 sq ft)
Slope: none
Site coverage ratio: 0.4
Floor area ratio: 0.8
Building envelope: 11 x 13.5m (36 x 44 ft), but due to setback, max. 8.5 x 13.5m (28 x 44 ft)
Building line and boundaries: –
Edge development: –
Number of parking spaces: 1.5
Number of floors: 2
Roof style: all types allowed
Architectural style: modern
Orientation: northwest
Maximum height/restrictions: eaves height 6m (20 ft)
Client Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: modern single-family house with a hipped roof
Basement, floors: no basement, but two full floors plus attic
Number of people, ages: three people plus dog (32/30/1/1)
Space requirements, ground floor and upper floor:
Ground floor – preferably guest room and pantry
Office: family use
Guest stays per year: ~40 overnight stays from family members
Open or closed layout: open living/dining/kitchen area
Conservative or modern construction: a bit of both
Open kitchen, kitchen island: cooking (half) island
Number of dining seats: 5
Fireplace: none
Sound/TV wall: standard TV wall
Balcony, roof terrace: none
Garage, carport: garage as shown on the plan
Utility garden, greenhouse: none
Other wishes / special features / daily routine:
House Design
Planning by:
- Architect from a construction company
- Attached is a draft without exact dimensions, created DIY by you with Floorplanner
What do you especially like?
Orientation of living rooms towards south/southwest, space utilized under the stairs
What do you not like?
Side entrance. Because the entrance is on the side and the garage is set back, parking will be awkward and there is no room to place a doormat in front of the door…
Only 3.5m (11.5 ft) width for the living room, 4m (13 ft) would be preferable. However, I don’t like the hallway/staircase in my own design either because the stairs feel cramped and the hallway is quite long.
Architect/planner's price estimate: approximately €330,000 turnkey
Personal price limit for the house, including equipment: €330,000
Preferred heating technology: air-to-water heat pump with controlled ventilation system
What can you give up, if necessary?
- Possible to give up: garage, to gain 50cm (20 inches) more space closer to the property boundary
- Cannot give up: guest room on the ground floor would be desirable
P
Painkiller15 Jun 2016 10:25With the entrance on the long side, you get a fairly square entrance area or hallway. Especially when I think about having guests over and shoes lined up in a hallway, or just having a quick chat before leaving, it’s definitely more comfortable than a narrow corridor.
Actually, I am my own problem. I just prefer the upper floor plan; it looks tidier and is more practical for everyday use (there is more space for a shoe cabinet/wardrobe/dog accessories).
Maybe I am just imagining the parking situation to be inconvenient with a 3m (10 feet) driveway!?
Actually, I am my own problem. I just prefer the upper floor plan; it looks tidier and is more practical for everyday use (there is more space for a shoe cabinet/wardrobe/dog accessories).
Maybe I am just imagining the parking situation to be inconvenient with a 3m (10 feet) driveway!?
P
Painkiller15 Jun 2016 15:29We have just over 4m (13 feet) in the living room, whereas the architect had planned for 3.5m (11.5 feet). In our current apartment, we have 3.3m (10.8 feet).
This is why the bay window is located where the living area feels tightest due to the staircase.
This is why the bay window is located where the living area feels tightest due to the staircase.
P
Painkiller13 Sep 2016 09:47Maybe the thread title could be changed now, as we are entering the final phase of planning.
Attached are the architect’s drafts for the working plans. This means the exterior dimensions are fixed, but some interior changes are still possible.
We are quite satisfied with the ground floor.
- The kitchen already consists of the 3.4m (11 feet) long counter and the island. If these are replaced in 15 years, expanding the pantry could still be considered.
- The pantry door is planned to be changed to a sliding door.
- The passage to the living room definitely needs to be widened to at least 1.1m (3 feet 7 inches).
- I am still waiting for feedback from the architect on whether the wall from the utility room can be extended a bit under the stairs to create some space for the washing machine and dryer.
The main issue is the upper floor:
In our original floor plan, the staircase was positioned further towards the entrance. This is not possible due to the utility room.
- The main problem is the bedroom: as planned, no bed can be placed there without blocking the door. Moving the door to the hallway is apparently not an option either, as it looks “terrible” when the first stair step is built over (which was the case in the original plan).
- The children’s rooms have very limited layout options. We went through some scenarios yesterday and found solutions for both rooms. Since our family planning is basically complete, the second room would be used more as a playroom, so Lego sets can be left out occasionally...
- I really like the bathroom, although it is quite large.
- The office would be sufficient for our needs; it won’t be used for working but more for handling paperwork without having it visible everywhere.
That’s all for now. Your input is welcome.
Attached are the architect’s drafts for the working plans. This means the exterior dimensions are fixed, but some interior changes are still possible.
We are quite satisfied with the ground floor.
- The kitchen already consists of the 3.4m (11 feet) long counter and the island. If these are replaced in 15 years, expanding the pantry could still be considered.
- The pantry door is planned to be changed to a sliding door.
- The passage to the living room definitely needs to be widened to at least 1.1m (3 feet 7 inches).
- I am still waiting for feedback from the architect on whether the wall from the utility room can be extended a bit under the stairs to create some space for the washing machine and dryer.
The main issue is the upper floor:
In our original floor plan, the staircase was positioned further towards the entrance. This is not possible due to the utility room.
- The main problem is the bedroom: as planned, no bed can be placed there without blocking the door. Moving the door to the hallway is apparently not an option either, as it looks “terrible” when the first stair step is built over (which was the case in the original plan).
- The children’s rooms have very limited layout options. We went through some scenarios yesterday and found solutions for both rooms. Since our family planning is basically complete, the second room would be used more as a playroom, so Lego sets can be left out occasionally...
- I really like the bathroom, although it is quite large.
- The office would be sufficient for our needs; it won’t be used for working but more for handling paperwork without having it visible everywhere.
That’s all for now. Your input is welcome.
P
Painkiller13 Sep 2016 11:01If you can't read the text, the dimensions are probably not clear either. But I want your opinion, so here it is again with larger labels.
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