Hello dear forum,
Our ideas are slowly becoming more concrete, and we have found a floor plan that we quite like and that fits our requirements. We would love to hear your opinions and suggestions for improvement.
Development Plan/Restrictions
Plot size 518 sqm (5574 sq ft)
Slope Yes, about 2 m (6.5 ft) within the building zone, total about 3.5 m (11.5 ft), rising from the street
Floor area ratio 0.3
Plot ratio 0.6
Building zone, building line, and boundary approximately 13.5 x 12 m (44 x 39 ft)
Edge development As a new development area, everyone has the same specifications
Number of parking spaces 2
Number of floors 1.5 plus a basement, which is allowed and intended to be a full floor
Roof type gable roof, shed roof
Style open construction method
Orientation north-south
Maximum heights/limits 11 m (36 ft) ridge height
Homeowners’ Requirements
Style, roof type, building type single-family house with basement and gable roof
Basement, floors basement for living space plus 1.5 floors
Number of people, age currently a couple in their mid-30s plus a one-year-old child, more children planned
Space requirements
Ground floor: open plan living area, pantry/storage room, guest WC, 1 children’s room
Upper floor: 2 children’s rooms, family bathroom with bathtub, master bedroom with walk-in closet and shower bath
Basement: 2 offices, small shower bath, technical room/storage
Office: home office
Guest sleeping per year: rarely, so the office might occasionally be used as guest room
Open or closed architecture: open architecture
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open kitchen with island
Number of dining seats: at least 6
Fireplace: yes
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: standard terrace
Garage, carport: garage, but planned for later; possibly a carport
Utility garden, greenhouse: utility and play garden
Additional wishes/particulars: the main entrance will be moved to the basement, where the two offices are also planned. We want a high knee wall, which is why we plan a bay window to better utilize the 75% rule.
We are also still considering whether to place the main entrance on the left side of the house to make better use of space in the basement.
Furthermore, if possible, the terrace should be located above the garage on the right side of the house, as this side receives the most sun.
House Design
Who designed it: planner from a construction company plus do-it-yourself
What do you particularly like? the open and bright staircase, the living and dining area because everything is very bright
What do you dislike? Why? the solution with the parents’ area on the upper floor — hard to imagine and possibly too small
Price estimate according to architect/planner: 375,000
Personal price limit for the house, including equipment: 400,000
Preferred heating technology: air-to-water heat pump
If you have to give up something, which details/ extensions
-can you do without: fireplace
-can you not give up: parents’ area with walk-in and bathroom
Why did the design turn out as it is now? For example:
Standard design by the planner?
Which wishes were implemented by the architect? the plan is mainly the result of the spatial concept
What do you think makes it particularly good or bad? good question, it’s nothing exceptional, rather practical
What is the most important/fundamental question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
What advantages or disadvantages do you see in the floor plan and design, especially regarding our large spatial concept?
Our ideas are slowly becoming more concrete, and we have found a floor plan that we quite like and that fits our requirements. We would love to hear your opinions and suggestions for improvement.
Development Plan/Restrictions
Plot size 518 sqm (5574 sq ft)
Slope Yes, about 2 m (6.5 ft) within the building zone, total about 3.5 m (11.5 ft), rising from the street
Floor area ratio 0.3
Plot ratio 0.6
Building zone, building line, and boundary approximately 13.5 x 12 m (44 x 39 ft)
Edge development As a new development area, everyone has the same specifications
Number of parking spaces 2
Number of floors 1.5 plus a basement, which is allowed and intended to be a full floor
Roof type gable roof, shed roof
Style open construction method
Orientation north-south
Maximum heights/limits 11 m (36 ft) ridge height
Homeowners’ Requirements
Style, roof type, building type single-family house with basement and gable roof
Basement, floors basement for living space plus 1.5 floors
Number of people, age currently a couple in their mid-30s plus a one-year-old child, more children planned
Space requirements
Ground floor: open plan living area, pantry/storage room, guest WC, 1 children’s room
Upper floor: 2 children’s rooms, family bathroom with bathtub, master bedroom with walk-in closet and shower bath
Basement: 2 offices, small shower bath, technical room/storage
Office: home office
Guest sleeping per year: rarely, so the office might occasionally be used as guest room
Open or closed architecture: open architecture
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open kitchen with island
Number of dining seats: at least 6
Fireplace: yes
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: standard terrace
Garage, carport: garage, but planned for later; possibly a carport
Utility garden, greenhouse: utility and play garden
Additional wishes/particulars: the main entrance will be moved to the basement, where the two offices are also planned. We want a high knee wall, which is why we plan a bay window to better utilize the 75% rule.
We are also still considering whether to place the main entrance on the left side of the house to make better use of space in the basement.
Furthermore, if possible, the terrace should be located above the garage on the right side of the house, as this side receives the most sun.
House Design
Who designed it: planner from a construction company plus do-it-yourself
What do you particularly like? the open and bright staircase, the living and dining area because everything is very bright
What do you dislike? Why? the solution with the parents’ area on the upper floor — hard to imagine and possibly too small
Price estimate according to architect/planner: 375,000
Personal price limit for the house, including equipment: 400,000
Preferred heating technology: air-to-water heat pump
If you have to give up something, which details/ extensions
-can you do without: fireplace
-can you not give up: parents’ area with walk-in and bathroom
Why did the design turn out as it is now? For example:
Standard design by the planner?
Which wishes were implemented by the architect? the plan is mainly the result of the spatial concept
What do you think makes it particularly good or bad? good question, it’s nothing exceptional, rather practical
What is the most important/fundamental question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
What advantages or disadvantages do you see in the floor plan and design, especially regarding our large spatial concept?
Why at least 1.5m (5 feet) knee wall height? What advantages are expected from this? Even if you don’t want to hear it, your budget is very tight. The local general contractors were not more expensive without reason. There are certainly some hidden costs included. Compare the scope of work descriptions carefully.
Just something to consider. Look up knee wall cabinets. They provide a lot of storage space, which saves room for wardrobes in the smaller rooms.
Just something to consider. Look up knee wall cabinets. They provide a lot of storage space, which saves room for wardrobes in the smaller rooms.
My partner is quite tall and therefore wants a high knee wall. He hates sloped ceilings and doesn’t feel particularly comfortable in attic apartments. A high knee wall is one of his most important requirements.
We are willing to make compromises, but not on such essential factors.
We also planned to finish the basement later with flooring, bathroom, and other details. The kitchen will also only be installed when it is really needed. For now, it’s just about laying the necessary connections. Of course, you never know what the future holds. But a small living area for the children with a bathroom and possibly a kitchen also helps ease the parents’ minds.
Additionally, there is the question of whether having an office really changes the whole concept. I work from home every day, and my partner often works on the computer in the evenings. His study is also his retreat. He should be allowed to keep that. Working from home with young children is hardly done at the kitchen table...
We are willing to make compromises, but not on such essential factors.
We also planned to finish the basement later with flooring, bathroom, and other details. The kitchen will also only be installed when it is really needed. For now, it’s just about laying the necessary connections. Of course, you never know what the future holds. But a small living area for the children with a bathroom and possibly a kitchen also helps ease the parents’ minds.
Additionally, there is the question of whether having an office really changes the whole concept. I work from home every day, and my partner often works on the computer in the evenings. His study is also his retreat. He should be allowed to keep that. Working from home with young children is hardly done at the kitchen table...
P
pagoni20209 Jul 2020 17:03Thirteen schrieb:
I've roughly put something together.
Upstairs, the playroom could possibly be turned into a walk-in closet.
I quite like the basement layout so far – although the bathroom would only have a light well window. Maybe you have some ideas or suggestions for improvement. ...and so far there is no direct access to the "apartment" from the stairwell.
At this point, I would really stop and first have professionals do their work and see what comes from that. Afterwards, you can still incorporate the newly gained knowledge and wishes into a floor plan created by a professional designer.
You now have a usage concept for the basement based on your newly gained points of view.
Thirteen schrieb:
I currently have to assume some exterior dimensions, right? Definitely NOT!
Your floor plan will be developed by a planner based on your needs, local conditions, budget, and other factors. You can then adjust it, but first, a concept needs to be established. If you continue like this, you will always pull on one string only to have something else fall apart elsewhere.
First, the floor plan must be finalized, and ONLY THEN comes the exterior view. The shoe must fit the foot, not the other way around... wow, that was smart!
You will struggle endlessly like this. The only positive thing is that you will get closer and closer to your actual needs and priorities and realize which aspects you have underestimated so far.
Again, the exterior walls can still be moved many times... but only by your planner first!
Thirteen schrieb:
We would like to build with a bay window. Sorry... but I thought bay windows have been banned since the 1990s due to their ugliness; I had one on my house in 1990... yuck.
You don’t want a bay window or a Corinthian column on your house. You want a beautiful home, your home, where you feel comfortable because it exactly fits your needs. Maybe there will be a bay window or two, maybe not. Don’t get caught up in nothingness.
Thirteen schrieb:
And yes, bay windows cost money. We are aware of that. However, for my partner, it is absolutely essential that the knee wall is at least 1.50 m (5 feet) high. That is very difficult to achieve if the upper floor and ground floor have almost the same dimensions and the development plan allows for 1.5 storeys. Sorry... I think you’re young and you stick to requirements like “I want a bay window” or “knee wall.” People who insist on things like this end up with a house like that; I know some of those self-designed houses that give you a rash when you walk by.
If 30 years ago no one had corrected me from time to time, it would have turned out the same way. Today I know they should have done it more often.
You want a stylish house, that is very important to you, so let professionals who know what they’re doing handle it. You still have so many important decisions ahead where you can end up with either a beautiful or an ugly house.
Let it go and have a deliberately chosen planner start fresh; then you can focus on the details.
Everyone here understands your intention, but you can’t solve it, and probably it has to be a different person than you who tells your big ego that there are also beautiful houses without forcibly built knee walls and bay windows.
Open up your mind...
Well, 8 rooms for 3 children, 1 master bedroom, and 2 offices is quite generous. With a basement finished to living space standards, you end up with over 200 square meters (2,150 square feet) of living area. The various tips focused on reducing the living space wisely to save money without significantly compromising quality. Therefore, in my opinion, it doesn’t make sense to keep the exterior dimensions as they are.
Here in the forum, the cost is estimated at around 2,000 euros per square meter (about $185 per square foot) of living space, but that’s not all-inclusive either. I was personally surprised how expensive this endeavor actually is.
Here in the forum, the cost is estimated at around 2,000 euros per square meter (about $185 per square foot) of living space, but that’s not all-inclusive either. I was personally surprised how expensive this endeavor actually is.
Yes, maybe I just lack the imagination here. I now walk through the streets quite openly, but you simply don’t come across a basement used as living space. Not much has been built in recent years either, especially not on slopes like we have. There simply are no building plots available.
If you look at the catalogs from major manufacturers, you often see the same designs. However, very few of them actually meet our needs.
By now, I also agree with you – a designer is necessary. However, I am unsure about the right approach. Who should I contact first? A construction company? Architects? Are there planners who are not architects as well?
If you look at the catalogs from major manufacturers, you often see the same designs. However, very few of them actually meet our needs.
By now, I also agree with you – a designer is necessary. However, I am unsure about the right approach. Who should I contact first? A construction company? Architects? Are there planners who are not architects as well?
Ysop*** schrieb:
How to find general contractors? Try searching this forum for your state or neighboring districts. There might already be experience reports posted here. Visit new development areas and check hillside properties to ask about their experiences. Use Google Maps (search terms: residential construction, solid house, home building, architect), regional building fairs. I’m quoting myself here. Which region are you in?
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