Development Plan/Restrictions
Plot size: 1100sqm (1,1840 sq ft)
Slope: Yes (west to east)
Building coverage ratio / Floor area ratio: none
Building envelope, building line and boundary: none
Edge development: Theoretically possible, as neighboring plot belongs to parents
Number of parking spaces: 2 per housing unit (relevant if split into two apartments)
Number of floors: none
Roof type: only gable roof & hip roof (also for garage!)
Architectural style: none
Orientation: none
Maximum heights/restrictions: none
Other requirements: roof overhang of at least 50cm (20 inches)
Homeowners’ Requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: hip roof urban villa
Basement, floors: yes, 2 full floors
Number of people, ages: 36, 35, 4, 0
Space requirements on ground floor, upper floor:
Office: family use or home office? Home office once a week
Guest overnight stays per year: 1-2
Open or closed architecture: semi-open
Conservative or modern style: rather modern
Open kitchen, cooking island: yes, yes
Number of dining seats: 4-8
Fireplace: not necessary, also can’t find a suitable place
Music / stereo wall: TV wall yes
Balcony, roof terrace: balcony (only due to possible split into two apartments)
Garage, carport: double garage
Utility garden, greenhouse
Additional wishes/special features/daily routine, also reasons why this or that should or shouldn’t be: bay window with balcony, even if it gets expensive…
House Design
Who designed it: do-it-yourself with SweetHome3D
What do you like most? Why? Everything. I think I spent so long working on the floor plan that I’m in love with it and probably totally “blind” to its flaws.
What do you dislike? Why?
Price estimate according to architect/planner:
Personal price limit for the house, including equipment: 750,000€
Preferred heating system: gas
If you had to give up, which details/extensions
- could you do without: somehow nothing
- could you not do without: large entrance/wardrobe; large children’s rooms; master bedroom facing east (I want to watch the sunrise); large aquarium as a highlight in the living area; platform staircase; children’s bathroom; and my wife absolutely wants a gallery.
Why did the design turn out as it is now?
I looked at almost every floor plan from all prefabricated house manufacturers and, annoyed by the “cookie-cutter” designs (keyword: living room/kitchen/dining all in one long corridor and stairs always immediately by the dirty entrance), I started working out my own floor plan. Many thanks to this forum because I have learned a lot from the floor plan discussions here! I even dealt with Feng Shui for the layout.
What do you think makes it particularly good or bad?
The rooms are ideally oriented to the sun: living spaces face south, unoccupied rooms face north. In addition, the slight slope (to the east) allows for nice walk-out basement rooms. The layout can also be easily split into two apartments, making it flexible for a barrier-free future. Technical aspects and piping were also considered: the utility room is on the street side and pipes/water lines don’t run erratically but are kept close together.
The only downside I see is that the kitchen is “far” from the entrance. However, I don’t find this very problematic and only mention it because it would probably be a common criticism.
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
I’m grateful for suggestions or optimizations of any kind! Especially tips for the master bathroom. I’m not 100% satisfied yet.
Good luck
Alro
Plot size: 1100sqm (1,1840 sq ft)
Slope: Yes (west to east)
Building coverage ratio / Floor area ratio: none
Building envelope, building line and boundary: none
Edge development: Theoretically possible, as neighboring plot belongs to parents
Number of parking spaces: 2 per housing unit (relevant if split into two apartments)
Number of floors: none
Roof type: only gable roof & hip roof (also for garage!)
Architectural style: none
Orientation: none
Maximum heights/restrictions: none
Other requirements: roof overhang of at least 50cm (20 inches)
Homeowners’ Requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: hip roof urban villa
Basement, floors: yes, 2 full floors
Number of people, ages: 36, 35, 4, 0
Space requirements on ground floor, upper floor:
Office: family use or home office? Home office once a week
Guest overnight stays per year: 1-2
Open or closed architecture: semi-open
Conservative or modern style: rather modern
Open kitchen, cooking island: yes, yes
Number of dining seats: 4-8
Fireplace: not necessary, also can’t find a suitable place
Music / stereo wall: TV wall yes
Balcony, roof terrace: balcony (only due to possible split into two apartments)
Garage, carport: double garage
Utility garden, greenhouse
Additional wishes/special features/daily routine, also reasons why this or that should or shouldn’t be: bay window with balcony, even if it gets expensive…
House Design
Who designed it: do-it-yourself with SweetHome3D
What do you like most? Why? Everything. I think I spent so long working on the floor plan that I’m in love with it and probably totally “blind” to its flaws.
What do you dislike? Why?
Price estimate according to architect/planner:
Personal price limit for the house, including equipment: 750,000€
Preferred heating system: gas
If you had to give up, which details/extensions
- could you do without: somehow nothing
- could you not do without: large entrance/wardrobe; large children’s rooms; master bedroom facing east (I want to watch the sunrise); large aquarium as a highlight in the living area; platform staircase; children’s bathroom; and my wife absolutely wants a gallery.
Why did the design turn out as it is now?
I looked at almost every floor plan from all prefabricated house manufacturers and, annoyed by the “cookie-cutter” designs (keyword: living room/kitchen/dining all in one long corridor and stairs always immediately by the dirty entrance), I started working out my own floor plan. Many thanks to this forum because I have learned a lot from the floor plan discussions here! I even dealt with Feng Shui for the layout.
What do you think makes it particularly good or bad?
The rooms are ideally oriented to the sun: living spaces face south, unoccupied rooms face north. In addition, the slight slope (to the east) allows for nice walk-out basement rooms. The layout can also be easily split into two apartments, making it flexible for a barrier-free future. Technical aspects and piping were also considered: the utility room is on the street side and pipes/water lines don’t run erratically but are kept close together.
The only downside I see is that the kitchen is “far” from the entrance. However, I don’t find this very problematic and only mention it because it would probably be a common criticism.
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
I’m grateful for suggestions or optimizations of any kind! Especially tips for the master bathroom. I’m not 100% satisfied yet.
Good luck
Alro
Traumhaus2020 schrieb:
Wow, now I also have to explain to all you “no-basement builders” why we want to face east in the bedroom.
If you’re vampires who zombie-walk to the bathroom after the alarm goes off, get ready quickly, down a coffee, and rush to work, then sure, the bedroom orientation doesn’t matter. But if you want to enjoy some morning sun or the early daylight, facing east is the way to go.
There are two other reasons you obviously won’t know:
The view to the east, overlooking the very well-maintained Japanese-style neighbor’s garden, is beautiful.
My wife and I have found that when we sleep with our heads facing west, we sleep best (even despite disturbances like having a door at the head of the bed). Interestingly, when I looked into Feng Shui, it turned out we are both “west-people” and our ideal orientation is east-west…
Need more reasons, or is the east-facing topic settled now?Cool. After these arguments, the east window is a no-brainer. Just take a look at the sun’s path to see when and where the sun rises. And if you’re orienting the bedroom according to Feng Shui, there are two mistakes right away: the bed between the door and window, and a door positioned at the head of the bed.
You don’t actually see the garden from the bed anyway. And sipping coffee while looking out the bedroom window? You’re more likely to do that in the kitchen.
It’s great to plan your work or wake-up time around the morning sun: in winter around 8:30 AM facing southeast, in summer at 4:31 AM facing northeast… that’s when you end up cuddling in the bathtub.
You don’t owe anyone an explanation here. But thinking about it helps a lot to untangle your own mental knots.
T
Traumhaus202014 Feb 2019 11:47ypg schrieb:
Just take a look at the sun’s path to see where and when the sun rises. I did that. Now what? As you said, it rises between NE and SE depending on the time of year... So orienting towards the east isn’t completely wrong, right? Eventually, the sun will show itself :P
ypg schrieb:
And if you align the bedroom according to Feng Shui, then there are two mistakes: the bed between the door and window, and the door at the head of the bed. I’m aware of those two issues. I'm not entirely happy with it yet. Especially the entrance bothers me. I’m still searching for the best solution. Kaho solved the bedroom entrance quite well. It would just need to be somehow mirrored.
ypg schrieb:
You can’t see the garden from the bed either. Actually, maybe you can. Because of the slope: our side goes downhill, the other side uphill. But that still needs to be determined precisely...
ypg schrieb:
You can’t see the garden from the bed either. If you want to sip coffee looking out the bedroom window: you’d probably stay in the kitchen instead We don’t drink coffee :P
ypg schrieb:
then you cuddle in the bathtub No idea what you mean by that.
T
Traumhaus202014 Feb 2019 12:59@kaho674 I only just saw the mirrored design now.
Yes, having the entrance so far from the street/garage is inconvenient... Hmm, but unfortunately I don’t have a better suggestion. Swapping the utility room and hallway doesn’t really work because of the ventilation system.
But we’re slowly getting closer to the optimum.
Yes, having the entrance so far from the street/garage is inconvenient... Hmm, but unfortunately I don’t have a better suggestion. Swapping the utility room and hallway doesn’t really work because of the ventilation system.
But we’re slowly getting closer to the optimum.
Traumhaus2020 schrieb:
But we are slowly approaching the optimum Not at all. Let’s start from the beginning. Look for about 3 to 4 alternatives. Then we’ll discard everything and see what ideas the architect has.
Traumhaus2020 schrieb:
We don’t drink coffee The coffee came from you!
No more words, explanations, or questions—it's time to be straightforward:
Despite minor adjustments, it remains a really poor floor plan that can’t be justified away.
Just hit the delete key—it frees you from unnecessary baggage.
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