ᐅ Assessment & Assistance for a Semi-Detached House, Approximately 180 sqm, DIY Floor Plan
Created on: 10 Feb 2023 13:28
M
Mar_Mar
Hello everyone,
we have purchased a 337 m² (3623 ft²) plot on which we now want to build our semi-detached house. We are in discussions with various construction companies, but their approaches vary widely. Since we are often presented with floor plans based on our key specifications that we don’t like at all (often a standard run-of-the-mill semi-detached house), we have started to think about it ourselves. It’s also quite different that one company has a problem with the structural engineering for a ground floor measuring 8 x 12 m (26 x 39 ft), while another does not. Our wish is also to have the technical equipment on the attic floor (see separate thread).
Now I would like to get your opinion on our DIY floor plan. Does it make sense? What have we overlooked? Constructive suggestions are welcome, as I don’t really like, for example, the bathroom/office solution on the upper floor.
Development Plan/Restrictions
Plot size: 337 m² (3623 ft²)
Slope: no
Site coverage ratio: 0.35
Floor area ratio: 0.7
Building envelope, building line and boundary: 12 m length (39 ft), plot is 11.5 m wide (38 ft), so effectively 8.5 m (28 ft)???
Edge development
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 2.5
Roof style: pitched roof, 30 degrees, no knee wall
Architectural style
Garden side facing fully south
Maximum heights/limits: 12 m length (39 ft), 6.5 m eaves height (21 ft)
Further requirements: adjacent semi-detached house will also be built later without a basement with dimensions of 8.5 x 10.1 m (28 x 33 ft), smaller than ours
Homeowners’ Requirements
Architectural style, roof shape, building type: no special requirements
Basement, floors: no basement, 2.5 floors
Number and age of residents: 38, 38, 2, x 😉
Room requirements ground floor, upper floor: ground floor airy, bright, spacious; upper floor 3 bedrooms, bathroom, office
Office: family use or home office? Home office
Number of overnight guests per year: a couple every three months or so
Open or closed architecture: open
Traditional or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, cooking island: open with island
Number of dining seats: 6
Fireplace: no
Music/sound system wall: no, TV on wall
Balcony, roof terrace: terrace (added later)
Garage, carport: none, as garage space here is very disadvantageous
Utility garden, greenhouse
Additional wishes/special features/daily routine, including reasons why something should or should not be
- House technology preferably in the attic since we usually spend most time on the ground floor and want plenty of space there
- Avoid standard floor plan with U-shaped staircase if possible, therefore the compromise of a V-shaped staircase with glass railing on the ground floor, open without storage under the stairs, winding stairs connecting ground floor and attic
- Lots of window area, lift-and-slide windows on the ground floor with external blinds because of south-facing side
- Kitchen and lounge somewhat separated and not too close to each other
- Ceiling height on the ground floor at least 2.65 m (8.7 ft)
- Make use of sloped ceilings in the attic space
House Design
Who designed it: DIY
What do you like most? Why? Open living space, open stairway
What do you dislike? Why? Bathroom/office on the upper floor
Price estimate according to architect/designer: 450k
Personal budget limit for house, including fittings: 550k
Preferred heating technology: heat pump
If you have to give up on something, which details/extensions
- Can be waived: pantry on ground floor, “even more” windows
- Cannot give up: separate office
Why is the design the way it is now? For example,
A mixture of many examples from various magazines…
What do you think makes it especially good or bad? Good because it is not standard and conveys a generous, bright sense of space
we have purchased a 337 m² (3623 ft²) plot on which we now want to build our semi-detached house. We are in discussions with various construction companies, but their approaches vary widely. Since we are often presented with floor plans based on our key specifications that we don’t like at all (often a standard run-of-the-mill semi-detached house), we have started to think about it ourselves. It’s also quite different that one company has a problem with the structural engineering for a ground floor measuring 8 x 12 m (26 x 39 ft), while another does not. Our wish is also to have the technical equipment on the attic floor (see separate thread).
Now I would like to get your opinion on our DIY floor plan. Does it make sense? What have we overlooked? Constructive suggestions are welcome, as I don’t really like, for example, the bathroom/office solution on the upper floor.
Development Plan/Restrictions
Plot size: 337 m² (3623 ft²)
Slope: no
Site coverage ratio: 0.35
Floor area ratio: 0.7
Building envelope, building line and boundary: 12 m length (39 ft), plot is 11.5 m wide (38 ft), so effectively 8.5 m (28 ft)???
Edge development
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 2.5
Roof style: pitched roof, 30 degrees, no knee wall
Architectural style
Garden side facing fully south
Maximum heights/limits: 12 m length (39 ft), 6.5 m eaves height (21 ft)
Further requirements: adjacent semi-detached house will also be built later without a basement with dimensions of 8.5 x 10.1 m (28 x 33 ft), smaller than ours
Homeowners’ Requirements
Architectural style, roof shape, building type: no special requirements
Basement, floors: no basement, 2.5 floors
Number and age of residents: 38, 38, 2, x 😉
Room requirements ground floor, upper floor: ground floor airy, bright, spacious; upper floor 3 bedrooms, bathroom, office
Office: family use or home office? Home office
Number of overnight guests per year: a couple every three months or so
Open or closed architecture: open
Traditional or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, cooking island: open with island
Number of dining seats: 6
Fireplace: no
Music/sound system wall: no, TV on wall
Balcony, roof terrace: terrace (added later)
Garage, carport: none, as garage space here is very disadvantageous
Utility garden, greenhouse
Additional wishes/special features/daily routine, including reasons why something should or should not be
- House technology preferably in the attic since we usually spend most time on the ground floor and want plenty of space there
- Avoid standard floor plan with U-shaped staircase if possible, therefore the compromise of a V-shaped staircase with glass railing on the ground floor, open without storage under the stairs, winding stairs connecting ground floor and attic
- Lots of window area, lift-and-slide windows on the ground floor with external blinds because of south-facing side
- Kitchen and lounge somewhat separated and not too close to each other
- Ceiling height on the ground floor at least 2.65 m (8.7 ft)
- Make use of sloped ceilings in the attic space
House Design
Who designed it: DIY
What do you like most? Why? Open living space, open stairway
What do you dislike? Why? Bathroom/office on the upper floor
Price estimate according to architect/designer: 450k
Personal budget limit for house, including fittings: 550k
Preferred heating technology: heat pump
If you have to give up on something, which details/extensions
- Can be waived: pantry on ground floor, “even more” windows
- Cannot give up: separate office
Why is the design the way it is now? For example,
A mixture of many examples from various magazines…
What do you think makes it especially good or bad? Good because it is not standard and conveys a generous, bright sense of space
11ant schrieb:
Excel spreadsheets for comparing various points that cannot be represented purely parametrically, or the inevitable addition of extra comment fields, are the best way to develop an “apples to oranges” comparison beyond “only idiots cut from sums.” It’s better to actively define the comparison criteria. It’s not rocket science, but I can do it faster myself than explain it to beginners.
I had invited you to do this repeatedly and interpreted your words as if you had written to me, but then found nothing in my inbox (same name as here, on gmx de). Unfortunately, I can’t start a conversation here because:
But I hope I understood your note and just sent you an email. Sorry, “all Greek to me” is my middle name :p
ypg schrieb:
The bed in the upper floor still can’t be used properly. It only works if you place the head of the bed under the sloped ceiling… and then push it forward a bit or create a knee wall about 80cm (31.5 inches) high.
First of all, I would swap the entrance and the utility room, so that a) the entrance can catch some light, and b) the utility connections are close to the equipment on the top floor. Of course, this requires a duct or cable channel running upwards. This is currently just a rough furniture layout. Alternatively, I place it where the sofa is, below the 2m (6.6 ft) height line and against the wall by the staircase, and put a sofa where the bed is, also below the 2m (6.6 ft) line. It’s a guest room, not meant for permanent living.
Hmm, I don’t quite understand that, since currently the main utility connection, bathroom on the upper floor, and bathroom on the top floor including equipment are stacked close together on the floor plan. If I move the entrance to the left, the infrastructure would have to run across the house instead of just going upwards.
The hallway should get some light through the windows in and next to the front door.
K a t j a schrieb:
Yes, I also need to raise this point. Please take a close look at sloped ceilings and how to make the best use of them, or even better, have professionals handle it. It’s true that with a 30-degree angle, there won’t be much usable space. That’s why we are currently considering installing a 3.4 m (11 ft) dormer there, which I think will add significant value.
Mar_Mar schrieb:
I don’t see an office there, but maybe there was another proposal for the upper floor? There are two children’s rooms, parents’ bedroom, and a bathroom. Or do you mean the bedroom on the upper floor should be the office? Yes, it says guest and office there. I only put a bed in to show the scale and to indicate it could be used as a guest room.
Because until now I didn’t know:
Mar_Mar schrieb:
The attic is being converted, but it is supposed to become a large guest room for the grandparents who stay for extended periods, a shower bathroom, and the spacious attic cellar (we also need a bit of storage), possibly integrating the technical equipment and washing machine up there. Come on, you really should have mentioned that on page 1! How are we supposed to know? If I weren’t such a easygoing and relaxed person, I’d be annoyed right now. 😎
Aside from that, do the grandparents really have to climb up to the attic every time?
By the way, what kind of heating system is planned there and where will it be located? As far as I know, a heat pump can only be installed on the ground floor, and 2 square meters (21.5 sq ft) don’t seem to be enough space.
K a t j a schrieb:
Yes, it’s labeled as guest and office. I only placed a bed there to give a sense of the size and to show that it could be used as a guest room. Oh, I had interpreted that as a bedroom 🙂
K a t j a schrieb:
You really should have mentioned that on page 1! How are we supposed to know? If I weren’t such an easygoing and relaxed person, I’d be annoyed now. 😎
Besides, are the elderly really supposed to crawl up to the attic every time?
What kind of heating is planned there, and where is it supposed to be installed? As far as I know, a heat pump can only be installed on the ground floor, and 2sqm (21.5 sq ft) is not enough space for that. Sorry, that’s how misunderstandings happen so quickly 🙂
You could say that means they won’t stay for too long 🙄 Seriously though, they’re still quite fit, and this shouldn’t be an issue for the next 10 to 15 years. They also don’t mind sleeping under a sloped ceiling or having to crawl a bit. Their home is quite far away, and when they visit, it’s usually for longer stays. So I’d like to provide them with, for example, their own bathroom and a bit of a private retreat. If the time comes when they can’t get up there anymore, we’ll have to figure something else out. Maybe the bedrooms could be swapped for a week or so, but there’s plenty of time before that happens. Of course, it’s also possible they won’t visit as they get older, so then it wouldn’t be an issue.
K a t j a schrieb:
What kind of heating is planned there, and where is it supposed to be installed? As far as I know, a heat pump can only be installed on the ground floor, and 2sqm (21.5 sq ft) is not enough space for that. Yes, an air-source heat pump, which will be placed in front of the house, with the connection then running into the pantry/utility room.
According to this source, it’s possible: https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/haustechnik-raum-unters-dach-moeglich.44821/
Similar topics