ᐅ Floor plan for a bungalow of 160–170 sqm with a basement

Created on: 6 Apr 2021 13:37
I
Iotafreak
Hello everyone,

finally, we have reached an important step… the plot is signed for.
We want to build with an architect and already have some ideas about what we like and what we don’t.
We definitely want to give the architect the opportunity to apply their expertise regarding the floor plan… maybe they can convince us.

But if not, we are currently (almost) quite happy with this self-drawn floor plan.

A few key facts…
Plot size: 660 sqm (about 7100 sq ft), floor area ratio 0.4, no slope, approximately 26m x 25m (85 ft x 82 ft)
Longest building side allowed: max. 15m (about 49 ft)
L-shaped bungalow with covered terrace (southwest side)
We want to build with a basement. This should have windows with natural daylight behind the garage on the east side. There will be 2–3 living rooms down there (playroom, hobby room, later for the kids or grandparents if necessary).
The roof will not be converted into a living space — 20-22° (degrees) pitch, hip roof, for aesthetic reasons.
We know that a basement is more expensive than a second floor, etc. The budget is roughly 650,000–700,000 (currency).
Utility room, laundry room, sauna, etc. will all be located in the basement since there is enough space. 🙂

Now to the floor plan:
We like an open design with a large entrance area.

What we like about this floor plan:
Children’s area separated from parents
Connection from the garage with access to the storage room and basement
Access from kitchen and living room to the terrace possible
Master bedroom with direct view of the garden on the southeast side (in summer the shutters are closed anyway)
Children’s rooms with windows facing west, slightly southwest.

Open questions…
Are the children’s rooms too narrow at almost 3m (about 10 ft)?
Is the living room too narrow at almost 4.5m (about 15 ft)?
The L-shape at the terrace is about 3m (10 ft) deep — here we could possibly adjust a bit to enlarge the children’s rooms.
My wife doesn’t like that the kitchen is visible directly from the entrance area.
(I prefer the kitchen visibility over the living room couch). What do you think is better or worse?

The kitchen window is on the south side, possibly too much sun… maybe we should add an awning if needed.
I can’t fit a second toilet elsewhere without making the children’s rooms even smaller… so it will remain a guest toilet for the parents.

Is a door between the entrance area and the living area for a windbreak useful, or unnecessary? (We have underfloor heating.)
(Maybe a hidden interior door, but I’m unsure what happens if it gets damaged.)

The floor area ratio will be tight… 15m x 15m = 225 sqm (about 11,200 sq ft) + garage + driveway… we might need to reduce the width a bit.
660 sqm x 0.4 = 264 sqm (about 2,840 sq ft).

I have seen many floor plans here… wishes and practicality have to match somewhere.
I’m really curious about the experts’ opinions…
Is it rubbish or usable?

Thanks

Grundriss eines Wohnhauses mit Küche, Essen, Wohnen, SZ, Bad, K1/K2 und Treppe


Grundriss eines Hauses mit offener Wohnküche, Essbereich, Schlafzimmer, Bad, Treppenhaus, Garage.
I
Iotafreak
9 Apr 2021 22:17
Thanks for the feedback.
The kitchen windows wouldn’t be floor-to-ceiling... but there really might be too little space for cabinets. We are also considering completely leaving out the guest toilet. Instead, the dressing room could fit there, and the access to the bathroom would no longer be through the stairwell.

In the basement, a second toilet could be installed near the stairs... I think I could live with that well enough...
I
Iotafreak
9 Apr 2021 22:20
Slanted walls, you’re probably right... for the path through the entrance area for the kids, I don’t see a problem... the entrance space is a spacious open area, not just a simple vestibule...
haydee schrieb:

Kids going through the open entrance to the bathroom again
Bathroom only accessible through the staircase feels like something from the 1920s
Slanted wall is a feature from the 1980s/1990s
Is that small wardrobe really enough for you? The angle reduces usable floor space
Y
ypg
9 Apr 2021 23:53
Iotafreak schrieb:

In the basement, you could install another toilet near the stairs...

You can’t be serious... for guests or family members who need to go quickly?
Iotafreak schrieb:

We are also considering completely leaving out the guest toilet,

You can’t be serious... so everyone has to use the main bathroom at the front?
On such a large floor area, there should definitely be a private zone 😉
Iotafreak schrieb:

Sloped walls, you’re probably right... regarding the route through the entrance area for the kids, I don’t see a problem... the entrance area is a spacious open room, not just a simple vestibule...

Honestly... you have no sense of space. First of all, the hallway dimensions (dimensions, not measurements) should be reduced by about three quarters. No one needs 40 sqm (430 sq ft) of hallway.
Whether it’s a vestibule or hallway makes no difference.

I always try to be helpful and I’m used to all kinds of situations here... but I can’t understand these self-imposed complications you’re creating.
I’m looking forward to the architect’s design.
I
Iotafreak
10 Apr 2021 10:25
ypg schrieb:

You can't be serious... for guests or family members who need to go quickly?

You can't be serious... just so people can go to the bathroom in the front?
With such a large area, you should be able to create a private zone 😉

Honestly... you have no sense of space. First of all, the hallway dimensions (measurements, not sizes) should be reduced by about three-quarters. Nobody needs 40 square meters (430 square feet) of hallway space.
Whether it’s a vestibule or hallway doesn’t matter.

I usually try to be helpful and am used to all kinds of things here... but I just can’t understand these crutches you build for yourself.
I’m curious to see the architect’s design.
Phew, harsh criticism... I’m fully aware that I’m a complete beginner in floor plan design... as mentioned, we have the large entrance area from house Vita... saying that nobody needs it is like with a Porsche... But the overall layout should make sense, I agree with you on that... I’ll try to start over... I know many people who don’t have a guest toilet on the ground floor, or have a second WC on the upper floor... they manage just fine...
But definitely no sleeping room.
I
Iotafreak
10 Apr 2021 10:27
There definitely won’t be any damage... typing on the phone with a baby in your arms often leads to mistakes.
Y
ypg
10 Apr 2021 11:02
Iotafreak schrieb:

Typing on your phone while holding a baby often goes wrong

🙂 You can read it 😀
Iotafreak schrieb:

Phew, harsh criticism... I am well aware that I am a total beginner when it comes to floor plan design...

Well, somehow you have to make it clear to someone that designing is more than just placing rectangles next to each other. Or that some people have no sense of space at all.
Iotafreak schrieb:

That nobody needs it is like with the Porsche...

But it has to fit: the Vita has a completely different spatial CONCEPT, where many areas flow into each other. As I said before, that often doesn’t work with children’s rooms just tacked onto somewhere. Among other things, you make the mistake of not defining zones.
Even a beginner lives and as an adult has a daily routine. If you live “just” in a standard apartment, everything meets in the hallway, from which everything is accessible. In a house, you have no buffer to the outside world through a communal hallway; ideally, you plan so that you can go from your bedroom to the bathroom without being seen by the mail carrier.
Regarding the hallway and Porsche: You’re basically fitting a van with a Porsche engine. Or a Twingo with a spoiler...
Iotafreak schrieb:

I know many who don’t have a guest shower room, or instead have a second toilet on the second floor...

You’re not talking about houses that skip a guest bathroom just to get a door into the main bathroom, right?
Take a look at standard bungalows, family bungalows from common companies:
You don’t have to (re)build them, but understand why they are the way they are. For beginners, it also helps to read through the accompanying texts 😉