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

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
I
Iotafreak15 Apr 2021 22:19ypg schrieb:
I’m happy to give you my bank account number. @kbt09 probably will too. If €5000 (about $5300) are transferred there, you will have our full attention and a plan based on your wishes, starting with the basement and ending at the ground floor. If you don’t like anything, you will get €3000 (about $3200) back. Deal?
Or you can go straight to an architect. Don’t be surprised that a basement depends on the whole house. It’s supposed to be a livable basement with light wells. Deal! But then the floor plan really has to include everything. I would suggest you make the sketch first, then you get the money…. Promise.
Should I still mention the Vita house as a reference to the architect?
I
Iotafreak15 Apr 2021 22:30kbt09 schrieb:
I don’t understand what you want in the basement, and Yvonne has already said that the basement layout depends on the ground floor.
If your existing floor plan meets your requirements, then I don’t see the point of asking further questions.
There have been enough indications of inconsistencies:
- Windows located in the room corners
- Bathroom/children’s room arrangement
- Depth of the pantry, a freezer won’t even fit
- Passageway between garage and house with basement stairs
- Slanted wall in the dressing room: without it, the transition between the dining and living areas wouldn’t work, but with the slanted wall, the dressing room’s usability is compromised
- Wasted space in the hallway, which seems about 300cm (10 feet) wide (hard to read the numbers), yet difficult to furnish—at least it could be used for storage
and so on, and so forth. Okay, thanks... I agree there are some flaws. I see the children’s room situation differently. The current floor plan appeals to me because it meets all our wishes. Why am I asking? To get experienced input on what might actually be poor design. It’s important to distinguish between simply different tastes and what is truly illogical. If I already had experience in this area, I probably wouldn’t be asking for other opinions. The architect will present his version in a few weeks; I just suspect that our ideas might differ somewhat from the norm, and that he will have to start over.
Iotafreak schrieb:
Here, however, one has to distinguish between something that is just a matter of personal taste and something that is really nonsense for logical reasons.Exactly: Right now, you are going by taste; the critics or supporters here, meaning those who provide feedback, focus on function and aesthetics, as well as buildability, not personal taste.Iotafreak schrieb:
Should I also mention the Vita house to the architect as a reference?Definitely – even a professional won’t guess that your design is based on that "model" without a clear hint. Hopefully, you won’t feel fooled or think they’re incompetent if they end up asking what similarities you see between the two designs. Maybe I just lack imagination: my Fiat Uno I never reminded me of the Ferrari F40 either, even though both had the exact same turn signal lever.https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
11ant schrieb:
Maybe I just lack imagination: my Fiat Uno I never reminded me of the Ferrari F40, even though both models had the same turn signal lever.Better that way than wanting a Ferrari but ending up with a Fiat because the turn signal looks similar to the Ferrari’s 😉About the children’s rooms again... I’m just asking... how do you imagine your front door? Glass panels? What is the main idea for the children’s rooms? Separate from the master bedroom, right? Then take another look at my examples.
And now I just saw the guest toilet corner... your wardrobe won’t fit at the planned length, otherwise you’ll be squeezing into the guest toilet corner.
@Tolentino... if the house were round 😉, you could just slide into the corner 😉.
And now I just saw the guest toilet corner... your wardrobe won’t fit at the planned length, otherwise you’ll be squeezing into the guest toilet corner.
@Tolentino... if the house were round 😉, you could just slide into the corner 😉.
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