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
If you are really set on having a basement (I understand, it’s about the look), then carefully consider whether you want a full basement. Also, decide if you want natural daylight or not. This can cause significant price differences. The sauna room and technical equipment are stored in a small space. An office (which you planned for upstairs) would make sense downstairs as well; if nicely furnished, it can be cozy there too. A guest room with a small shower bathroom also doesn’t take up much space. I estimate about 70-80 square meters (750-860 square feet). You can then still consider providing daylight to the office and guest room through light wells. Always keep in mind that light wells take up a lot of space. I don’t find them particularly attractive either.
I think a separate basement entrance is essential for every basement. With a clever layout, you might avoid needing a light well.
I would really recommend planning all relevant rooms (bedrooms and children’s rooms, guest bathroom, main bathroom, storage room) upstairs. Put the rest downstairs, and where there is some extra space, you can create good storage areas with cleverly designed cabinets.
I think a separate basement entrance is essential for every basement. With a clever layout, you might avoid needing a light well.
I would really recommend planning all relevant rooms (bedrooms and children’s rooms, guest bathroom, main bathroom, storage room) upstairs. Put the rest downstairs, and where there is some extra space, you can create good storage areas with cleverly designed cabinets.
I had mentioned an idea "a la Vita, Weiss" and also put it into practice:
Of course, I kept the desired basement in mind... but I have to say, it is quite difficult to create a ground floor, that is, a bungalow with such a large area in the "center" of a house that uses so much space, without ending up with very long corridors or dark recesses. The basement is unsatisfactory overall. The rooms are dark inside, even though there is a light well built there and a panoramic window. Creating an apartment there would be a real challenge, and only possible with closed eyes.
Anyway: I managed to achieve something in principle. Everything fits within the 15-meter side length. I haven’t focused so much on the floor area... and also the light wells and the basement terrace mentioned by the original poster no longer fit with the floor area ratio. The house feels like it takes up almost the entire plot: 3.7 or 6 meters (12 ft or 20 ft) in front and on the sides (a light well also requires a setback from the boundary) means there’s hardly any garden left.
I’ll spare the details here – the forum members are aware of such issues – ultimately, the original poster has to decide how to position the house on their plot.
Logically, I moved the terrace to the southeast. Since it is covered, it is at least protected from the wind there; a southwest terrace would be windy and the roof would not help. I also wanted to do the children a favor with the west side 🙂
But basically, the designs could be adjusted; the garage could also be shifted from west to east.
Much depends on everything else, so moving this and that usually affects other elements and things don’t work optimally anymore.
As I understood it, the children do not need their own bathroom?
Here are the designs. Please note: interior walls currently measure a rough 10 cm (4 inches), and the exterior walls 38 cm (15 inches). The kitchen island is 2.40 m (7 ft 10 in) long, the bedroom windows 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) wide, and the panoramic windows measure 3 meters (10 ft).
Up is naturally north 😉
I’m still here for any questions 🙂
Of course, I kept the desired basement in mind... but I have to say, it is quite difficult to create a ground floor, that is, a bungalow with such a large area in the "center" of a house that uses so much space, without ending up with very long corridors or dark recesses. The basement is unsatisfactory overall. The rooms are dark inside, even though there is a light well built there and a panoramic window. Creating an apartment there would be a real challenge, and only possible with closed eyes.
Anyway: I managed to achieve something in principle. Everything fits within the 15-meter side length. I haven’t focused so much on the floor area... and also the light wells and the basement terrace mentioned by the original poster no longer fit with the floor area ratio. The house feels like it takes up almost the entire plot: 3.7 or 6 meters (12 ft or 20 ft) in front and on the sides (a light well also requires a setback from the boundary) means there’s hardly any garden left.
I’ll spare the details here – the forum members are aware of such issues – ultimately, the original poster has to decide how to position the house on their plot.
Logically, I moved the terrace to the southeast. Since it is covered, it is at least protected from the wind there; a southwest terrace would be windy and the roof would not help. I also wanted to do the children a favor with the west side 🙂
But basically, the designs could be adjusted; the garage could also be shifted from west to east.
Much depends on everything else, so moving this and that usually affects other elements and things don’t work optimally anymore.
As I understood it, the children do not need their own bathroom?
Here are the designs. Please note: interior walls currently measure a rough 10 cm (4 inches), and the exterior walls 38 cm (15 inches). The kitchen island is 2.40 m (7 ft 10 in) long, the bedroom windows 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) wide, and the panoramic windows measure 3 meters (10 ft).
Up is naturally north 😉
I’m still here for any questions 🙂
M
Myrna_Loy19 Apr 2021 12:41Definitely better, and the separation is done in a stylish way. But it still meanders way too much for me. It looks like the floor plan of the Palace of Knossos again. 🙂 Or those labyrinth games with the small metal ball.
ypg schrieb:
[ATTACH alt="Screenshot 2021-04-19 at 09.33.25.png"]60350[/ATTACH]I have to say, this one appeals to me the most (but of course, you can also work your magic!). I also really like the bungalow concept (all rooms side by side). I appreciate that I wouldn’t have to walk through the entire house to get to the kids’ rooms.
I might consider removing the wall/door to the hallway to allow some light to come through.
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