ᐅ Please review the design for a bungalow with a converted attic, approximately 135 m² (non-professional draft).

Hello everyone,

I often read that you don’t need to think too much about the floor plan before visiting a construction company or architect, since it usually changes anyway in the end. But I just can’t help it and want to think through as much as possible from the start 😉 I also don’t want to have to completely redo everything after the first consultation if something turns out to be impossible.

Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: approx. 750m² (8500 sq ft), will be developed soon, reserved
Slope: slightly sloping to the south, but almost flat
Site coverage ratio (floor space index): 0.4
Floor area ratio (FAR): 0.8
Building envelope, building line and boundary: approx. 17 x 16m (56 x 52 ft)
Surrounding buildings: see image
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: ground floor + attic
Roof style: hip roof, up to 35 degrees, 80cm (31 inches) knee wall
Architectural style: bungalow
Orientation: see image
Maximum heights / limits: ridge height 6.5m (21 ft)
Additional requirements: garage with gable roof

Owner’s Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: as specified by development plan
Basement, floors: no basement, ground floor + converted attic
Number of occupants, age: 1 (33 years old), but must be suitable for up to 3 people
Space requirements ground floor / upper floor: ground floor approx. 80m² (860 sq ft) / attic approx. 50m² (540 sq ft) (not necessarily divided exactly like this)
Office: family use or home office?: gaming room + occasional home office
Guest bedrooms per year: planning for up to 2 guests per quarter
Open or closed floor plan: closed
Conservative or modern construction: rather conservative, coziness is the priority
Open kitchen, kitchen island: no, closed kitchen or kitchen island
Number of dining seats: 5-6
Fireplace: definitely
Music / stereo wall: regular entertainment unit with TV
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: single garage (possibly with storage room) + open single parking space (according to development plan with gable roof, but in the neighborhood there are flat roofs as well, the latter is preferred and to be clarified)
Vegetable garden, greenhouse: nothing special, just a regular vegetable patch
Other wishes: controlled mechanical ventilation system likely (hardly imaginable to go without these days)

House Design
Designed by: DIY (Excel)
What do you particularly like and why?: Here’s everything important to me:

- I find the bedrooms and bathrooms cozier in the attic, also because you don’t have to feel like someone might pass by the window at any time, purely a feeling issue.

- Bedroom as far from utility room as possible due to noise; also not fully southwest-facing to avoid heat in summer.

- Bedroom fairly spacious (even though many just see the bedroom as a sleeping cabin). I’m currently quite bothered in my 12m² (130 sq ft) bedroom by bumping into things, facing the wardrobe wall, having little space to dress, and it just being a dark box for sleeping. Also, I think it’s a good idea to have a spare room in case I ever need some space away from (yet to be found) partner or if the lady wants to quietly lay out her yoga mat 😀

- Bathroom large enough with open shower without glass screen (I don’t like those).

- Covered terrace in front of dining/living area, as I am not a fan of direct harsh sunlight (not a sun worshiper), and the terrace can be used even in less favorable weather. Still unsure if the light conditions will be sufficient.

- No bedroom doors / walkways in dirty areas.

- Staircase not located in dirty area and as central as possible.

- Dormers for more space, better aesthetics, and general benefits of dormers.

- Combined living/dining room; kitchen separate from that.

- At least 1 additional room for office/hobby/child; ideally 2.

- Roof slopes used as storage space.

What don’t you like? Why?: Since it’s my own design, not much so far:

- Entrance area maybe still a bit narrow and perhaps could be better separated from the staircase(?)

- I’m not sure if the bedroom can be built structurally without additional supports (affects spatial feeling).

Cost estimate according to architect/designer: not available yet
Personal price limit for house, including equipment: 320k
Preferred heating technology: heat pump or gas (still undecided)

If you have to give up certain details / features
- Could give up: canopy above entrance, storage closet; everything else I have already removed for cost reasons ^^
- Cannot give up: fireplace, bathroom with bathtub, covered terrace

Why is the design as it is now? E.g.
I am initially building the house for myself, I’m single, but want to plan the house to still be comfortable for up to three people if needed.
Only a bungalow is allowed on this plot, and I experimented with single-story floor plans but couldn’t really find one that fits well into the building envelope. I’m also a fan of attic floors (as long as they don’t turn into saunas).
Originally, I thought about 120m² (1290 sq ft) and believed that’d be enough, but in the end, it’s about 135m² (1450 sq ft) to really feel comfortable.
I struggled a lot with fitting the rooms properly under the many roof slopes, moved rooms around a lot, but either a room then had too much roof slope or it didn’t fit well with the ground floor (e.g., utility room under the bedroom).


What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan, summarized in 130 characters?
Since it’s my own design, I want to know if there are any glaring errors that are objectively just nonsense. Personal taste should be left out.

PS: I hope detailed dimensions are not necessary at this stage; otherwise, I’ll try to add them later.