ᐅ Urban villa floor plan – feedback welcome

Created on: 25 May 2019 10:22
C
ChristianZ6
Hello everyone,

We are in the process of planning a house for our family. We already have two children (5 and 1.5 years old), and our third child is due in November.

We have put a lot of thought into the floor plans and now have a design we are very happy with. However, since you eventually become blind to your own creations and we have no experience in house construction, I’m hoping to get some great suggestions here.

Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 985 sqm (11,000 sq ft approx.)
Slope: No
Floor Area Ratio (FAR): 0.25
Site coverage / Floor space index: Not specified (2 full stories possible)
Building envelope, building line, and boundary:
  • Visible in the pictures; the plot is irregularly shaped. I created a simplified rectangular version that complies with the required windows/distances.
  • Street width: 17.5 m (57 ft)
  • Building envelope start: 5 m (16 ft) from the street, depth 20 m (66 ft), plot width 18 m (59 ft)
  • Plot width in the middle of the building envelope: 18.5 m (61 ft)
  • Plot width at the back: 21 m (69 ft)
  • Plot length: approx. 50 m (164 ft)

Adjacent buildings: Currently all empty
Number of parking spaces: 2 carports
Stories: 2 full stories
Roof type: Hip roof
Architectural style: Urban villa
Orientation: Garden facing south
Maximum height / restrictions: None
Additional requirements: Carports, auxiliary buildings etc. are only allowed within the building envelope.

Client Requirements
Architectural style, roof shape, building type: See above
Basement, stories: No basement, 2 full stories
Number of residents, ages: 5 people (31, 30, 5, 1, 0)
Space requirements on ground floor (GF), upper floor (UF): See floor plan
Office / family use or home office?: Guest room
Number of guests per year: 10
Open or closed architecture: Open
Traditional or modern construction: Modern
Open kitchen with island: Yes
Number of dining seats: 8+
Fireplace: Yes
Music or stereo wall: No
Balcony, roof terrace: No
Garage or carport: 2 carports

House Design
Who designed it: Do-it-yourself
What do you like about it? Why?: The open concept, air spaces, large living area
What don’t you like? Why?: Nothing
Cost estimate according to architect/planner: 500,000 € including ancillary building costs, excluding landscaping
Personal budget limit for the house including fittings: 600,000 € including ancillary building costs, excluding landscaping
Preferred heating system: No preference

If you have to give up anything, which details or expansions
-could you give up:
-could you not give up:

At this point, we do not need to give up anything, so this question is not relevant.

Why did the design turn out the way it is? For example: Based on our own wishes.

What is the most important / fundamental question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
What makes sense?
What doesn’t?
Suggestions for changes?
Tips for landscaping are also welcome.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Ground floor plan: Living/dining area, kitchen, bedroom, dressing room, guest room, utility room, bathroom, WC


Floor plan of a house with living, dining, cooking, sleeping, guest room, bathroom, sauna, terrace.


Floor plan of a house with gallery, flat roof, air spaces, children’s rooms 1–3, shower/WC and stairs.


Floor plan of a house: Open living, dining, kitchen area, bedroom, dressing room, bathroom, WC.
C
ChristianZ6
28 May 2019 12:23
Yosan schrieb:

Will the shower bathroom also have a toilet, or just a sink and shower? And will the toilet room also have a sink?

The toilet room will definitely have a sink, yes.

Whether the shower bathroom will also have a toilet, I honestly don’t know. Maybe it would be better to add a bathtub instead.

Edit: Regardless of that, I’m not even sure anymore if a separate toilet is necessary. There is also a shower bathroom downstairs...
Y
Yosan
28 May 2019 12:36
Ok. Personally, I am not a big fan of bathrooms without a toilet, but that is definitely a matter of personal preference.
J
j.bautsch
28 May 2019 14:02
I would suggest adding a door between the bedroom and the walk-in closet to create a quiet sleeping area, for example as a sliding door:

Floor plan upper floor: three children's rooms upstairs, hallway, utility room, WC, shower bath, sleeping area, walk-in closet, bathroom.
Y
ypg
28 May 2019 14:03
ChristianZ6 schrieb:

Edit: setting aside the fact that I’m no longer sure if a separate toilet is really necessary. There’s also a shower bathroom downstairs...

That’s not what I meant. I was thinking of separating the toilet from the children’s bathroom... In my opinion, the kids can figure out the practical details of who uses the bathroom, when, and how. Being overly prudish can be excessive.

Anyway, there’s a lot of open space in the upper floor hallway... Also, you might want to reconsider the shower layout on the ground floor and definitely swap the toilet with the cloakroom so that the toilet can have a window.

However, I don’t see a clear, consistent plan in your considerations anymore. Have you visited any home exhibitions yet?
C
ChristianZ6
28 May 2019 14:58
ypg schrieb:

Prudishness can be taken too far.
ypg schrieb:

A lot of open space in the upstairs hallway...

Yes, and it’s dark. Maybe the wall to the utility room and kids’ bathroom could be made of glass blocks or similar to let in daylight (of course, not transparent).
ypg schrieb:

Reconsider the shower on the ground floor.

I find it quite practical. Either as an option (a third shower for five people), guests have their “own” shower, or if someone is elderly or ill, they can sleep and shower downstairs.
ypg schrieb:

Definitely swap the toilet with the cloakroom so the toilet can have a window.

Very good!
ypg schrieb:

But I don’t see any clear thread in your thoughts anymore.

Yes, that’s right. In the end, I’m currently just in the trial phase: drawing, reviewing, discarding, redrawing, collecting feedback, revising, etc. Honestly, I don’t find that so bad.
Y
Yosan
28 May 2019 15:02
Please, please no glass blocks... they are just so terrible