Hello dear forum community,
after quietly reading along for a long time, we have now registered here and want to share our house plans with you.
First of all, we would like to say a big THANK YOU – the information you get here is truly invaluable.
Now a bit about us: we are both around 50, and our two grown children have moved out. Currently, we live in my parents’ house, but we want to realize our own dream of building a house. We are very fortunate to be able to afford the construction without any problems. The building plot belongs to us, and the local building authority has given us a verbal go-ahead so far (there is no zoning plan as it is currently farmland). We only have to contribute proportionally to the development costs, which is fine for us.
Our children and guests enjoy visiting, so we want to set up a guest apartment in the basement. For old age, our design allows us to convert the ground floor barrier-free at any time with minor modifications, including an elevator if needed. In case of emergency, the guest apartment could also be used for a carer, although hopefully this will never be necessary.
Zoning Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 2,100m² (0.52 acres)
Slope: Yes, see elevations
Floor area ratio: no zoning plan
Floor space index: no zoning plan
Building envelope, building line and boundary: no zoning plan, we keep at least 6.0m (20 feet) clearance all around
Edge development: No
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 1 story, basement
Roof style: hinted “shed roof”
Architectural style: ???
Orientation: North/South
Maximum height / limitations: No specifications
Further requirements: No valid zoning plan, planning permission granted for usual residential construction
Owner’s Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: one-story bungalow with basement (prepared for barrier-free access)
Basement, floors: basement yes, single-story with open roof structure
Number of people, age: 2, me 50, her 48, 1 dog
Space requirements ground floor / upper floor: see floor plan
Office: family use or home office? Occasional home office for me
Overnight guests per year: many
Open or closed architecture: rather open
Conservative or modern construction: special
Open kitchen, kitchen island: definitely yes
Number of dining seats: minimum 8
Fireplace: yes
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: integrated in the house
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Further wishes / special features / daily routine, also reasons why something should or should not be included
House Design
Who created the design?
- Planner from a construction company
- Architect
- Do-it-Yourself (DIY)
The planning was done by us ourselves.
What do you particularly like? Why?
Optimized for our personal wishes— we have incorporated all our requirements.
What do you dislike? Why?
Price estimate according to architect/planner:
Personal price limit for house including fittings: We estimate construction costs around €700,000–800,000 (about $750,000–860,000), but financing is secured and this is not the main focus here.
Preferred heating technology: not finalized yet, definitely photovoltaic and solar panels on the roof, air-to-water heat pump or geothermal energy.
If you had to give up something, on which details / additional features could you do without?
Good question, probably the pool if it meant we could get a hot tub instead...
What can you absolutely not do without?
The large open space and the guest apartment.
Why did the design turn out the way it is? For example:
Standard planter’s template? No, we simply planned according to our preferences, open roof structure, large open space because we like to entertain guests, wellness area is a must.
Which wishes were implemented by the architect?
A mix of many examples from various magazines...
What makes it particularly good or bad in your opinion?
What is the most important fundamental question regarding the floor plan, summarized in 130 characters?
after quietly reading along for a long time, we have now registered here and want to share our house plans with you.
First of all, we would like to say a big THANK YOU – the information you get here is truly invaluable.
Now a bit about us: we are both around 50, and our two grown children have moved out. Currently, we live in my parents’ house, but we want to realize our own dream of building a house. We are very fortunate to be able to afford the construction without any problems. The building plot belongs to us, and the local building authority has given us a verbal go-ahead so far (there is no zoning plan as it is currently farmland). We only have to contribute proportionally to the development costs, which is fine for us.
Our children and guests enjoy visiting, so we want to set up a guest apartment in the basement. For old age, our design allows us to convert the ground floor barrier-free at any time with minor modifications, including an elevator if needed. In case of emergency, the guest apartment could also be used for a carer, although hopefully this will never be necessary.
Zoning Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 2,100m² (0.52 acres)
Slope: Yes, see elevations
Floor area ratio: no zoning plan
Floor space index: no zoning plan
Building envelope, building line and boundary: no zoning plan, we keep at least 6.0m (20 feet) clearance all around
Edge development: No
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 1 story, basement
Roof style: hinted “shed roof”
Architectural style: ???
Orientation: North/South
Maximum height / limitations: No specifications
Further requirements: No valid zoning plan, planning permission granted for usual residential construction
Owner’s Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: one-story bungalow with basement (prepared for barrier-free access)
Basement, floors: basement yes, single-story with open roof structure
Number of people, age: 2, me 50, her 48, 1 dog
Space requirements ground floor / upper floor: see floor plan
Office: family use or home office? Occasional home office for me
Overnight guests per year: many
Open or closed architecture: rather open
Conservative or modern construction: special
Open kitchen, kitchen island: definitely yes
Number of dining seats: minimum 8
Fireplace: yes
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: integrated in the house
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Further wishes / special features / daily routine, also reasons why something should or should not be included
House Design
Who created the design?
- Planner from a construction company
- Architect
- Do-it-Yourself (DIY)
The planning was done by us ourselves.
What do you particularly like? Why?
Optimized for our personal wishes— we have incorporated all our requirements.
What do you dislike? Why?
Price estimate according to architect/planner:
Personal price limit for house including fittings: We estimate construction costs around €700,000–800,000 (about $750,000–860,000), but financing is secured and this is not the main focus here.
Preferred heating technology: not finalized yet, definitely photovoltaic and solar panels on the roof, air-to-water heat pump or geothermal energy.
If you had to give up something, on which details / additional features could you do without?
Good question, probably the pool if it meant we could get a hot tub instead...
What can you absolutely not do without?
The large open space and the guest apartment.
Why did the design turn out the way it is? For example:
Standard planter’s template? No, we simply planned according to our preferences, open roof structure, large open space because we like to entertain guests, wellness area is a must.
Which wishes were implemented by the architect?
A mix of many examples from various magazines...
What makes it particularly good or bad in your opinion?
What is the most important fundamental question regarding the floor plan, summarized in 130 characters?
H
hanghaus202327 Nov 2022 13:51Is north shown at the top of the site plan?
Then, in my opinion, the slope is towards NNW.
Is there a fixed reference point with the elevation above sea level on the property?
Then, in my opinion, the slope is towards NNW.
Is there a fixed reference point with the elevation above sea level on the property?
Since this topic just came up, we are both in excellent health and hope to stay that way.
We want to consider accessibility and similar aspects from the very beginning.
Nursing homes cost a lot of money—about 4,000 € (approximately $4,300) per month—and even mobile nursing services are expensive, something we unfortunately have experienced within our own family.
@ypg
The 250 m² (2,700 sq ft) refers to the total living area, divided between the basement and the ground floor. Currently, we are close to 340 m² (3,660 sq ft), which is much too large.
Our goal is to determine a sensible size that the planner can work with.
If we base it on the planned budget and assume 3,000 €/m² (approximately $280 per sq ft), we would be right on target, plus 50,000 € (about $54,000) for the exterior landscaping. Additional construction-related costs are not included.
@xMisterDx
Why is the house being sold then? There is still family who might want to live there. Also, a nursing home should always be the very last option when nothing else works.
@hanghaus2023
I don’t want to post photos here at the moment; as long as the basics aren’t settled, it’s better not to stir up any trouble.
However, I did include a map image in my initial post, which at least shows the building plot.
Regarding the view:
To the east, there is a view into the distance with no buildings, only farmland and green areas.
To the south, there is a view of farmland and green areas, with forest at the horizon and no buildings.
To the west and north, there is a view of neighboring buildings and over the village.
We want to consider accessibility and similar aspects from the very beginning.
Nursing homes cost a lot of money—about 4,000 € (approximately $4,300) per month—and even mobile nursing services are expensive, something we unfortunately have experienced within our own family.
@ypg
The 250 m² (2,700 sq ft) refers to the total living area, divided between the basement and the ground floor. Currently, we are close to 340 m² (3,660 sq ft), which is much too large.
Our goal is to determine a sensible size that the planner can work with.
If we base it on the planned budget and assume 3,000 €/m² (approximately $280 per sq ft), we would be right on target, plus 50,000 € (about $54,000) for the exterior landscaping. Additional construction-related costs are not included.
@xMisterDx
Why is the house being sold then? There is still family who might want to live there. Also, a nursing home should always be the very last option when nothing else works.
@hanghaus2023
I don’t want to post photos here at the moment; as long as the basics aren’t settled, it’s better not to stir up any trouble.
However, I did include a map image in my initial post, which at least shows the building plot.
Regarding the view:
To the east, there is a view into the distance with no buildings, only farmland and green areas.
To the south, there is a view of farmland and green areas, with forest at the horizon and no buildings.
To the west and north, there is a view of neighboring buildings and over the village.
C
Costruttrice27 Nov 2022 13:59xMisterDx schrieb:
Including all ongoing costs for the house?
If both have to move into a care home, the house will be sold. With 800,000 EUR (about 850,000 USD), you can pay for the care home for a long time...I know several families where the Polish caregiver moved into the granny flat. Those families probably wouldn’t do that if it wasn’t worth it.
Of course, you can’t generalize. It definitely depends on the level of care needed and also on what the house can still be sold for. And with light care needs, or if only one person requires help, not everyone may want to go into a care home right away.
xMisterDx schrieb:
Including all ongoing costs for the house?
If both have to move into a care home, the house will be sold. With 800,000 EUR (about $860,000), you can pay for care home fees for a long time...
Instead, 200,000 EUR (about $215,000) are now being "invested" in a granny flat that will remain empty for the next 25 years. I find that unreasonable. For the price of two care home places, you get to maintain the house plus pay for a caregiver.
800,000 EUR (about $860,000) in the bank for that, and in return just a small room, common areas, and a meal plan. Not everyone who needs care just lies in bed waiting for the end.
H
hanghaus202327 Nov 2022 14:15Here is my suggestion. The ground floor then at +4.0 m (13 feet 1 inch)
@hanghaus2023
Thank you for your suggestion. We had already planned the house rotation.
#47
"What we have also changed is the orientation on the plot. The house is now positioned parallel to the future street, meaning it is rotated 13° from the north/south alignment."
Attached is a visual representation of the terrain profile.
Thank you for your suggestion. We had already planned the house rotation.
#47
"What we have also changed is the orientation on the plot. The house is now positioned parallel to the future street, meaning it is rotated 13° from the north/south alignment."
Attached is a visual representation of the terrain profile.
Similar topics