ᐅ Single-family house design with approximately 168 m² – feedback requested
Created on: 22 Aug 2020 20:40
H
HappyEnd
Hello everyone,
For several months now, we have proudly owned a plot with an existing building and plan to start construction next year.
After several rounds with architects and general contractors (GCs), two are still in the running, and we want to decide by next month at the latest who we will build with.
The design mostly incorporates my sketches, and the more serious it gets, the more uncertain I feel about how coherent the planning is.
I have been following the forum for some time and look forward to your honest feedback, hoping not to be torn apart too harshly in the "lion’s den."
P.S. The site plan is not 100% accurate since we slightly enlarged the ground floor in the last round.
Development plan / restrictions
Plot size: 777m² (8,361 sq ft)
Slope: no
Floor area ratio (FAR): 0.8
Site coverage ratio: 0.4
Building setback lines / building line and boundary: 3m (10 ft) towards (play) street, BayBO
Edge development
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 2
Roof type: hipped roof
Architectural style: modern
Orientation: garden faces southwest
Maximum heights / limits
Additional requirements: play street
Client requirements
Architectural style, roof type, building type: modern, urban villa
Basement, number of floors: yes
Number of residents, age: 4, 37+36+1+expecting
Space requirements on ground floor and upper floor
Office: family use or home office? Home office
Overnight guests per year: 10
Open or closed layout: open
Conservative or modern design: modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: kitchen island + open
Number of dining seats: 6
Fireplace: no
Music / stereo wall: yes
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: double masonry garage
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Additional wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons for choices or exclusions
House design
Origin of the design:
- Draftsperson from a general contractor, based on do-it-yourself plans
What do you particularly like? Why?
What do you dislike? Why?
I see potential for improvement in the upper floor bathroom and the northeast house facade.
Estimated price according to architect/planner: €550,000 (without additional construction costs and furnishings)
Personal budget limit for the house, including fittings
Preferred heating system: air-to-water heat pump + photovoltaic system
If you have to give up certain details or extensions
- Can give up: direct access from garage to house, seating window behind dining table
- Cannot give up:
Why did the design turn out the way it is? For example,
Which wishes were implemented by the architect?
KfW55 standard, open kitchen/living area with glass front facing the garden, office on the ground floor, walk-in closet in master bedroom, approximately two equally sized children’s rooms facing the garden, possible guest space (later possibly children’s rooms) planned in the basement
What is the most important / fundamental question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
See above.
For several months now, we have proudly owned a plot with an existing building and plan to start construction next year.
After several rounds with architects and general contractors (GCs), two are still in the running, and we want to decide by next month at the latest who we will build with.
The design mostly incorporates my sketches, and the more serious it gets, the more uncertain I feel about how coherent the planning is.
I have been following the forum for some time and look forward to your honest feedback, hoping not to be torn apart too harshly in the "lion’s den."
P.S. The site plan is not 100% accurate since we slightly enlarged the ground floor in the last round.
Development plan / restrictions
Plot size: 777m² (8,361 sq ft)
Slope: no
Floor area ratio (FAR): 0.8
Site coverage ratio: 0.4
Building setback lines / building line and boundary: 3m (10 ft) towards (play) street, BayBO
Edge development
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 2
Roof type: hipped roof
Architectural style: modern
Orientation: garden faces southwest
Maximum heights / limits
Additional requirements: play street
Client requirements
Architectural style, roof type, building type: modern, urban villa
Basement, number of floors: yes
Number of residents, age: 4, 37+36+1+expecting
Space requirements on ground floor and upper floor
Office: family use or home office? Home office
Overnight guests per year: 10
Open or closed layout: open
Conservative or modern design: modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: kitchen island + open
Number of dining seats: 6
Fireplace: no
Music / stereo wall: yes
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: double masonry garage
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Additional wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons for choices or exclusions
House design
Origin of the design:
- Draftsperson from a general contractor, based on do-it-yourself plans
What do you particularly like? Why?
What do you dislike? Why?
I see potential for improvement in the upper floor bathroom and the northeast house facade.
Estimated price according to architect/planner: €550,000 (without additional construction costs and furnishings)
Personal budget limit for the house, including fittings
Preferred heating system: air-to-water heat pump + photovoltaic system
If you have to give up certain details or extensions
- Can give up: direct access from garage to house, seating window behind dining table
- Cannot give up:
Why did the design turn out the way it is? For example,
Which wishes were implemented by the architect?
KfW55 standard, open kitchen/living area with glass front facing the garden, office on the ground floor, walk-in closet in master bedroom, approximately two equally sized children’s rooms facing the garden, possible guest space (later possibly children’s rooms) planned in the basement
What is the most important / fundamental question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
See above.
It has been a while since my last post, and I would like to share the latest update with you.
We will not be subdividing or selling our relatively large plot of about 1400sqm (15,070 sq ft) for the time being. We plan to keep it as it is for at least 10 years (selling earlier would incur taxes), to decide what should ultimately happen with the land.
We have enlarged the house to 10 by 12 meters (185sqm / 1,991 sq ft on the ground and upper floors), added a covered passage between the garage and the house since we no longer liked the direct access option. Our property is located on a residential traffic-calmed street, but it is still fairly busy, and there is no curb on our side. The house will be built right on the building line, 3 meters (10 feet) from the street. This way, the driveway and entrance offer more space for the kids and provide direct access to the garden.
After much deliberation about swapping the kitchen and living room, we have decided to stick with the original layout and keep the office on the ground floor. We will install a sliding door facing southeast in the kitchen, and there will be a small terrace for barbecues, herbs, and a seating area for morning coffee.
In the basement, we have also added a light well to the room and bathroom facing southeast. A recent soil survey from a neighbor revealed that rock appears fairly close to the surface (around 2 meters / 6.5 feet deep). I am currently uncertain how this will affect the light wells and drainage in detail.
We have not made major changes to the upper floor. We have increased the clearance between the bedroom’s TV wall and the bed. The hallway upstairs will include a built-in closet. A utility shaft running from the roof to the technical room will be located at the height of the walk-in closet/office.
What do you think of the latest design? Criticism, tips, and advice are very welcome. I still see potential for optimization, particularly regarding the window design and the large bathroom upstairs.
Apologies, but the general contractor was stingy with measurements and quality in these plans. A request for a newly scaled version is in progress.
We will not be subdividing or selling our relatively large plot of about 1400sqm (15,070 sq ft) for the time being. We plan to keep it as it is for at least 10 years (selling earlier would incur taxes), to decide what should ultimately happen with the land.
We have enlarged the house to 10 by 12 meters (185sqm / 1,991 sq ft on the ground and upper floors), added a covered passage between the garage and the house since we no longer liked the direct access option. Our property is located on a residential traffic-calmed street, but it is still fairly busy, and there is no curb on our side. The house will be built right on the building line, 3 meters (10 feet) from the street. This way, the driveway and entrance offer more space for the kids and provide direct access to the garden.
After much deliberation about swapping the kitchen and living room, we have decided to stick with the original layout and keep the office on the ground floor. We will install a sliding door facing southeast in the kitchen, and there will be a small terrace for barbecues, herbs, and a seating area for morning coffee.
In the basement, we have also added a light well to the room and bathroom facing southeast. A recent soil survey from a neighbor revealed that rock appears fairly close to the surface (around 2 meters / 6.5 feet deep). I am currently uncertain how this will affect the light wells and drainage in detail.
We have not made major changes to the upper floor. We have increased the clearance between the bedroom’s TV wall and the bed. The hallway upstairs will include a built-in closet. A utility shaft running from the roof to the technical room will be located at the height of the walk-in closet/office.
What do you think of the latest design? Criticism, tips, and advice are very welcome. I still see potential for optimization, particularly regarding the window design and the large bathroom upstairs.
Apologies, but the general contractor was stingy with measurements and quality in these plans. A request for a newly scaled version is in progress.
Overall, a quite nice design. A few things caught my attention immediately.
- Northeast facade – add a third window strip in the kitchen on the ground floor, this will also increase natural light.
- Living room window southwest – it is huge, regardless of personal taste, it will have a greenhouse effect, so you will need some kind of shading, possibly in the form of a patio roof.
- Dressing room window – keep the same sill height as the windows to the left and right.
- Northeast facade – add a third window strip in the kitchen on the ground floor, this will also increase natural light.
- Living room window southwest – it is huge, regardless of personal taste, it will have a greenhouse effect, so you will need some kind of shading, possibly in the form of a patio roof.
- Dressing room window – keep the same sill height as the windows to the left and right.
I see that hardly any of the criticism has been acknowledged or implemented.
In the living room, the “new” sofa clearly shows how “cozy” the seating area in that corner will be. You sit there directly opposite the corner, facing the door – which is not pleasant. And considering that a sofa is not supposed to be squeezed into a corner...
The exterior hallway will become a wind trap and wind tunnel.
Light well in the living area?
In the living room, the “new” sofa clearly shows how “cozy” the seating area in that corner will be. You sit there directly opposite the corner, facing the door – which is not pleasant. And considering that a sofa is not supposed to be squeezed into a corner...
The exterior hallway will become a wind trap and wind tunnel.
Light well in the living area?
The design is still very undeveloped.
We built a 10x12m (33x39 feet) ground floor with the same rooms (our pantry could be your wardrobe). Take a look at the design and you’ll see there’s more potential. Your living room is practically nonexistent, and the dining room is way too large.
I’m also not really happy with the upper floor. Your bedroom with the walk-in closet is tiny, and the bathroom is ridiculously large.
We built a 10x12m (33x39 feet) ground floor with the same rooms (our pantry could be your wardrobe). Take a look at the design and you’ll see there’s more potential. Your living room is practically nonexistent, and the dining room is way too large.
I’m also not really happy with the upper floor. Your bedroom with the walk-in closet is tiny, and the bathroom is ridiculously large.
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