ᐅ Single-family home with approximately 1,290 sq ft on a plot of around 4,840 sq ft.

Hello,

I would like to hear your assessment of the plan.

Here is the copied list:

Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: approx. 450 m² (not yet surveyed)
Slope: no
Floor area ratio (FAR): 0.2
Plot ratio (PR): 0.4
Building envelope, building line and boundary: Building envelope as informally communicated by the building authority: 12 m (39 feet) (E-W) x 11 m (36 feet) (N-S)
Edge development: 2 m (6.5 feet) high hedge to the north and south. Meadow to the east, house planned to the west
Number of parking spaces: 1, preferably a second as an option
Number of floors: 1.5 (upper floor must be the attic and cannot be a full story)
Roof type: -, maximum roof pitch 45°
Architectural style: traditional single-family house
Orientation: as makes sense. Currently facing south
Maximum heights/limits: maximum eaves height 4.2 m (14 feet), ridge height 10.2 m (33.5 feet)
Other requirements: 3 m (10 feet) setback from boundaries. Access via approx. 30 m (98 feet) driveway, which is not completely straight -> forward driving onto the property preferred.

Homeowner Requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: Single-family house, rather gable roof or similar (e.g. hip roof)
Basement, floors: No basement, 1.5 floors
Number of occupants, age: For the future: 2 adults (in their 30s) and 2 children planned
Space requirements on ground and upper floor: not fixed
Office: Family use or home office? A home office would be desirable
Guests per year: not considered important. Arrangements with children possible for short visits.

Open or closed architecture: Not fixed. Rather closed.
Conservative or modern construction: Not fixed. Rather conservative.
Open kitchen, kitchen island: Open kitchen, kitchen island not fixed
Number of dining seats: Ideally 6-7
Fireplace: Not fixed
Music/sound wall: Not fixed
Balcony, roof terrace: Regular terrace; possibly approx. 8 x 3 m (26 x 10 feet)
Garage, carport: rather no
Utility garden, greenhouse: Later some edible plants / raised beds

Other wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons for preferences or exclusions

House Design
Planner: A pre-designed standard solid construction house from a builder company
(Since advertising / links are not allowed, I roughly sketched it; please forgive any errors)

What do you particularly like? Why?: Open kitchen -> pleasant. Study/office on ground floor -> practical and also some storage possible (e.g. drinks). Several south-facing windows -> nice and bright.

What do you dislike? Why?: Entrance directly by the stairs -> dirt? Parking space takes up a lot of room.

Price estimate according to architect/planner: approx. €200,000 (approx. 215,000 USD) without major extras (still waiting for a detailed breakdown)

Personal maximum price for house including fittings: I would prefer not to go much higher than this price (excluding additional costs, gardens)

Preferred heating technology: I’d like to hear your opinions. I find an air-to-water heat pump interesting. Underfloor heating or classic radiators, I am unsure. Central or decentralized ventilation is also not decided yet.

If you had to give up on certain features / additions
- you could give up: -
- you could not give up: garden area facing south

Why is the design as it is now? e.g.
Standard design from planner? It is a standard design that was liked.
Which wishes were implemented by the architect? -
What do you consider particularly good or bad about it? Bad is the relatively large east garden. There is concern that it will get dark there quickly in the afternoon. Possibly bad is also the long path to the front door.

What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?

What do you think about the house size relative to the plot? Is the house position and orientation well chosen? Is there enough space for turning cars? Is there a good option for both cars to leave the property first? Any tips for maximizing the south-facing garden (preferably with a narrower house)?

Thanks and best regards,
ChronoMax

The standard house design doesn’t fit as is because the entrance is too far away.
Could you please mark the building zone on the plot?

Hello ypg,
Here is the building envelope:

Cars generally have turning circles of about 11-13 meters (36-43 feet). Because of this, my great-great-grandparents had a turntable installed in the courtyard of their townhouse to be able to turn the carriages around.

Nice-Nofret schrieb:

Turntable to be able to turn the carriages around

I had already thought about such a turntable with a diameter of 4m (13 feet) myself 😉 (but electric)

ChronoMax schrieb:

Cost estimate according to architect/planner: about €200,000 without major extras (still waiting for a detailed breakdown)

Phew, that’s quite ambitious. Do you already have a general contractor? Is the plot already yours? Have you been to a bank yet?

ChronoMax schrieb:

Preferred heating technology: I’d like to hear your opinions. I find an air-to-water heat pump interesting. Underfloor heating or traditional radiators—I’m not sure yet. Central or decentralized ventilation system is also not decided.

Wow, those things can get expensive. What about gas?

ChronoMax schrieb:

There is concern that it gets dark quickly in the afternoons there.

It won’t get dark anywhere in the garden except after sunset. You need to differentiate between the terrace location and indoor lighting, which can also come from other directions. How is it? Are there fields to the east?

ChronoMax schrieb:

Do you have tips for creating the largest possible south-facing garden (preferably with other narrow houses)?

What about your general contractor? Based on the budget, it will probably be a standard house model with almost no changes, which is fine. Does the contractor offer other floor plans?

To be honest: you usually calculate €2,000 per square meter (sq m) of living space plus painter, flooring, exterior work, and additional construction-related costs.
What is missing from your general contractor’s list?