ᐅ Feedback on Floor Plan for a Hillside House

Created on: 16 Aug 2017 09:49
C
Crossy
C
Crossy
16 Aug 2017 09:49
Hello everyone,

We are now in contact with several home builders and have a first floor plan that we like overall, with only a few minor details to adjust. Some changes have already been discussed with the designer. Unfortunately, I don’t have updated plans yet, so I have marked the changes in red on the current plans. I’m looking forward to your opinions and input on the floor plan.

Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 1,300 sqm (0.32 acres)
Slope: yes, 6 m (20 ft) incline — rising from street level
Site coverage ratio: unknown
Floor area ratio: unknown
Building envelope, building line, and boundaries: only Section 34 applicable
Edge development
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: basement + upper floor
Roof style: not yet decided (no hipped roof; rather modern like staggered shed roof, flat roof, or simple gable roof)
Style: rather modern
Orientation: see site plan, plot 488/5

Homeowners’ Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: not finalized, we are deciding between flat roof or staggered shed roof with an open double-height living room
Basement, floors: basement due to sloped site, south and east sides are at ground level, west and north sides partially below ground + one upper floor
Number of occupants, ages: she 32, he 33, plus two children aged 0 and 2, with one more child planned
Space requirements on the ground floor: this is basically the basement level for us, including entrance area, hallway, 3 children’s rooms each 15–17 sqm (160–183 sq ft), bathroom, plus space for technical and utility rooms, if possible a small cloakroom

Space requirements on the upper floor: living/dining/kitchen in L-shape, small pantry, guest toilet, master bedroom with bath, small office
Office use: family use
Overnight guests per year: 1–2
Open or closed layout: rather open
Conservative or modern construction: rather modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: yes, possibly with a large sliding door for separation
Number of dining seats: 6
Fireplace: yes
Garage or carport: yes, double garage

Additional wishes/particulars/daily routine, including reasons why some options are preferred or rejected:
Due to the plot conditions, building with a basement is necessary, and we want to use this space as much as possible as living area. We like having the entrance in the basement, as this eliminates the need for a large exterior staircase.

The following changes have already been discussed with the designer (marked in red):
- The partition wall between kitchen and dining area will be removed,
- Pantry and guest toilet will be extended,
- Fireplace position adjusted,
- Flat roof of the garage will be used as a second terrace,
- 3 m (10 ft) sliding element will connect the kitchen to the second terrace on the garage roof,
- Sliding element behind the sofa will be removed and replaced with a normal full-height window,
- Guest toilet will get a window

House Design
Designer: planner from a construction company
What do you particularly like? Why?: room orientation
What do you dislike? Why?: pantry and master bathroom are too small, partition wall between kitchen and dining room will be removed, garage will be larger with direct access to the technical room in the basement
Cost estimate according to the architect/planner: 350,000 EUR + 80,000 EUR ancillary costs (some work will be done by ourselves, such as laying floors, tiling including bathroom, building the garage walls ourselves, painting, possibly also installing doors and windows)
Personal budget limit for the house including fixtures: 480,000 EUR including kitchen
Preferred heating system: underfloor heating with geothermal borehole

If you had to give up something, which details or additional features
- Can give up: garage, cloakroom, maybe guest toilet
- Cannot give up: children’s rooms not smaller than 15 sqm (better 17 sqm), generous living/dining area

Why does the design look the way it does? For example, which requirements from the architect were implemented?
The room program was specified by us; as much floor space as possible in the basement should be finished to make best use of it.

Cadastral site plan with plots, buildings, and boundary lines


Floor plan of a house with garage on the left, hallway, bathroom, and three children’s rooms.


Floor plan of a house with open kitchen/dining/living area, hallway, master and office rooms, WC/shower.
M
MIA_SAN_MIA__
16 Aug 2017 09:54
The first thing I notice is that your guest bathroom doesn’t have a window...
C
Crossy
16 Aug 2017 09:56
That's correct, we have already discussed this as well.
lastdrop16 Aug 2017 09:58
And the the bathroom/toilet (water/sewage in the basement and the upper floor) are generally NOT aligned vertically. Sometimes I wonder how the pipes are supposed to be routed...
Y
ypg
16 Aug 2017 12:36
First of all, congratulations on the basic idea of defining a basement level as a living floor rather than a cellar. Unfortunately, not many people come up with this very simple idea.

Quickly: I would probably swap the kitchen with the living room.
C
Crossy
16 Aug 2017 14:31
We had also briefly considered swapping the kitchen and living room, but that would remove the direct access from the kitchen to the pantry/storage room.

Additionally, the living room would then face the street. We’re not sure if that would be ideal. The street is quiet since it’s a dead-end, but especially in the evening when the lights are on inside, people could probably see well into the living room. Also, having no window at the front would be a pity, as the south/east orientation should provide nice light until late afternoon.

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