ᐅ First Draft Floor Plan Single-Family Home (approx. 200 sqm) – Request for Feedback
Created on: 24 Feb 2017 22:45
S
SupaCriz
Hello,
we are about to sign the contract for the purchase of a hillside plot in a Franconian university town (existing building will be demolished) and have now created a first draft of the floor plans. We would appreciate your feedback! Many thanks in advance.
Please excuse the poor quality of the drawings and the almost complete lack of area specifications – we would like to receive initial feedback before our next meeting with the planners. Afterwards, we will upload higher-quality floor plans. For orientation: The draft is based on a footprint of 10x10m (33x33 feet).
Development plan/restrictions: Development plan
Plot size: 500 sqm (5400 sq ft)
Slope: yes, approx. 6 m (20 feet) drop over 28 m (92 feet) plot length (south-facing slope)
Site coverage ratio (Grundflächenzahl): 0.2
Floor area ratio (Geschossflächenzahl): 0.2 (according to the city, some upward deviation is possible here)
Building envelope, building line, and boundary: standard setback distances
Edge development: Garage will be built on the boundary. This is permitted.
Number of parking spaces: 2, likely a double garage
Number of floors: I + basement (that means 1 full storey + basement floor → cellar built into the slope)
Roof type: no specification
Style: no specification
Orientation: Roof ridge must run east-west
Maximum heights/limits: Eaves max. 3 m (10 feet) above street level
Other requirements
Homeowners’ requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: Gable roof with 48° pitch
Basement, floors: Basement – to be used as high-quality living space on the south slope with direct access to the terrace
Number of persons, ages: Parents just over 30, children aged 0 and 2 years
Space requirements on ground and upper floor: Ground floor: main living area and kitchen; upper floor: 3 bedrooms + bathroom
Office, family use or home office?: Possibly an office as a studio under the roof (not a decisive criterion)
Overnight guests per year: extended visits expected
Open or closed design: open
Conservative or modern construction: classic form but large windows with high ceiling height; possibly corner glazing towards southwest in the living room
Open kitchen, kitchen island: closed kitchen with dining table
Number of dining seats: 6
Fireplace: likely yes, but external fireplace
Music/sound wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: double garage
Vegetable garden, greenhouse: no
Further wishes/special features/daily routine, also reasons why certain choices were made or rejected:
Ground-level terrace access from the basement (not yet drawn)
Photovoltaics
House design
Planner: Planner from a construction company (civil engineer) with many changes from our side
What do you like most? Why? Large basement room with terrace access. Comfortable overnight option for guests.
What do you dislike? Why? Limited space upstairs. Small main bathroom. The limited space is unfortunately due to the definition of full storey according to the Bavarian building code of 1969.
Price estimate according to architect/planner: €300,000 plus additional costs
Personal price limit for house including fittings: 380,000
Preferred heating system: geothermal heat pump
If you had to make compromises, which details/features
- could you live without: photovoltaics
- could you not live without: basement with living space quality
Why is the design like it is now? For example:
The planner’s initial draft was heavily customized by us. We are still in a very early phase and therefore open to suggestions and ideas.
Creativity may still be somewhat lacking at the moment.
we are about to sign the contract for the purchase of a hillside plot in a Franconian university town (existing building will be demolished) and have now created a first draft of the floor plans. We would appreciate your feedback! Many thanks in advance.
Please excuse the poor quality of the drawings and the almost complete lack of area specifications – we would like to receive initial feedback before our next meeting with the planners. Afterwards, we will upload higher-quality floor plans. For orientation: The draft is based on a footprint of 10x10m (33x33 feet).
Development plan/restrictions: Development plan
Plot size: 500 sqm (5400 sq ft)
Slope: yes, approx. 6 m (20 feet) drop over 28 m (92 feet) plot length (south-facing slope)
Site coverage ratio (Grundflächenzahl): 0.2
Floor area ratio (Geschossflächenzahl): 0.2 (according to the city, some upward deviation is possible here)
Building envelope, building line, and boundary: standard setback distances
Edge development: Garage will be built on the boundary. This is permitted.
Number of parking spaces: 2, likely a double garage
Number of floors: I + basement (that means 1 full storey + basement floor → cellar built into the slope)
Roof type: no specification
Style: no specification
Orientation: Roof ridge must run east-west
Maximum heights/limits: Eaves max. 3 m (10 feet) above street level
Other requirements
Homeowners’ requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: Gable roof with 48° pitch
Basement, floors: Basement – to be used as high-quality living space on the south slope with direct access to the terrace
Number of persons, ages: Parents just over 30, children aged 0 and 2 years
Space requirements on ground and upper floor: Ground floor: main living area and kitchen; upper floor: 3 bedrooms + bathroom
Office, family use or home office?: Possibly an office as a studio under the roof (not a decisive criterion)
Overnight guests per year: extended visits expected
Open or closed design: open
Conservative or modern construction: classic form but large windows with high ceiling height; possibly corner glazing towards southwest in the living room
Open kitchen, kitchen island: closed kitchen with dining table
Number of dining seats: 6
Fireplace: likely yes, but external fireplace
Music/sound wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: double garage
Vegetable garden, greenhouse: no
Further wishes/special features/daily routine, also reasons why certain choices were made or rejected:
Ground-level terrace access from the basement (not yet drawn)
Photovoltaics
House design
Planner: Planner from a construction company (civil engineer) with many changes from our side
What do you like most? Why? Large basement room with terrace access. Comfortable overnight option for guests.
What do you dislike? Why? Limited space upstairs. Small main bathroom. The limited space is unfortunately due to the definition of full storey according to the Bavarian building code of 1969.
Price estimate according to architect/planner: €300,000 plus additional costs
Personal price limit for house including fittings: 380,000
Preferred heating system: geothermal heat pump
If you had to make compromises, which details/features
- could you live without: photovoltaics
- could you not live without: basement with living space quality
Why is the design like it is now? For example:
The planner’s initial draft was heavily customized by us. We are still in a very early phase and therefore open to suggestions and ideas.
Creativity may still be somewhat lacking at the moment.
First of all: I don’t really like the ground floor layout either.
But at least I can’t leave the criticism about the size of the wardrobe unchallenged! Everywhere else, the complaint is that the wardrobe space is too small. Here someone has actually planned extra space, and yet it is simply called too large.
I would prefer a different layout; however, generally considering the square meter area as too large is not really constructive.
But at least I can’t leave the criticism about the size of the wardrobe unchallenged! Everywhere else, the complaint is that the wardrobe space is too small. Here someone has actually planned extra space, and yet it is simply called too large.
I would prefer a different layout; however, generally considering the square meter area as too large is not really constructive.
For example: I would move the wall between the toilet and living area to the right. This makes the hallway and entrance feel cramped.
There is a dirty area in front of the stairs. You always have to pass it barefoot or in socks when entering.
The pantry is almost as large as the kitchen. The living and dining rooms are small.
The second living room is much more spacious than the main living room.
For me, living and dining areas without a balcony or terrace are still a no-go. It feels like a rental apartment without a balcony.
Upper floor: wardrobe in the master bedroom.
There is a dirty area in front of the stairs. You always have to pass it barefoot or in socks when entering.
The pantry is almost as large as the kitchen. The living and dining rooms are small.
The second living room is much more spacious than the main living room.
For me, living and dining areas without a balcony or terrace are still a no-go. It feels like a rental apartment without a balcony.
Upper floor: wardrobe in the master bedroom.
@SupaCriz
How about addressing the ideas and questions raised in posts ##4, 7, 8, and 11? Otherwise, this conversation will likely end up going nowhere.
Basically, a layperson—especially one with little to no experience—cannot effectively plan a usable design for a sloped site. The only advice I can give you is to consult an architect early on who specializes in hillside construction and can provide proper guidance.
And a tip: when dealing with slopes, you sometimes need to think outside the box. A standard floor plan, drawn as a simple sketch, is not suitable for discussion here. A standard design will not work on a slope, especially not one as steep as this.
Best regards, Yvonne
How about addressing the ideas and questions raised in posts ##4, 7, 8, and 11? Otherwise, this conversation will likely end up going nowhere.
Basically, a layperson—especially one with little to no experience—cannot effectively plan a usable design for a sloped site. The only advice I can give you is to consult an architect early on who specializes in hillside construction and can provide proper guidance.
And a tip: when dealing with slopes, you sometimes need to think outside the box. A standard floor plan, drawn as a simple sketch, is not suitable for discussion here. A standard design will not work on a slope, especially not one as steep as this.
Best regards, Yvonne
Regarding your sketch: it seems more like a random layout than a practical one.
Who needs a pantry almost as large as the bathroom and cloakroom combined?
Who wants ownership of a floor without direct access to the outside?
Why have a bedroom where no family wardrobe can fit?
The hallway on the upper floor is so narrow that people can’t even pass without touching each other. How are family members supposed to move around their rooms in the morning?
The hallway on the ground floor zigzags.
The basement bedroom has no window because the garage is located there somewhere. The storage room is a trapped space behind the bedroom.
And all of this is confused because you’ve overvalued the guest room in the basement and made it the focal point of the design.
To be frank, this sketch is, sorry for my words, so poor that other comments almost make it look better by comparison—you really can’t sugarcoat it.
Regards, Yvonne
You’ll find my well-intended advice in #22
Who needs a pantry almost as large as the bathroom and cloakroom combined?
Who wants ownership of a floor without direct access to the outside?
Why have a bedroom where no family wardrobe can fit?
The hallway on the upper floor is so narrow that people can’t even pass without touching each other. How are family members supposed to move around their rooms in the morning?
The hallway on the ground floor zigzags.
The basement bedroom has no window because the garage is located there somewhere. The storage room is a trapped space behind the bedroom.
And all of this is confused because you’ve overvalued the guest room in the basement and made it the focal point of the design.
To be frank, this sketch is, sorry for my words, so poor that other comments almost make it look better by comparison—you really can’t sugarcoat it.
Regards, Yvonne
You’ll find my well-intended advice in #22
A large wardrobe or similar is good—but it needs to be designed in a way that makes it truly usable. You should realistically furnish all your rooms to quickly understand why you’re encountering so much resistance.
If the garage is planned well, the space underneath can partly be used for storage—for garden tools, winter storage of garden furniture, etc.—and partly as a covered and sheltered seating area.
The door to the pantry should be accessible from the kitchen so that both walls can be fully furnished. This way, the pantry can also serve as a utility room for laundry and as an extended kitchen space, which makes much more sense than placing it as far away as possible from the laundry cabinets. Then, washed laundry only needs to be carried up one floor, or each child can collect and put away their own clothes. Ideally, the laundry room should be located either on the sleeping floor (short distances to the closets) or next to the kitchen (convenient for daily routines); having it in the basement is a poor last resort because it’s out of the way.
If the garage is planned well, the space underneath can partly be used for storage—for garden tools, winter storage of garden furniture, etc.—and partly as a covered and sheltered seating area.
The door to the pantry should be accessible from the kitchen so that both walls can be fully furnished. This way, the pantry can also serve as a utility room for laundry and as an extended kitchen space, which makes much more sense than placing it as far away as possible from the laundry cabinets. Then, washed laundry only needs to be carried up one floor, or each child can collect and put away their own clothes. Ideally, the laundry room should be located either on the sleeping floor (short distances to the closets) or next to the kitchen (convenient for daily routines); having it in the basement is a poor last resort because it’s out of the way.
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