ᐅ Initial Floor Plan Draft: Open-Plan Kitchen and Living Area – Discussion and Feedback
Created on: 8 Jul 2015 09:35
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-Markus-
Hello,
I would like to hear your opinions on an initial draft (sketch) we received yesterday from one of our preferred construction companies.
Plot size: 835m² (8984 sq ft), gable roof with a 35-45° pitch, slightly sloped terrain.
The design features a gable roof with a 35° pitch. The southern side is elongated to allow for as much space as possible for solar panels. We did not want skylights.
We plan to live there as a family of four (currently two) and, due to our jobs, work more or less regularly from home – therefore 2 work rooms + 2 children’s rooms.
We specifically wanted a separate living room and to place the main living area more in the kitchen/dining space. There is a sliding door between the living room and the dining area. Between the hallway and the dining area, there is a (somewhat undefined) glass/door element.
I would appreciate some initial feedback – unfortunately, due to the “sketch nature,” I don’t have exact measurements.
Regards,
Markus
I would like to hear your opinions on an initial draft (sketch) we received yesterday from one of our preferred construction companies.
Plot size: 835m² (8984 sq ft), gable roof with a 35-45° pitch, slightly sloped terrain.
The design features a gable roof with a 35° pitch. The southern side is elongated to allow for as much space as possible for solar panels. We did not want skylights.
We plan to live there as a family of four (currently two) and, due to our jobs, work more or less regularly from home – therefore 2 work rooms + 2 children’s rooms.
We specifically wanted a separate living room and to place the main living area more in the kitchen/dining space. There is a sliding door between the living room and the dining area. Between the hallway and the dining area, there is a (somewhat undefined) glass/door element.
I would appreciate some initial feedback – unfortunately, due to the “sketch nature,” I don’t have exact measurements.
Regards,
Markus
I basically agree with marv45. I can’t imagine that some rooms, including the bathroom on the upper floor, will work well. The hallway and staircase situation on the ground floor is also quite problematic, as is the orientation of the entire house. According to the plan, north is at the top. The living room feels like a rather dark retreat. But that’s probably intentional. It’s just not my taste. The children’s rooms are neither well-oriented nor well-designed. I think it’s time for a complete reset! In my opinion, the negative aspects of the design outweigh the positives. I would suggest hiring an architect or reviewing some floor plans with a similar layout!
Best regards, Basti
Best regards, Basti
Regarding the orientation, we agreed that we do not need west or south-facing sides. Currently, the shutters are closed from morning until evening since we only get home in the afternoon and all the windows face west. The sun shines in very strongly there.
The distance to the toilet is debatable—I share the same view as Musketier (it is my home office, not my wife’s).
Regarding the upstairs hallway and the wasted space, I agree—this needs to be improved. For the upstairs bathroom, I also need the exact dimensions and heights to assess how it will function.
Thanks and best regards,
Markus
The distance to the toilet is debatable—I share the same view as Musketier (it is my home office, not my wife’s).
Regarding the upstairs hallway and the wasted space, I agree—this needs to be improved. For the upstairs bathroom, I also need the exact dimensions and heights to assess how it will function.
Thanks and best regards,
Markus
-Markus- schrieb:
Regarding the orientation, we said we don't need west or south-facing sides. But having the living room facing north and the terrace facing east isn't really ideal. Especially when you come home in the evening, you want to be able to sit on the terrace and enjoy the sunset.
We discussed the topic of terraces and, while we were still in the preliminary planning phase, agreed that sunbathing does not necessarily have to take place directly next to the house. We enjoy sitting outside in the shade and playing something – so far, we have always used a sun umbrella for that.
Regarding the placement, I already created a thread on this topic here.
Best regards,
Markus
Regarding the placement, I already created a thread on this topic here.
Best regards,
Markus
Aside from the orientation of the house (although I did follow the link to the plot, it takes me quite a while at the moment to compare the written description with the site plan):
I find the design dreadful. The projections and recesses on the facade don’t make sense to me. The angled exterior wall in the entrance area was, I believe, popular in the 1990s to visually soften a semi-detached house and create space for a WC.
Then there is this long, narrow corridor that unnecessarily winds through the entire house with a 90-degree turn, dividing the ground floor into two separate parts. A study is placed among all the ancillary rooms—should the lady of the house live there? This reduces its residential appeal (even though the room faces the garden), and it seems like two-thirds of the ground floor area consists of utility rooms. The corridor appears to have just been continually extended to provide access to every room. In my opinion, this has nothing to do with good design. It results in a small labyrinth.
When I enter the house, I wonder where I can quickly find a place to relax. Only the small living area seems unsuitable for this purpose—it feels cramped, and the only TV view isn’t ideal for short breaks or relaxation.
I understand that priority is given to dining and social interaction in the dining area (a nice large table for playing games and spending time together), but relaxation and lounging should not be overlooked. If it’s not a priority now, it might be later when the children want to have a DVD night with their parents.
You should try drawing in furniture with actual dimensions: the bathtub is wider than the double bed (which looks elongated but is only 120cm (47 inches) wide) and also wider than the sofa. A small side table or a spot for a floor lamp next to a sofa wouldn’t hurt either. If you visit a furniture store to buy a sofa, you’ll see that anything under 3 meters (10 feet) wide is rare, except in the English style department.
In general, it’s hard to tell without dimensions whether the staircase is long enough. Also, there is no space shown for a china cabinet, glass cabinet, or sideboard in the dining area.
Regarding the terrace orientation: preferences vary, and every location has its pros and cons. But some natural light from the south and west in winter (even if it can be annoying in summer) is pleasant and would naturally warm the living areas. Do you also keep the shutters/roller blinds closed in winter at your current home?
On the upper floor, you run into a wall, which hinders moving furniture. With the utility room under the sloping ceiling, if you place the dryer and washing machine on back-friendly pedestals, there is no space left on top for storage (at least not for the laundry basket), so the word back-friendly can be crossed out again.
I hope you have copied the plan by hand because, upon closer inspection, almost every exterior wall has small offsets, which I find very questionable if this is supposed to be the builder’s plan.
I would definitely recommend hiring an architect to handle the planning; they can also better address the site’s sun preferences on a beautiful plot.
Best regards,
Yvonne
I find the design dreadful. The projections and recesses on the facade don’t make sense to me. The angled exterior wall in the entrance area was, I believe, popular in the 1990s to visually soften a semi-detached house and create space for a WC.
Then there is this long, narrow corridor that unnecessarily winds through the entire house with a 90-degree turn, dividing the ground floor into two separate parts. A study is placed among all the ancillary rooms—should the lady of the house live there? This reduces its residential appeal (even though the room faces the garden), and it seems like two-thirds of the ground floor area consists of utility rooms. The corridor appears to have just been continually extended to provide access to every room. In my opinion, this has nothing to do with good design. It results in a small labyrinth.
When I enter the house, I wonder where I can quickly find a place to relax. Only the small living area seems unsuitable for this purpose—it feels cramped, and the only TV view isn’t ideal for short breaks or relaxation.
I understand that priority is given to dining and social interaction in the dining area (a nice large table for playing games and spending time together), but relaxation and lounging should not be overlooked. If it’s not a priority now, it might be later when the children want to have a DVD night with their parents.
You should try drawing in furniture with actual dimensions: the bathtub is wider than the double bed (which looks elongated but is only 120cm (47 inches) wide) and also wider than the sofa. A small side table or a spot for a floor lamp next to a sofa wouldn’t hurt either. If you visit a furniture store to buy a sofa, you’ll see that anything under 3 meters (10 feet) wide is rare, except in the English style department.
In general, it’s hard to tell without dimensions whether the staircase is long enough. Also, there is no space shown for a china cabinet, glass cabinet, or sideboard in the dining area.
Regarding the terrace orientation: preferences vary, and every location has its pros and cons. But some natural light from the south and west in winter (even if it can be annoying in summer) is pleasant and would naturally warm the living areas. Do you also keep the shutters/roller blinds closed in winter at your current home?
On the upper floor, you run into a wall, which hinders moving furniture. With the utility room under the sloping ceiling, if you place the dryer and washing machine on back-friendly pedestals, there is no space left on top for storage (at least not for the laundry basket), so the word back-friendly can be crossed out again.
I hope you have copied the plan by hand because, upon closer inspection, almost every exterior wall has small offsets, which I find very questionable if this is supposed to be the builder’s plan.
I would definitely recommend hiring an architect to handle the planning; they can also better address the site’s sun preferences on a beautiful plot.
Best regards,
Yvonne
Thank you, Yvonne.
I copied the plan by hand – the "original" was just a sketch without any dimensions. You confirm my assumptions (and provide interesting perspectives).
I will discuss everything with my wife and then ask for adjustments or a redesign.
Best regards,
Markus
PS: Tomorrow we will receive a second draft from another architect who had the same room program as a basis. We are curious.
I copied the plan by hand – the "original" was just a sketch without any dimensions. You confirm my assumptions (and provide interesting perspectives).
I will discuss everything with my wife and then ask for adjustments or a redesign.
Best regards,
Markus
PS: Tomorrow we will receive a second draft from another architect who had the same room program as a basis. We are curious.
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