Hello everyone,
For several months now, we (38, 34, 12, 7) have been considering building our own home and have gone through quite a bit of literature as well as gathered ideas from various forums, which we have adapted to our needs.
We already own a specific plot of land and have created a possible room layout based on a "catalog house" from a general contractor (GC), of which only the exterior walls remained in the last project. The first three drafts were completely scrapped because we encountered insurmountable issues each time. Now we are at draft number 4 (alongside minor modifications and additions), in which we can identify ourselves (at least in theory) and which incorporates most of our wishes.
So far, discussions with the GC have rarely gone beyond "we will build according to your wishes," so I would appreciate expert input from you and am thankful for any suggestions for improvement.
Zoning Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 2014m² (0.5 acres)
Slope: Approximately 1.25m (4 feet) over 40m (131 feet) from south to north
Floor area ratio (FAR): 0.4
No specified floor space index
Building envelope, building line, and boundary: statutory setback distances
Number of parking spaces: 2 garages + 1 outdoor space
Number of floors: 2 full floors
No other restrictions
Homeowners’ Requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: 2 full floors without sloped ceilings, hipped roof, no dull "urban villa concrete box"
Basement: yes
Number of occupants, ages: 2 adults, 2 children (12, 7)
Office: private study
Guest stays per year: approx. 5 (no separate guest room as there are 2 children’s rooms)
Conservative or modern building style: modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: semi-open kitchen without doors
Number of dining seats: 6–8
Fireplace: yes
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage or carport: garage if budget allows
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Wishes: separate walk-in closet for parents, second exit, generous front door, landing staircase (not feasible before due to space), workshop room
House Design
Source of design: external floor plan from catalog house, interior planning and window placement independently based on our wishes
What we like most: nearly all room wishes integrated, almost identical children’s rooms, spacious living area, orientation of rooms to the sky, dynamic façade, detached "stairwell" with lots of natural light
What we don’t like: staircase area just fits the plan dimensions, landing staircase with straight steps not possible, uncertainty about kitchen furnishings, tight bathroom furnishings
Personal price limit for the house, including fittings: 400,000
Preferred heating technology: no preference
If you have to give up something, which details/extensions?
- Can give up: clinker bricks, garage, “luxury” (KNX, sanitary fixtures, etc.)
- Cannot give up: basement
Why has the design evolved this way?
Repeatedly started over until most wishes could be incorporated
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
Is the plan practically livable? What might hinder room usage?
Best regards,
Daniel
For several months now, we (38, 34, 12, 7) have been considering building our own home and have gone through quite a bit of literature as well as gathered ideas from various forums, which we have adapted to our needs.
We already own a specific plot of land and have created a possible room layout based on a "catalog house" from a general contractor (GC), of which only the exterior walls remained in the last project. The first three drafts were completely scrapped because we encountered insurmountable issues each time. Now we are at draft number 4 (alongside minor modifications and additions), in which we can identify ourselves (at least in theory) and which incorporates most of our wishes.
So far, discussions with the GC have rarely gone beyond "we will build according to your wishes," so I would appreciate expert input from you and am thankful for any suggestions for improvement.
Zoning Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 2014m² (0.5 acres)
Slope: Approximately 1.25m (4 feet) over 40m (131 feet) from south to north
Floor area ratio (FAR): 0.4
No specified floor space index
Building envelope, building line, and boundary: statutory setback distances
Number of parking spaces: 2 garages + 1 outdoor space
Number of floors: 2 full floors
No other restrictions
Homeowners’ Requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: 2 full floors without sloped ceilings, hipped roof, no dull "urban villa concrete box"
Basement: yes
Number of occupants, ages: 2 adults, 2 children (12, 7)
Office: private study
Guest stays per year: approx. 5 (no separate guest room as there are 2 children’s rooms)
Conservative or modern building style: modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: semi-open kitchen without doors
Number of dining seats: 6–8
Fireplace: yes
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage or carport: garage if budget allows
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Wishes: separate walk-in closet for parents, second exit, generous front door, landing staircase (not feasible before due to space), workshop room
House Design
Source of design: external floor plan from catalog house, interior planning and window placement independently based on our wishes
What we like most: nearly all room wishes integrated, almost identical children’s rooms, spacious living area, orientation of rooms to the sky, dynamic façade, detached "stairwell" with lots of natural light
What we don’t like: staircase area just fits the plan dimensions, landing staircase with straight steps not possible, uncertainty about kitchen furnishings, tight bathroom furnishings
Personal price limit for the house, including fittings: 400,000
Preferred heating technology: no preference
If you have to give up something, which details/extensions?
- Can give up: clinker bricks, garage, “luxury” (KNX, sanitary fixtures, etc.)
- Cannot give up: basement
Why has the design evolved this way?
Repeatedly started over until most wishes could be incorporated
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
Is the plan practically livable? What might hinder room usage?
Best regards,
Daniel
Nice.
Some areas are a bit dark, especially the hallway. The exterior design takes its toll here—but not in a way that it isn’t worth it.
The stove would be too much in the way for me in the living room. I would place it against a wall. Space-wise, that should be possible, or are you planning something huge there?
The upper floor isn’t really my taste. A huge bed in about 12m² (130 sq ft) — do you have an oversized mattress? The bedroom as a walk-through room and right next to the child's room is not ideal. Having the children’s bedrooms on the north side is unfortunate but might be due to the street or something similar, which I don’t know.
Overall, it’s quite coherent—you could definitely build it like this. But even though a basement is planned, the feeling of spaciousness doesn’t really come through. Many small rooms and narrow hallways—you have to like that.
If it were mine, I would redesign the upper floor and at least remove the pantry, opening up the kitchen for more openness. Normally, swapping some rooms would be enough, but that would spoil the beautiful exterior—of which you are clearly slaves right now.
Some areas are a bit dark, especially the hallway. The exterior design takes its toll here—but not in a way that it isn’t worth it.
The stove would be too much in the way for me in the living room. I would place it against a wall. Space-wise, that should be possible, or are you planning something huge there?
The upper floor isn’t really my taste. A huge bed in about 12m² (130 sq ft) — do you have an oversized mattress? The bedroom as a walk-through room and right next to the child's room is not ideal. Having the children’s bedrooms on the north side is unfortunate but might be due to the street or something similar, which I don’t know.
Overall, it’s quite coherent—you could definitely build it like this. But even though a basement is planned, the feeling of spaciousness doesn’t really come through. Many small rooms and narrow hallways—you have to like that.
If it were mine, I would redesign the upper floor and at least remove the pantry, opening up the kitchen for more openness. Normally, swapping some rooms would be enough, but that would spoil the beautiful exterior—of which you are clearly slaves right now.
The wood stove won’t be anything large, more like as small as possible and, of course, placed against the wall. Since we haven’t finalized a model yet, I’ve used fairly generous dimensions to ensure the clearances and passage widths won’t end up too tight. Also, at the table, the 7th chair will be missing about 95% of the time, and the table itself will be smaller. The lines basically show the maximum movement area or radiation zone of the stove, where there should be no overlap with other furniture.
Yes, the bed is an oversized waterbed, and that will stay. We also deliberately designed the dressing room without a central entrance.
By the way, the children’s rooms are located in the west, not the north. One of them also has a south-facing window.
Maybe a question for the experts:
We haven’t decided on the roof yet. The architect suggests a 20° roof pitch, but I would prefer 30° due to wind resistance, choice of roof tiles, and solar panels. Here I have drawn it at 25°. What do you recommend? I can’t really judge the appearance of the alternatives in reality.
Instead of a pyramid roof, maybe a hip roof?
Yes, the bed is an oversized waterbed, and that will stay. We also deliberately designed the dressing room without a central entrance.
By the way, the children’s rooms are located in the west, not the north. One of them also has a south-facing window.
Maybe a question for the experts:
We haven’t decided on the roof yet. The architect suggests a 20° roof pitch, but I would prefer 30° due to wind resistance, choice of roof tiles, and solar panels. Here I have drawn it at 25°. What do you recommend? I can’t really judge the appearance of the alternatives in reality.
Instead of a pyramid roof, maybe a hip roof?
Fuchur schrieb:
quick & dirtyThe "duplication" (setback and dark red) is hopefully not to be taken seriously.Fuchur schrieb:
I drew 25°. What do you suggest? I can't really judge the appearance of the alternatives in real life.
Instead of the tent roof, more like a hip roof?The difference between a hip roof in general and a tent roof specifically is basically whether or not there is a ridge. I find ridges shorter than 2 m (7 feet) visually (to put it kindly) "not worthwhile." And I would not "create them artificially" — meaning a ridge only if there is a corresponding difference between the longer side and the shorter side. For the pitch question, my recommended reading is: https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/Walmdach-ideale-Neigung.25192https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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