ᐅ Floor plan and elevations of a single-family house with approximately 1,700 sq ft on a sloped site

Created on: 6 Dec 2022 21:01
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Karl-Jupp
Dear forum members, today we would like to present our floor plan and hope for positive feedback and suggestions on possible improvements. Our basic wish is for a bright house with 4 bedrooms on the upper floor and a living-level basement designed to accommodate 2 offices. We see the basement as necessary, especially due to the sloping site. The ground floor will then provide a spacious living and kitchen area. We have now received the first plans from the architect and would like to optimize them as much as possible with your help. The furniture layouts are only examples and still need to be finalized. Note: The room labeled as an office on the upper floor is intended to become Child 3’s bedroom. The guest room in the basement will be a combined guest/office room. The design of the outdoor areas, such as the terrace and the shape of the new property boundary, still needs to be planned in more detail.

Development plan/restrictions
Plot size: 702 sqm (7,555 sq ft)
Slope: yes, approximately 1.7 m (5.6 ft) higher at the street than at the rear of the property
Site coverage ratio: 0.35
Floor area ratio: none
Building envelope, building line, and boundary: garage minimum 5 m (16 ft) from street, house minimum 3.5 m (11.5 ft)
Number of parking spaces: no requirement
Number of floors: 2
Roof type: gable, hip, or pyramid roof with pitch between 22° and 43°
Orientation: southwest

Owner requirements
Roof type: preferably gable roof
Basement, floors: basement yes, preferably 2 full stories
Number of occupants, ages: 4 (35, 33, 4, and 2)
Room requirements on ground and upper floors: preferably 3 children’s bedrooms on the upper floor
Office: 2 home office spaces desired
Guest stays per year: about 10 times per year from grandparents, hence a guest room
Conservative or modern design: rather modern, I would say
Open kitchen, kitchen island: kitchen island
Fireplace: desirable
Balcony, roof terrace: possibly convert the garage roof later into a balcony
Garage, carport: garage for 1 car with sufficient storage space for bicycles

Additional wishes/details/daily routine, including reasons for choices:
We wanted the 3 children's bedrooms and the master bedroom on the upper floor. Additionally, a small bathroom for the parents there. The basement made sense to us because of the sloping site. It should provide one dedicated office and one combined office/guest room, both with daylight windows. Additionally, a large hobby room for versatile use is desired. On the ground floor, a pantry and laundry room connected to the garage were requested. Later on, it should be possible to convert the garage roof into a terrace.

House design
Origin of the design: Architect based on our detailed requirements (see above).

What do you particularly like? Why?
Our room layout wishes have been implemented.

What do you not like? Why?
The bathrooms on the upper floor and the living area on the ground floor may be too small.

Estimated cost according to architect/planner: not available yet. Probably around 650,000 - 700,000 € (including additional building costs)
Preferred heating technology: air or ground-source heat pump

If you had to give up some details/extras
- Could give up: fireplace, possibly 2nd bathroom on upper floor, walkable garage roof
- Could not give up: 4 bedrooms on upper floor, basement with 2 offices

Why is the design the way it is now?
Our basic considerations were passed on directly to the architect. He has largely implemented our specifications and added some minor touches.

What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
We find the existing floor plan generally well done and hope to receive constructive criticism and further suggestions from you to optimize it.

Northwest elevation of a house as a technical drawing with roof and windows.


Southwest elevation of a modern house with side extension, large windows, and terrain cross-section.


Southeast elevation of a two-story house with gable roof, wooden facade, windows, door, and basement floor plan.


Northeast elevation of a modern two-story house with garage on the right and garden on the left.


Floor plan of a house with red interior walls; kitchen, dining, living, hallway, shower/WC, utility room, garage.


Floor plan of a basement with hobby room, guest room, technical room, and corridor.


Floor plan of a house: bedroom, study, children’s room, bathroom, hallway, stairs, red walls.
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motorradsilke
7 Dec 2022 10:12
SoL schrieb:

A fireplace is nice and can be practical, of course. But it also has to fit the house and budget.

You’re right. But then I would build 2 to 3 sqm (22 to 32 sq ft) less. There are many ways to save elsewhere.
H
haydee
7 Dec 2022 10:27
I haven't missed having a fireplace yet. Buying firewood is not exactly cheap at the moment. It's only affordable if you have your own forest. Then wood also provides three times the warmth.
S
Sunshine387
7 Dec 2022 10:32
In my opinion, the warmth of a fireplace feels completely different. The heat from a fireplace is much more cozy and pleasant than central heating. Sitting on the fireplace bench in the living room is simply wonderful. You only don’t miss having a fireplace if you have never had one. However, I admit that wood prices are so crazy right now that it makes more economic sense to heat with gas. The fireplace is really just a nice addition, which naturally comes with corresponding costs.
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motorradsilke
7 Dec 2022 10:32
It’s not about cheapness. If you have to buy wood, it probably isn’t that inexpensive. Although there are alternatives.
But my point was that with underfloor heating, you can’t just quickly raise the living room temperature by 3 to 4 degrees in the evening.
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hanghaus2023
7 Dec 2022 10:52
The slope? That’s probably more relevant for the landscaper.

The budget has already been mentioned. Removing the basement could make it work.

Windows? With the budget targeted by the architect and/or the client, larger windows are hard to justify. If any, only on the south side.
Y
ypg
7 Dec 2022 11:25
Karl-Jupp schrieb:

Where is the problem with the south-facing location for the master bedroom?

The sunlight exposure.
Karl-Jupp schrieb:

I don’t really see where we could save 50 sqm (540 sq ft),

Not could… _must_.
Your room layout is too large for the budget.
The budget is too low for the room layout you want.