ᐅ Floor Plan for a 150 m² Corner Bungalow with Expansion Options
Created on: 5 Feb 2022 01:31
R
Ramona13
Hello 🙂
After what felt like hundreds of crumpled drafts in the recycle bin, we finally have a floor plan that we like and that fits our size requirements. Initially, we planned way too large, sometimes over 250m² (2700 sq ft) of living space... oops... Now we have settled on a nice 150m² (1600 sq ft) 🙂
We mainly reduced the number of rooms. Originally, we planned 2 offices and 2 future children’s rooms, but now only 2 offices remain, with at least one definitely convertible into a children’s room. This makes more sense since we don’t want to seriously consider having children before at least 5 years from now. We also initially planned a small wellness area with a sauna, loungers, and a hot tub inside the house, but this will now be a separate building in the garden.
More generally, I have already written here https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/vereinigung-zweier-Grundstücke-baufenster-neu-legen.42280/ about our plots. The request for merging them is still in progress, so we don’t have a definitive location for the house yet. Ideally, we’d like it centered on the current boundary line or, alternatively, on the rear building plot with border development facing the neighboring property.
Fortunately, regarding the development plan/planning restrictions, we will have quite a bit of flexibility. We can submit a preliminary building inquiry to check if everything is acceptable. The last house built here in the village about 4 years ago had 2 full floors, a different roof pitch, and presumably got some exceptions approved without problems. The community is generally happy that we want to fill a building gap 😉
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: approx. 1500m² (0.37 acres)
Slope: no
Floor area ratio & plot ratio... very confusing 🤨
Building window, building line and boundary
Edge development
Number of parking spaces
Number of floors: 1
Roof shape: gable roof, half-hip roof
Style
Ridge orientation parallel to street
Maximum heights/limits
Additional requirements: knee wall 0-50cm (0-20 inches)
Homeowner Requirements
Style, roof type, building type
Corner bungalow with gable roof, modern with Japanese elements
Timber construction by local carpentry with the possibility of contributing a lot of own work.
Basement, floors
No basement, 1 floor
Number of people, age
25 (female) and 28 (male) + 2 cats
Children not planned initially, earliest in 5 years
Space needs ground floor / upper floor
Office: family use or home office?
Separate offices for home office
Guest bedrooms per year
Very few
Open or closed layout
Open living area
Conservative or modern design
Modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island
Kitchen island facing the garden, pantry as a separate room behind the kitchen
Number of dining seats
4-6
Fireplace
No
Music / stereo wall
No
Balcony, roof terrace
No
Garage, carport
Probably carport, but not decided yet
Utility garden, greenhouse
Vegetable garden with large greenhouse definitely planned on the property
Other wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons why some things are or are not desired
- A gallery in the roof, open to the living area, would be a big dream of mine, but only if financially feasible. Otherwise, this part of the roof will be storage space or intended for later expansion.
- Smart home with KNX installed by ourselves (all electrical work will be DIY in cooperation with a certified electrician who will inspect and approve)
- Controlled mechanical ventilation and a separate split air conditioning system
- Photovoltaic system on the roof facing south and east
- Garden must be cat-proof fenced since our cats are not outdoor cats (currently strictly indoor cats)
- Exposed beam ceiling in the open living area
House Design
Designer:
- Do-it-Yourself
What do you particularly like? Why?
The open living area with the possibility to use both the south and north terraces.
Small “reading nook” at the end of the hallway with a large seat window (-> if there is a gallery, the staircase will lead upstairs here and the reading nook will be located there)
What don’t you like? Why?
Maybe the hallway is too long...
Estimated cost according to architect/planner: none yet, appointment with architect next week.
Personal price limit for the house including equipment: we hope to stay under €500,000 (approx. $540,000)
Preferred heating technology: air-water heat pump with underfloor heating
If you had to give up, which details / expansions
- could you do without:
- Gallery would be nice but is not essential
- Wellness area in the garden can be built later
- Reading nook
- could you not do without:
- Air conditioning
- KNX system
- Separate offices
- Cat-proof garden
Why did the design turn out this way? e.g.
Standard draft from planner?
Which wishes were implemented by the architect?
A mix of many examples from various magazines...
What do you think makes it particularly good or bad?
Our design developed step by step from many sketches, floor plans, and photos found online.
The interior furnishing in the 3D images is only a placeholder; the detailed interior design is still being planned.
Finally, this design gives us a satisfied feeling in terms of size and room layout 🙂
What is the most important / fundamental question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
In your opinion, is our project achievable for a maximum of €500,000 (approx. $540,000), and is it sensible to plan smaller first and then expand by adding a loft conversion?
I am very grateful for your opinions, ideas, and suggestions for improvement! 🙂
After what felt like hundreds of crumpled drafts in the recycle bin, we finally have a floor plan that we like and that fits our size requirements. Initially, we planned way too large, sometimes over 250m² (2700 sq ft) of living space... oops... Now we have settled on a nice 150m² (1600 sq ft) 🙂
We mainly reduced the number of rooms. Originally, we planned 2 offices and 2 future children’s rooms, but now only 2 offices remain, with at least one definitely convertible into a children’s room. This makes more sense since we don’t want to seriously consider having children before at least 5 years from now. We also initially planned a small wellness area with a sauna, loungers, and a hot tub inside the house, but this will now be a separate building in the garden.
More generally, I have already written here https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/vereinigung-zweier-Grundstücke-baufenster-neu-legen.42280/ about our plots. The request for merging them is still in progress, so we don’t have a definitive location for the house yet. Ideally, we’d like it centered on the current boundary line or, alternatively, on the rear building plot with border development facing the neighboring property.
Fortunately, regarding the development plan/planning restrictions, we will have quite a bit of flexibility. We can submit a preliminary building inquiry to check if everything is acceptable. The last house built here in the village about 4 years ago had 2 full floors, a different roof pitch, and presumably got some exceptions approved without problems. The community is generally happy that we want to fill a building gap 😉
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: approx. 1500m² (0.37 acres)
Slope: no
Floor area ratio & plot ratio... very confusing 🤨
Building window, building line and boundary
Edge development
Number of parking spaces
Number of floors: 1
Roof shape: gable roof, half-hip roof
Style
Ridge orientation parallel to street
Maximum heights/limits
Additional requirements: knee wall 0-50cm (0-20 inches)
Homeowner Requirements
Style, roof type, building type
Corner bungalow with gable roof, modern with Japanese elements
Timber construction by local carpentry with the possibility of contributing a lot of own work.
Basement, floors
No basement, 1 floor
Number of people, age
25 (female) and 28 (male) + 2 cats
Children not planned initially, earliest in 5 years
Space needs ground floor / upper floor
Office: family use or home office?
Separate offices for home office
Guest bedrooms per year
Very few
Open or closed layout
Open living area
Conservative or modern design
Modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island
Kitchen island facing the garden, pantry as a separate room behind the kitchen
Number of dining seats
4-6
Fireplace
No
Music / stereo wall
No
Balcony, roof terrace
No
Garage, carport
Probably carport, but not decided yet
Utility garden, greenhouse
Vegetable garden with large greenhouse definitely planned on the property
Other wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons why some things are or are not desired
- A gallery in the roof, open to the living area, would be a big dream of mine, but only if financially feasible. Otherwise, this part of the roof will be storage space or intended for later expansion.
- Smart home with KNX installed by ourselves (all electrical work will be DIY in cooperation with a certified electrician who will inspect and approve)
- Controlled mechanical ventilation and a separate split air conditioning system
- Photovoltaic system on the roof facing south and east
- Garden must be cat-proof fenced since our cats are not outdoor cats (currently strictly indoor cats)
- Exposed beam ceiling in the open living area
House Design
Designer:
- Do-it-Yourself
What do you particularly like? Why?
The open living area with the possibility to use both the south and north terraces.
Small “reading nook” at the end of the hallway with a large seat window (-> if there is a gallery, the staircase will lead upstairs here and the reading nook will be located there)
What don’t you like? Why?
Maybe the hallway is too long...
Estimated cost according to architect/planner: none yet, appointment with architect next week.
Personal price limit for the house including equipment: we hope to stay under €500,000 (approx. $540,000)
Preferred heating technology: air-water heat pump with underfloor heating
If you had to give up, which details / expansions
- could you do without:
- Gallery would be nice but is not essential
- Wellness area in the garden can be built later
- Reading nook
- could you not do without:
- Air conditioning
- KNX system
- Separate offices
- Cat-proof garden
Why did the design turn out this way? e.g.
Standard draft from planner?
Which wishes were implemented by the architect?
A mix of many examples from various magazines...
What do you think makes it particularly good or bad?
Our design developed step by step from many sketches, floor plans, and photos found online.
The interior furnishing in the 3D images is only a placeholder; the detailed interior design is still being planned.
Finally, this design gives us a satisfied feeling in terms of size and room layout 🙂
What is the most important / fundamental question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
In your opinion, is our project achievable for a maximum of €500,000 (approx. $540,000), and is it sensible to plan smaller first and then expand by adding a loft conversion?
I am very grateful for your opinions, ideas, and suggestions for improvement! 🙂
I also find the layout too complicated and the hallway too dark. Additionally, I miss having access to the north garden. I recall your initial statement and the great image:
Here is an idea for optimization with a large lift-and-slide door facing north in the living room since you have that great view there, along with a covered terrace that will receive the evening sun from the west. I would suggest having one terrace on the south side and one on the north side. Because you only have privacy in the south if the front door is not right next to it, I would strongly recommend placing the entrance on the east side. Also, a straight hallway with natural light through generous glazing in the front door and a glass door leading to the open-plan area. In addition, a practical staircase to the upper floor in case you have children in the future and want to convert that space. Convert the guest WC into a guest bathroom with a shower, for kids or visitors. I am not familiar with the idea that the main bathroom has to be accessible to guests and actually find it unnecessary. On the contrary.
Ramona13 schrieb:
We definitely want to orient our “beautiful” garden to the north, towards the forest.
Here is an idea for optimization with a large lift-and-slide door facing north in the living room since you have that great view there, along with a covered terrace that will receive the evening sun from the west. I would suggest having one terrace on the south side and one on the north side. Because you only have privacy in the south if the front door is not right next to it, I would strongly recommend placing the entrance on the east side. Also, a straight hallway with natural light through generous glazing in the front door and a glass door leading to the open-plan area. In addition, a practical staircase to the upper floor in case you have children in the future and want to convert that space. Convert the guest WC into a guest bathroom with a shower, for kids or visitors. I am not familiar with the idea that the main bathroom has to be accessible to guests and actually find it unnecessary. On the contrary.
Ramona13 schrieb:
It would be a shame if the trees along the edge had to be removed because of this, as we actually want to keep them. Something like this…
Ramona13 schrieb:
The connections haven’t been finalized yet. What kind of issues could come up? Since we have two building plots, we theoretically have two connection options. … and things like this belong in the rough initial planning. You start with the plot and sketch it in detail with its surroundings, then you can assign rooms according to their orientation.
And at some point, a plan emerges.
Ramona13 schrieb:
Children are not planned for now, earliest in 5 years. But you should consider that in your house planning if you’re thinking about having a family and intend to approach it positively: a house should be planned for at least the next 20 years. Especially given your age, it makes sense to consider what might be possible in terms of options.
Where will the children live? You can’t just convert the offices later when you actually need them, can you?!
I think I calculated the hallway area yesterday. Personally, it seems too large to me. If you plan a future extension for children, the house needs a fixed staircase.
Gather all these factors and then decide what type of building to choose. A bungalow would be off the table for me.
And regarding the “problem” of bathroom use, it brings to mind everything except extending the already confusing hallway even further.
Long hallways are usually due to poor planning. In an L-shaped house, there are several ways to bring natural light into a hallway.
If I were you, I would look for an architect.
ypg schrieb:
This kind of thing belongs in the rough initial planning phase. You have the plot of land, which is then detailed along with the surroundings, and you can assign rooms based on orientation. Absolutely, and it is essential. A baseline tree survey is a must-have in the foundational data gathering—an accuracy level similar to a Google Earth aerial image may be sufficient here, since one should never plan with centimeter-level precision from the start.
ypg schrieb:
Long corridors are usually the result of poor planning. And quite a few planning mistakes start with an early and rigid commitment to a specific house shape. Furthermore, bungalows tend to have a characteristic “body fat” issue when it comes to corridors, which should be considered in the floor area budget.
ypg schrieb:
If I were in your position, I would look for an architect. An architect has already been found (who is now being criticized because of the desire for a controlled mechanical ventilation system). Walking away from her under that premise is a wise decision. However, don’t give up entirely just because the first “kissed frog” didn’t turn into a prince. Architects are not just a decorative element for a house design—they are the right tool, even though you could technically hammer with pliers. But then again, would she even have been the right choice for a timber house design?
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
11ant schrieb:
An architect was already found (and now she is being criticized again because she does not agree with the request for a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery). That’s right. Something like that was mentioned earlier in this thread.
But as you said: then I won’t struggle with a stuck plan and will just make the hallway longer.
Also, quietly reading the note about the climate and mechanical ventilation system, the wording used confused me. I looked for the sentence again and found it:
Ramona13 schrieb:
For example, the architect’s firm belief that you don’t need air conditioning and a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery, even though both are on our “must-have” list and she tried to talk us out of them. It might be that the architect has a firm conviction. Or she may have too many clients to satisfy. Or other reasons. Or the client might be resistant to advice or discussion and was not really able to explain why these things are “must-haves.”
As a service provider, you respond to the client; the client presents their wishes and listens to arguments. Personally, I miss a clear reason for the disagreement 😉
Furthermore: the basic structure is being kept here. Maybe that is more of a hindrance?
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