Hello everyone,
We have started over with a different architect. The corner windows from my previous thread have now been discarded. We look forward to your opinions and suggestions for improvement.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 454m² (about 4,888 sq ft)
Slope: no slope
Floor area ratio: 0.4
Floor space index: 0.8
Building envelope, building line and boundaries: see plan
Border development: garage on boundary, 1.5 meters (5 feet) from the street
Number of parking spaces: 1
Number of floors: 2
Roof type: hipped roof
Style: modern
Building orientation: eaves-facing
Maximum heights / limits: 6.5 meters (21 ft)
Additional requirements: max 0.7 m (28 inches) roof overhang, no roof eaves, roof pitch 30–35°
Client Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: two-story single-family house
Basement, floors: no basement, 2 floors
Number of occupants, age: 2 (26 years old), 2 children planned
Space requirement on ground floor and upper floor: approx. 75m² (807 sq ft) each
Office: family use or home office? Mostly family use
Overnight guests per year: 5–10
Open or closed architecture: open
Conservative or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: yes
Number of dining seats: 6–8
Fireplace: yes
Music/sound wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: 1 garage, space for 1 car in front of garage
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Other wishes/special features/daily routine, including reasons why certain things should or should not be included
House Design
Planner: architect
What do you particularly like? Why? Floor-to-ceiling windows, appearance
What do you not like? Why? Staircase design in the plan (alternatives?)
Price estimate according to architect/planner: ~250,000 (plumbing/heating/drywall as DIY)
Personal price limit for the house, including fixtures: 260,000
Preferred heating technology: gas + solar thermal for domestic hot water
Why is the design as it is now? For example:
Standard design from the planner? We had little time due to complete replanning and used a design from a large prefab house company that we liked. This was then optimized and adapted to the house dimensions.
Questions we have:
- The utility/technical room with 8m² (86 sq ft) will probably be too small, I assume. Where could space be saved? Controlled ventilation/heating, washing machine, our small current kitchen (along the wall on the right when entering, could be “shortened” accordingly) and a drying rack should fit there.
- Do you have a better idea for the position of the fireplace? Between the two windows seems a bit tight. We would actually prefer the wall opposite, but then the chimney does not fit with the room layout upstairs.
- Is the entrance area possibly too narrow, or is there another way to place the stairs? We would actually like to place the front door in the center, but then according to the plan the stairs are in the way.
If any more information is needed, just let me know.
We look forward to your comments!
Best regards
We have started over with a different architect. The corner windows from my previous thread have now been discarded. We look forward to your opinions and suggestions for improvement.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 454m² (about 4,888 sq ft)
Slope: no slope
Floor area ratio: 0.4
Floor space index: 0.8
Building envelope, building line and boundaries: see plan
Border development: garage on boundary, 1.5 meters (5 feet) from the street
Number of parking spaces: 1
Number of floors: 2
Roof type: hipped roof
Style: modern
Building orientation: eaves-facing
Maximum heights / limits: 6.5 meters (21 ft)
Additional requirements: max 0.7 m (28 inches) roof overhang, no roof eaves, roof pitch 30–35°
Client Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: two-story single-family house
Basement, floors: no basement, 2 floors
Number of occupants, age: 2 (26 years old), 2 children planned
Space requirement on ground floor and upper floor: approx. 75m² (807 sq ft) each
Office: family use or home office? Mostly family use
Overnight guests per year: 5–10
Open or closed architecture: open
Conservative or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: yes
Number of dining seats: 6–8
Fireplace: yes
Music/sound wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: 1 garage, space for 1 car in front of garage
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Other wishes/special features/daily routine, including reasons why certain things should or should not be included
House Design
Planner: architect
What do you particularly like? Why? Floor-to-ceiling windows, appearance
What do you not like? Why? Staircase design in the plan (alternatives?)
Price estimate according to architect/planner: ~250,000 (plumbing/heating/drywall as DIY)
Personal price limit for the house, including fixtures: 260,000
Preferred heating technology: gas + solar thermal for domestic hot water
Why is the design as it is now? For example:
Standard design from the planner? We had little time due to complete replanning and used a design from a large prefab house company that we liked. This was then optimized and adapted to the house dimensions.
Questions we have:
- The utility/technical room with 8m² (86 sq ft) will probably be too small, I assume. Where could space be saved? Controlled ventilation/heating, washing machine, our small current kitchen (along the wall on the right when entering, could be “shortened” accordingly) and a drying rack should fit there.
- Do you have a better idea for the position of the fireplace? Between the two windows seems a bit tight. We would actually prefer the wall opposite, but then the chimney does not fit with the room layout upstairs.
- Is the entrance area possibly too narrow, or is there another way to place the stairs? We would actually like to place the front door in the center, but then according to the plan the stairs are in the way.
If any more information is needed, just let me know.
We look forward to your comments!
Best regards
To be honest, I can’t imagine that a two-story building with a eaves height of over 6 meters (20 feet), located just 1.5 meters (5 feet) from the street, would be allowed in this residential area. That would definitely obstruct the view, wouldn’t it?
I could more easily imagine a single-story house. However, for other ideas—like a two-story combination with an extension—the plot is too small.
Since the building’s length extends further to the rear than its width at the eaves side, that also limits the design options.
But if we consider the 3 meters (10 feet) distance to the street, then the house can’t be larger than about 9.5 x 9.5 meters (31 x 31 feet), not counting a garage, especially when taking the eaves side into account.
So should we agree on the 1.5 meters (5 feet) setback as fixed?
I could more easily imagine a single-story house. However, for other ideas—like a two-story combination with an extension—the plot is too small.
Since the building’s length extends further to the rear than its width at the eaves side, that also limits the design options.
But if we consider the 3 meters (10 feet) distance to the street, then the house can’t be larger than about 9.5 x 9.5 meters (31 x 31 feet), not counting a garage, especially when taking the eaves side into account.
So should we agree on the 1.5 meters (5 feet) setback as fixed?
I quickly (haha) filled out the building envelope. It’s 10 x 10 meters (33 x 33 feet), with the garage planned at 3.5 x 8 meters (11.5 x 26 feet).
The rear building boundary is aligned with the north side, and the southern boundary is fully used by the garage. It’s not possible to go beyond this.
This allows for plenty of sunlight in the kitchen and dining area, and the living room also benefits from it.
Honestly, city villas aren’t really my style, especially not the compact ones, and I’m even less into symmetry, but I think this is exactly what you want. I didn’t add detailed dimensions, but almost everywhere there’s space for something at 3 meters (10 feet) or more. At least the walls running horizontally in the plan are aligned accordingly.
The staircase can also be rotated, though that would require changes to some doors.
And there’s a nice front courtyard where visitors or a second car can park, and where children can play.
Best regards, Yvonne
The rear building boundary is aligned with the north side, and the southern boundary is fully used by the garage. It’s not possible to go beyond this.
This allows for plenty of sunlight in the kitchen and dining area, and the living room also benefits from it.
Honestly, city villas aren’t really my style, especially not the compact ones, and I’m even less into symmetry, but I think this is exactly what you want. I didn’t add detailed dimensions, but almost everywhere there’s space for something at 3 meters (10 feet) or more. At least the walls running horizontally in the plan are aligned accordingly.
The staircase can also be rotated, though that would require changes to some doors.
And there’s a nice front courtyard where visitors or a second car can park, and where children can play.
Best regards, Yvonne
Yes, I do ... but where has the bed gone? [emoji848]
It's tight, yes. My wall measures 3.12m (10.2 ft)...
But honestly: the planner could also consider whether everything shifts by 20cm (8 inches). On the left side of the house, there is roughly 3.40m (11.2 ft).
Unfortunately, my software crashes quite often [emoji31]
The stairs are also not currently using any custom dimensions.
Brief greetings
It's tight, yes. My wall measures 3.12m (10.2 ft)...
But honestly: the planner could also consider whether everything shifts by 20cm (8 inches). On the left side of the house, there is roughly 3.40m (11.2 ft).
Unfortunately, my software crashes quite often [emoji31]
The stairs are also not currently using any custom dimensions.
Brief greetings
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