ᐅ Floor Plan for a 200 sqm Urban Villa – Are Our Requirements Feasible?
Created on: 13 Jul 2020 14:14
E
ECE-2021
Hello everyone,
I’m a bit overwhelmed with our floor plan and keep running into the same problems...
The main issue is probably how to integrate a straight staircase from the ground floor to the upper floor, and how we would have to modify or extend the hallway to fit such a staircase without "breaking up" the other rooms.
Development plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 1005 m² (0.25 acres)
Slope: no
Site coverage ratio: according to neighboring developments
Floor area ratio: according to neighboring developments
Building envelope, building line, and boundary: according to neighboring developments
Edge development: no
Number of parking spaces: double / large garage planned
Number of stories: 2
Roof type: hipped roof
Style: urban villa
Orientation: street facing northeast, plot extends sideways toward west-northwest, garden planned all around southwest / west-northwest
Client requirements
Style, roof type, building type: urban villa with hipped roof
Basement, floors: basement + ground floor + upper floor
Number of occupants, ages: 2 adults + young child (3)
Office: home office?
Closed architecture
Closed kitchen, kitchen island
Fireplace
Balcony
Garage
House design
Who designed the plan:
- Option 1: planner from a construction company (not yet an architect)
- Option 2: do-it-yourself
What do you particularly like? Why?
Overall, the floor plan is good and was implemented largely according to our ideas.
What do you dislike? Why?
We would prefer a straight staircase. According to a staircase calculator tool, it would require a length of 3.70 m (12 ft).
From research, this might be rather uncomfortable and therefore unrealistic.
We would be willing to extend the hallway for the straight staircase if necessary.
Symmetry, especially in the front view of the house, is very important to us, so we want to keep the type of front door as is.
The awkward corner in the upper hallway is not very appealing (bedroom / office).
Furthermore, the hallway window was initially placed in the child’s bedroom, but that will be changed so there is natural light in the upper floor hallway.
I’m also wondering if the chimney flue on the upper floor can still be routed freely, possibly offset within the ceiling/floor. Or does it have to go straight up from the ground floor fireplace? Because then it would end up right in the middle of the upper floor hallway.
If you have to give up something, which details or fittings could you do without?
- Could you compromise on: I’m open to suggestions for now
- Cannot compromise on: ideally the straight staircase
What do you think makes it particularly good or bad?
See differences between our design and the construction company’s plan
- straight staircase instead of quarter-turn
- kitchen recessed
- window in the hallway instead of in the child’s room
- ideally no hallway obstruction on the upper floor
I’m a bit overwhelmed with our floor plan and keep running into the same problems...
The main issue is probably how to integrate a straight staircase from the ground floor to the upper floor, and how we would have to modify or extend the hallway to fit such a staircase without "breaking up" the other rooms.
Development plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 1005 m² (0.25 acres)
Slope: no
Site coverage ratio: according to neighboring developments
Floor area ratio: according to neighboring developments
Building envelope, building line, and boundary: according to neighboring developments
Edge development: no
Number of parking spaces: double / large garage planned
Number of stories: 2
Roof type: hipped roof
Style: urban villa
Orientation: street facing northeast, plot extends sideways toward west-northwest, garden planned all around southwest / west-northwest
Client requirements
Style, roof type, building type: urban villa with hipped roof
Basement, floors: basement + ground floor + upper floor
Number of occupants, ages: 2 adults + young child (3)
Office: home office?
Closed architecture
Closed kitchen, kitchen island
Fireplace
Balcony
Garage
House design
Who designed the plan:
- Option 1: planner from a construction company (not yet an architect)
- Option 2: do-it-yourself
What do you particularly like? Why?
Overall, the floor plan is good and was implemented largely according to our ideas.
What do you dislike? Why?
We would prefer a straight staircase. According to a staircase calculator tool, it would require a length of 3.70 m (12 ft).
From research, this might be rather uncomfortable and therefore unrealistic.
We would be willing to extend the hallway for the straight staircase if necessary.
Symmetry, especially in the front view of the house, is very important to us, so we want to keep the type of front door as is.
The awkward corner in the upper hallway is not very appealing (bedroom / office).
Furthermore, the hallway window was initially placed in the child’s bedroom, but that will be changed so there is natural light in the upper floor hallway.
I’m also wondering if the chimney flue on the upper floor can still be routed freely, possibly offset within the ceiling/floor. Or does it have to go straight up from the ground floor fireplace? Because then it would end up right in the middle of the upper floor hallway.
If you have to give up something, which details or fittings could you do without?
- Could you compromise on: I’m open to suggestions for now
- Cannot compromise on: ideally the straight staircase
What do you think makes it particularly good or bad?
See differences between our design and the construction company’s plan
- straight staircase instead of quarter-turn
- kitchen recessed
- window in the hallway instead of in the child’s room
- ideally no hallway obstruction on the upper floor
ECE-2021 schrieb:
if you cook with strong smells, it can also be easy to do.No scent in the world will stop this, believe me. I had: a small separate kitchen, a large kitchen-living area, and then one big open space for everything.
In all cases, the whole apartment would smell when I cooked, for example, a roast. The only help: good exhaust ventilation, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and regular airing out. No matter the room layout. Or just a cold kitchen. But that wouldn’t be an option for me.
Also, grease buildup: good exhaust ventilation helps! (and really changing the grease filter regularly—that’s where most people fail)
Dirt: I cook, that’s not dirt. Besides, I clear away things I no longer need while cooking. My best friend is the dishwasher; everything used and no longer needed goes in there.
And when I have a party, sure, sometimes a pot just stays on the counter—that doesn’t spoil the mood.
But, as I said, it’s your decision. I just wanted to give something to think about.
A
Alessandro14 Jul 2020 09:02As you correctly pointed out, the floor plan should be designed based on the plot. Everything needs to be considered here, from the driveway to the terrace exit and the position of the sun.
The arrangement of rooms can also depend on the proximity of neighbors — for example, it makes sense not to place the main bathroom next to the neighbor whose bedroom is just 6m (20 feet) away.
It is almost impossible to implement everything exactly according to your wishes.
A closed kitchen has both advantages and disadvantages. In the end, it comes down to personal preference.
We decided on an open kitchen because, in our case, visitors often gather around the island. You can set up a kind of buffet on the island where everyone can help themselves without having to fill the entire dining table, and everything is quickly within reach.
The arrangement of rooms can also depend on the proximity of neighbors — for example, it makes sense not to place the main bathroom next to the neighbor whose bedroom is just 6m (20 feet) away.
It is almost impossible to implement everything exactly according to your wishes.
A closed kitchen has both advantages and disadvantages. In the end, it comes down to personal preference.
We decided on an open kitchen because, in our case, visitors often gather around the island. You can set up a kind of buffet on the island where everyone can help themselves without having to fill the entire dining table, and everything is quickly within reach.
ECE-2021 schrieb:
People usually assume that when they move in around their mid-30s, the home is something for their old age.Think about it again. You’ll retire in about 30 years at the earliest (probably 35-40 years), and statistically, you’ll still be mobile then. The kids will probably (hopefully) have moved out. Either you, society, or the entire world will have changed so much that your current ideas and lifestyle won’t really apply anymore. Sure, you can keep that in mind in the back of your head. But I definitely wouldn’t compromise today in order to make something easier in 30 years—something you can’t even predict now.
I can already see my future self contemptuously calling my younger self an "idiot" while looking at an old photo.
And even if everything turns out exactly as you imagine, after 30 years a renovation is due anyway, so you can always make some changes then. More likely, you’ll sell the old place and buy a small bungalow by the Baltic Sea (then near Berlin).
It’s not about the size; it’s about the effect. You base everything on square meters. Even the narrow spots like the door and stairs, the hidden narrow tunnel called the wardrobe.
We have a steam sauna for 2 people. It’s not large, but there would also have been space for a Finnish sauna for 2.
I don’t get anything out of 3D simulations.
That doesn’t happen with a good range hood and controlled ventilation. Even in the kitchen area, there are fewer grease deposits. Odors with an open-concept kitchen are less than before with a closed one.
By the way, I don’t see the house costing 550k. Watch out for hidden costs like additional construction expenses.
Your terrace is as far away from the kitchen as possible. That ensures physical fitness.
We have a steam sauna for 2 people. It’s not large, but there would also have been space for a Finnish sauna for 2.
I don’t get anything out of 3D simulations.
ECE-2021 schrieb:
Thanks for your detailed comment.
I found a kitchen with a sliding door to be a good way to combine both. We currently have it that way. A closed kitchen (with a hinged door), and then immediately the dining table (only unfortunately the table is too small).
The advantages of a closed kitchen, from my point of view, are that if you cook something with strong odors, you can just close it. And you don’t “dirty” the living/dining area as much. When I see the fat deposits that build up in the kitchen from all the cooking… I can’t imagine having that all in the living/dining area, oops:
That doesn’t happen with a good range hood and controlled ventilation. Even in the kitchen area, there are fewer grease deposits. Odors with an open-concept kitchen are less than before with a closed one.
By the way, I don’t see the house costing 550k. Watch out for hidden costs like additional construction expenses.
Your terrace is as far away from the kitchen as possible. That ensures physical fitness.
haydee schrieb:
It’s not about the size, it’s about the impact. You’re measuring everything by square meters. Just the narrow doorway at the stairs, the hidden narrow tunnel called the wardrobe.
You are absolutely right. I also find that impossible in the design and it gives me a headache.haydee schrieb:
That doesn’t happen with a good hood and controlled mechanical ventilation. Even in the kitchen area there is less grease buildup.Hopefully, we will have the proper controlled mechanical ventilation. Any recommendations for hoods?
We can’t use an exhaust vent. I need to check again why exactly, I think it had something to do with the chimney.
But basically, it’s a tricky issue anyway, because warm air (especially in winter) is then vented outside.
haydee schrieb:
Your terrace is as far away from the kitchen as possible. That keeps you physically fit.Fitness sounds positive at first
But I know what you mean.
If the living room is also supposed to face the terrace, it’s not so easy to place the kitchen closer.
Climbee schrieb:
Dirt: I’m cooking, that’s not dirt. The dirt was actually referring to the grease deposits. However, we also don’t have a good recirculation hood in our apartment.
Maybe something installed directly above the cooktop would be better. Those are quite popular right now.
I don’t have any experience with them though, and I’m not sure if they actually help much when you only have recirculation ventilation.
Otherwise, I fully agree with your points; that’s exactly how I do it as well.
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