ᐅ The floor plan "HOUSE FOR TWO" covers approximately 150 sqm and is introduced here.
Created on: 3 Jul 2020 13:23
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pagoni2020
So – now I’m presenting our “House Project for Two” expecting your honest and maybe harsh feedback. Don’t hold back, as I can only benefit from it.
The building permit / planning permission application is currently being submitted, and preliminary information suggests it should be approved. We deliberately avoided too many deviations from the very old development plan.
We like a modern, minimalist architectural style. The floor plan is a mix of our own living habits, our existing furniture including the kitchen, and the budget, since at this stage of life we don’t want to take on risky debt.
Our current condominium is very stylish and was just recently customized by ourselves, but life changes; besides, we want to be able to have a small fire in our own garden again.
We are now building with a general contractor (GC) who has a good reputation and has already allowed us to change many things without stress – so far. Ideally, we would have built with an independent architect or our friend who is an interior architect, which would have given us more freedom in choosing trades, but this time we want to focus more on details and avoid the running around that happened the first time, 30 years ago. No, this time I won’t be digging foundations or pouring the basement myself until my family doesn’t recognize me anymore.
Whether it will be a garage, carport, or parking space depends on the costs, as does the attached balcony, which would then be a so-called standing balcony; initially, it just needs to be approved. There will also be a larger garden house with an outdoor sauna.
The plot is quite large and has a nice view of greenery. Unfortunately, only to the north, about 500 m (1600 ft) away and at a lower level, there is a beautiful lake. For this reason alone, we decided not to build a bungalow, since having a lake view and not using it was out of the question (hence the “emergency balcony” at the bedroom). Originally, a house with a bend was planned, but it always looked ugly in the end.
HOUSE FOR TWO
Plot size: 1400 sqm (15,000 sq ft)
Slope: No
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 1.5
Roof type: Gable roof
Architectural style: modern-minimalist
Client requirements
Style, roof type, building type: clean lines
Basement, floors: no basement
Number of occupants, age: 2 (one of them still works a bit more…)
Guest stays per year: quite often, alternating
Conservative or modern construction: modern, open plan
Open kitchen, kitchen island: yes
Number of dining seats: 4
Fireplace: yes/no/undecided, possibly also gas fireplace
Balcony, roof terrace: possibly a balcony at the bedroom for lake view
Garage, carport: yes, depending on price
Additional wishes, etc.:
Separate guest area, possibly as a bedroom in old age, then guests upstairs
Custom furniture and kitchen integrated
Separate TV area from the gallery, next to it a separate relaxation area with recliner
Kitchen with 120 cm (47 inch) side-by-side refrigerator or 70 cm (28 inch) refrigerator by the window side
Monolithic Rock XL1 wood stove available, chimney planned outside for lower costs, appearance, and less space inside
Ground floor window areas separated by masonry walls due to chimney, possibly refrigerator placement but especially due to manufacturer’s limited width (according to GC)
Original idea was continuous window surfaces up to the eaves in living/dining area, now separated at ceiling height by masonry strip
Some parts in the plan/floor plan not labeled correctly yet (GC design implementation)
House design, who designed it: by the clients + partial coordination with interior architect, currently executed by a builder’s planner
What do you like most and why?
Simple architectural style, gallery, spacious window surfaces, external blinds, open layout
What don’t you like and why? I’m sure I’ll read about it here
Estimated price according to architect/planner: -
Features: The goal is to invest selectively and sensibly but consistently omit unnecessary, cost-driving frills (in my opinion)
Preferred heating system: undecided, unfortunately no gas connection available
If you had to skip something, which details or extensions could you do without? Maybe the fireplace… I’m still unsure about the location, I would like a built-in gas fireplace under the stairs, but only for that would we get a liquefied gas tank?
Why is the design the way it is? For example:
Own life circumstances, existing furniture, individual living habits
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
I welcome direct and constructive assessments. The building shape and location of carport/garage are fixed. The focus of questions is on layout details and usage/design options.
There will be a glass roof or slatted shading in front of the kitchen area.
The plot is almost flat, and the outdoor area will be simple and user-friendly, with a larger garden house including outdoor sauna, storage for gadgets, tools, etc.
The building permit / planning permission application is currently being submitted, and preliminary information suggests it should be approved. We deliberately avoided too many deviations from the very old development plan.
We like a modern, minimalist architectural style. The floor plan is a mix of our own living habits, our existing furniture including the kitchen, and the budget, since at this stage of life we don’t want to take on risky debt.
Our current condominium is very stylish and was just recently customized by ourselves, but life changes; besides, we want to be able to have a small fire in our own garden again.
We are now building with a general contractor (GC) who has a good reputation and has already allowed us to change many things without stress – so far. Ideally, we would have built with an independent architect or our friend who is an interior architect, which would have given us more freedom in choosing trades, but this time we want to focus more on details and avoid the running around that happened the first time, 30 years ago. No, this time I won’t be digging foundations or pouring the basement myself until my family doesn’t recognize me anymore.
Whether it will be a garage, carport, or parking space depends on the costs, as does the attached balcony, which would then be a so-called standing balcony; initially, it just needs to be approved. There will also be a larger garden house with an outdoor sauna.
The plot is quite large and has a nice view of greenery. Unfortunately, only to the north, about 500 m (1600 ft) away and at a lower level, there is a beautiful lake. For this reason alone, we decided not to build a bungalow, since having a lake view and not using it was out of the question (hence the “emergency balcony” at the bedroom). Originally, a house with a bend was planned, but it always looked ugly in the end.
HOUSE FOR TWO
Plot size: 1400 sqm (15,000 sq ft)
Slope: No
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 1.5
Roof type: Gable roof
Architectural style: modern-minimalist
Client requirements
Style, roof type, building type: clean lines
Basement, floors: no basement
Number of occupants, age: 2 (one of them still works a bit more…)
Guest stays per year: quite often, alternating
Conservative or modern construction: modern, open plan
Open kitchen, kitchen island: yes
Number of dining seats: 4
Fireplace: yes/no/undecided, possibly also gas fireplace
Balcony, roof terrace: possibly a balcony at the bedroom for lake view
Garage, carport: yes, depending on price
Additional wishes, etc.:
Separate guest area, possibly as a bedroom in old age, then guests upstairs
Custom furniture and kitchen integrated
Separate TV area from the gallery, next to it a separate relaxation area with recliner
Kitchen with 120 cm (47 inch) side-by-side refrigerator or 70 cm (28 inch) refrigerator by the window side
Monolithic Rock XL1 wood stove available, chimney planned outside for lower costs, appearance, and less space inside
Ground floor window areas separated by masonry walls due to chimney, possibly refrigerator placement but especially due to manufacturer’s limited width (according to GC)
Original idea was continuous window surfaces up to the eaves in living/dining area, now separated at ceiling height by masonry strip
Some parts in the plan/floor plan not labeled correctly yet (GC design implementation)
House design, who designed it: by the clients + partial coordination with interior architect, currently executed by a builder’s planner
What do you like most and why?
Simple architectural style, gallery, spacious window surfaces, external blinds, open layout
What don’t you like and why? I’m sure I’ll read about it here
Estimated price according to architect/planner: -
Features: The goal is to invest selectively and sensibly but consistently omit unnecessary, cost-driving frills (in my opinion)
Preferred heating system: undecided, unfortunately no gas connection available
If you had to skip something, which details or extensions could you do without? Maybe the fireplace… I’m still unsure about the location, I would like a built-in gas fireplace under the stairs, but only for that would we get a liquefied gas tank?
Why is the design the way it is? For example:
Own life circumstances, existing furniture, individual living habits
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
I welcome direct and constructive assessments. The building shape and location of carport/garage are fixed. The focus of questions is on layout details and usage/design options.
There will be a glass roof or slatted shading in front of the kitchen area.
The plot is almost flat, and the outdoor area will be simple and user-friendly, with a larger garden house including outdoor sauna, storage for gadgets, tools, etc.
H
hampshire3 Jul 2020 17:25I really like the design a lot. Once you visualize the living space in three dimensions, you’ll realize that it won’t feel like a long, narrow room, because more than two-thirds of the length features a gallery balcony. The layout on the ground floor creates a cozy atmosphere within a very large space. The volume of air will help prevent any sense of stuffiness or confinement.
Tips – (unfortunately not just for saving money):
And indulge in the spaciousness of the gallery! It also creates a positive impression from downstairs. We have a similar setup, so I know what I’m talking about.
Tips – (unfortunately not just for saving money):
- Consider installing an acoustic ceiling – sound comfort is not a luxury – you don’t want harsh echoes! LignoTrend works excellently for us – you can also see pictures of it at @rick2018.
- Limiting storage space works wonderfully with a bit of discipline and can be a real relief. If you’re not already living with fewer possessions, decide together what really needs to go into the house. When we moved, we left at least 70% of our belongings behind and don’t regret it even a year later. Having limited storage helps us make more deliberate purchasing decisions.
- A utility room is often warmer than the rest of the house due to the heat generated by the equipment inside, making it less suitable for storing food supplies. Consider having a separate small pantry accessible from the kitchen door and locating the entrance to the utility room through the cloakroom – and if possible, use a “stealth mode” door such as Linvisible’s (unfortunately not cheap) or a mirrored door.
- If you’re already planning that, you could also arrange to cool the pantry somewhat from the utility room … and reconsider the window design … (symmetry on the exterior is often overrated – it’s usually not worth sacrificing function for it, and asymmetrical looks can often be integrated very well into the exterior design).
- Assuming you enjoy long baths, how attractive would a lake view be? This would influence the closet/entrance layout to the bathroom. I’d get creative there. First idea: swap the bathroom and bedroom, with the bedroom exit onto the gallery corridor – featuring a walkway, semi-circular or some kind of “indoor balcony”…
- Staircase from the bedroom down to the garden
And indulge in the spaciousness of the gallery! It also creates a positive impression from downstairs. We have a similar setup, so I know what I’m talking about.
P
pagoni20203 Jul 2020 17:42@saralina87
I would like to make it a bit more “crazy.” Unfortunately, we’re told to also consider the supposedly approaching age since we don’t want to move to a nursing home right away. Otherwise, the first floor with an unobstructed lake view would definitely be my top choice! You’re absolutely right about that. We’re trying to build in some pragmatism so that we can live there as long as possible and not have to move out at the first sign of health issues. That’s why we’re considering swapping the living room/bedroom with full bathrooms each. Alternatively, we also thought about moving the living room to the gallery level and creating a comfortable living-dining area downstairs. That would also free up more space for things like a fireplace, etc. Good food for thought…
@Solveigh
The roof support and other structural elements will be advised by the structural engineer, who will be involved soon. The current plan comes from the main contractor and their design software. So, it should be possible in some way. Maybe a post will be needed at the gallery… but as I said, these details are still open.
The idea about the kitchen door is good; so far, we’re planning to use our almost new kitchen here, although it might stay as is… Since we’re building modularly anyway, we’ll find a solution. I’ll check it out or @Climbee might send it to me.
Extending into the utility room sounds interesting; I also thought about extending the living room into the hallway, but then the hallway would have to be taller.
I understand what you mean about not just having a straight, narrow corridor.
At the moment, I’m not exactly sure how much space we need for the utility/technical room, although I’m also considering relocating some parts to the garage if possible.
Thanks so much to all of you for the ideas—keep them coming! Nothing is finalized yet here.
I would like to make it a bit more “crazy.” Unfortunately, we’re told to also consider the supposedly approaching age since we don’t want to move to a nursing home right away. Otherwise, the first floor with an unobstructed lake view would definitely be my top choice! You’re absolutely right about that. We’re trying to build in some pragmatism so that we can live there as long as possible and not have to move out at the first sign of health issues. That’s why we’re considering swapping the living room/bedroom with full bathrooms each. Alternatively, we also thought about moving the living room to the gallery level and creating a comfortable living-dining area downstairs. That would also free up more space for things like a fireplace, etc. Good food for thought…
@Solveigh
The roof support and other structural elements will be advised by the structural engineer, who will be involved soon. The current plan comes from the main contractor and their design software. So, it should be possible in some way. Maybe a post will be needed at the gallery… but as I said, these details are still open.
The idea about the kitchen door is good; so far, we’re planning to use our almost new kitchen here, although it might stay as is… Since we’re building modularly anyway, we’ll find a solution. I’ll check it out or @Climbee might send it to me.
Extending into the utility room sounds interesting; I also thought about extending the living room into the hallway, but then the hallway would have to be taller.
I understand what you mean about not just having a straight, narrow corridor.
At the moment, I’m not exactly sure how much space we need for the utility/technical room, although I’m also considering relocating some parts to the garage if possible.
Thanks so much to all of you for the ideas—keep them coming! Nothing is finalized yet here.
hampshire schrieb:
I really like the design. Once you understand the living space in three dimensions, you’ll realize that it doesn’t feel like a long room because the width of the open space is significant – after all, there is a gallery mezzanine along more than two-thirds of the length. The structure on the ground floor allows for a cozy atmosphere in a very large room. The volume of air will help prevent any feeling of stuffiness or confinement.
Tips – (unfortunately not just about saving money):
- Consider an acoustic ceiling – sound comfort is not a luxury – you don’t want harsh echoes! LignoTrend works excellently for us – you can also see pictures of it from @rick2018.
- Reducing storage space works wonderfully with some discipline and can be a real relief. If you’re not yet living with fewer possessions, decide together what truly needs to go into the house. When we moved, we left behind at least 70% of our belongings and haven’t regretted it for a second even after almost a year. Limited storage helps us think more carefully about new purchases.
- A utility room is often warmer than the rest of the house due to the heat generated by equipment inside, making it less suitable for storing food supplies. Consider a separate small pantry accessible from the kitchen door and place the entrance to the utility room through the cloakroom – and if possible, use a "stealth-mode" door like those from Linvisible (unfortunately not cheap) or a mirror door.
- While you’re at it, you could cool the pantry a bit from the utility room... and reconsider the window design... (symmetry on the outside is often overrated – it’s usually not worth sacrificing function, and the asymmetrical look can be very well integrated into the exterior design)
- Assuming you enjoy long baths – how attractive would a lake view be? That would affect the arrangement of the closet and entrance to the bathroom. I would get creative here. First idea: swap the bathroom and bedroom, put the bedroom door on the mezzanine hallway – with a walkway, curved or like an "indoor balcony"...
- Staircase from the bedroom to the garden
And allow yourselves the generosity of the gallery! It also feels positive when you’re downstairs. We have a similar setup, and I know what I’m talking about.
-
At what room size or ceiling height does an acoustic ceiling become worthwhile... use / cost...?
H
hampshire3 Jul 2020 17:49Here is an older photo – we also had to support a purlin and used a section from an oak tree that we had to cut down.
@Snowy36: You can also see the acoustic ceiling here. This kind of solution is useful whenever a space is large and has many bare surfaces. In our case, the height from the ground floor to the ridge purlin is about 7 meters (23 feet). The ceiling cost somewhere between 12,000 and 15,000 euros net; I’m not exactly sure anymore, and for good reason, I’m not checking the invoices again. Paid and done – what would I compare today?
@Snowy36: You can also see the acoustic ceiling here. This kind of solution is useful whenever a space is large and has many bare surfaces. In our case, the height from the ground floor to the ridge purlin is about 7 meters (23 feet). The ceiling cost somewhere between 12,000 and 15,000 euros net; I’m not exactly sure anymore, and for good reason, I’m not checking the invoices again. Paid and done – what would I compare today?
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