ᐅ Suggestions for Floor Plan Improvements for a Single-Family House on a South-Facing Slope

Created on: 5 Feb 2023 20:02
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Indahaus
Hello everyone,

after purchasing the plot in February last year, which was fully serviced by the end of last year, we have been gathering inspiration and planning ever since. Despite rising costs and interest rates, we are excited about building our house, including some DIY work.


Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 669 m² (7200 sq ft approx.)
Slope: South-facing slope, 3.90 m (12.8 ft) diagonal (approx. 7.3° incline at the street side)
Site occupancy index: 0.4
Floor area ratio: 0.7
Building window, building line and boundary: 3 meters (10 ft) or setback areas
Edge development: garage
Number of parking spaces: two per dwelling unit in front of garages, minimum 5 meters (16 ft)
Number of stories: 3 full stories (basement, ground floor, upper floor)
Roof style: gable roof with 35° to 45° pitch (if basement is not a full floor, then 15° to 25°)
Architectural style
Orientation: see draft sketch
Maximum heights / limits: wall height 6.50 m (21.3 ft) measured from finished floor level of the ground floor to the junction of wall and exterior roof surface
Additional requirements: garage roof as flat roof with green roofing, at least 40% photovoltaic panels

Homeowners’ Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: no decision yet on wood or masonry (affordable ecological)
Basement, floors: 2 plus basement suitable as living space
Number of occupants, age: 2 persons, both 26 years old
Space requirements on ground and upper floors: see draft sketch
Office: family use or home office? home office
Overnight guests per year: few
Open or closed architecture: rather open
Conservative or modern design: rather modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: both desired
Number of dining seats: 8, preferably extendable
Fireplace: would be nice but too expensive
Music/Stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: roof terrace on garage for drying laundry, terrace, balcony-like at living/dining/kitchen area but with garden access
Garage, carport: double garage (possibly added later)
Utility garden, greenhouse: yes (greenhouse not planned at least for now)
Further wishes / special features / daily routine, please also reasons for inclusion or exclusion

House Design
Source of planning: do-it-yourself
What do you particularly like? Why? no bay windows, no spiral stairs, enough space in entrance area, access garage-house in entrance area, access garage roof/laundry room on the upper floor, level access to ground floor on north side and basement on south side, sight lines
What don’t you like? Why? staircase not located near living area, small main bathroom

Cost estimate according to architect/planner: not obtained yet
Personal price limit for house including fittings:
Preferred heating system: heat pump (underfloor heating possibly combined with cooled ceiling)

If you had to give up something, on which details/extensions
-you can give up: efficient sqm (unused areas), basement under garage or terrace
-you cannot give up: basement with large hobby workshop

Why is the design as it is now? For example:
Standard design from planner? No
Which wishes from the architect were implemented? No architect, we tried to implement our wishes ourselves on a compact footprint without feeling cramped
What makes it, in your view, particularly good or bad?

What is the most important/fundamental question about the floor plan in 130 characters?

Do you have any suggestions for improvement? What would bother you? Any tips on doing things similarly but more cost-effectively?

The basement plan is not finalized yet. In addition to utility rooms, storage, possibly a bathroom (for quick cleaning and a potential future granny flat), a space-intensive hobby needs to be accommodated here. We are considering adding a basement under the garage or terrace or both. If you have any preliminary tips or rough cost estimates, please share.

If you need further information, just ask.

Thank you all!

Indahaus


Cross-section of a house on a slope with garage, ramp and terrace.


Cadastral map: pink plot with 671 m², no. 15, adjacent plot 16, boundary lines, trees.


Schematic drawing of two house sections type C and D with roof styles and floors.


Floor plan of a house: bedroom, dressing room, utility room, bathroom, children’s rooms 1+2, stairs.


Floor plan of a single-family house with garage, living/dining area, kitchen and stairs.


Floor plan of a building section with bathroom, technical room, stairwell, and external connections.
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hanghaus2023
6 Feb 2023 12:14
I have planned a version for the positioning on the plot.

Site plan: pink plot with green parcel boundary, blue building, parcel 671 m² (7208 sq ft).


A garage integrated into the house.
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hanghaus2023
6 Feb 2023 12:23
That might work fine for the planning stage. However, I’m not even convinced that it should actually be implemented that way. With such a huge basement, it will become unaffordable for you. Therefore, my suggestion is to omit the basement or lower ground floor. It works well without it too.

You have exactly 1 m (3.3 ft) slope over the 9 m (29.5 ft) parallel to the street in the house area.
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Indahaus
6 Feb 2023 12:32
SoL schrieb:

Please respond to that.

What you are planning is technically all feasible, but given the size of the project, it requires a very deep pocket.

Sorry for the delayed reply. We have a civil engineer for the earthworks among our acquaintances. The budget is primarily intended for the house including the basement.
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Indahaus
6 Feb 2023 12:39
hanghaus2023 schrieb:

I have planned a layout option for the positioning on the plot.

Thank you for your effort. From the drawing, I can’t quite tell where the garage would be located. On which level?
haydee schrieb:

For the budget, you are planning one floor too many.
The basement will be removed,
the ground floor moved to the lower ground floor with direct access to the garden,
the issue with the terrace on the basement level is resolved,
the attic floor moves down to the ground floor.

The question is, what is the alternative for the needed space in the basement? I doubt that renting the equivalent space would be cheaper in the long run. Let’s set the comfort aspect aside for now.
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haydee
6 Feb 2023 12:57
What space is missing? The ballroom that is supposed to become a condominium? You don’t really need that.

You have to plan so that your budget is sufficient and still leaves a buffer. Right now, there is a significant shortfall between your planning and budget.
You are planning for two children. You lack the monthly income to cover increased costs for a longer period. Don’t cut off your breathing room by taking on too much debt now.
With a house, hobbies and time management with children change again. There will be times when you have no time for hobbies, and when you do, you’ll be grateful just to get some sleep.
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haydee
6 Feb 2023 12:59
Indahaus schrieb:

Sorry for the delayed reply. We know an earthworks contractor personally. The budget is mainly planned for the house including the basement.

Have you spoken with the earthworks contractor? What does he suggest as the most cost-effective way to position the house and arrange the garden?