ᐅ Floor plan mostly finalized, looking for optimization, house/geothermal heating system
Created on: 13 Oct 2013 09:52
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f-pNo
Hello everyone,
Today I finally want to share my preliminary (planning) floor plan. The layout is somewhat unusual, but this is due to the plot conditions.
Our plot looks as follows (I hope you can imagine it):
The first 14 m (length) of the plot is flat, then there is a steep 3 m (10 feet) high embankment, after which the plot gradually slopes upward again.
Our neighbors have tried to "solve" the plot situation in two ways:
On one hand, they built with a classic floor plan (living area on the ground floor, bedrooms upstairs) right up to the embankment. This is not very appealing for us, as we don’t want to look out onto an earth wall from our windows.
The others have completely excavated the slope at the back to place the terrace there. This would probably be possible but would completely exceed our budget. Also, even then (just slightly offset) we would still only have a view of the slope.
Our plan (as you can see) is to build a house with two full stories and a pitched roof near the embankment. The bedrooms and bathroom will be on the ground floor, and the living area will be upstairs. The terrace is planned to face east from the living room, overlooking the upper part of the plot—probably the terrace will be extended slightly forward to catch some southern sun.
The office is designed for multiple uses: office, hobby room for the parents, and guest room. At first glance, it looks narrow, but on closer inspection the room is 2.81 m (9 feet 3 inches) wide, which in my opinion is acceptable.
Since we don’t have a basement, we planned a utility room with technical installations and space for a washer/dryer, as well as a storage room (also to be used as a pantry). The shower bathroom seems somewhat large to me; however, I couldn’t find a more practical layout, and it also allows space to put a drying rack if needed.
On the north side (where the front door is) we want to add a garage plus a carport. If this is not financially feasible (due to the slope, the rear wall must be “particularly strong” and waterproofed), it could be two carports arranged one behind the other. In both cases, we have the problem that the vehicles need to be moved frequently.
On the south side (6 m (20 feet) to the neighbor) I don’t think a garage or carport can be placed. First, our neighbor has built a garage (2.40 or 2.50 m (8 or 8 feet 2 inches) high) right on the boundary line. Second, the children’s bedrooms are on the south side and need to receive enough light.
The house will be heated with geothermal energy. The project cost is estimated at 260,000 – 270,000 euros (including garage/carport)—all in except for painting works.
We are basically happy with the design, but there is always room for improvement if you know where to look. Since we have not found anything (except the retractable attic ladder and reinforcing the wall between the utility room and children's room), we are hoping for ideas from friends, acquaintances, and YOU.
So—get typing. (Floor plans will follow shortly – there still needs to be some adjustment to the size.)
Today I finally want to share my preliminary (planning) floor plan. The layout is somewhat unusual, but this is due to the plot conditions.
Our plot looks as follows (I hope you can imagine it):
- Length 30.00 m (98 feet 5 inches)
- Width 19.50 m (64 feet)
The first 14 m (length) of the plot is flat, then there is a steep 3 m (10 feet) high embankment, after which the plot gradually slopes upward again.
Our neighbors have tried to "solve" the plot situation in two ways:
On one hand, they built with a classic floor plan (living area on the ground floor, bedrooms upstairs) right up to the embankment. This is not very appealing for us, as we don’t want to look out onto an earth wall from our windows.
The others have completely excavated the slope at the back to place the terrace there. This would probably be possible but would completely exceed our budget. Also, even then (just slightly offset) we would still only have a view of the slope.
Our plan (as you can see) is to build a house with two full stories and a pitched roof near the embankment. The bedrooms and bathroom will be on the ground floor, and the living area will be upstairs. The terrace is planned to face east from the living room, overlooking the upper part of the plot—probably the terrace will be extended slightly forward to catch some southern sun.
The office is designed for multiple uses: office, hobby room for the parents, and guest room. At first glance, it looks narrow, but on closer inspection the room is 2.81 m (9 feet 3 inches) wide, which in my opinion is acceptable.
Since we don’t have a basement, we planned a utility room with technical installations and space for a washer/dryer, as well as a storage room (also to be used as a pantry). The shower bathroom seems somewhat large to me; however, I couldn’t find a more practical layout, and it also allows space to put a drying rack if needed.
On the north side (where the front door is) we want to add a garage plus a carport. If this is not financially feasible (due to the slope, the rear wall must be “particularly strong” and waterproofed), it could be two carports arranged one behind the other. In both cases, we have the problem that the vehicles need to be moved frequently.
On the south side (6 m (20 feet) to the neighbor) I don’t think a garage or carport can be placed. First, our neighbor has built a garage (2.40 or 2.50 m (8 or 8 feet 2 inches) high) right on the boundary line. Second, the children’s bedrooms are on the south side and need to receive enough light.
The house will be heated with geothermal energy. The project cost is estimated at 260,000 – 270,000 euros (including garage/carport)—all in except for painting works.
We are basically happy with the design, but there is always room for improvement if you know where to look. Since we have not found anything (except the retractable attic ladder and reinforcing the wall between the utility room and children's room), we are hoping for ideas from friends, acquaintances, and YOU.
So—get typing. (Floor plans will follow shortly – there still needs to be some adjustment to the size.)
Hello Wastl,
Perhaps I was a bit unclear. The terrace will be on the east side (the east side has the kitchen and living room on the upper floor – see the Obergeschoss.jpg). The house is planned to be built into the slope. Therefore, the ground floor (except for the utility room’s light well) has no windows on the east side. You enter directly from the living/dining area through the terrace door onto the upper part of the property (so there’s no need for a connecting bridge 🙂).
Yes – the terrain is flat on the south side – but here there is only a 6m (20 feet) distance to the neighbor’s garage. Also, from the street (to the west), the house is quite exposed.
As you described, some neighbors have built similarly (just without the connecting bridge). They placed their houses right next to the slope so that the earth embankment rises directly along the house’s front (east), and they look out from their living rooms, which are conventionally on the ground floor, directly onto the earth embankment. It is not yet visible how they plan to use the upper part of their properties.
I can see now that I probably should follow katho’s suggestion and upload the elevations.
My wife (a trained landscape gardener) also wants to build an outdoor staircase later from the lower to the upper part of the property. She has some ideas involving wooden planks or similar. I’m curious to see how that will turn out.
Perhaps I was a bit unclear. The terrace will be on the east side (the east side has the kitchen and living room on the upper floor – see the Obergeschoss.jpg). The house is planned to be built into the slope. Therefore, the ground floor (except for the utility room’s light well) has no windows on the east side. You enter directly from the living/dining area through the terrace door onto the upper part of the property (so there’s no need for a connecting bridge 🙂).
Yes – the terrain is flat on the south side – but here there is only a 6m (20 feet) distance to the neighbor’s garage. Also, from the street (to the west), the house is quite exposed.
As you described, some neighbors have built similarly (just without the connecting bridge). They placed their houses right next to the slope so that the earth embankment rises directly along the house’s front (east), and they look out from their living rooms, which are conventionally on the ground floor, directly onto the earth embankment. It is not yet visible how they plan to use the upper part of their properties.
I can see now that I probably should follow katho’s suggestion and upload the elevations.
My wife (a trained landscape gardener) also wants to build an outdoor staircase later from the lower to the upper part of the property. She has some ideas involving wooden planks or similar. I’m curious to see how that will turn out.
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