Hello everyone,
we have received a preliminary design and a quote from our builder. I would like to get your opinion on it.
It is planned as an accessible bungalow (about 131 sqm (1410 sq ft)) with 3 bedrooms and possibly a study room. Previously, instead of the study, there was a slightly larger kitchen and a somewhat bigger living room.
My opinion:
I would make the house a bit narrower on the street side, which would make the bedroom and child’s room 1 slightly smaller. Instead, the living room and kitchen would be extended, allowing the kitchen to be a bit larger (it currently feels too small to me).
On the other side, I have the option to make the carport a bit wider. I am trying to achieve an internal width of 3.5 m (11.5 ft) for the carport (because of wheelchair access).
I will also ask the builder what price difference it would make to have a concrete ceiling with insulation instead of a wooden beam ceiling, a knee wall height of maybe 30 cm (12 inches), and a roof pitch of 40 degrees, so that it would be possible to convert the attic space in the future (maybe after 25–30 years).
I would like to have a carport for two cars parked in tandem with a storage room planned, but I want to handle the construction myself or have it done elsewhere. The builder is asking €14,000 for a single carport with storage, which I think is too expensive.
We would really appreciate your suggestions.
Thank you
we have received a preliminary design and a quote from our builder. I would like to get your opinion on it.
It is planned as an accessible bungalow (about 131 sqm (1410 sq ft)) with 3 bedrooms and possibly a study room. Previously, instead of the study, there was a slightly larger kitchen and a somewhat bigger living room.
My opinion:
I would make the house a bit narrower on the street side, which would make the bedroom and child’s room 1 slightly smaller. Instead, the living room and kitchen would be extended, allowing the kitchen to be a bit larger (it currently feels too small to me).
On the other side, I have the option to make the carport a bit wider. I am trying to achieve an internal width of 3.5 m (11.5 ft) for the carport (because of wheelchair access).
I will also ask the builder what price difference it would make to have a concrete ceiling with insulation instead of a wooden beam ceiling, a knee wall height of maybe 30 cm (12 inches), and a roof pitch of 40 degrees, so that it would be possible to convert the attic space in the future (maybe after 25–30 years).
I would like to have a carport for two cars parked in tandem with a storage room planned, but I want to handle the construction myself or have it done elsewhere. The builder is asking €14,000 for a single carport with storage, which I think is too expensive.
We would really appreciate your suggestions.
Thank you
We have a barrier-free bungalow. You don’t. The hallway alone ruins it. If you want to maneuver comfortably in a wheelchair, choose a “rounded” hallway instead of a long, narrow one.
Since you are not willing to fill out the questionnaire, here are a few questions I need to get an idea:
1. Does it need to be a guest bathroom?
2. How severe is your child’s disability? Can they move around the house on their own, or do they need a wheelchair?
3. Should the kitchen be open or closed?
4. Does the house need to be expandable upstairs?
5. How old are the children?
6. What type of heating would you prefer? District heating as described in the plan?
7. Do you want an energy-efficient house like a KfW standard home?
8. Do you need additional storage space somewhere? For therapy equipment, for example.
9. We really need the building envelope, or you need to tell us the maximum dimensions the house can have.
10. Are there any absolute deal breakers for you?
11. Do you want a fireplace?
12. Are there any special requirements for the layout related to the disabled child? For example, do the parents need to sleep directly next to the child? Does the child’s room need to accommodate a parent’s bed?
You can see that the information you provided is far from sufficient to assess your situation and make a reasonable proposal.
Since you are not willing to fill out the questionnaire, here are a few questions I need to get an idea:
1. Does it need to be a guest bathroom?
2. How severe is your child’s disability? Can they move around the house on their own, or do they need a wheelchair?
3. Should the kitchen be open or closed?
4. Does the house need to be expandable upstairs?
5. How old are the children?
6. What type of heating would you prefer? District heating as described in the plan?
7. Do you want an energy-efficient house like a KfW standard home?
8. Do you need additional storage space somewhere? For therapy equipment, for example.
9. We really need the building envelope, or you need to tell us the maximum dimensions the house can have.
10. Are there any absolute deal breakers for you?
11. Do you want a fireplace?
12. Are there any special requirements for the layout related to the disabled child? For example, do the parents need to sleep directly next to the child? Does the child’s room need to accommodate a parent’s bed?
You can see that the information you provided is far from sufficient to assess your situation and make a reasonable proposal.
T
toxicmolotof27 Sep 2017 07:56No one involved in accessibility planning would have designed this. Basic fundamental rules for accessibility are being ignored. This is such a serious error that it cannot simply be a mistake.
Well, I didn’t actually want to come in with this heavy approach, but sometimes you have to be straightforward to make it clear that your questions come from a good place [emoji4].
Try searching for barrier-free housing and take a look at bungalow floor plans: few square rooms, a square hallway, open living areas, no unnecessary walls or corners. There are rarely more than three bedrooms, so usually no separate office, all within about 160 square meters (1,722 square feet) of living space. These designs indicate the rooms with the turning radius of a wheelchair marked.
I see you have the utility room on the upper floor, possibly also a child’s room with a shower bathroom. Downstairs, on 130 square meters (1,399 square feet), there is space for parents, child, bathroom, and a living area—while the living area actually is one room without door or wall barriers. I understand you probably don’t want to build a fully certified barrier-free house but rather include some elements to keep it affordable and provide a more comfortable living situation for your child?
Try searching for barrier-free housing and take a look at bungalow floor plans: few square rooms, a square hallway, open living areas, no unnecessary walls or corners. There are rarely more than three bedrooms, so usually no separate office, all within about 160 square meters (1,722 square feet) of living space. These designs indicate the rooms with the turning radius of a wheelchair marked.
I see you have the utility room on the upper floor, possibly also a child’s room with a shower bathroom. Downstairs, on 130 square meters (1,399 square feet), there is space for parents, child, bathroom, and a living area—while the living area actually is one room without door or wall barriers. I understand you probably don’t want to build a fully certified barrier-free house but rather include some elements to keep it affordable and provide a more comfortable living situation for your child?
My view:
Make sure to have interior doors that are 1 meter wide (about 39 inches). It seems this wasn’t consistently done.
The bedroom doesn’t have enough closet space. Yvonne is right about that.
A roof pitch of 35 degrees is enough for a comfortably walkable attic.
Plan the staircase right away. You’ll never get it that cheap again. (For me, it was an additional gross cost of 9,600, including the finished upper floor, the staircase, a small hallway, and one Velux window at the top.)
I don’t like the wardrobe wall that extends into the hallway. It makes maneuvering around the corner more difficult.
How to position the guest toilet if the staircase is included from the start, I don’t know yet. No idea so far.
A concrete ceiling is as unnecessary as a tonsil on a bungalow. Also unnecessary for a walkable upper floor.
I can tell you: Going through this, with the stairs and all, was the smartest decision I’ve made in the last 10 years of my life. The floor is used for drying laundry (Velux open, drying rack placed there), saving 500 in dryer costs. It now serves, with shelves full of wood from Hornbach, as an almost endless storage space for everything. Nothing is left lying around downstairs; everything is neatly organized. Upstairs it’s bone dry—perfect.
Karsten
Make sure to have interior doors that are 1 meter wide (about 39 inches). It seems this wasn’t consistently done.
The bedroom doesn’t have enough closet space. Yvonne is right about that.
A roof pitch of 35 degrees is enough for a comfortably walkable attic.
Plan the staircase right away. You’ll never get it that cheap again. (For me, it was an additional gross cost of 9,600, including the finished upper floor, the staircase, a small hallway, and one Velux window at the top.)
I don’t like the wardrobe wall that extends into the hallway. It makes maneuvering around the corner more difficult.
How to position the guest toilet if the staircase is included from the start, I don’t know yet. No idea so far.
A concrete ceiling is as unnecessary as a tonsil on a bungalow. Also unnecessary for a walkable upper floor.
I can tell you: Going through this, with the stairs and all, was the smartest decision I’ve made in the last 10 years of my life. The floor is used for drying laundry (Velux open, drying rack placed there), saving 500 in dryer costs. It now serves, with shelves full of wood from Hornbach, as an almost endless storage space for everything. Nothing is left lying around downstairs; everything is neatly organized. Upstairs it’s bone dry—perfect.
Karsten
Try selecting a show home and navigating it with a wheelchair. For example, Hanse Haus has an accessible bungalow in Oberleichtersbach—try moving around in it. Then, sit together at the dining table or in the living room.
Your floor plan doesn’t work. Consider the hallway, turning radii, assistants, therapy equipment, and so on. Take a look at floor plans that are truly accessible and compare them with yours. Ask an association or similar organization for architects who are experienced with these requirements.
Your floor plan doesn’t work. Consider the hallway, turning radii, assistants, therapy equipment, and so on. Take a look at floor plans that are truly accessible and compare them with yours. Ask an association or similar organization for architects who are experienced with these requirements.
I am adding to my previous post here (I usually use the forum on my phone and there I don’t see or find a notice board where such information was requested).
Please do not confuse this plot and house type with my previous question (https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/bangalow-grudndriss-barrierefrei.25523/). That plot was better in terms of layout but was supplied with district heating and there was a multi-family building planned on the south side. That is why I changed it. This plot has not been purchased yet, only reserved.
Plot number: 214
In the offer, the builder considered district heating as the heat supplier (like with the first plot), they will correct this. (I have to plan an additional €7000)
Development plan / restrictions: ris.Stadt-bramsche.de/bi/getfile.php?id=109611&Type=do&
Plot size: 618 sqm (not rectangular, see attached dimensions)
Slope: East is lower than West
Site coverage ratio: according to the development plan
Floor area ratio: according to the development plan
Building zone, building line and boundary: according to the development plan
Edge development: according to the development plan
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of stories: 1 full story
Roof type: hipped roof
Style: bungalow with brick facade
Orientation: entrance east, garden west
Maximum height: 8.5 m (28 feet). All other neighbors can build up to 8.5 m (28 feet) except the neighbor to the west, who can build up to 9.5 m (31 feet).
Setbacks: 3 m (10 feet) distance to neighboring plots
Other requirements: according to the development plan
Client requirements
Style: entrance east
Roof pitch: hipped roof, 35 or 40 degrees
Building type: bungalow
Basement: no
Stories: 1 full story - attic convertible
Number of occupants: 3 (planned for 5 or 6 in the future)
Ages: 36, 33, 5
Space needed on ground floor: 130 to 140 sqm (1400 to 1500 sq ft)
Office: family use or home office? Yes
Overnight guests per year: 5
Open floor plan: yes
Conservative building style: yes
Open kitchen: yes
Kitchen island: depending on planning (maybe)
Number of dining seats: 4 to 6
Fireplace: no
Music/stereo wall: no
Terrace: yes
Double carport with storage room: yes (cars parked one behind the other as the plot width at the street side is 20 m (66 feet))
Garden: yes
Greenhouse: no
Other:
The house must be barrier-free. Our son is severely disabled (due to an accident when he was 2 years old), he cannot walk or speak but understands well (very intelligent). He still needs to be pushed in a manual wheelchair; I do not know yet if he will manage an electric wheelchair in the future (fine motor skills are also limited).
House design is attached.
The planning comes from a construction company (they usually have their own craftsmen).
DIY: I may build the carport and landscaping myself or have it done elsewhere.
Price estimate according to architect/planner: €170,000
Personal price limit for house including equipment: €200,000
Preferred heating technology: gas heating - KfW 70 (standard)
If you have to give up something, on which details/upgrade options:
- Can you give up:
- Cannot give up: barrier-free design, 3 bedrooms, 1 office room
Standard design from the planner is attached.
Which wishes were implemented by the architect? They have implemented the kitchen instead of an office room as originally planned.
We would like the attic to be convertible so that in the future (25 or 30 years) a separate apartment can be created (for children who are not yet born).
That is why we want a roof pitch of 35 or 40 degrees, with knee walls high enough to allow good attic conversion.
We have left out the stairs for now to save some space on the ground floor.
I am uploading all the data I have so far.
Thank you in advance for your helpful tips.
Please do not confuse this plot and house type with my previous question (https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/bangalow-grudndriss-barrierefrei.25523/). That plot was better in terms of layout but was supplied with district heating and there was a multi-family building planned on the south side. That is why I changed it. This plot has not been purchased yet, only reserved.
Plot number: 214
In the offer, the builder considered district heating as the heat supplier (like with the first plot), they will correct this. (I have to plan an additional €7000)
Development plan / restrictions: ris.Stadt-bramsche.de/bi/getfile.php?id=109611&Type=do&
Plot size: 618 sqm (not rectangular, see attached dimensions)
Slope: East is lower than West
Site coverage ratio: according to the development plan
Floor area ratio: according to the development plan
Building zone, building line and boundary: according to the development plan
Edge development: according to the development plan
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of stories: 1 full story
Roof type: hipped roof
Style: bungalow with brick facade
Orientation: entrance east, garden west
Maximum height: 8.5 m (28 feet). All other neighbors can build up to 8.5 m (28 feet) except the neighbor to the west, who can build up to 9.5 m (31 feet).
Setbacks: 3 m (10 feet) distance to neighboring plots
Other requirements: according to the development plan
Client requirements
Style: entrance east
Roof pitch: hipped roof, 35 or 40 degrees
Building type: bungalow
Basement: no
Stories: 1 full story - attic convertible
Number of occupants: 3 (planned for 5 or 6 in the future)
Ages: 36, 33, 5
Space needed on ground floor: 130 to 140 sqm (1400 to 1500 sq ft)
Office: family use or home office? Yes
Overnight guests per year: 5
Open floor plan: yes
Conservative building style: yes
Open kitchen: yes
Kitchen island: depending on planning (maybe)
Number of dining seats: 4 to 6
Fireplace: no
Music/stereo wall: no
Terrace: yes
Double carport with storage room: yes (cars parked one behind the other as the plot width at the street side is 20 m (66 feet))
Garden: yes
Greenhouse: no
Other:
The house must be barrier-free. Our son is severely disabled (due to an accident when he was 2 years old), he cannot walk or speak but understands well (very intelligent). He still needs to be pushed in a manual wheelchair; I do not know yet if he will manage an electric wheelchair in the future (fine motor skills are also limited).
House design is attached.
The planning comes from a construction company (they usually have their own craftsmen).
DIY: I may build the carport and landscaping myself or have it done elsewhere.
Price estimate according to architect/planner: €170,000
Personal price limit for house including equipment: €200,000
Preferred heating technology: gas heating - KfW 70 (standard)
If you have to give up something, on which details/upgrade options:
- Can you give up:
- Cannot give up: barrier-free design, 3 bedrooms, 1 office room
Standard design from the planner is attached.
Which wishes were implemented by the architect? They have implemented the kitchen instead of an office room as originally planned.
We would like the attic to be convertible so that in the future (25 or 30 years) a separate apartment can be created (for children who are not yet born).
That is why we want a roof pitch of 35 or 40 degrees, with knee walls high enough to allow good attic conversion.
We have left out the stairs for now to save some space on the ground floor.
I am uploading all the data I have so far.
Thank you in advance for your helpful tips.