Hello,
I would like to introduce you to a project that has been developing in my mind for several years now. I look forward to your constructive feedback! First of all: the two views are not entirely up to date. Some windows have different sizes, for example, they are not all floor-to-ceiling. Also, the canopy does not extend to the bay window but ends at the “main facade.”
Zoning plan / restrictions
Plot size: approx. 1250m² (square)
Slope: no
Floor area ratio
Plot ratio
Building envelope, building line, and boundary
Boundary construction: the requirement is at least 3m (10 feet) distance from the neighbor’s property line, which we are complying with
Number of parking spaces: 2 mandatory parking spaces; planned are 2 either inside the garage or in front
Roof type: I’m not sure what it’s called, but it is definitely not a flat roof.
Orientation: the garage is on the north side, and the kitchen faces south. The street is a very quiet cul-de-sac running parallel to the house’s front.
Additional requirements: the distance from the property line at the street to the building must be 4m (13 feet); in the area of the office, it may be 3m (10 feet). Building is allowed up to 20m (66 feet) from the street into the property (minus the first 4m, so 16m). Sorry for the missing technical terms and the amateurish description!
Homeowner requirements
Basement, floors: two floors plus basement
Number of occupants, ages: 2 adults (40), two children aged 3 and 6
Office: the upstairs office should also serve as a PC workstation. The ground floor office is primarily planned as a storage room but possibly also as a PC workstation.
Guest stays per year: currently none, but probably later when the children are older. They would sleep on extra beds in the children’s rooms. We do not want a separate guest room or guest bathroom/WC.
Open or closed architecture: rather closed. Originally, we thought about an open connection between dining and living room but decided against it, even though the door will mostly remain open. The same applies to the dining room – hallway passage.
Traditional or modern construction: I would describe it as rather traditional. Function over form.
Open kitchen, cooking island: open kitchen facing the dining area, but intentionally no cooking island, rather a standing desk/bar with stools to allow for interaction.
Number of dining seats: at least 4, with the option to extend the table for family gatherings and similar occasions
Fireplace: yes, in the living room on the wall next to the stairs (plus another fireplace in the basement)
Music / stereo wall: no dedicated setup, only a TV in the living room with space for speakers on each side. In the bedroom, a place for a TV is planned in case we want to install one later. Each of the children’s rooms will have a TV.
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: garage yes; a carport possibly later.
Utility garden, greenhouse: regular garden with a pool adjacent to the living room/terrace
Further wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons for choices or exclusions:
- Main terrace faces the garden and a small secondary terrace facing the street to enjoy the morning sun or to escape the hot afternoon sun in summer
- Second stairway leading to the basement (not to the upper floor!) to have quicker access from the garden to the workshop
- The WC behind the garage was an idea after removing the WC in the basement. It should also serve as a kind of mudroom after gardening or for the kids. The WC and stairway design are still a work in progress; this is just a snapshot.
- I couldn’t properly represent the wall thickness in my design program. The exterior walls are all 50cm (20 inches) brick; the interior walls are not yet defined individually.
House design
Who created the design: basically by us, now revised with an architect (and still in progress)
What do you like most? Why? The L-shape of the building, because it creates a nice, sheltered terrace and partially screens the garden from the street view.
What do you dislike? Why? The limited daylight in the hallway, especially on the ground floor. I plan to ease this by using glass panels in the doors. There is a window next to the elevator on the upper floor. I am also concerned about the relatively narrow children’s rooms and would appreciate your opinions about whether they are too “thin.”
If you have to give up certain details / add-ons
- can you give up: the WC behind the garage
- can you not give up: hmm…
Why is the design the way it is now?
As mentioned, I wanted an L-shape. The garage location on the north side was non-negotiable for me. The main entrance should also face north, sheltered from wind and rain. The WCs should be ventilated by windows, so not located in interior spaces. I had originally placed the kitchen near the living room to shorten the walk from the car to the kitchen but quickly abandoned that design. It is important for us to access both terraces quickly from the kitchen.
Regarding the upper floor: my wife wanted a small walk-in closet/dressing room, which resulted from the short corridor leading to the bedroom.
We wanted a parent and a children’s bathroom as well as separate toilets, but with the requirement that no toilet is directly inside a bathroom. I am personally not a fan of that due to odor reasons! Since both bathroom and WC should have windows, this was the compromise.
I would like the door from the hallway to the walk-in closet to open outward, but I fear this might cause conflicts with people and the stairs... Removing the door entirely is not an option since we do walk around naked here, and when friends of the children come over and pass by...
The door from the walk-in closet to the bedroom is not a must. It is more of a comfort factor, giving a sense that there is no dark corner in the room when sleeping, if you know what I mean.
I would like to introduce you to a project that has been developing in my mind for several years now. I look forward to your constructive feedback! First of all: the two views are not entirely up to date. Some windows have different sizes, for example, they are not all floor-to-ceiling. Also, the canopy does not extend to the bay window but ends at the “main facade.”
Zoning plan / restrictions
Plot size: approx. 1250m² (square)
Slope: no
Floor area ratio
Plot ratio
Building envelope, building line, and boundary
Boundary construction: the requirement is at least 3m (10 feet) distance from the neighbor’s property line, which we are complying with
Number of parking spaces: 2 mandatory parking spaces; planned are 2 either inside the garage or in front
Roof type: I’m not sure what it’s called, but it is definitely not a flat roof.
Orientation: the garage is on the north side, and the kitchen faces south. The street is a very quiet cul-de-sac running parallel to the house’s front.
Additional requirements: the distance from the property line at the street to the building must be 4m (13 feet); in the area of the office, it may be 3m (10 feet). Building is allowed up to 20m (66 feet) from the street into the property (minus the first 4m, so 16m). Sorry for the missing technical terms and the amateurish description!
Homeowner requirements
Basement, floors: two floors plus basement
Number of occupants, ages: 2 adults (40), two children aged 3 and 6
Office: the upstairs office should also serve as a PC workstation. The ground floor office is primarily planned as a storage room but possibly also as a PC workstation.
Guest stays per year: currently none, but probably later when the children are older. They would sleep on extra beds in the children’s rooms. We do not want a separate guest room or guest bathroom/WC.
Open or closed architecture: rather closed. Originally, we thought about an open connection between dining and living room but decided against it, even though the door will mostly remain open. The same applies to the dining room – hallway passage.
Traditional or modern construction: I would describe it as rather traditional. Function over form.
Open kitchen, cooking island: open kitchen facing the dining area, but intentionally no cooking island, rather a standing desk/bar with stools to allow for interaction.
Number of dining seats: at least 4, with the option to extend the table for family gatherings and similar occasions
Fireplace: yes, in the living room on the wall next to the stairs (plus another fireplace in the basement)
Music / stereo wall: no dedicated setup, only a TV in the living room with space for speakers on each side. In the bedroom, a place for a TV is planned in case we want to install one later. Each of the children’s rooms will have a TV.
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: garage yes; a carport possibly later.
Utility garden, greenhouse: regular garden with a pool adjacent to the living room/terrace
Further wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons for choices or exclusions:
- Main terrace faces the garden and a small secondary terrace facing the street to enjoy the morning sun or to escape the hot afternoon sun in summer
- Second stairway leading to the basement (not to the upper floor!) to have quicker access from the garden to the workshop
- The WC behind the garage was an idea after removing the WC in the basement. It should also serve as a kind of mudroom after gardening or for the kids. The WC and stairway design are still a work in progress; this is just a snapshot.
- I couldn’t properly represent the wall thickness in my design program. The exterior walls are all 50cm (20 inches) brick; the interior walls are not yet defined individually.
House design
Who created the design: basically by us, now revised with an architect (and still in progress)
What do you like most? Why? The L-shape of the building, because it creates a nice, sheltered terrace and partially screens the garden from the street view.
What do you dislike? Why? The limited daylight in the hallway, especially on the ground floor. I plan to ease this by using glass panels in the doors. There is a window next to the elevator on the upper floor. I am also concerned about the relatively narrow children’s rooms and would appreciate your opinions about whether they are too “thin.”
If you have to give up certain details / add-ons
- can you give up: the WC behind the garage
- can you not give up: hmm…
Why is the design the way it is now?
As mentioned, I wanted an L-shape. The garage location on the north side was non-negotiable for me. The main entrance should also face north, sheltered from wind and rain. The WCs should be ventilated by windows, so not located in interior spaces. I had originally placed the kitchen near the living room to shorten the walk from the car to the kitchen but quickly abandoned that design. It is important for us to access both terraces quickly from the kitchen.
Regarding the upper floor: my wife wanted a small walk-in closet/dressing room, which resulted from the short corridor leading to the bedroom.
We wanted a parent and a children’s bathroom as well as separate toilets, but with the requirement that no toilet is directly inside a bathroom. I am personally not a fan of that due to odor reasons! Since both bathroom and WC should have windows, this was the compromise.
I would like the door from the hallway to the walk-in closet to open outward, but I fear this might cause conflicts with people and the stairs... Removing the door entirely is not an option since we do walk around naked here, and when friends of the children come over and pass by...
The door from the walk-in closet to the bedroom is not a must. It is more of a comfort factor, giving a sense that there is no dark corner in the room when sleeping, if you know what I mean.
I thought our architect, who also acted as the general contractor, was good. He came to our home to better understand the clients. He listened and sketched with a pencil. Honestly, if he sees rustic oak and a country-style kitchen, he doesn’t need to suggest Bauhaus designs.
If you want, take a look at Wir Leben Haus and ask for Mr. Kleinhenz.
Michael Albert from Albert Haus is also very flexible. It’s not like general contractors only have people who just follow orders. You need someone who is really enthusiastic about the project.
You know what you want. Put that into words along with a bunch of example photos, and you’ll end up with a beautiful, cohesive villa without narrow or awkward corridors.
If you want, take a look at Wir Leben Haus and ask for Mr. Kleinhenz.
Michael Albert from Albert Haus is also very flexible. It’s not like general contractors only have people who just follow orders. You need someone who is really enthusiastic about the project.
You know what you want. Put that into words along with a bunch of example photos, and you’ll end up with a beautiful, cohesive villa without narrow or awkward corridors.
X
xMisterDx4 Aug 2023 16:09kati1337 schrieb:
This is one of those threads where I wonder why the professional group of architects so often has their expertise questioned. No one would attempt to drill their own teeth, after all. So why do so many people consider themselves draftsmen?
(...) Because there are software programs that make it seem like it’s not that difficult after all. It’s like in project management… with the BER airport, politicians also thought they didn’t need a professional and could manage the construction themselves…
bwollowb schrieb:
I tried to sketch the site plan but failed. It’s a square plot, roughly 35x35m (115x115 ft). Well, anyone who thinks they can design a house should at least be able to draw a square 😀
bwollowb schrieb:
This is my picture – I repeat: MY vision of an architect-designed house. You tell the architect about YOUR house. And of course, others have different preferences, some want lots of glass or other features implemented.
bwollowb schrieb:
Regarding the staircase: someone said it feels like it’s crowding the entrance. Maybe someone can explain that in more detail, as I’m not sure what they meant. The staircase doesn’t fit as it is. People plan practical, direct walking routes without unnecessary detours. Not just to make it easier to get around later with a walker, but so that even healthy people can orient themselves—for example, in the dark, or when tasks need to be done quickly. In this design, you have to go around or avoid many things. The details like the maze-like hallway, staircase, awkward room corners, and furniture blocking paths (dining area) have already been mentioned in other posts.
bwollowb schrieb:
For me(!), the classic "architect-designed house" is a building that completely clashes with its surroundings, perhaps featuring a huge glass façade to guarantee the wow factor. A soulless glass and concrete box that in no way reflects its inhabitants, but only serves as another monument to the creator. Unusual, but impractical. That’s my image—I repeat: MY image—of an architect-designed house.Someone clearly has the wrong idea. Choosing an architect is quite similar to selecting a tailor. You go to the one who suits you best and whose style you like. The hardest part is the search itself. But thanks to the internet, clients are much better off than they were 50 years ago. Most architects present themselves and their projects online. This makes it easy to see who might understand your wishes.
Word of mouth is, of course, still an important source. When looking for an architect, you can also simply check out recently built homes you like. Then you can ask the homeowner for the architect’s contact details—just don’t be shy!
There is definitely an architect who will understand you perfectly. But please avoid bringing your own design ideas! That creates a bad impression and stifles creativity.
K a t j a schrieb:
There is definitely an architect who will fully understand your ideas. But please don’t bring your own design along! That gives a bad impression and hinders creativity. No, I advise against it solely because it clouds the architect’s “blank slate” with the previously shown personal design. It’s not a disaster in principle to present a non-brilliant design as a layperson. From my experience, there is no problem showing it later; the only thing to avoid is “infecting” the creative process with something that will inevitably act as a directional constraint: “Don’t think of a yellow 11ant” famously does not work as intended when the “don’t” is taken seriously.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
HeimatBauer schrieb:
Sorry for the frank words, you asked for feedback, so here it is.No problem! Like you said, I did ask for feedback or constructive criticism and I’m really grateful for it! As long as we remain polite with each other and the posts don’t turn offensive. Some are borderline at times, and some keyboard warriors do forget their manners occasionally. But you just have to ignore them 😉
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