ᐅ Floor Plan Optimization for a 155 sqm Single-Family House

Created on: 1 May 2022 10:07
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Angel88
Hello everyone, after picking up many valuable tips here as a silent reader, I would now like to present our floor plan for discussion (Note: there are still a few errors in the plan because the planner sent the draft quickly; these will of course be corrected, e.g., the 2-meter (6.6 ft) line on the upper floor right side, escape routes, etc.).

Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 807 sqm (8688 sqft)
Slope: no
Site coverage ratio: 0.25
Floor area ratio:
Building envelope, building line and boundary: see site plan
Perimeter development: no
Number of parking spaces: 2 carports
Number of stories: 1
Roof type: gable roof
Style: classic
Orientation: south
Maximum heights / limits: n/a
Other requirements: utility line along the western property boundary with a 4 m (13 ft) protection zone

Requirements of the Homeowners
Style, roof type, building type: classic single-family house with a gable roof
Basement, stories: no basement, 1 full story
Number of occupants, ages: 3 (33, 33, 2), a 4th is possible
Room requirements on ground floor (GF), upper floor (UF): GF: open living/dining area, guest room, shower/WC; UF: 2 children’s rooms, bedroom, dressing/storage, bathroom
Office: family use or home office; primarily guest room with storage option for important documents
Overnight guests per year: about 12
Open or closed architecture: open
Conservative or modern construction: classic modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: both yes
Number of permanent dining seats: 6 with option for 10-12
Fireplace: no
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: double carport
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Other: moderately busy circular road to the south (50 km/h (31 mph)), no direct view due to raised earth embankment (additionally noise protection wall planned if needed), view of greenery from living room

Wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons why or why not: desire for storage option in the kitchen for glass recycling, paper, water crates; guest room must be on the ground floor to ensure necessary privacy

House Design
Planner: planner from a construction company, based on our specifications

What do you particularly like? Why?: living area because of the kitchen island, storage under the stairs, recessed living area with garden view (no traffic area), large dressing/storage on the upper floor, bathroom not visible due to double casement window, utility/mudroom, distance from stairs to main entrance—> we really like the ground floor except for the small utility room; we are uncertain whether the children’s rooms on the upper floor are comfortable and easy to furnish

What do you dislike? Why?: utility room very small, children’s rooms are very awkwardly shaped, bedroom very large compared to kids’ rooms (12-14 sqm (130-150 sqft) would have been enough for us), location of the outdoor unit for the air-to-water heat pump
Price estimate according to architect/planner: €315,000 without kitchen, floors, painting, landscaping, and additional construction costs
Personal price limit for the house, including equipment: €420,000
Preferred heating technology: air-to-water heat pump

If you had to give up, which details or additions
-you could give up: straight staircase, but not storage underneath
-you could not give up: storage on the ground floor, guest room on the ground floor with nearby shower/WC

Why did the design end up as it is now?
Which of your wishes were implemented by the planner: living area, storage under the stairs accessible from the kitchen; wishes stemmed from a mix of many examples from various magazines

What makes it particularly good or bad in your opinion? Tailored individually to our wishes (especially on the ground floor)

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

Are there suggestions for a better divided upper floor, possibly with a different staircase? It is important to us that the children’s rooms remain on the south side. Or do you think concerns about the awkward children’s rooms are not justified?

Plot plan with building, terrace and building boundary, dimensions and areas.


Floor plan of living and work areas: kitchen, living/dining area, office, hallway, stairs.


Upper floor plan: bedroom, two children’s rooms, bathroom, dressing area, stairs.
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Neubau2022
2 May 2022 06:39
Ysop*** schrieb:

We know you're building a bungalow 😉. It’s not cheaper than a regular gable roof house either. But I agree with you on the rest.

A more efficient room layout in a bungalow will probably cost about the same as this floor plan. Additionally, you get a lot more roof area for photovoltaic panels and a rainwater collection system (if desired). What I’m building is irrelevant 😎
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motorradsilke
2 May 2022 07:49
Ysop*** schrieb:


What I noticed incidentally: The kitchen not only has very little counter space, but also too little room between surfaces. Only about 60 cm (24 inches) between the sink and the island—is that correct? I would suggest @Angel88 start with the kitchen planning before the floor plan is finalized.

See post 5, where it was already mentioned that more space is planned. The island can also be easily moved further to the left on the plan.
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motorradsilke
2 May 2022 07:54
ypg schrieb:


- The electrical panel will definitely be moved to another location in the utility room, since there needs to be a clearance of 120 or 140 cm (47 or 55 inches) in front of it.

- Living room: Mark the TV spot. However, there isn’t one.

The first point is actually already dimensioned explicitly.

Regarding the second, the window could be moved further down according to the plan, which would provide enough wall space for a TV.

Around the dining area, or at least on one side, I would plan sliding doors; otherwise, it would feel too cramped for me.
Y
Ysop***
2 May 2022 09:22
motorradsilke schrieb:

See post 5, it was already mentioned that more space is planned there. The island can also be easily moved further to the left as per the plan.
Ah thanks, I actually missed that then.
K a t j a2 May 2022 11:41
I would scrap the floor plan entirely and stop tweaking it further. The staircase not only ruins the upper floor but is also impractical itself, with a 24cm (9.5 inches) tread depth and 19cm (7.5 inches) riser height.
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driver55
2 May 2022 18:35
K a t j a schrieb:

I would throw the floor plan away and stop tweaking it. The staircase not only ruins the upper floor but with a 24cm (9.5 inches) tread and 19cm (7.5 inches) rise, it’s also a real nuisance itself.

100% agree!

And then I have to say
Angel88 schrieb:

@driver55 could you maybe explain that in more detail? I’m especially interested regarding the upper floor.

...I won’t elaborate any further either.

@Angel88: Create a wishlist (which rooms, room sizes, etc. do we want, what don’t we want...) and have the house designed (by a competent architect or designer).
Angel88 schrieb:

Who created the design:
– Planner from a construction company, based on our specifications

I would like to see that list or brief sometime.

But there has (hopefully) been no signature yet, right?