ᐅ Floor Plan Review Single-Family Home with Basement on a Gentle Slope
Created on: 8 Dec 2020 21:21
K
Kuzorra
Hello everyone,
after following along for a long time and reading through various threads and comments, I’m now stepping forward with our current planning status and hope for brutally constructive feedback. Of course, I followed the example of @ypg...
Development Plan / Restrictions
Fortunately, we have “access” to a family-owned plot. The old house needs to be demolished, and we want to rebuild roughly in the same spot. Setback distances are sufficient on all sides.
Plot size: approx. 900m² (9700 sq ft) with a slight slope
Number of parking spaces: existing double garage (old) remains for now
Number of floors: II allowed
Roof shape: gable roof specified, 40–50°
Maximum heights / limits: 3.25 m (10.7 ft) uphill side, 5.50 m (18 ft) downhill side
Homeowners’ Requirements
Basement, floors: full basement (partly used as living space), ground floor, attic floor
Number of occupants: 4 persons (2 adults + 2 toddlers)
Office: increasingly home office (both parents)
Overnight guests per year: 2–5 people, 3–10 visits per year (if not during COVID)
Open kitchen: yes, with a “half” cooking island
Number of dining seats: 6–8
Fireplace: no
Additional wishes / special features / daily routine, also reasons why some things are or aren’t included: We have planned a small pantry/storage room because we are used to it and find it very practical. The kitchen is already largely designed around our practical needs. The children’s rooms should be the same size because my wife is very traumatized by always having had the smaller room. ;-)
House Design
Who designed the plan: originally based on a standard model from a builder, but ultimately custom-designed (with the builder). We have already scaled back from much larger original plans and saved a total of 20 m² (215 sq ft).
What do you like particularly? Why? We already like a lot as it is. For example, the terrace is on the “pleasant” side and accessible from the kitchen and dining room. The ground-level basement exit uses the slope to provide offices (or guest room) with plenty of daylight. We don’t need a huge wellness area in the attic; a compact bathroom is sufficient. A walk-in closet would only be nice to have, but we skipped it and made sure there is enough space for our large wardrobes.
What don’t you like? Why? At the moment we are quite satisfied.
Price estimate according to architect/planner: €320,000 (we have already included as many options as possible in an initial sample selection). A finished basement will add around €50,000–60,000 (we are currently waiting for the soil survey results).
Personal price limit for the house, including fittings: please not too much ;-)
Preferred heating technology: air-to-water heat pump (gas is basically available but inconveniently located relative to the house. Furthermore, a photovoltaic system should eventually help supply the heat pump).
What details / expansions can you do without?
- can do without: photovoltaic system for now (roof and wiring will be prepared for it), centrally controlled ventilation system is too expensive for us, probably will take compromises on the staircase flooring and choose the second most expensive and second nicest solid wood floor.
- cannot do without: basement, second bathroom on the ground floor.
Why did the design turn out like it did? We researched a lot ourselves (catalogs, show homes, friends and relatives, and our current apartment) and worked through several iterations of the plan together with the builder.
The main living area will probably always be the open living/dining room, but the kids should have enough private retreat space in their own bedrooms. Optionally, home office and children’s rooms could be swapped later.
What do you think makes the design especially good or bad? The design covers what we imagine and we currently see no shortcomings.
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
Are we overlooking anything important? Any tips regarding the outdoor areas?
We have been a bit careless about the outdoor areas so far but have now contacted landscaping professionals. The parents-in-law live in house number 31, towards which we plan to orient the terrace. Additionally, there will be another seating area toward the barn (with afternoon/evening sun), but this is on the “lower level”. The outdoor unit of the air-to-water heat pump is located towards the neighbor at number 35. At the front entrance, 3 m (10 ft) must remain free to the neighboring property, which can also be used occasionally as a parking spot (but this should not be the main parking space).
after following along for a long time and reading through various threads and comments, I’m now stepping forward with our current planning status and hope for brutally constructive feedback. Of course, I followed the example of @ypg...
Development Plan / Restrictions
Fortunately, we have “access” to a family-owned plot. The old house needs to be demolished, and we want to rebuild roughly in the same spot. Setback distances are sufficient on all sides.
Plot size: approx. 900m² (9700 sq ft) with a slight slope
Number of parking spaces: existing double garage (old) remains for now
Number of floors: II allowed
Roof shape: gable roof specified, 40–50°
Maximum heights / limits: 3.25 m (10.7 ft) uphill side, 5.50 m (18 ft) downhill side
Homeowners’ Requirements
Basement, floors: full basement (partly used as living space), ground floor, attic floor
Number of occupants: 4 persons (2 adults + 2 toddlers)
Office: increasingly home office (both parents)
Overnight guests per year: 2–5 people, 3–10 visits per year (if not during COVID)
Open kitchen: yes, with a “half” cooking island
Number of dining seats: 6–8
Fireplace: no
Additional wishes / special features / daily routine, also reasons why some things are or aren’t included: We have planned a small pantry/storage room because we are used to it and find it very practical. The kitchen is already largely designed around our practical needs. The children’s rooms should be the same size because my wife is very traumatized by always having had the smaller room. ;-)
House Design
Who designed the plan: originally based on a standard model from a builder, but ultimately custom-designed (with the builder). We have already scaled back from much larger original plans and saved a total of 20 m² (215 sq ft).
What do you like particularly? Why? We already like a lot as it is. For example, the terrace is on the “pleasant” side and accessible from the kitchen and dining room. The ground-level basement exit uses the slope to provide offices (or guest room) with plenty of daylight. We don’t need a huge wellness area in the attic; a compact bathroom is sufficient. A walk-in closet would only be nice to have, but we skipped it and made sure there is enough space for our large wardrobes.
What don’t you like? Why? At the moment we are quite satisfied.
Price estimate according to architect/planner: €320,000 (we have already included as many options as possible in an initial sample selection). A finished basement will add around €50,000–60,000 (we are currently waiting for the soil survey results).
Personal price limit for the house, including fittings: please not too much ;-)
Preferred heating technology: air-to-water heat pump (gas is basically available but inconveniently located relative to the house. Furthermore, a photovoltaic system should eventually help supply the heat pump).
What details / expansions can you do without?
- can do without: photovoltaic system for now (roof and wiring will be prepared for it), centrally controlled ventilation system is too expensive for us, probably will take compromises on the staircase flooring and choose the second most expensive and second nicest solid wood floor.
- cannot do without: basement, second bathroom on the ground floor.
Why did the design turn out like it did? We researched a lot ourselves (catalogs, show homes, friends and relatives, and our current apartment) and worked through several iterations of the plan together with the builder.
The main living area will probably always be the open living/dining room, but the kids should have enough private retreat space in their own bedrooms. Optionally, home office and children’s rooms could be swapped later.
What do you think makes the design especially good or bad? The design covers what we imagine and we currently see no shortcomings.
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
Are we overlooking anything important? Any tips regarding the outdoor areas?
We have been a bit careless about the outdoor areas so far but have now contacted landscaping professionals. The parents-in-law live in house number 31, towards which we plan to orient the terrace. Additionally, there will be another seating area toward the barn (with afternoon/evening sun), but this is on the “lower level”. The outdoor unit of the air-to-water heat pump is located towards the neighbor at number 35. At the front entrance, 3 m (10 ft) must remain free to the neighboring property, which can also be used occasionally as a parking spot (but this should not be the main parking space).
Draw the planned house on the plot and add some elevation points.
Show which ones, with comments explaining what was changed and why.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Kuzorra schrieb:
and have already worked through several iterations of the plan together with Kern-Haus.
Show which ones, with comments explaining what was changed and why.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
The plot still needs to be subdivided and transferred through a notary, but the surveyor has already been there to mark the new boundary stones. Unfortunately, I don't have the exact elevation points yet, but I hope to get them this year.
I would need to scan some of the old versions, but they are outdated anyway. Most changes were simply due to our ongoing planning process. The company basically didn’t give us any specific requirements, at most they mentioned pros and cons when we hesitated between two options we had developed ourselves or shared experiences from previous construction projects.
Summary of the main changes:
1) Our first draft was based on a model from the company catalog, where we only modified the children’s rooms (upper floor). Since we planned a basement from the beginning but the catalog house did not include one, the utility room was moved to the basement. We added a bathroom on the ground floor and a pantry, so the hallway layout was adjusted accordingly.
2) We shifted the hallway and stairwell slightly, which allowed us to widen the master bedroom on the upper floor (to enlarge the closet niche). As a result, the bathroom became more compact, which suits us well. Initially, the bathroom had a T-shaped wall ("upside-down T") with the sink in front, the toilet behind it on the left, and the shower behind it on the right, as in the original catalog model.
3) After the first financing estimate and some budget cuts, we shortened the house by about half a meter, saving nearly 20 m² (approximately 215 ft²) over three floors (3 x 10.6m x 0.6m). This required rearranging the bathroom again.
I would need to scan some of the old versions, but they are outdated anyway. Most changes were simply due to our ongoing planning process. The company basically didn’t give us any specific requirements, at most they mentioned pros and cons when we hesitated between two options we had developed ourselves or shared experiences from previous construction projects.
Summary of the main changes:
1) Our first draft was based on a model from the company catalog, where we only modified the children’s rooms (upper floor). Since we planned a basement from the beginning but the catalog house did not include one, the utility room was moved to the basement. We added a bathroom on the ground floor and a pantry, so the hallway layout was adjusted accordingly.
2) We shifted the hallway and stairwell slightly, which allowed us to widen the master bedroom on the upper floor (to enlarge the closet niche). As a result, the bathroom became more compact, which suits us well. Initially, the bathroom had a T-shaped wall ("upside-down T") with the sink in front, the toilet behind it on the left, and the shower behind it on the right, as in the original catalog model.
3) After the first financing estimate and some budget cuts, we shortened the house by about half a meter, saving nearly 20 m² (approximately 215 ft²) over three floors (3 x 10.6m x 0.6m). This required rearranging the bathroom again.
Oh dear, the description of the development from the catalog model to the custom design sounds worrying – although it doesn’t necessarily have to repeat the story of @R.Hotzenplotz ;-)
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Overall, a nice floor plan, in my opinion. I would swap the positions of the door and the sink in the guest bathroom, so you don’t always have to pass directly through the dirty area behind the entrance door. I would replace the sliding door to the living-dining room with a wider double (glass) door. The left panel could be fixed, and you would use the right one. At least personally, I find sliding doors annoying; it just takes me too long to close them. I’m afraid the kitchen might be quite dark with only one patio door. So either add an east-facing window between the countertop and tall cabinets (which would provide morning sun, if nothing blocks it) or add more windows on the south side. Possibly shorten the peninsula a bit and move it away from the wall (to create an island) to make room for a large lift-and-slide door behind it.
Similar topics