ᐅ Floor Plan: Semi-Detached House 8x12 m – Feedback and Creative Ideas Welcome :)

Created on: 28 Apr 2020 13:37
J
Jucruzlo
Hello everyone,

I’ve also been experimenting a bit with floor plans for our plot.
Background: At the moment, we are in contact with a general contractor (GC) and a prefab home builder. It will probably end up being a combination of an independent architect and a GC (thanks for the tip @ant11). However, it is very difficult to find an architect right now – but of course, I couldn’t just sit still and had to try a little myself. I worked with the app MagicPlan. Although we have already received a floor plan from the prefab builder, it really didn’t suit us at all. So, here we go – thank you in advance to everyone who takes a look :-*

I’m also happy to take any tips on how to find an architect who doesn’t only work on projects over 1 million (dollars/pounds). :-P

A quick note on orientation: The balcony on the upper floor and the living room face southwest. It has to be that way. The rear side borders directly onto open fields.

Development plan / restrictions

Plot size: 410m2 (4,410 sq ft)
Slope: no
Building window: 5m (16 ft) from the street, 12m (39 ft) house length, 8.1m (27 ft) width for the house, and 3m (10 ft) width for the garage. Plot dimensions 11.1m (36 ft) × 37m (121 ft)
Number of parking spaces: -
Number of floors: Max. 2 full floors, no knee walls allowed
Roof type: pitched roof with a 25–45 degree slope
Architectural style: any
Orientation: southwest
Maximum height / limits: ridge height 9m (30 ft), wall height max. 4.70m (15 ft)

Owners’ requirements
Style, roof type, building type: nice :-P
Basement, floors: no basement, almost 2 full floors (slight slopes from 1.80m (5 ft 11 in) due to prescribed wall height)
Number of people, age: 3 people, including a toddler (2 years old) – another child planned
Space requirement ground floor, upper floor: 140–160m2 (1,500–1,720 sq ft)
Office: guest room on ground floor used as office
Guests per year: currently rarely – in older age, space for parents/in-laws desired
Open or closed layout: open floor plan
Balcony, roof terrace: balcony for drying laundry
Garage, carport: garage – carport would also be acceptable if advantages prevail

House design
Designed by: me (trained architect through various apps :-P – just kidding)
What do you like most? Why?
  • Garage access through utility room
  • Few hallway areas but still with a wardrobe
  • Open living concept and straight staircase (platform stairs couldn’t be depicted)
  • Separate bathroom for kids
  • Spacious walk-in closet
  • Laundry room on upper floor
  • Access through bedroom/bath to walk-in closet

What don’t you like? Why?
  • No pantry on the ground floor
  • Kids’ rooms on the north side
  • Having to enter the parents’ walk-in closet first – would prefer two wall closets like houses in America
  • Upper floor hallway very narrow and access to kids’ room 1 hardly feasible – on the other hand, I don’t like wasted space and enlarging the hallway would reduce kids’ room sizes. Any solutions?
  • I find the garage quite practical but it takes away window area – will the ground floor be too dark, and should we rather go with a carport?

Why did the design turn out as it is now?

We wanted an open floor plan because we have a lot of visitors, and I always find it a shame to disappear into the kitchen while everything is happening in the living area. It was also important for us to have a separate parents’ area for complete privacy and a balcony for drying laundry in summer. A guest shower on the ground floor was needed, and it is important to me to do laundry on the upper floor (where the laundry is generated).

What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan, summarized in 130 characters?
  • General opinion on the floor plan
  • See “what I don’t like” – suggestions for improvements welcome

Note:
The windows are just placed approximately. I also don’t know how to view the exterior – of course, we will position the windows accordingly.

Upper floor plan: 2 kids’ rooms, master bedroom, master bathroom, hallway, walk-in closet, balcony.


House floor plan: garage on the left, terrace at the bottom, living room with dining table, stairs on the right, hallway.
J
Jucruzlo
14 May 2020 14:03
Alessandro schrieb:

This way, the utility room wouldn’t have a window and would be just under 5 square meters (about 54 square feet) in size (you could also use the space under the stairs), but this is how I would do it. Assuming the utility room size is sufficient.

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It should be enough for just the technical equipment, but I think it might be too tight for guests, right? I’ll run through the options anyway, thanks!
I don’t really need a second hallway either. I’d rather have a second entrance through the kitchen behind the carport for groceries.
A
Alessandro
14 May 2020 14:13
Well then, remove the wall under the bed, and you'll have a large guest room.
I thought you definitely wanted direct access from the carport into the house....
kaho67414 May 2020 17:16
Jucruzlo schrieb:

I had something similar in mind – just continuous all the way through and in a different style, but fundamentally along those lines.
A real wall needs space. You should visualize this in 3D and review it on your computer. I’m afraid it will feel cramped in this living room.
Y
ypg
15 May 2020 21:30
Alessandro schrieb:

This way, the utility room wouldn’t have a window and is just under 5sqm (about 54 sq ft) in size (you could also make use of the space under the stairs), but this is how I would do it. Provided the size of the utility room is sufficient.

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That would be terrible and wasted living space.