ᐅ Floor plan for a single-family house, 180 sqm plus basement, located in the Rhine-Main area

Dear HBF members,

I previously asked for your cost estimates and promised to share the architect’s floor plan once we had a design that we felt was suitable.

Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 260 sqm (2,800 sq ft)
Slope: Slightly sloping – about 50 cm (20 inches)?
Site coverage ratio: 0.4
Floor area ratio
Building window, building line and boundary: §34 Building Code; 3 m (10 ft) setback to neighboring plots and direct building possible on the street side
Edge development: Yes, house facing the street and carport/parking spots at the neighbors’ boundary
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 2.5
Roof type: Gable roof
Architectural style: Open

Further requirements

Client Requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: Open / modern / bright, gable roof, single-family house
Basement, floors: Basement (full), ground floor, upper floor, attic; approx. 180 sqm (1,940 sq ft) living area + 63 sqm (680 sq ft) basement
Number of occupants, ages: 2 adults (35 + 28), 2 children (9 + under 1)
Room requirements on ground and upper floor: Ground floor: open living space with integrated kitchen and dining area; upper floor: children’s floor including bathroom, possibly a study, third child’s room or guest room
Office: Small workspace for occasional home office use
Overnight guests per year: 1-3 guests, possibly several times a year
Open or closed architecture: Open and bright
Conservative or modern style: Modern style
Open kitchen, kitchen island: Planned as an open kitchen with an island to separate it from dining/living areas
Number of dining seats: at least 6, possibly 8 with an extendable table
Fireplace: Yes, planned in the living room
Music/stereo wall: No
Balcony, roof terrace: Yes, in the attic (parents’ area) for nice views, sunrise, and relaxation
Garage, carport: Carport planned
Additional wishes/particulars/daily routine, including reasons for choices: Third child’s room reserved for potential future child; decision pending, alternatively a playroom or guest room

House Design
Planner: Architect based on our room and style requirements (bright, open, modern)
What do you particularly like? Why? We like the overall design since our small plot limits the size. We wanted a large, beautiful living and dining area that also serves as the main living space. The children should have rooms about the same size (quite a distance apart, but still equal). The attic is planned as a retreat for us, with its own bathroom including a potential small sauna to create a nice ambiance. We are planning in the Rhine-Main area and live somewhat rural, so we want an unobstructed view of nature from our bedroom (hence the balcony).
What don’t you like? Why? Overall, we are very satisfied and, based on the valuable guidance in this forum, developed our own ideas early on. We only needed three rounds with the architect to finalize the plan. We would have preferred a straight staircase instead of two quarter-turn staircases, but after the first draft, we gave up on that because it would have taken up too much space.
Cost estimate according to architect/planner: $540,000
Personal price limit for the house, including fixtures: $650,000
Preferred heating technology: Ground-source heat pump with underfloor heating and photovoltaic system

If you had to give up on something, which details or features
- could you live without: We are not at this point
- cannot give up:

Why is the design the way it is? For example:
As mentioned above, our plot is limited in size and we also want to keep some green space. Our architect considered all requests and gave us honest and open feedback on ideas (e.g. open gallery in the entrance area up to the upper floor – which we decided against).

What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan, summarized in 130 characters?
We are very happy with the plan and almost all of our wishes are met. Still, we would love to hear your opinions and ideas, especially based on your experiences and how it works in practice.

When I think about the laundry generated by 5 people, I would plan for a utility room on the upper floor.
Otherwise, I really don’t like the ground floor at all, because it just consists of one huge room, a very narrow corridor, a small WC, and a storage closet smaller than 1 sqm (10.8 sq ft).

Where are the windows? Where are the doors? What does the plot and the exterior look like?
For $650,000, I would want to get more out of it.

Is there a version of the design that includes doors and rough furniture layout, including kitchen planning?
For example, the small restroom on the ground floor—why is there an unused meter next to it in the hallway?
Do you have a great view upstairs? In that case, maybe place the living room upstairs with a roof terrace. With a 300m² (3,230 sq ft) plot, the next house is likely to be quite close, so the view from the living room might be only average.
On the ground floor, then, have an open-plan kitchen and living area, bedroom, and master bathroom. That would make doing laundry in the basement worthwhile.
I wouldn’t want to climb three flights of stairs just to carry up dry socks.

Alessandro schrieb:

Considering the laundry load for 5 people, I would plan a utility room on the upper floor.

The yellow shaft is a laundry chute—I forgot to mention that.

Unfortunately, doors are not included here (yet), but they will be added and we already know where.

Ideensucher schrieb:

For example, the small half-bath on the ground floor—why is there still a meter (3 feet) of unused hallway space next to it?

At the end of the hallway, there will be a floor-to-ceiling window.
We don’t have a detailed plan with the kitchen and furniture yet, but it’s already “set up” in our minds.

Ideensucher schrieb:

Do you have a great view upstairs? Maybe consider putting the living room there with a roof terrace. On a 300 m² (approximately 3,230 sq ft) plot, the neighboring house is likely quite close, so the living room view might be mediocre.
On the ground floor then a combined kitchen and living area, bedroom, and master bath. That way, laundry in the basement also makes sense.
Going up and down three flights of stairs to carry dry socks wouldn’t be my choice.

The neighboring houses are close, but that can’t be changed. Your idea for the layout is interesting, but it’s not an option for us.

Attached is the exterior view. Imagine the bay window on the side removed—that’s no longer part of the plan.

I would also make bedroom 3 smaller and enlarge the other two rooms. Even if child 3 arrives – they would be 11 years younger than child 1.
Child 1 will move out to attend university – you live in a rural area, so there likely won't be a college accessible by bus. By then, child 3 will be at most 10 years old and probably won’t mind having the smallest room.
And if child 3 doesn't come at all, you keep 15m² (160 ft²) available for "guests occasionally" and "perhaps a home office sometime."

Amosa34 schrieb:

At the end of the hallway, there should be a floor-to-ceiling window.

Why? No one will really see it, and your wardrobe 8m (26 feet) away won’t become noticeably brighter because of it.