ᐅ Single-family house floor plan, 230 sqm of living space, east-facing slope, Bauhaus style
Created on: 24 Aug 2022 13:42
R
RoterPapagei
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 610 sqm (about 15 x 40 m) rectangular
Slope: East-facing slope, approximately 28% gradient. Road downhill. The house is planned to be positioned in the upper third on the hill side (for privacy and view).
Floor area ratio: n.a. (no development plan)
Plot ratio: n.a.
Building window, building line and boundary: n.a.
Setbacks: presumably 2.50 meters (8 feet 2 inches) in all directions
Number of parking spaces: n.a.
Number of floors: n.a.
Roof type: n.a.
Architectural style: n.a.
Orientation: n.a.
Maximum heights / limits: n.a.
Other requirements: There is no formal development plan. However, the street features a variety of house types, so almost any architectural style should be possible.
Client Requirements
Architectural style, roof type, building type: Bauhaus style, preferred flat roof (possibly also shed roof)
Basement, floors: Basement integrated as a living space in the slope, with two floors above
Number of occupants, ages: Currently 3 persons, aged 33, 32, and an infant
Space requirements on ground floor (GF), upper floor (UF):
GF: kitchen, pantry with sink niche, living room, study, WC, entrance area with dressing room
UF: master bedroom with dressing room, two children’s rooms, bathroom, roof terrace
Basement: guest room, guest bathroom, study, laundry room, technical room, storage room, fitness room
Office: currently family use, potential home office in future
Overnight guests per year: parents-in-law visit frequently
Open or enclosed layout: open
Traditional or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open kitchen with island
Number of dining seats: one large dining table
Fireplace: preferred, as shown in the floor plan
Music/speaker wall: possibly in the living room
Balcony, roof terrace: roof terrace facing the valley (east side)
Garage, carport: double garage detached from the house, cut into the slope at the street
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Other wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons why something should or should not be: no ventilation system, no smart home, photovoltaic system
House Design
Who designed it: do-it-yourself
Living area: approx. 230 sqm (including half the roof terrace area)
Usable area: approx. 260 sqm
What do you like most and why? The overhangs to the east and south, the glass facades, the integration into the slope, the straight staircase, the long visual axis on the ground floor
What do you like least and why? Possibly the entrance area as it may be too small; living room may be too small
Estimated cost according to architect/designer: not available yet
Personal budget for house including equipment: n.a.
Preferred heating technology: air-to-water heat pump, underfloor heating
If you have to compromise, on which details / extensions
- which can you do without: overhangs if much more expensive, flat roof if much more expensive
- which you cannot give up: glass facades
Why is the design as it is now?
The floor plans are a first draft, completely self-developed, and intended as a starting point for discussion. The design is based on three main principles: slope orientation, cardinal directions, and plot shape. Because of the east-facing slope, the larger floor-to-ceiling glass facades and living and dining rooms on the ground floor, as well as the guest room in the basement, are positioned facing east (offering a nice view of the valley). To allow access to the outside from the kitchen and take advantage of sunlight, the kitchen on the ground floor is adjacent on the south side, also with large glass facades. Another idea was to create a long line of sight to the valley directly upon entering the house, which is why the entrance is positioned on the uphill side. Functional rooms (bathrooms, technical room, dressing room, pantry, etc.) are generally oriented uphill (to the west). All WCs are stacked to simplify plumbing. The two 1-meter (3 feet 3 inches) cantilevers are mainly aesthetic but also provide some shading and would be dispensable if needed. The original shape was a simple 10 x 10 m (33 x 33 feet) cube, but this version is preferred by my wife and me. The glass facades are not yet fixed in size and serve as rough guidelines; they could be slightly smaller if structural requirements demand it. The straight staircase may be a point of discussion, although I personally find it very appealing visually.
Regarding privacy and neighbors: downhill side is not relevant due to the slope. On the uphill side a neighboring house is adjacent, so no open facades are planned there. On the north and south sides, houses are located further up the street, with tall trees and shrubs in between. This provides almost complete privacy.
Please ignore the outdoor areas not attached to terraces in the floor plans, as these were only used for rough simulation of the slope.
What is the key question about the floor plan, summarized in 130 characters?
Is our design heading in the right direction, or are there major issues we have overlooked?
The plan is also intended to obtain initial cost comparisons from various companies for a similar house. We understand that an architect will need to be involved in further planning.
We are grateful for any feedback!
Plot size: 610 sqm (about 15 x 40 m) rectangular
Slope: East-facing slope, approximately 28% gradient. Road downhill. The house is planned to be positioned in the upper third on the hill side (for privacy and view).
Floor area ratio: n.a. (no development plan)
Plot ratio: n.a.
Building window, building line and boundary: n.a.
Setbacks: presumably 2.50 meters (8 feet 2 inches) in all directions
Number of parking spaces: n.a.
Number of floors: n.a.
Roof type: n.a.
Architectural style: n.a.
Orientation: n.a.
Maximum heights / limits: n.a.
Other requirements: There is no formal development plan. However, the street features a variety of house types, so almost any architectural style should be possible.
Client Requirements
Architectural style, roof type, building type: Bauhaus style, preferred flat roof (possibly also shed roof)
Basement, floors: Basement integrated as a living space in the slope, with two floors above
Number of occupants, ages: Currently 3 persons, aged 33, 32, and an infant
Space requirements on ground floor (GF), upper floor (UF):
GF: kitchen, pantry with sink niche, living room, study, WC, entrance area with dressing room
UF: master bedroom with dressing room, two children’s rooms, bathroom, roof terrace
Basement: guest room, guest bathroom, study, laundry room, technical room, storage room, fitness room
Office: currently family use, potential home office in future
Overnight guests per year: parents-in-law visit frequently
Open or enclosed layout: open
Traditional or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open kitchen with island
Number of dining seats: one large dining table
Fireplace: preferred, as shown in the floor plan
Music/speaker wall: possibly in the living room
Balcony, roof terrace: roof terrace facing the valley (east side)
Garage, carport: double garage detached from the house, cut into the slope at the street
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Other wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons why something should or should not be: no ventilation system, no smart home, photovoltaic system
House Design
Who designed it: do-it-yourself
Living area: approx. 230 sqm (including half the roof terrace area)
Usable area: approx. 260 sqm
What do you like most and why? The overhangs to the east and south, the glass facades, the integration into the slope, the straight staircase, the long visual axis on the ground floor
What do you like least and why? Possibly the entrance area as it may be too small; living room may be too small
Estimated cost according to architect/designer: not available yet
Personal budget for house including equipment: n.a.
Preferred heating technology: air-to-water heat pump, underfloor heating
If you have to compromise, on which details / extensions
- which can you do without: overhangs if much more expensive, flat roof if much more expensive
- which you cannot give up: glass facades
Why is the design as it is now?
The floor plans are a first draft, completely self-developed, and intended as a starting point for discussion. The design is based on three main principles: slope orientation, cardinal directions, and plot shape. Because of the east-facing slope, the larger floor-to-ceiling glass facades and living and dining rooms on the ground floor, as well as the guest room in the basement, are positioned facing east (offering a nice view of the valley). To allow access to the outside from the kitchen and take advantage of sunlight, the kitchen on the ground floor is adjacent on the south side, also with large glass facades. Another idea was to create a long line of sight to the valley directly upon entering the house, which is why the entrance is positioned on the uphill side. Functional rooms (bathrooms, technical room, dressing room, pantry, etc.) are generally oriented uphill (to the west). All WCs are stacked to simplify plumbing. The two 1-meter (3 feet 3 inches) cantilevers are mainly aesthetic but also provide some shading and would be dispensable if needed. The original shape was a simple 10 x 10 m (33 x 33 feet) cube, but this version is preferred by my wife and me. The glass facades are not yet fixed in size and serve as rough guidelines; they could be slightly smaller if structural requirements demand it. The straight staircase may be a point of discussion, although I personally find it very appealing visually.
Regarding privacy and neighbors: downhill side is not relevant due to the slope. On the uphill side a neighboring house is adjacent, so no open facades are planned there. On the north and south sides, houses are located further up the street, with tall trees and shrubs in between. This provides almost complete privacy.
Please ignore the outdoor areas not attached to terraces in the floor plans, as these were only used for rough simulation of the slope.
What is the key question about the floor plan, summarized in 130 characters?
Is our design heading in the right direction, or are there major issues we have overlooked?
The plan is also intended to obtain initial cost comparisons from various companies for a similar house. We understand that an architect will need to be involved in further planning.
We are grateful for any feedback!
R
RoterPapagei24 Aug 2022 14:54Neubau2022 schrieb:
With a hillside location and your requirements, you are probably looking at at least €3,500 per square meter * 230 square meters = €805,000. On top of that, there are additional construction-related costs and cost increases. You will likely approach around €1 million. Thank you! Yes, we are aware of that. However, the post was really meant to be about the floor plan. But it seems to be quite poor.
Neubau2022 schrieb:
Budget is really important, because if you come with €500,000, there is no point in pursuing this further here. Yes, that’s true of course. However, our budget is significantly higher.
W
WilderSueden24 Aug 2022 14:55What does the surrounding area look like? I see a large glass facade just 2.5m (8 feet) from the property boundary. Which direction does it face, and who can see inside from there?
Also, I’d like to question whether it’s practical to place the house at the top when the street is at the bottom. You’ll have a steep uphill walk, roughly 6–8m (20–26 feet) elevation difference from the street, which won’t be fun when carrying the weekly groceries. The same goes for pushing a stroller.
I’ll hold back on commenting about the interior layout—that’s something others can judge better.
Also, I’d like to question whether it’s practical to place the house at the top when the street is at the bottom. You’ll have a steep uphill walk, roughly 6–8m (20–26 feet) elevation difference from the street, which won’t be fun when carrying the weekly groceries. The same goes for pushing a stroller.
I’ll hold back on commenting about the interior layout—that’s something others can judge better.
R
RoterPapagei24 Aug 2022 15:00WilderSueden schrieb:
What does the surrounding area look like? I see a large glass facade 2.5m (8 feet) from the property boundary. What direction does it face, and who can see inside from there?
Also, I question whether it’s practical to place the house at the top when the road is at the bottom. You’ll have a significant uphill walk. Roughly estimated, there’s a 6–8m (20–26 feet) elevation difference to the street, which isn’t ideal for weekly grocery trips or pushing a stroller.
I’ll refrain from commenting on the interior layout, as others are better suited for that. Thanks for the input! The valley-facing side has a completely unobstructed view. The south-facing glass facade doesn’t face anything, as the neighboring house is positioned lower on the slope. However, there are trees and shrubs acting as privacy screens. So yes, the view here isn’t outstanding, but you would have sunlight and the possibility to access the terrace directly from the kitchen. Of course, the glass facade could also be made smaller—it’s just a suggestion.
Yes, the house’s positioning is a concern for us as well. It’s very important to us that the house is not visible from the road, while also making the most of the slope and the view over the valley. That’s why we initially agreed on the rear third of the site. We plan to create a serpentine path up to the house to reduce the steepness. In the end, it’s a trade-off between convenience and construction-related aspects.
W
WilderSueden24 Aug 2022 15:09RoterPapagei schrieb:
That’s why we initially agreed on the back third of the property. We planned to create a switchback path up to the house to reduce the slope. In the end, it’s a trade-off between effort or convenience and technical construction aspects.Don’t do that. It sounds like a lazy compromise in theory and will probably be awful in practice. We always spend our holidays in Upper Valais, where everything is on a slope. But hardly anyone places their house away from the road. With the switchback idea, you’ll also lose the entire garden space.A more sensible rough concept would be:
- Place the house close to the road
- Garage on the ground floor, along with the main entrance, technical rooms, and storage areas
- Living area on the first floor (1st floor)
- Sleeping area on the second floor (2nd floor)
- Possibly set the house slightly back and create a roof garden on top of the garage; this way no one can look directly into your living room
- The actual garden behind the house, where part of it will need to be terraced
W
WilderSueden24 Aug 2022 15:13Your concept reminds me a bit of this snapshot, which now serves as the end of the driveway right up to the house 😉
R
RoterPapagei24 Aug 2022 15:24WilderSueden schrieb:
Don’t do that. It already sounds like a lazy compromise in theory and is probably terrible in practice. We always spend our holidays in Upper Valais, where there are only slope locations. But hardly anyone places the house away from the road. With the switchback idea, you’re also sacrificing the entire garden.
A more sensible rough concept would be:
- House positioned by the road
- Garage on the ground floor, along with the main entrance, technical rooms, and storage
- Living area on the first floor
- Sleeping area on the second floor
- Possibly set the house slightly back and have a roof garden on the garage, so no one can look into your living room
- The main garden behind the house, with a terraced section as needed Thanks for the constructive input! The neighbors are all about 10 meters (33 feet) from the road. Initially, we wanted to position the garage in the basement as well, but we think the driveway would be very problematic with this slope. Separating it seems more economical and practical. I think I also exaggerated a bit with “upper third.” The placement is more in the middle to upper third. But we’re happy to take your advice and will probably position the house even lower in the end! Otherwise, the garden isn’t a big priority for us (yet).
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