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 22:41ypg schrieb:
Oops… back to the budget topic (sorry): a standard solid house without any frills on a slab foundation, on flat land, currently costs around 3000€/sqm (about 280 USD/sqft) plus the usual additional costs (landscaping, ancillary construction costs, parking space).
Now consider how much you can afford if you first have to allocate a flat 100,000€ (about 110,000 USD) from your budget just for earthworks on the sloped site. It’s a rough, back-of-the-envelope calculation, but it roughly indicates where you’re heading.
I’m missing the site plan. Flat. 2D. It looks like the house is best consistently positioned at the front by the street. East-facing terrace then on the ground floor above the basement, with the upper floor connected to the west garden.
The budget is probably more suitable for a partial basement including garage, then two smaller floors without a 7.5 sqm (81 sqft) fitness room and so on. I already don’t see cantilevered parts because of setback regulations.
Sloped plots should always be planned with an architect experienced in hillside construction. So, two points that stand out to me from the posts here:
1) Position the house as far as possible towards the street side (despite worse views)
2) Remove the south terrace and instead terrace the west side. Is that correct?
Cantilevered sections as shown here comply with local setback regulations.
I have an architect friend and will ask him about the project after your insistence. Are there any other tips for finding an architect (Rhein-Neckar district)?
WilderSueden schrieb:
Also think about winter. You have to clear every switchback if it snows. Ice is also a major issue given the steepness.
Regardless of weather, you need a lot of space for the switchbacks so they work properly at a 28% slope. You will then have to build many retaining walls along the path, which gets expensive and doesn’t look nice. I’d rather invest that money in terracing medium-sized areas behind the house. Are larger retaining walls really necessary for switchbacks?
K
k-man202124 Aug 2022 23:51RoterPapagei schrieb:
Are there any other tips for finding an architect?Yes… choose an architect whose style matches yours, who works within your budget, and has experience with hillside construction. If your friend doesn’t meet all these criteria fully, don’t hire them… otherwise, you might end up losing a friend or both of you being unhappy.K
k-man202124 Aug 2022 23:52… and don’t skimp on the architect
W
WilderSueden25 Aug 2022 00:22RoterPapagei schrieb:
Are larger retaining walls really necessary for switchbacks?You have a 28% slope. You want to create paths that descend the slope very gradually. So, the sides of the path will need to be steeper. Additionally, the steepness of the next switchback also comes into play. Simply grading the slope will quickly become borderline in terms of stability and maintenance.Let’s make it more concrete. In your original plan, you want to gain 8m (26 feet) of elevation using switchbacks. With a 10% slope (definitely not wheelchair accessible, but you’re still young and can push a stroller on a steep incline), you need a path length of 80m (260 feet). You lose some space in the hairpin turns, so you need at least 6 back-and-forth turns. At one hairpin, to the one two above it directly uphill, there is a height difference of about 2.5m (8 feet). That will be very steep if you only grade the slope.
WilderSueden schrieb:
It will get very steep if you only cut the slope back.But then you will be rewarded with a wonderful view, just like reaching a summit 😉ypg schrieb:
But in the end, it’s like climbing a summit, rewarded with a wonderful view 😉After all, it is essentially a summit climb. Don’t forget your oxygen tanks...Similar topics