ᐅ Floor plan single-family house approximately 160 m², main entrance in the basement, north-facing slope, plot size 1700 m²
Created on: 25 Jul 2024 07:06
B
Boman19
Hello fellow home builders,
We have been reading this forum for several weeks now. We are still in the research phase and have decided to build a solid masonry house. We have already reserved a plot of land. This plot has a significant slope, which we plan to level by landscaping the terrain. Any excess excavated soil will likely be easy to get rid of. So far, we have not involved an architect because the costs and the uncertainty of the outcome have deterred us. Therefore, we are doing a lot of research ourselves and are making intensive use of the information in this forum.
We believe we have found a suitable solution for our single-family house. The structural engineer/architect from our general contractor (GC) implemented our ideas and wishes but offered hardly any of their own suggestions or improvements. As laypeople, it is difficult for us to judge whether we have truly achieved the best possible result.
We would now like to draw on your experience and expertise and look forward to your honest opinions and possible improvement suggestions.
Zoning Plan / Restrictions
Clients’ Requirements
Additional wishes/special features/daily routine, also reasons why some things should or should not be included
House Design
If you have to cut back, on which details or extras
Why has the design ended up like this?
Standard design from the planner?
Which wishes were implemented by the architect?
What do you think makes it particularly good or bad?
We have been reading this forum for several weeks now. We are still in the research phase and have decided to build a solid masonry house. We have already reserved a plot of land. This plot has a significant slope, which we plan to level by landscaping the terrain. Any excess excavated soil will likely be easy to get rid of. So far, we have not involved an architect because the costs and the uncertainty of the outcome have deterred us. Therefore, we are doing a lot of research ourselves and are making intensive use of the information in this forum.
We believe we have found a suitable solution for our single-family house. The structural engineer/architect from our general contractor (GC) implemented our ideas and wishes but offered hardly any of their own suggestions or improvements. As laypeople, it is difficult for us to judge whether we have truly achieved the best possible result.
We would now like to draw on your experience and expertise and look forward to your honest opinions and possible improvement suggestions.
Zoning Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: | 1700m² (18,300 sq ft) |
Slope: | 9m (30 ft) north-facing slope over 50m (165 ft) length |
Other: | No zoning plan, §34 (local building regulations) |
Clients’ Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: | Single-family house, gable roof |
Basement, number of floors: | Basement, 1 ½ floors |
Number of occupants, age: | 2 adults around 30 years old + 2 children (0 and 2 years), planning for 3–4 children total |
Space needed on ground floor and upper floor: | Approximately 70m² (750 sq ft) each |
Office: | For family use and home office |
Guest stays per year: | Relatives staying 30–50 nights |
Open or closed architecture: | Open |
Conservative or modern construction: | Modern |
Open kitchen, kitchen island: | Open with kitchen island |
Number of dining seats: | 8 |
Fireplace: | Yes |
Music/stereo wall: | No |
Balcony, roof terrace: | No |
Garage, carport: | Garage in basement (for stroller, bicycles, etc.), carport for car |
Utility garden, greenhouse: | Utility garden, possibly a natural stone seating area with fire pit |
Additional wishes/special features/daily routine, also reasons why some things should or should not be included
- For us, the kitchen/dining area is the central hub, even when guests are present. The living room should be relatively private.
- The children’s rooms do not need to be very large. The parents’ bedroom is the least important room for us.
House Design
Who designed the plan: | Planner from a construction company |
What do you particularly like? Why? |
|
What do you dislike? Why? |
|
Cost estimate according to architect/designer: | 540K (excluding photovoltaic system and fireplace) |
Personal price limit for the house, including features: | 550K with photovoltaic system and fireplace |
Preferred heating technology: | Heat pump (geothermal) |
If you have to cut back, on which details or extras
- Can be omitted: Fireplace, garage in the basement
- Cannot be omitted: Spacious kitchen/dining area, office on the ground floor
Why has the design ended up like this?
Standard design from the planner?
- Second iteration, with smaller floor area to reduce costs
Which wishes were implemented by the architect?
- Open staircase with landing stairs
- House entrance in the basement
- Southeast terrace
- Kitchen not visible from the living room
- Three children’s rooms + two offices/guest rooms
What do you think makes it particularly good or bad?
- We like the open and integrated staircase and the entrance in the basement because it keeps the ground floor hallway free for living space
- Very flexible room usage possible due to similar room sizes
Marvinius2016 schrieb:
Then you cannot have the utility room on the south side if the unheated basement area is supposed to be your utility room. Why not? They come from the east side, through the exterior wall. Or do I not understand it correctly?
M
Marvinius201628 Jul 2024 16:52Schorsch_baut schrieb:
I wouldn’t want that plot even as a gift, and it doesn’t fit your budget. Even with very expensive modeling and slope stabilization, the site is difficult to develop and not very appealing. With a plan for 3–4 children, you’d miss direct access to and views of the garden. Living there would feel more like being in an apartment. Before you get too attached to the idea, I would recommend consulting a civil engineer to estimate the costs of land shaping. I can’t agree with that. Such plots are very attractive. In our case, the ground beyond our property doesn’t rise significantly anymore, which seems to be true here as well. We get sun on our terrace from early morning until late afternoon without significant shading from the buildings behind us. Of course, we had to build several retaining walls into the terrain, but this allowed our garden plants to be spread across multiple levels. That creates a very nice view from the terrace into the greenery.
It is true that building on such land is expensive, and because of the retention basin, I would consider potential flood risks.
Hiring an architect is definitely advisable here. We didn’t have one at the time, and I ended up having to completely revise and adjust the general contractor’s plans myself. It wasn’t cheap, but at least we are satisfied with the result.
M
Marvinius201628 Jul 2024 17:00
And being able to see the garden from the first floor wouldn’t be enough for me—I would miss direct garden access. We once rented a house where we always had to go through the basement to get to the garden. I would never voluntarily build something like that. Unless there was a large elevated terrace with stairs leading down to the garden, which would add several thousand euros extra. Looking at his new site profile, he will have direct garden access from the ground floor living room. However, the terrain will slope down on the west side of the house. I’m not sure if that makes sense. Depending on the slope, he will need a long and expensive staircase there. Also, the incline toward the southern boundary won’t work as is—at least one terrace level will be needed.
M
MachsSelbst28 Jul 2024 19:30Our neighbors paid 65,000 for the entire garden including the fence, with a few L-shaped retaining walls 1 meter (3 feet) high, and a slope of barely more than 1 meter (3 feet) over a 35-meter (115 feet) property.
With your 60,000 budget for earthworks, slope stabilization, and drainage, you won’t make it—that’s probably a better down payment.
What happens during heavy rain? The slope behind the house will easily cover 500 square meters (5,380 square feet) in total. With 50 liters (13 gallons) of rain falling in a short time, about 25 cubic meters (883 cubic feet) of water will rush downhill, toward the house.
You’d really need to build several terraces using L-shaped retaining walls.
An L-shaped retaining wall 1.5 meters (5 feet) high costs about 250 EUR (per meter/yard) without the foundation, gravel, drainage, excavator, or landscaping contractor...
And all of that will require ongoing maintenance. 1,700 square meters (18,300 square feet)...
I’d advise against it—look for a smaller, flat plot instead. You’ll get more out of it.
With your 60,000 budget for earthworks, slope stabilization, and drainage, you won’t make it—that’s probably a better down payment.
What happens during heavy rain? The slope behind the house will easily cover 500 square meters (5,380 square feet) in total. With 50 liters (13 gallons) of rain falling in a short time, about 25 cubic meters (883 cubic feet) of water will rush downhill, toward the house.
You’d really need to build several terraces using L-shaped retaining walls.
An L-shaped retaining wall 1.5 meters (5 feet) high costs about 250 EUR (per meter/yard) without the foundation, gravel, drainage, excavator, or landscaping contractor...
And all of that will require ongoing maintenance. 1,700 square meters (18,300 square feet)...
I’d advise against it—look for a smaller, flat plot instead. You’ll get more out of it.
H
hanghaus202329 Jul 2024 09:17The contractor is planning without any height specifications?
In the photo, it doesn’t look that steep at all.
I expected to receive at least some height measurements after my inquiry. Some information is better than none.
Why not measure two profiles yourself?
In the photo, it doesn’t look that steep at all.
I expected to receive at least some height measurements after my inquiry. Some information is better than none.
Why not measure two profiles yourself?
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