ᐅ Single-family house floor plan, approximately 200 sqm – comments welcome

Created on: 22 Oct 2020 21:24
C
Carlotte
Dear forum,

After spending hours as silent readers in this forum, my partner and I are now ready to share our floor plan for your feedback.

First, here is the questionnaire:

Development Plan/Restrictions
Plot size: 1322 sqm (approx. 14,230 sq ft); about 23 x 56 m (75 x 184 ft)
Slope: No
Site coverage ratio: no development plan – § 34 Federal Building Code
Floor area ratio: no development plan – § 34 Federal Building Code
Building envelope, building line, and boundary: no development plan – § 34 Federal Building Code
Edge development: No, only carport/garage and garden shed or storage shed allowed
Number of parking spaces: no development plan – § 34 Federal Building Code
Number of stories: no development plan – § 34 Federal Building Code
Roof style: no development plan – § 34 Federal Building Code
Design style: no development plan – § 34 Federal Building Code
Orientation: corner plot approx. 23 x 56 m, streets to the north and west
Maximum height/restrictions: no development plan – § 34 Federal Building Code
Other requirements: none

Client Requirements
Design style, roof type, building type: Modern but not too "clean"; preferably a gable roof with a shallow pitch (20–25°)
Basement, stories: no basement, preferably 2 full floors
Number of occupants, ages: currently 2 (30 and 31 years old), planning for 2 children
Space requirements ground floor, upper floor: Ground floor: entrance hall + cloakroom, guest toilet, office/guest room, large utility room + pantry, open living/dining/kitchen area, approx. 100–110 sqm (1076–1184 sq ft);
Upper floor: 2 children's rooms, children's bathroom, open "parents’ area" with dressing room and master bath, small storage room, preferably gallery/open space, approx. 90 sqm (969 sq ft)
Office: occasional home office use, combined workspace and guest room
Overnight guests per year: 10 nights
Open or closed architecture: open
Conservative or modern construction: modern, not too "clean"
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open kitchen with freestanding island; slight separation between dining and living areas desired
Number of dining seats: 8
Fireplace: yes
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: double carport
Other wishes/special features/daily routine, also reasons why something should or should not be included: if possible, an open staircase

House design
Who designed it: DIY based on various sources
What do you particularly like? Why?: Separation of dining and living areas despite open layout; direct passage from carport into utility room/pantry and then the kitchen; open space with view of the garden; all bedrooms facing the garden; rectangular building shape
What do you dislike? Why?: -
Price estimate according to architect/planner: floor plans of comparable size were around €450,000
Personal budget limit for the house, including fittings: €550,000–580,000 including carport, excluding landscaping (plot already owned)
Preferred heating system: ground source heat pump, KFW 55 standard

If you have to give up something, on which features/extensions
-you can give up: open staircase; storage room upstairs; fireplace
-you cannot give up: all other rooms in some form

Why is the design as it is now?
A mix of many examples. So far, the floor plans we received from planners were less to our liking.

What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters? Affordable (in Lower Saxony; urban area)? Can the staircase on the upper floor be built as shown? Does a ventilation system make sense for KFW 55?

Please ignore the window placement for now; it is rather arbitrary at the moment. The house will be positioned with a 3 m (10 ft) setback on the northeast side of the plot. This means the garden will extend to the south (short side, approx. 23 m (75 ft) total width) and west (approx. 56 m (184 ft) length).

Suggestions, comments, and improvement ideas are very welcome.

Many thanks in advance and best regards,
Carlotta

Floor plan of a house with kitchen, dining area, living room, office, entrance hall, and carport.


Upper floor plan: master bedroom, two children's rooms, bathrooms, corridor, and storage room
Y
ypg
23 Oct 2020 21:21
You really picked a completely impractical house, @Alessandro
E
Elokine
23 Oct 2020 21:29
Clearly, it looks stylish and creates a spacious effect. However, these are probably not houses priced around €450,000. Both the air space and the free area underneath need to be paid for, or the space has to be available.
Edit: By the way, I am also planning an open air space myself — but more like an open ceiling above the living room, so you can enjoy the impressive room effect from the sofa.
A
Alessandro
23 Oct 2020 21:38
Having a central open space also creates a fantastic sense of spaciousness. You can see it from both the dining area and the living room. As always, though, it’s a matter of personal taste. I believe many people would need to see it in person first before making a judgment. I’ve posted something similar before; my setup looks alike, including the large open area below the central void. Still, no grand piano fits there.

Open living and dining area: wooden table, chairs, kitchen on the left, sofa, and plant.
N
Nice-Nofret
23 Oct 2020 21:50
This space has come at a high cost, and it needs to be large enough to be more than just a hole in the ceiling. I have seen several houses with these ceiling holes, and there is no trace of spaciousness, unfortunately! It has now become a patch used to conceal other lack of creativity and poor floor planning.
A
Alessandro
23 Oct 2020 21:52
Oh, I see. Thanks for the clarification.
I was probably just too dazzled by the sunlight coming through my hole.
N
Nice-Nofret
23 Oct 2020 21:57
.. no, just the general tendency to sugarcoat one’s own situation.