Hello everyone,
I/we plan to start building in about 3-4 years, and I am already researching diligently. Better too early than too late. 🙂
I’m not sure if there is already a thread like this, but I couldn’t find anything with my search terms. If there is, please forgive me. Also, is this topic even in the right forum?
We already have a rough plan in mind for our future dream house. The design and layout are inspired by the "Modo Home MH5." May I post a floor plan of this house here for a rough overview?
The suitable plot of land is around 4000 sqm (43055 sq ft) and mostly flat (no typo) — the connection request is already in progress.
Brief keywords:
- Bungalow with a flat shed roof facing east → large windows facing south/west
- Double garage
- Covered large terrace
- Approximately 220 sqm (2368 sq ft) of living space
- No basement
- Large photovoltaic system + battery (our next car will very likely be a BEV. Smart charging with photovoltaic power)
- Controlled mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
- Possibly KNX control system + alarm
- No roof windows or roof structures (chimneys, satellite dishes, etc.)
- Budget for the house is about €400,000-500,000
Since we are still at the beginning of the planning phase and I am also researching materials (solid construction, timber frame, etc.), efficiency classes, heating methods (air/water or ground/water heat pump), I wanted to ask what you would have done differently right from the start or what should be taken care of early on.
I would find fundamental advice like “definitely don’t build solid because…” as helpful as small tips like “make sure to have a power outlet in area XY.”
My plan is to build the house as “finished” as possible, to avoid things later like high ongoing costs, early remodeling, or avoidable multiple power strips and cables.
So far, these are the things I have considered:
- Completely single-story and barrier-free (including showers, etc.)
- Wider doors (in case a wheelchair is needed someday)
- Wastewater heat recovery in the shower
- Centralized technology, e.g., ceiling speakers with a central amplifier, and devices like an AV receiver and computer/server will all be placed in the technology room
- Many LAN/fiber optic connections in rooms and the ceiling (for access points)
- Many power outlets with integrated USB-C ports
- All cables that can become outdated are installed in conduit pipes to allow easy replacement
As you can see, this list is still very tech-focused since we both work in IT. 🙂
I am currently reading up and gathering information in other areas as well.
This thread is also meant to highlight things other “home builders” might not have thought of yet.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
Best regards
I/we plan to start building in about 3-4 years, and I am already researching diligently. Better too early than too late. 🙂
I’m not sure if there is already a thread like this, but I couldn’t find anything with my search terms. If there is, please forgive me. Also, is this topic even in the right forum?
We already have a rough plan in mind for our future dream house. The design and layout are inspired by the "Modo Home MH5." May I post a floor plan of this house here for a rough overview?
The suitable plot of land is around 4000 sqm (43055 sq ft) and mostly flat (no typo) — the connection request is already in progress.
Brief keywords:
- Bungalow with a flat shed roof facing east → large windows facing south/west
- Double garage
- Covered large terrace
- Approximately 220 sqm (2368 sq ft) of living space
- No basement
- Large photovoltaic system + battery (our next car will very likely be a BEV. Smart charging with photovoltaic power)
- Controlled mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
- Possibly KNX control system + alarm
- No roof windows or roof structures (chimneys, satellite dishes, etc.)
- Budget for the house is about €400,000-500,000
Since we are still at the beginning of the planning phase and I am also researching materials (solid construction, timber frame, etc.), efficiency classes, heating methods (air/water or ground/water heat pump), I wanted to ask what you would have done differently right from the start or what should be taken care of early on.
I would find fundamental advice like “definitely don’t build solid because…” as helpful as small tips like “make sure to have a power outlet in area XY.”
My plan is to build the house as “finished” as possible, to avoid things later like high ongoing costs, early remodeling, or avoidable multiple power strips and cables.
So far, these are the things I have considered:
- Completely single-story and barrier-free (including showers, etc.)
- Wider doors (in case a wheelchair is needed someday)
- Wastewater heat recovery in the shower
- Centralized technology, e.g., ceiling speakers with a central amplifier, and devices like an AV receiver and computer/server will all be placed in the technology room
- Many LAN/fiber optic connections in rooms and the ceiling (for access points)
- Many power outlets with integrated USB-C ports
- All cables that can become outdated are installed in conduit pipes to allow easy replacement
As you can see, this list is still very tech-focused since we both work in IT. 🙂
I am currently reading up and gathering information in other areas as well.
This thread is also meant to highlight things other “home builders” might not have thought of yet.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
Best regards
P
pagoni20205 Nov 2020 13:36You work in IT, where development is very rapid at the moment. That’s why I find the mentioned technical standards surprising, as they will likely be completely outdated in four years, along with other "standards" or technical possibilities. Therefore, I consider detailed planning—especially in the technical area—at this stage to be far too early.
It’s best to visit a show home from a high-quality company and get a price quote for your ideas. Even better, spend some time reading here, and many questions will answer themselves.
It’s best to visit a show home from a high-quality company and get a price quote for your ideas. Even better, spend some time reading here, and many questions will answer themselves.
I quickly skimmed through it... to me, it seems a bit too much like “gadgets” 🙂
Make sure to create a home where you can genuinely feel comfortable.
Having a USB-C outlet or ceiling speakers is really secondary.
We’ve been living in our house for 2 years now, and I’m slowly realizing what I could have done differently. But that’s mostly about the room layout and such.
The roughly 200 meters (650 feet) of LAN cable throughout the house and my speakers that I can control from any tablet, computer, or phone don’t really help me much.
My very simple but personally meaningful highlights:
- Central vacuum system with a recessed inlet in the kitchen area
- Ventilation system (decentralized supply air and centralized exhaust with heat recovery)
- Lots of very large windows for plenty of natural light
- A good lighting concept (I always find it unfortunate when new houses have just one light fixture in the center of each room)
If the rooms are poorly designed, the air quality is bad, or the lighting is inadequate, you won’t feel comfortable—no matter how cool the music playing from the ceiling is :-)
Make sure to create a home where you can genuinely feel comfortable.
Having a USB-C outlet or ceiling speakers is really secondary.
We’ve been living in our house for 2 years now, and I’m slowly realizing what I could have done differently. But that’s mostly about the room layout and such.
The roughly 200 meters (650 feet) of LAN cable throughout the house and my speakers that I can control from any tablet, computer, or phone don’t really help me much.
My very simple but personally meaningful highlights:
- Central vacuum system with a recessed inlet in the kitchen area
- Ventilation system (decentralized supply air and centralized exhaust with heat recovery)
- Lots of very large windows for plenty of natural light
- A good lighting concept (I always find it unfortunate when new houses have just one light fixture in the center of each room)
If the rooms are poorly designed, the air quality is bad, or the lighting is inadequate, you won’t feel comfortable—no matter how cool the music playing from the ceiling is :-)
1. Set your budget. As others have already mentioned, your budget is too low.
2. What are you allowed to build? Check the zoning plan / building regulations, such as §34 etc.
3. What do you need? Discuss your space requirements in detail. Not just kitchen x sqm (x square meters), bathroom, 3 bedrooms, but specify: kitchen with a peninsula, x m (x feet) of countertop space; bathroom with shower, sauna, freestanding bathtub, that many closets, etc.
It is important to list everything that distinguishes you from a standard layout: model train, gaming PC, bookcase, shoe collection, oversized dining table.
4. Always draw both existing and desired furniture to scale on every floor plan.
5. Once you have your budget, you can consider extras like KNX (home automation), heat recovery ventilation (our builder presented us with a calculation showing it never pays off).
6. Visit show homes. They give you a sense of space and help align your tastes. At this stage, it’s not about whether faucet model XYZ is good, but things like “square shapes are not acceptable.”
7. Order house catalogs.
8. The clearer you are about what you want, the easier it is to find the right general contractor. Every contractor has a standard approach, and it should match your requirements as closely as possible.
9. Make notes of everything that bothers you about your current home and everything you like. Whether you ever implement all of it is another matter. If you like a friend’s hallway cabinet dimensions, ask for the measurements. If you dislike a tiny sink, cramped space at the dining table, or the feel of the flooring, ask and measure politely.
10. For barrier-free design, I recommend checking out “Zero Barrier” (Nullbarriere). You can consider many things in the floor plan, but not everything.
11. Electrical outlets are very individual. Follow your own habits.
2. What are you allowed to build? Check the zoning plan / building regulations, such as §34 etc.
3. What do you need? Discuss your space requirements in detail. Not just kitchen x sqm (x square meters), bathroom, 3 bedrooms, but specify: kitchen with a peninsula, x m (x feet) of countertop space; bathroom with shower, sauna, freestanding bathtub, that many closets, etc.
It is important to list everything that distinguishes you from a standard layout: model train, gaming PC, bookcase, shoe collection, oversized dining table.
4. Always draw both existing and desired furniture to scale on every floor plan.
5. Once you have your budget, you can consider extras like KNX (home automation), heat recovery ventilation (our builder presented us with a calculation showing it never pays off).
6. Visit show homes. They give you a sense of space and help align your tastes. At this stage, it’s not about whether faucet model XYZ is good, but things like “square shapes are not acceptable.”
7. Order house catalogs.
8. The clearer you are about what you want, the easier it is to find the right general contractor. Every contractor has a standard approach, and it should match your requirements as closely as possible.
9. Make notes of everything that bothers you about your current home and everything you like. Whether you ever implement all of it is another matter. If you like a friend’s hallway cabinet dimensions, ask for the measurements. If you dislike a tiny sink, cramped space at the dining table, or the feel of the flooring, ask and measure politely.
10. For barrier-free design, I recommend checking out “Zero Barrier” (Nullbarriere). You can consider many things in the floor plan, but not everything.
11. Electrical outlets are very individual. Follow your own habits.
By the way, I wouldn’t look to Poland for building inspiration: Poland is abroad, and the energy-saving regulations are a "German" requirement. Nowadays, a house that fully complies with building codes is so technologically advanced that "imported models" can only be transferred to a limited extent and usually need to be adapted. The same applies, in essence, to other time periods: pseudobauhaus designs from the 1980s often have cantilevered canopies or similar features “growing” directly from the floor slab above without thermal breaks, which can no longer be reproduced exactly as-is today. Therefore, I would always look for inspirations that are compatible.
Oh, that sounds like a really useful invention at last.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
titoz schrieb:
My very simple but useful highlights FOR ME:
- Central vacuum with a docking nozzle in the kitchen area
Oh, that sounds like a really useful invention at last.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
P
pagoni20205 Nov 2020 14:22titoz schrieb:
Ventilation system (decentralized fresh air supply and centralized exhaust with heat recovery) I don’t know enough about this; what kind of system would that be, for example, and what are the specific advantages of THAT system?
titoz schrieb:
Make sure you create a home where you fundamentally feel comfortable. yep
haydee schrieb:
For accessibility, I recommend looking into barrier-free design. ...and first take some time to reflect on what you actually mean by that, what limitations you want to prevent, and to what extent you are willing to give up other nice things in and around the house in order to live a truly barrier-free life. For a life with impairments or disabilities, the building site itself might not even be suitable... or... or...
This sounds a bit like... I’ll take everything, please wrap it all up nicely for me.
@Xelic95 don’t take it the wrong way, but see all the comments here more as constructive criticism. If you really build such a great project, everyone here will gladly help you. In any case, it won’t work if you think, "this is how I want it" and then try to do it somehow cheaper.
A stylish and sophisticated project requires proper materials, special planning, and therefore significantly higher costs; if you only build big, you quickly end up with something gaudy. In my first building phase, it was often the case in rural areas that you did everything yourself and always made everything very large.
From that time, there are still countless dreadful floor plans and/or living rooms you can see today. Investing money in sensible, individual planning is often a better idea than just making everything bigger.
Thanks in advance for the few kind replies.
I now understand the budget issue better. I have already looked at some cost breakdowns here and also asked friends and acquaintances who have recently built. However, none of their houses had this “style.” Almost all were either basement houses or multi-story, and never with a shed roof. Opinions on the price also varied widely, since for this type of house, for example, no (load-bearing) ceiling is needed, but there is a large slab foundation and a large roof instead.
Construction is permitted under §34.
The room layout is a good idea. We roughly know what needs to be included: 2 bathrooms with toilets (no bathtub or sauna, etc.), open living/dining/kitchen area, 2 offices (since we both work a lot from home), 1 utility room, and 1 guest room. There will be no children.
Furniture will be minimalist, unlike many apartments. No large shoe or clothing collections, no space for seasonal decorations, children’s accessories, etc.
We have already visited some model homes in the area (within 100km (62 miles)) and mostly agree on what we like. We both prefer clear rectangular shapes, no unnecessary slopes or niches. That’s why we like the floor plan of this house so much—almost like a checkerboard pattern.
We are drawn to open spaces with large floor-to-ceiling windows and single-level living. What appeals to us most is being able to step outside directly from almost every room.
We also agree on a flat roof without skylights or similar features.
I actually haven’t thought about house catalogs. I should look into that.
You’re right that technology changes quickly. That’s why the plan is to install everything in empty conduits (empty ducts). I know many people with houses built in the 1990s that now have permanently plastered ISDN cables in every room, which are completely useless today.
I am reading a lot as well. I’m not sure how the costs of a “city villa” translate to a bungalow, since the former are built much more frequently.
Best regards
I now understand the budget issue better. I have already looked at some cost breakdowns here and also asked friends and acquaintances who have recently built. However, none of their houses had this “style.” Almost all were either basement houses or multi-story, and never with a shed roof. Opinions on the price also varied widely, since for this type of house, for example, no (load-bearing) ceiling is needed, but there is a large slab foundation and a large roof instead.
Construction is permitted under §34.
The room layout is a good idea. We roughly know what needs to be included: 2 bathrooms with toilets (no bathtub or sauna, etc.), open living/dining/kitchen area, 2 offices (since we both work a lot from home), 1 utility room, and 1 guest room. There will be no children.
Furniture will be minimalist, unlike many apartments. No large shoe or clothing collections, no space for seasonal decorations, children’s accessories, etc.
We have already visited some model homes in the area (within 100km (62 miles)) and mostly agree on what we like. We both prefer clear rectangular shapes, no unnecessary slopes or niches. That’s why we like the floor plan of this house so much—almost like a checkerboard pattern.
We are drawn to open spaces with large floor-to-ceiling windows and single-level living. What appeals to us most is being able to step outside directly from almost every room.
We also agree on a flat roof without skylights or similar features.
I actually haven’t thought about house catalogs. I should look into that.
You’re right that technology changes quickly. That’s why the plan is to install everything in empty conduits (empty ducts). I know many people with houses built in the 1990s that now have permanently plastered ISDN cables in every room, which are completely useless today.
I am reading a lot as well. I’m not sure how the costs of a “city villa” translate to a bungalow, since the former are built much more frequently.
Best regards
Similar topics