Hello dear forum community,
we are almost finished with the planning of our project, but there is one issue that has concerned us from the start and that we haven’t been able to solve given the current floor plan layout.
I’ll try to keep it brief: We definitely want a built-in shower without a door in the ground floor bathroom (it doesn’t have to be fully walled up to the ceiling; it can also be half-open with, for example, glass extending up to the ceiling). Because of strict building regulations—or rather, regulations that are not favorable for our project—we get very little living space in the attic, so we had to give up on having the bedroom there. Therefore, the bedroom, dressing room, and master bathroom are all on the ground floor. Due to the somewhat limited square footage, we are unable to fit the shower in the bathroom the way we would like. Do you perhaps have any tips or ideas on how we could plan the shower a bit larger or longer within this floor plan so that we wouldn’t need a door for the shower? I was told that a doorless shower only makes sense from about 1.60m (5 ft 3 in) in length.
I’m deliberately not going into further detailed information about the project, the plot, etc., since this concerns only the bathroom. The bathroom is 12.66 m2 (136 sq ft), the dressing room is 9.09 m2 (98 sq ft), and the master bedroom is 15.31 m2 (165 sq ft).
For completeness, here are all three floors.
Thanks in advance for all helpful suggestions.
we are almost finished with the planning of our project, but there is one issue that has concerned us from the start and that we haven’t been able to solve given the current floor plan layout.
I’ll try to keep it brief: We definitely want a built-in shower without a door in the ground floor bathroom (it doesn’t have to be fully walled up to the ceiling; it can also be half-open with, for example, glass extending up to the ceiling). Because of strict building regulations—or rather, regulations that are not favorable for our project—we get very little living space in the attic, so we had to give up on having the bedroom there. Therefore, the bedroom, dressing room, and master bathroom are all on the ground floor. Due to the somewhat limited square footage, we are unable to fit the shower in the bathroom the way we would like. Do you perhaps have any tips or ideas on how we could plan the shower a bit larger or longer within this floor plan so that we wouldn’t need a door for the shower? I was told that a doorless shower only makes sense from about 1.60m (5 ft 3 in) in length.
I’m deliberately not going into further detailed information about the project, the plot, etc., since this concerns only the bathroom. The bathroom is 12.66 m2 (136 sq ft), the dressing room is 9.09 m2 (98 sq ft), and the master bedroom is 15.31 m2 (165 sq ft).
For completeness, here are all three floors.
Thanks in advance for all helpful suggestions.
Otus11 schrieb:
One more point regarding the walk-in closet, specifically the lower wall section with the 3.01 m (9 ft 11 in) measurement – presumably in the shell construction phase.
If a typical wardrobe of 3 m (9 ft 10 in) is to be placed there later, a few centimeters will be missing due to plaster and baseboard thickness. Therefore, it’s better to plan for at least 3.10 m (10 ft 2 in) during the shell construction.
The plan above for the bathroom seems to show the wall even shorter. oh great! I would never have thought of that. Thank you very much for the valuable tip. We will keep that in mind.
Würfel* schrieb:
Here is another suggestion. Bathroom slightly larger, door moved, walk-in closet shifted a bit towards the bedroom. Door in the walk-in closet moved forward, so you can have a 3 m (10 ft) wardrobe on the other side as well. The window above the bed could have a higher sill like the kitchen, which would also improve the exterior appearance. The bed would definitely be better positioned this way, with more space on both sides. Bathroom windows would need to be relocated. Space for a large shower and a large [ATTACH alt="Haus EG.jpg"]41052[/ATTACH]bathtub.Wow, I really like this quite a lot. Very good idea. We will take a closer look at it again; maybe it will inspire some further ideas. Thank you!
464!RDO schrieb:
Did someone shout that from the mountain or carve it into a stone tablet 2,000 years ago? Essentially, yes. In front of the cave was the fire, at the entrance the living and gathering area, and in the back the retreat space. Cooking and daily life happened at the front; sleeping was at the back. Visitors were welcomed in the front, while strangers had no business in the back.
This concept has proven effective and is still followed today: behind the entrance is the main living area, and behind that, usually on an upper level, are the sleeping areas.
Rooms used as passageways should be the busier ones; the last room should be the quietest space.
464!RDO schrieb:
I would find it very uncomfortable if guests had to pass through or walk past the kitchen to get to the living room or dining room. You are free to design your home as you like.
However, I was describing the kitchen layout here, not the living room. You are free to plan a door to the living room, but for the reasons mentioned, I find your route through the kitchen inconvenient. The kitchen is used multiple times a day by every household member—not just once.
464!RDO schrieb:
We usually only sit in the living room when we watch TV or play with the children. Exactly. That is why the living room doesn’t necessarily need a direct exit to the terrace, while during summer or when using garden and terrace areas, you often move back and forth between the kitchen and the terrace or garden—usually carrying food, drinks, etc.
464!RDO schrieb:
I often spend several hours in the kitchen preparing meals. I like to have an overview of everything happening (the postman arriving, guests coming, children playing, weather changes in summer → thunderstorms). I understand wanting the kitchen window to face the street.
If you have the ideal plot and all other factors align, that’s great. But if you have to choose between keeping an eye for a few seconds on whether the postman stops or just passes by, or having a direct view and access to the garden from the room where you spend several hours a day, the garden will surely win.
As I mentioned before: I also think having a door to the living room is a good idea, but I wouldn’t block direct access to the kitchen, since that’s more for the household members than the guests. There are many situations where people prefer not to pass through a chill-out area if someone is there. This applies to a child wanting to get something from the kitchen in the evening without going past visitors, or to a man grabbing a beer from the kitchen without disturbing his wife and her friend in the living room.
464!RDO schrieb:
The plot slopes uphill and there are many trees. I never said you should orient your house toward the uphill direction. Definitely not.
@ypg: Well, thanks a lot for your arguments and explanations on this. I always appreciate hearing different viewpoints. Of course, there are housing concepts that have proven themselves. However, with the trend toward open floor plans, an open kitchen, and a seamless transition between living and dining areas, I believe – based on my own experience in our current apartment – that this has evolved somewhat. The busiest area for us right now is the combined living and dining space. Even now, you have to pass through this area to get to the kitchen. I understand the reasoning you presented. But: open floor plan means no door between kitchen and living/dining room. So, if I were to swap the kitchen and living room in our case, everyone would have to pass by the kitchen too. That’s not an option for me.
The terrace wraps around the corner and will be fairly large. It will have access through sliding doors from both the living room and dining room. This way, you don’t necessarily need to pass through the living room to get from outside to the kitchen. A living room without large doors to the terrace would be unimaginable for us. I really enjoy being able to lie on the couch and still feel “half outside” through the open doors to the terrace.
Also, I don’t want a living area with windows facing the sunny south side. We mainly spend time in the living area watching TV. I’m glad to have the living room windows facing the “cooler” woods in summer rather than towards the sun. I want the dining area and kitchen to be bright, though.
As you said, the perfect plot must exist for certain things. The house will be situated a bit higher than the houses in the first row in front. On the opposite side of the street below, there is a relatively tall multi-story building. That’s why I didn’t want a living room facing this (lower, southern) side. That would almost guarantee that the blinds would always stay closed. I currently enjoy being able to observe the street a little while working in the kitchen. Maybe it’s just a habit since we have it that way now. But somehow it feels less like being watched, and I can indulge a bit in my curiosity. Hard to put into words – maybe someone understands what I mean.
Long story short: I asked you to explain the statement you initially made. You did, and I thank you for that. I don’t fully share these views and would definitely not change anything on the right half of the ground floor for that reason.
We will have the architect put the changes suggested by Würfel* on paper. I’ll get back here once that’s done. If anyone else has a sudden new idea in the meantime, please do share it here.
Best regards
The terrace wraps around the corner and will be fairly large. It will have access through sliding doors from both the living room and dining room. This way, you don’t necessarily need to pass through the living room to get from outside to the kitchen. A living room without large doors to the terrace would be unimaginable for us. I really enjoy being able to lie on the couch and still feel “half outside” through the open doors to the terrace.
Also, I don’t want a living area with windows facing the sunny south side. We mainly spend time in the living area watching TV. I’m glad to have the living room windows facing the “cooler” woods in summer rather than towards the sun. I want the dining area and kitchen to be bright, though.
As you said, the perfect plot must exist for certain things. The house will be situated a bit higher than the houses in the first row in front. On the opposite side of the street below, there is a relatively tall multi-story building. That’s why I didn’t want a living room facing this (lower, southern) side. That would almost guarantee that the blinds would always stay closed. I currently enjoy being able to observe the street a little while working in the kitchen. Maybe it’s just a habit since we have it that way now. But somehow it feels less like being watched, and I can indulge a bit in my curiosity. Hard to put into words – maybe someone understands what I mean.
Long story short: I asked you to explain the statement you initially made. You did, and I thank you for that. I don’t fully share these views and would definitely not change anything on the right half of the ground floor for that reason.
We will have the architect put the changes suggested by Würfel* on paper. I’ll get back here once that’s done. If anyone else has a sudden new idea in the meantime, please do share it here.
Best regards
464!RDO schrieb:
As you said, there must also be the perfect plot for certain things. No, I don’t think so. I set priorities because no plot is perfect for everything, nor can it be.
464!RDO schrieb:
I don’t share these views b You are thinking in terms of an “apartment,” not a “house.”
I don’t know anyone who lies on the couch during daylight hours in summer while living in a house with a garden. That only happens with people in apartments without outdoor space. Life in a house with a garden around it is quite different.
Ok, then have fun with an umbrella in the garden
Or in the garden at 35°C (95°F)? In that case, better to use air conditioning in the living room on the shaded side. But I think you’ll see it differently again.
I have spent three quarters of my life living in my parents’ house and I am fully aware that I don’t think in terms of an “apartment.”
Let’s leave it at that.
Have a nice day
Or in the garden at 35°C (95°F)? In that case, better to use air conditioning in the living room on the shaded side. But I think you’ll see it differently again.
I have spent three quarters of my life living in my parents’ house and I am fully aware that I don’t think in terms of an “apartment.”
Let’s leave it at that.
Have a nice day
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