ᐅ Log Cabin with Half-Hipped Roof by the Forest – How to Improve the Design?
Created on: 11 Jun 2018 19:45
K
keychain
Hello everyone,
We have been planning and actively reading for over a year now. As our plans become more concrete, we would like to present our design and get your feedback.
First of all: Yes, the house is big. It is our dream, we are doing a lot of the work ourselves, and we know that we cannot extend it further — the situation here is a bit unusual, as strictly speaking this is only officially buildable land for a short time window.
A brief introduction: I am 36 years old and co-owner of an IT company. My partner is 31 and works as a lecturer. About two years ago, we found our dream plot — a little over 2800sqm (about 0.7 acres), with direct forest access and located in the third row. All neighboring plots are, as far as possible, already built on, mostly with former weekend houses or residential homes.
First, the questionnaire:
Building plan / restrictions?
No, there is no building plan, so we are following common local building standards. The neighboring house has two full stories, which we are using as a reference.
Plot size
2800sqm (about 0.7 acres)
Slope
Slight slope; we are on a ridge of the Ore Mountains. The building site has a height difference of max. 60cm (about 2 feet) from northeast to southwest. The entire plot slopes about 1.80m (6 feet) downward to the south along the west boundary. Rocky ground starting at 2.5m (8 feet) depth.
Plot ratio / floor area ratio
No exact figures known; according to the lawyer from the building permit office, we are well within limits.
Building envelope, building line and boundary
None
Boundary setbacks
Do you mean setback distances and boundary construction? If so: 3m (10 feet) all around; boundary construction for sheds and garages is theoretically permitted.
Number of parking spaces
1–2 under the porch + double garage.
Number of floors
2
Roof type
Half-hipped roof (Dutch hip roof).
Architectural style
Hmm... not sure?
Orientation
South-southwest
Maximum height/limits
None
Other requirements
Homeowners’ needs
We want our house to welcome us. Warm wood, natural building materials, lots of light and air — high ceilings, large beams. It should blend well with the environment, be warm and cozy.
Style, roof type, building type
Log house made from glue-laminated beams (probably Finnlog).
Basement, floors
Fully basemented with two full floors.
Number of residents, age
Currently 2 people. Children may come, parents as well.
Space requirements on ground floor and upper floor
Currently about 300sqm (about 3200 sqft). This seems quite large, but looking at individual rooms (living/dining area) I don’t know where else to put the sound system. Maybe the planning is off or our space expectations are. We don’t have a TV; the fireplace is the central element.
Office: family use or home office?
An office is planned, but only as a fallback. I don’t want to work from home and only need space for private files and a desk.
Guest bedrooms per year
Variable, currently very few. Hopefully many more with the house — then we can accommodate them.
Open or closed architecture
Mixed. I prefer open, but an open void above the living area is not possible if you don’t want all cooking smells in the bedroom.
Traditional or modern construction
Hmm... solid wood house? Traditional.
Open kitchen, cooking island
An open, large kitchen with a big island where more than two people can cook comfortably. No seating in the kitchen, but a huge workspace.
Number of dining seats
10
Fireplace
Yes, a large soapstone stove.
Music / stereo wall
I am considering installating a Sonos system with a music room in the basement.
Balcony, roof terrace
No; we have a garden for that.
Garage, carport
Both; at least the entrance canopy is large enough for one car.
Vegetable garden, greenhouse
We want a greenhouse, a swimming pond, and a fire pit.
Other wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons why or why not
House design
Who designed it:
The design was created with an architect, based on our drafts.
What do you particularly like? Why?
High ceilings and visible ceiling beams on the upper floor, separated area upstairs for us, the fireplace room as a second retreat, the single-story “extension” for the dining room, the large kitchen, the fireplaces... and especially the abundant wood.
What don’t you like? Why?
The gable windows should get an added triangular top to maximize light. The current window layout feels a bit outdated. We actually wanted an open void, but this can’t be sensibly integrated. Heating is a constant issue and never fully resolved.
The worst: the master bathroom fixtures. We want a large bathtub and a double shower. Either the bathroom is too small or we lack imagination. It doesn’t look cozy...
Preferred heating system: currently unfortunately natural gas. Solid fuel heating is out for various reasons: a wood gasifier is too expensive and labor-intensive; pellet or woodchip stoves are not economical, plus we can’t reliably get deliveries in winter when the road is snowed in. Natural gas is about 100m (330 feet) away; we are still waiting for connection cost estimates. Heat pumps only make financial sense with geothermal; however, installation and technology would then be more expensive than a current compact car. We do not want oil heating or liquefied gas tanks.
If you have to omit something, which details/extensions
-can you omit:
-can you not omit:
Why is the design like it is now? For example:
The architect received a draft from us, every room was discussed beforehand (use, size, contents), and the design was revised multiple times. We like that it implements nearly everything we wanted and that the house does not look too bulky — due to the half-hipped roof and the gables, it does not seem so on the plans at least.
What is your most important / basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
Apart from the effort for plastering: is the floor plan practical? For example: washing machine on the first floor where laundry occurs, bathroom for the children...
Now some free text — our notes:
Some things are already different from the plans:
We have also been thinking about other things:
I think that’s it. Thanks for your opinions!
We have been planning and actively reading for over a year now. As our plans become more concrete, we would like to present our design and get your feedback.
First of all: Yes, the house is big. It is our dream, we are doing a lot of the work ourselves, and we know that we cannot extend it further — the situation here is a bit unusual, as strictly speaking this is only officially buildable land for a short time window.
A brief introduction: I am 36 years old and co-owner of an IT company. My partner is 31 and works as a lecturer. About two years ago, we found our dream plot — a little over 2800sqm (about 0.7 acres), with direct forest access and located in the third row. All neighboring plots are, as far as possible, already built on, mostly with former weekend houses or residential homes.
First, the questionnaire:
Building plan / restrictions?
No, there is no building plan, so we are following common local building standards. The neighboring house has two full stories, which we are using as a reference.
Plot size
2800sqm (about 0.7 acres)
Slope
Slight slope; we are on a ridge of the Ore Mountains. The building site has a height difference of max. 60cm (about 2 feet) from northeast to southwest. The entire plot slopes about 1.80m (6 feet) downward to the south along the west boundary. Rocky ground starting at 2.5m (8 feet) depth.
Plot ratio / floor area ratio
No exact figures known; according to the lawyer from the building permit office, we are well within limits.
Building envelope, building line and boundary
None
Boundary setbacks
Do you mean setback distances and boundary construction? If so: 3m (10 feet) all around; boundary construction for sheds and garages is theoretically permitted.
Number of parking spaces
1–2 under the porch + double garage.
Number of floors
2
Roof type
Half-hipped roof (Dutch hip roof).
Architectural style
Hmm... not sure?
Orientation
South-southwest
Maximum height/limits
None
Other requirements
Homeowners’ needs
We want our house to welcome us. Warm wood, natural building materials, lots of light and air — high ceilings, large beams. It should blend well with the environment, be warm and cozy.
Style, roof type, building type
Log house made from glue-laminated beams (probably Finnlog).
Basement, floors
Fully basemented with two full floors.
Number of residents, age
Currently 2 people. Children may come, parents as well.
Space requirements on ground floor and upper floor
Currently about 300sqm (about 3200 sqft). This seems quite large, but looking at individual rooms (living/dining area) I don’t know where else to put the sound system. Maybe the planning is off or our space expectations are. We don’t have a TV; the fireplace is the central element.
Office: family use or home office?
An office is planned, but only as a fallback. I don’t want to work from home and only need space for private files and a desk.
Guest bedrooms per year
Variable, currently very few. Hopefully many more with the house — then we can accommodate them.
Open or closed architecture
Mixed. I prefer open, but an open void above the living area is not possible if you don’t want all cooking smells in the bedroom.
Traditional or modern construction
Hmm... solid wood house? Traditional.
Open kitchen, cooking island
An open, large kitchen with a big island where more than two people can cook comfortably. No seating in the kitchen, but a huge workspace.
Number of dining seats
10
Fireplace
Yes, a large soapstone stove.
Music / stereo wall
I am considering installating a Sonos system with a music room in the basement.
Balcony, roof terrace
No; we have a garden for that.
Garage, carport
Both; at least the entrance canopy is large enough for one car.
Vegetable garden, greenhouse
We want a greenhouse, a swimming pond, and a fire pit.
Other wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons why or why not
House design
Who designed it:
The design was created with an architect, based on our drafts.
What do you particularly like? Why?
High ceilings and visible ceiling beams on the upper floor, separated area upstairs for us, the fireplace room as a second retreat, the single-story “extension” for the dining room, the large kitchen, the fireplaces... and especially the abundant wood.
What don’t you like? Why?
The gable windows should get an added triangular top to maximize light. The current window layout feels a bit outdated. We actually wanted an open void, but this can’t be sensibly integrated. Heating is a constant issue and never fully resolved.
The worst: the master bathroom fixtures. We want a large bathtub and a double shower. Either the bathroom is too small or we lack imagination. It doesn’t look cozy...
Preferred heating system: currently unfortunately natural gas. Solid fuel heating is out for various reasons: a wood gasifier is too expensive and labor-intensive; pellet or woodchip stoves are not economical, plus we can’t reliably get deliveries in winter when the road is snowed in. Natural gas is about 100m (330 feet) away; we are still waiting for connection cost estimates. Heat pumps only make financial sense with geothermal; however, installation and technology would then be more expensive than a current compact car. We do not want oil heating or liquefied gas tanks.
If you have to omit something, which details/extensions
-can you omit:
-can you not omit:
Why is the design like it is now? For example:
The architect received a draft from us, every room was discussed beforehand (use, size, contents), and the design was revised multiple times. We like that it implements nearly everything we wanted and that the house does not look too bulky — due to the half-hipped roof and the gables, it does not seem so on the plans at least.
What is your most important / basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
Apart from the effort for plastering: is the floor plan practical? For example: washing machine on the first floor where laundry occurs, bathroom for the children...
Now some free text — our notes:
Some things are already different from the plans:
- All windows can be opened.
- Sliding doors open outwards, not inwards.
- All dormer windows will not be rectangular but have added triangular tops.
- Between the hallway and living area there is no central post; instead, a large double door is planned.
- The basement has a technical room beside the stairs, designed as a through room. In my opinion, this is a poor solution; we probably also need to plan a separate boiler room.
- Where the embankment is drawn, doors will be installed. This will allow the large rooms to get natural daylight and be usable living space.
- The stair step projecting into the hallway is bad and will definitely be removed.
We have also been thinking about other things:
- The hallway upstairs is planned as a “library.” To bring in light, we intend to use two light wells with diameters of 30–35cm (12–14 inches). The advantage: it will never be completely dark at night when someone needs to use the bathroom.
- The fireplace will be a soapstone stove; no plan exists yet. Strictly speaking, it will not stand against a wall but form the wall itself. We also planned a second connection in the fireplace room; originally we wanted a tunnel fireplace but were convinced it’s not a good idea as a room divider.
- The children’s rooms are not ideal — one faces north, the other south. We could make two narrow, elongated rooms and a corridor so both face south, but we consider that clearly suboptimal.
- All doors on the ground floor will be 1m (3.3 feet) wide to at least accommodate wheelchair access reasonably.
I think that’s it. Thanks for your opinions!
haydee schrieb:
Now you are planning the basement and the upper floor for your definite use, and the ground floor as a buffer for children, grandparents, a second kitchen so the distance is not too far. My mistake: There is no basement anymore. We have distributed the space across the first two floors to gain more “real” living space. The ground floor is now utility space, partially taking rooms that would have been in the basement and also providing areas for guests, a bar/pool table, and wellness. Optionally, it can also be a kitchen and living room – our Plan B.
haydee schrieb:
What do you think about a bungalow or having the living/dining room open to the ceiling. We generally don’t really like bungalows. They are practical but either very large for the size or have comparatively few windows. Overall, I think our rejection is more emotional than based on facts.
haydee schrieb:
Take a look at the Huf model house in Hannover. I just checked it out on the website; it goes in the timber-frame direction but the interior is too modern for my taste. We’re driving past Hannover this weekend, so I’ll consider it in our plans. At least the parents’ area isn’t visible on the website. Thanks!
The goal is not to find a model home that fits exactly. It’s about gathering ideas. Getting a feel for stairs (there are quite a few in the park that make you feel old), sizes, furnishing ideas, or what you don’t like. Different furnishings, different colors, and everything looks completely different.
If you are in the model home park in Hannover, check out the bathroom at Streif Haus. They also have an unusual master bedroom area. The staircase takes some getting used to.
Meisterstück has a similar look to Huf-Haus and is also somewhat larger.
Kampa/Wolf Haus (I’m not sure which company is in that house at the moment) has a very generous master bedroom area.
Hanse Haus should have one too, but I’m not so sure anymore.
Opposite Huf is Haake. I think it leans towards the style of a picturesque villa.
If you have time, visit all the houses—even those that might be too small. Open doors, let the spaces speak to you, imagine placing your furniture. Don’t just say you don’t like it; go through the points in your mind about what exactly you don’t like.
If you are in the model home park in Hannover, check out the bathroom at Streif Haus. They also have an unusual master bedroom area. The staircase takes some getting used to.
Meisterstück has a similar look to Huf-Haus and is also somewhat larger.
Kampa/Wolf Haus (I’m not sure which company is in that house at the moment) has a very generous master bedroom area.
Hanse Haus should have one too, but I’m not so sure anymore.
Opposite Huf is Haake. I think it leans towards the style of a picturesque villa.
If you have time, visit all the houses—even those that might be too small. Open doors, let the spaces speak to you, imagine placing your furniture. Don’t just say you don’t like it; go through the points in your mind about what exactly you don’t like.
H
HausaufGrund18 Jun 2018 17:40Hi,
I find haydee’s response and recommendation very good and important.
I get the impression that you are not yet fully decided on the basic concept—at least when looking at the floor plans you have presented so far.
I don’t want to judge or say that they are bad; no, they are just very different from each other.
Before you start working out details, you should have a clear "concept" because the problem will be that you’ll get six opinions from five people. That will only cause more uncertainty. Everyone will have their own opinion about the floor plans. Building a house is very individual, and if you have the possibility to plan individually and your budget is not the overriding limiting factor, take your time! And work with professionals.
For example, you can also build with the goal of appealing to the largest possible potential buyer target group for resale. Or go very individual…
One concept that immediately came to mind for me was a design with large glazing facing south—rooms opening outwards—connections between indoors and outdoors. But my preference doesn’t have to be yours.
In your new design, the huge basement is now missing, and you went from minimal windows facing south to almost the maximum possible glazing.
These are such extreme contrasts that I would advise you—just as haydee also suggested—to look at houses and rooms in person and get a real sense of how spaces feel.
A 20-meter (65-foot) long and 6-meter (20-foot) wide living-dining-kitchen area—it is personally hard for me to imagine feeling comfortable in such a space (better said: that I would feel comfortable). But as I said, everyone is different, and it might be just right for you. But you should get a feel for these room dimensions—paper doesn’t convey the sense of space adequately.
My well-intended advice: have an architect make the designs, preferably several different ones. Visit houses—do you find one you like? Which architect built it? Is there anything interesting on Architecture Day?
...
Every architect has a particular "style," in our experience, especially if they can design freely.
When building, you ideally need a good amount of all three: money, time, and experience/knowledge. And nerves of steel.
Think about what you have a lot of and what you don’t. What YOU want to build is the decisive factor.
Keep your chin up; I know exactly how it feels to be in such a situation. Be brave, take a deep breath—clear your head—and keep going. But don’t make rushed decisions if you’re not sure.
Best regards
I find haydee’s response and recommendation very good and important.
I get the impression that you are not yet fully decided on the basic concept—at least when looking at the floor plans you have presented so far.
I don’t want to judge or say that they are bad; no, they are just very different from each other.
Before you start working out details, you should have a clear "concept" because the problem will be that you’ll get six opinions from five people. That will only cause more uncertainty. Everyone will have their own opinion about the floor plans. Building a house is very individual, and if you have the possibility to plan individually and your budget is not the overriding limiting factor, take your time! And work with professionals.
For example, you can also build with the goal of appealing to the largest possible potential buyer target group for resale. Or go very individual…
One concept that immediately came to mind for me was a design with large glazing facing south—rooms opening outwards—connections between indoors and outdoors. But my preference doesn’t have to be yours.
In your new design, the huge basement is now missing, and you went from minimal windows facing south to almost the maximum possible glazing.
These are such extreme contrasts that I would advise you—just as haydee also suggested—to look at houses and rooms in person and get a real sense of how spaces feel.
A 20-meter (65-foot) long and 6-meter (20-foot) wide living-dining-kitchen area—it is personally hard for me to imagine feeling comfortable in such a space (better said: that I would feel comfortable). But as I said, everyone is different, and it might be just right for you. But you should get a feel for these room dimensions—paper doesn’t convey the sense of space adequately.
My well-intended advice: have an architect make the designs, preferably several different ones. Visit houses—do you find one you like? Which architect built it? Is there anything interesting on Architecture Day?
...
Every architect has a particular "style," in our experience, especially if they can design freely.
When building, you ideally need a good amount of all three: money, time, and experience/knowledge. And nerves of steel.
Think about what you have a lot of and what you don’t. What YOU want to build is the decisive factor.
Keep your chin up; I know exactly how it feels to be in such a situation. Be brave, take a deep breath—clear your head—and keep going. But don’t make rushed decisions if you’re not sure.
Best regards
Hmm, I was about to ask if the exterior shell of the initial plan is somehow mandatory due to the building permit / planning permission. Then I suddenly see glass timber framing instead of a wooden house. Are you sure you can still change the shell/size that easily now?
Kitchen, etc., on the upper floor with a 3m (10 ft) deep balcony… that seems lacking in spaciousness to me. My balcony in the rental apartment is already 360cm (12 ft) deep and is less than the main exit? And then there’s a large hot stove very close to the dining table. Why is the work area in the middle of the 120sqm (1,292 sq ft) room? Home office there? Have you ever worked from home in the open-plan area of your apartment? Possibly with children?
I also find some of the bedrooms quite tight, so that if you place a bed with a 2x2m (6.5x6.5 ft) mattress (external dimensions are usually at least 210x210cm (7x7 ft)), the room feels cramped.
How about first setting up a room program? Which rooms with what size. In which rooms should there be an open roof structure, what could be a secondary use of the room, and so on.
Kitchen, etc., on the upper floor with a 3m (10 ft) deep balcony… that seems lacking in spaciousness to me. My balcony in the rental apartment is already 360cm (12 ft) deep and is less than the main exit? And then there’s a large hot stove very close to the dining table. Why is the work area in the middle of the 120sqm (1,292 sq ft) room? Home office there? Have you ever worked from home in the open-plan area of your apartment? Possibly with children?
I also find some of the bedrooms quite tight, so that if you place a bed with a 2x2m (6.5x6.5 ft) mattress (external dimensions are usually at least 210x210cm (7x7 ft)), the room feels cramped.
How about first setting up a room program? Which rooms with what size. In which rooms should there be an open roof structure, what could be a secondary use of the room, and so on.
keychain schrieb:
J
Kitchen: I was just told that it’s not clear.. The kitchen is upstairs next to the dining table. The name isn’t on the plan—why? No idea. The kitchen downstairs is based on your suggestion that it might be an issue if you have children who want to play outside while the parents are one floor above. So at least we have a Plan B if it’s needed for a few years—if not, we have all the connections to separate the apartment. Odors shouldn’t travel down; the bedrooms are separated by doors.Kids or not, the terrace by the kitchen is a win for everyone. As soon as the grill gets going in summer, you start carrying half the fridge contents up and down. Why?
keychain schrieb:
J
I don’t know why you feel so attacked.Oh, not at all! I just wanted to make clear that we are all building or have built a very special house here.
keychain schrieb:
No matter how harsh your criticism may sometimes seem, I try to take it as especially well-intended. Of course your home is important to you, but everyone builds according to their own priorities, and for many, that’s family—a beautiful, practical home. We are building primarily for two adults, guests, and possibly family. You can accept that results or priorities differ without taking it personally. At least that was not my intention, and I apologize if it came across wrong to you.You should assume that those responding here already understand this is going to be a mansion. What we are trying to explain is that your house can become a palace while still including all the useful features appreciated even in smaller homes. Usually, people hire a good architect for that and don’t take a house they saw in some catalog. Because adapting it for you is much harder.
keychain schrieb:
No, nothing has changed; we consistently followed our priorities and tried to incorporate as many of your (certainly valid) objections as possible without compromising our design.Well, I’m not the only one who thinks the new design has as much in common with the previous one as a cat does with a stone.
The program seems to have several shortcomings that need to be explained every time. How about taking graph paper and a pencil, drawing the designs by hand, and then photographing them?
Since I only follow this thread occasionally, two questions:
1. Do you even have a Plan A? (And for Plan B, are you including rooms for children and grandparents?)
2. Have you already submitted the building permit / planning permission application? If I were you, I would quickly withdraw it and hire an architect.
If two people are planning 300 square meters (3,230 square feet), that is the exact opposite of a plan. That is called arbitrariness.
Since I only follow this thread occasionally, two questions:
1. Do you even have a Plan A? (And for Plan B, are you including rooms for children and grandparents?)
2. Have you already submitted the building permit / planning permission application? If I were you, I would quickly withdraw it and hire an architect.
If two people are planning 300 square meters (3,230 square feet), that is the exact opposite of a plan. That is called arbitrariness.
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