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!
munger71 schrieb:
He doesn’t want to talk about money here, I assume that won’t be an issue.
In general, floor plans of very large houses receive little support and few constructive discussions here. Nonsense.
If someone doesn’t even want to talk about money anonymously, it’s clear that no one will believe them. No one wants to discuss castles in the air. Otherwise, large houses are very often and gladly discussed.
I didn’t want to waste anyone’s time with unrealistic ideas. The current plans are now in the building permit / planning permission phase. We were under severe time pressure, so we still need to submit some changes – but at least we managed to secure our expiring preliminary approval. My intention now is to take a fresh, critical look with a larger group to see what can be improved or what might have been overlooked.
Is it important to mention the cost of the house in euros for it to be taken seriously? If so: your estimate of 650,000 euros wasn’t bad. If we focus on the house itself, my current calculations are within that price range.
Now to the structural conditions:
Light Wells
The windows planned so far measure 90 x 90 centimeters (35 x 35 inches) and can hardly be made larger unless the roof is set back significantly at that point. Then it would be possible to install larger windows and even an additional “light strip” between them. However, we find that quite visually unappealing and have therefore considered light wells instead. Yes, the domes are not ideal on the roof either, but then again, solar panels aren’t exactly attractive either. We could live with it if it brings enough natural daylight into the room.
Upper Floor Hallway
Drawing in shelves is a good idea; I will give that a try. If necessary, there is still the option to partition off another room – for example, a playroom or something similar. Roof slopes shouldn’t be a problem at first since they only start from about 2 meters (6.5 feet) in height.
Basement Apartment
We discussed this idea yesterday. Two things still need clarification: First, we are not sure if wastewater can be discharged from the basement without a sewage lift station. Second, only two large rooms receive daylight, which theoretically limits living room/kitchen and a bedroom. It might be possible to uncover one or two windows on the west side, which would allow that area to be separated off. But I think we’ll need to decide on the use – installing a wellness area only to remove it in ten years to build the apartment would be unfortunate.
So the remaining question is about the entrance door. For a basement apartment, we definitely need a separate exterior door; otherwise, occupants would always have to enter through the terrace doors. This additional door would logically be located on the west side, correct?
Wellness/Sauna
I believe we can fit everything we need into a small wooden house by the natural swimming pond. We have already built the first one. At 25 square meters (270 square feet), it’s not huge but sufficient for a shower, sauna, a small relaxation area, and it integrates well with a terrace. A holiday home on the rear of the property could be an option for later and would also be suitable. That’s why I want to keep this part out of the main house. The main thing is that our bathroom upstairs is functional and comfortable.
Is it important to mention the cost of the house in euros for it to be taken seriously? If so: your estimate of 650,000 euros wasn’t bad. If we focus on the house itself, my current calculations are within that price range.
Now to the structural conditions:
Light Wells
The windows planned so far measure 90 x 90 centimeters (35 x 35 inches) and can hardly be made larger unless the roof is set back significantly at that point. Then it would be possible to install larger windows and even an additional “light strip” between them. However, we find that quite visually unappealing and have therefore considered light wells instead. Yes, the domes are not ideal on the roof either, but then again, solar panels aren’t exactly attractive either. We could live with it if it brings enough natural daylight into the room.
Upper Floor Hallway
Drawing in shelves is a good idea; I will give that a try. If necessary, there is still the option to partition off another room – for example, a playroom or something similar. Roof slopes shouldn’t be a problem at first since they only start from about 2 meters (6.5 feet) in height.
Basement Apartment
We discussed this idea yesterday. Two things still need clarification: First, we are not sure if wastewater can be discharged from the basement without a sewage lift station. Second, only two large rooms receive daylight, which theoretically limits living room/kitchen and a bedroom. It might be possible to uncover one or two windows on the west side, which would allow that area to be separated off. But I think we’ll need to decide on the use – installing a wellness area only to remove it in ten years to build the apartment would be unfortunate.
So the remaining question is about the entrance door. For a basement apartment, we definitely need a separate exterior door; otherwise, occupants would always have to enter through the terrace doors. This additional door would logically be located on the west side, correct?
Wellness/Sauna
I believe we can fit everything we need into a small wooden house by the natural swimming pond. We have already built the first one. At 25 square meters (270 square feet), it’s not huge but sufficient for a shower, sauna, a small relaxation area, and it integrates well with a terrace. A holiday home on the rear of the property could be an option for later and would also be suitable. That’s why I want to keep this part out of the main house. The main thing is that our bathroom upstairs is functional and comfortable.
keychain schrieb:
We discussed this idea yesterday. There are two things we still need to clarify: First, we are not yet sure if we can have wastewater flow in the basement without a pump system. If the washing machines are going to be installed in the basement, you will need a pump system anyway. In that case, it makes sense to use one that can handle blackwater, so the bathroom and toilet can be connected as well. The additional cost is reasonable—we did the same. If you are building to KfW55 standard or better, you will receive double funding with a granny flat (two separate living units instead of one).
It might be hard to see, but the washing machine is located in the children's bathroom on the first floor so that laundry can be done where it mostly accumulates. At first, everything was in the basement with a laundry chute, but then we would still have had to carry laundry up and down the stairs. Of course, it will be hung outside in the summer; we just can’t avoid the compromise entirely.
The wastewater connection in the basement is problematic because bedrock appears after only 2.5 meters (8 feet), and we are not sure how workable it still is. A small sewage treatment plant has to be installed in the rear part of the property, and the depth at which it can be placed ultimately determines the outlet height at the house. A washing machine can easily pump water up to one meter (3 feet) high, but a toilet’s drain is significantly deeper. So, if it’s not urgent and just a “nice to have,” the decision likely comes down to the extra cost. It’s also difficult to plan precisely. I might have to have the treatment plant installed first to see how deep the wastewater line ultimately is. Nobody wants to make a call without excavation.
I’ve been told that KfW funding for pure wood houses is quite ambitious. I’m still running the numbers, but I don’t think it’s really worth it. The effort is very high, and the outcome uncertain.
The wastewater connection in the basement is problematic because bedrock appears after only 2.5 meters (8 feet), and we are not sure how workable it still is. A small sewage treatment plant has to be installed in the rear part of the property, and the depth at which it can be placed ultimately determines the outlet height at the house. A washing machine can easily pump water up to one meter (3 feet) high, but a toilet’s drain is significantly deeper. So, if it’s not urgent and just a “nice to have,” the decision likely comes down to the extra cost. It’s also difficult to plan precisely. I might have to have the treatment plant installed first to see how deep the wastewater line ultimately is. Nobody wants to make a call without excavation.
I’ve been told that KfW funding for pure wood houses is quite ambitious. I’m still running the numbers, but I don’t think it’s really worth it. The effort is very high, and the outcome uncertain.
keychain schrieb:
I didn’t want to waste anyone’s time with a pipe dream. The current plans are currently in the approval phase as a building permit / planning permission application, If that’s the case...
I wouldn’t (any longer) separate the room at the top—at least to keep the few windows available for ventilation. I would arrange the vast space as I imagine a library with a cozy reading nook and a light well, to avoid surprises.
What kind of shafts are those in the entrance hallway? Is the front door really supposed to open outwards?
I would skip the small wall for the closet in the guest room—it only takes away light.
The depth of the kitchen cabinets looks quite shallow. This might be deceptive due to the size of the rooms. Are they 60cm (24 inches)? It wouldn’t hurt to allow for 70cm (28 inches) depth here. First, you could realize deeper cabinets if desired later (which is nice with sinks), and second, you could place a freestanding appliance without it looking out of place.
The bathroom would need another careful look. But it might be limited in options due to the windows.
For laundry, I would try to include a laundry chute from the upper floor down to the basement. Ideally, the laundry room leads onto the lawn, where you can hang clothes outside to dry in the wind. (And don’t even give me the dryer argument—there’s always a need for access, with or without.)
A separate apartment would not be an option for me. Nobody is moving into my dream house! It’s mine.
But a home gym would definitely be cool.
I find the hallway unsuitable as a library. It’s a large room but very dark, the windows are more like narrow slits, and there is little available wall space. If parents and/or children are actually living in the house, the room would hardly be quiet anymore.
Use wider and possibly taller doors. They look better in larger rooms.
I would zone the layout differently.
Children’s area with 2 bedrooms and a children’s bathroom.
Guest room, study, and guest bathroom grouped together.
And a bright, light-filled library with plenty of shelving, a comfortable seating area by the window, and a corner for the whisky collection.
I don’t like the staircase. It feels crammed in.
Do you want everything inside to have a wood finish?
Use wider and possibly taller doors. They look better in larger rooms.
I would zone the layout differently.
Children’s area with 2 bedrooms and a children’s bathroom.
Guest room, study, and guest bathroom grouped together.
And a bright, light-filled library with plenty of shelving, a comfortable seating area by the window, and a corner for the whisky collection.
I don’t like the staircase. It feels crammed in.
Do you want everything inside to have a wood finish?
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