Okay... the plot isn’t actually that narrow – it measures 17.5 x 72 meters (57 x 236 feet). Since we prefer to keep the house single-story, the planned building stretches lengthwise. We have already presented our self-designed floor plan to two potential builders. Both considered our plan to be "ambitious." They also tried to steer us towards a two-story design to make it more affordable. Is a single-story house significantly more expensive than a two-story one? How would you estimate the cost of the house (location: rural, southeastern Saxony)? Are log beams (about 20cm (8 inches)) more expensive than masonry?
Attached are the floor plan and a video tour:
[MEDIA=YouTube]WwbOQsrIP98[/MEDIA]
Attached are the floor plan and a video tour:
[MEDIA=YouTube]WwbOQsrIP98[/MEDIA]
blockhauspower25 Oct 2014 13:55Hello, we have a 20cm (8 inch) thick log wall. The calculated U-value is naturally not as low, or "good," as in those highly insulated houses, but the perceived comfort is much higher. Our house meets the KfW 70 standard. Since the energy saving regulation is a mixed calculation, an exterior wall that does not meet the required U-value of 0.24 can be compensated for by many other measures.
Best regards
Stefan
Best regards
Stefan
@ BeHaElJa
Regarding the roof insulation... we haven’t planned that part yet. But from my point of view, it would make more sense to insulate the roof rather than the ceiling between the floors. After all, we want to use the attic, even if only for storage purposes.
I look forward to any further feedback or suggestions.
Have a great weekend, Steffi33.
Regarding the roof insulation... we haven’t planned that part yet. But from my point of view, it would make more sense to insulate the roof rather than the ceiling between the floors. After all, we want to use the attic, even if only for storage purposes.
I look forward to any further feedback or suggestions.
Have a great weekend, Steffi33.
Okay, for two people with occasional visitors, I don’t think the house is bad at all. But regarding your heating system: how old is the heating in your current house or apartment? The heating systems I have experienced so far were all rather “cool.” For example, one was installed in a bathroom (built in 2000), but the room was never really warm. It was a simple gas heater. Even our current air-to-water heat pump and controlled ventilation system cannot manage to warm the utility room even remotely. The only device that succeeded was our condenser dryer, which has now been replaced by a heat pump dryer.
Please also consider age in your planning. It might become necessary to use a walker or other mobility aids, or a wider bed.
The staircase is definitely wide enough. It’s not a main staircase but just a secondary one. We will have a similar one from the upper floor to the attic. Ours will be about 80cm (31.5 inches) wide and 2.30 meters (7 feet 7 inches) long.
Please also consider age in your planning. It might become necessary to use a walker or other mobility aids, or a wider bed.
The staircase is definitely wide enough. It’s not a main staircase but just a secondary one. We will have a similar one from the upper floor to the attic. Ours will be about 80cm (31.5 inches) wide and 2.30 meters (7 feet 7 inches) long.
Hello Steffi,
Personally, I wouldn’t worry much about that since nowadays you’re only allowed to build according to energy-saving regulations, and the architect will provide you with the correct dimensions anyway.
If overnight guests are a regular part of the monthly routine, a guest room is justified. The question is what size this guest room should be — often this room can be combined with your office space.
How old is your grandchild when the house is finished? Will they still be staying overnight or spending a lot of time with you then?
Will a room for three people be enough, or could this lead to poor planning?
Why not make use of the otherwise wasted attic space by planning a guest room at the front and a storage loft at the back? That way you lose a few square meters (sq m) on the ground floor but gain a practical attic space. A narrow staircase would suffice here, even narrower than 80 cm (31.5 inches).
Home office? For your employer? In the living room? Or just a desk corner for personal tasks? In that case, a small walk-in closet space might be enough.
Exactly the opposite: this corner is imperfect! You can see it clearly in the video. That video sequence is like a slap in the face — if you look at it positively, you might call it "being in love with your work." Or you might say it’s tunnel vision: you tend to justify your mistakes when there’s no other way out.
You enter the room, look at a wall (left-hand niche) cluttered with disorganized stuff and odds and ends, have to hold slightly to the right, then you bump into the corner and the closet.
Then that corner, which only exists by chance, is unnecessary. The child can also sleep in the double bed and doesn’t need a separate bed.
But your grandchild does homework at the breakfast table. Seriously... a 5-meter-long (nearly 17 feet) kitchen run is not very functional; from a work perspective, an L-shaped kitchen or two facing countertop runs make more sense. Also, the fridge is lost on the other side: you’re probably not big cooks, right? That’s fine, but a kitchen can be arranged more functionally (and more lovingly).
Well, on one hand, a home office; on the other, a computer workspace to tinker during family time: wouldn’t a laptop be enough? I agree with @Manu1976 on this.
All the pipes for the rooms come together at the heater and warm the immediate area.
A new, intact heating system, possibly underfloor heating with closely spaced pipes in the bathrooms, should heat all rooms evenly.
You shouldn’t rely on old technologies or place an eyesore in the slow-paced room — also, consider acoustics.
But by now I’m barely surprised anymore: some, fearing they’ll have to walk out in the rain again to the front door, don’t even plan to use their expensive front door, but instead create a vestibule-like passage from the garage to the house. Others worry about aesthetics and prefer windowless bathrooms.
It’s a matter of taste whether to use plaster, brick, or wood. Or solid wood. You have to like it yourself. It wouldn’t be my choice.
With a width of 17.5 meters (57 feet), you have 11.5 meters (45 inches)... so an L-shaped building could also fit.
For me, the hallway is way too long to reach the heart of the house (the dining room), and the kitchen is tucked away in the farthest corner. Carrying groceries won’t get any easier.
And why cross a hallway to get from the bedroom to the toilet?
Then I wonder, since you already have grandchildren: aren’t you considering accessibility?
You don’t have to install grab bars in the shower now, but you should think about centralizing spaces. What I see is just a series of rooms lined up next to each other.
I strongly advise you to consider what your life will look like in ten years and build for YOUR needs, not for those of family members!
Regards, Yvonne
Steffi33 schrieb:
20 cm exterior walls made of laminated timber logs
We are especially confused about this. Both house providers offer the 20 cm glued laminated timber logs and advertise, among other things, their excellent insulation properties:...
Personally, I wouldn’t worry much about that since nowadays you’re only allowed to build according to energy-saving regulations, and the architect will provide you with the correct dimensions anyway.
Steffi33 schrieb:
First, the family situation:
We will be living in the house as a couple. However, we regularly expect visits from our adult children and grandchildren. We also enjoy having day visitors such as friends, relatives, and acquaintances. A small office is desired since we both might work from home.
If overnight guests are a regular part of the monthly routine, a guest room is justified. The question is what size this guest room should be — often this room can be combined with your office space.
How old is your grandchild when the house is finished? Will they still be staying overnight or spending a lot of time with you then?
Will a room for three people be enough, or could this lead to poor planning?
Why not make use of the otherwise wasted attic space by planning a guest room at the front and a storage loft at the back? That way you lose a few square meters (sq m) on the ground floor but gain a practical attic space. A narrow staircase would suffice here, even narrower than 80 cm (31.5 inches).
Home office? For your employer? In the living room? Or just a desk corner for personal tasks? In that case, a small walk-in closet space might be enough.
Steffi33 schrieb:
The bedroom:
We find this corner arrangement very successful. ... ... 10-20 cm more would admittedly be perfect..
Exactly the opposite: this corner is imperfect! You can see it clearly in the video. That video sequence is like a slap in the face — if you look at it positively, you might call it "being in love with your work." Or you might say it’s tunnel vision: you tend to justify your mistakes when there’s no other way out.
You enter the room, look at a wall (left-hand niche) cluttered with disorganized stuff and odds and ends, have to hold slightly to the right, then you bump into the corner and the closet.
Steffi33 schrieb:
The same size considerations apply here as in the bedroom. The double bed is for guests, the single bed (possibly a bunk bed) for the grandchild. Since the grandchild will often stay overnight or after school without parents, there will also be a small desk. However, most activities (homework, playing, etc.) will probably take place in the living/kitchen area. J
Then that corner, which only exists by chance, is unnecessary. The child can also sleep in the double bed and doesn’t need a separate bed.
Steffi33 schrieb:
The kitchen:
The countertop length is 519 cm (204 inches). Subtracting the stove and sink leaves about 360 cm (142 inches) of countertop. That is definitely enough, we currently have much less. If necessary, we can use the breakfast table.
But your grandchild does homework at the breakfast table. Seriously... a 5-meter-long (nearly 17 feet) kitchen run is not very functional; from a work perspective, an L-shaped kitchen or two facing countertop runs make more sense. Also, the fridge is lost on the other side: you’re probably not big cooks, right? That’s fine, but a kitchen can be arranged more functionally (and more lovingly).
Steffi33 schrieb:
The living room:
We consciously included a small computer area. We sometimes need to work or tinker on the computer for a few hours in the evening. We don’t want to be excluded from family life in a separate room. Although we work, we still want to be in the middle of family activities, watch TV occasionally, or join conversations. We already have this setup in our current house and want to keep it.
Well, on one hand, a home office; on the other, a computer workspace to tinker during family time: wouldn’t a laptop be enough? I agree with @Manu1976 on this.
Steffi33 schrieb:
Utility room/guest WC:
Here, too, we deliberately chose this combination. Originally, we would have preferred to integrate the home heating system into the large bathroom. But we didn’t find an aesthetically pleasing solution. The reason is that such a heating system always emits heat into its surroundings. In our current house, this is the warmest room. ...
All the pipes for the rooms come together at the heater and warm the immediate area.
A new, intact heating system, possibly underfloor heating with closely spaced pipes in the bathrooms, should heat all rooms evenly.
You shouldn’t rely on old technologies or place an eyesore in the slow-paced room — also, consider acoustics.
But by now I’m barely surprised anymore: some, fearing they’ll have to walk out in the rain again to the front door, don’t even plan to use their expensive front door, but instead create a vestibule-like passage from the garage to the house. Others worry about aesthetics and prefer windowless bathrooms.
It’s a matter of taste whether to use plaster, brick, or wood. Or solid wood. You have to like it yourself. It wouldn’t be my choice.
With a width of 17.5 meters (57 feet), you have 11.5 meters (45 inches)... so an L-shaped building could also fit.
For me, the hallway is way too long to reach the heart of the house (the dining room), and the kitchen is tucked away in the farthest corner. Carrying groceries won’t get any easier.
And why cross a hallway to get from the bedroom to the toilet?
Then I wonder, since you already have grandchildren: aren’t you considering accessibility?
You don’t have to install grab bars in the shower now, but you should think about centralizing spaces. What I see is just a series of rooms lined up next to each other.
I strongly advise you to consider what your life will look like in ten years and build for YOUR needs, not for those of family members!
Regards, Yvonne
Yvonne, you summarized that perfectly.
These thoughts also crossed my mind, especially
- long hallway
- bedroom – path to the bathroom – corners in the rooms
From the perspective of a “long house,” I would ideally place the entrance on the wide side, as this allows for zoning between private and public areas. Of course, this means a somewhat longer exterior walkway.
These thoughts also crossed my mind, especially
- long hallway
- bedroom – path to the bathroom – corners in the rooms
From the perspective of a “long house,” I would ideally place the entrance on the wide side, as this allows for zoning between private and public areas. Of course, this means a somewhat longer exterior walkway.
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