ᐅ New Single-Family Home Construction – Join Us on Our Journey!
Created on: 4 Aug 2022 16:13
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gregman22
Dear community,
We are finally getting a step closer to realizing our dream of building a single-family home.
The plot has been purchased, building plans have been reviewed, construction method decided, and so on. We have now commissioned the architect of the general contractor (GC) of our choice with the planning task and are currently fine-tuning the house design. I would love to take you along on this journey and incorporate your valuable feedback.
At this stage, the focus is on the house design.
Basic data:
Plot: 1062m2 (11,433 sq ft); approx. 25.5m x 41.64m (84 ft x 137 ft)
Orientation: Northwest -> The arrow in the screenshot of the 3D view points south
Desired room layout:
Ground floor:
First floor:
Attic:
Note: I am still discussing this with the architect. Due to the hipped roof shape, the actual living area has shrunk too much. Therefore, further discussion is needed to accommodate the other rooms. I had underestimated the ratio of gross floor area to usable living space.
Basement:
Additional plans:
Now to my first questions for you:
My biggest construction challenge at the moment is the layout of the attic. There are two alternatives:
- Change the roof type, which would increase costs but provide more usable living space in the attic
- Give up the playroom on the first floor, convert it into a guest room, and build only the two offices in the attic (no guest room or bathroom)
Thank you in advance for your comments.
We are finally getting a step closer to realizing our dream of building a single-family home.
The plot has been purchased, building plans have been reviewed, construction method decided, and so on. We have now commissioned the architect of the general contractor (GC) of our choice with the planning task and are currently fine-tuning the house design. I would love to take you along on this journey and incorporate your valuable feedback.
At this stage, the focus is on the house design.
Basic data:
Plot: 1062m2 (11,433 sq ft); approx. 25.5m x 41.64m (84 ft x 137 ft)
Orientation: Northwest -> The arrow in the screenshot of the 3D view points south
Desired room layout:
Ground floor:
- Large living/dining area with adjacent (but separable) kitchen at the bottom left, plus a gallery overlooking the first floor
- Utility room
- Guest toilet
- Garage
- Separate apartment at the top right with its own entrance for parents-in-law
First floor:
- Gallery overlooking the ground floor
- 2 children’s bedrooms with a shared bathroom
- 1 playroom (initially a home cinema room, later to be repurposed) above the garage
- Master wing with main bedroom, dressing room, and bathroom
Attic:
Note: I am still discussing this with the architect. Due to the hipped roof shape, the actual living area has shrunk too much. Therefore, further discussion is needed to accommodate the other rooms. I had underestimated the ratio of gross floor area to usable living space.
- 2 separate offices
- 1 guest bedroom
- 1 small guest bathroom
Basement:
- 1 technical room
- 1 laundry room
- 1 storage room
- Large fitness room
- Wellness room with sauna
Additional plans:
- Air-to-air heat pump or air-to-water heat pump
- Photovoltaic system with/without battery storage
- Possible pool (3.5/4m x 8m or 3.5/4m x 12m) with heat pump (and countercurrent system)
- Sauna in the basement room
- Air conditioning for various rooms
- Smart home system – most likely via KNX
- Garden: Currently planning 2 terraces – one to the left, slightly more to the south, and one facing the main part of the plot further north
Now to my first questions for you:
- How do the floor plans strike you? Do they make sense in terms of the dynamics of family life?
- The location of the separate apartment was chosen based on our wish. We wanted a strict, clearly defined spatial separation with a separate entrance. Do you have any comments on this?
- Do you consider the utility rooms in the basement to be adequately sized (considering KNX, heat pump, etc.)?
My biggest construction challenge at the moment is the layout of the attic. There are two alternatives:
- Change the roof type, which would increase costs but provide more usable living space in the attic
- Give up the playroom on the first floor, convert it into a guest room, and build only the two offices in the attic (no guest room or bathroom)
Thank you in advance for your comments.
gregman22 schrieb:
What difference does it make? In the sense that you seem to imagine having breakfast in southern sunlight at 7 a.m. If you don’t want any corrections on this idea, please say so. Then I can confirm long breakfast sessions in full southern sunlight at 7 a.m.!
gregman22 schrieb:
If we want to enjoy the idea of a long breakfast facing south in the morning G
gregman2226 Sep 2022 07:14ypg schrieb:
If you don’t want any adjustments to your ideas, please say so. Yes, I definitely do want them! We are already actively weighing up and considering everything – the advice about the living concept and kitchen is very good and valid!
G
gregman2228 Sep 2022 14:26Myrna_Loy schrieb:
I would have preferred a recessed cube or something similar to create spacious rooms with an open living feel on the upper floor. Right now, it feels like an oversized design with an unusual orientation.Hi @Myrna_Loy, would you be so kind as to explain your suggestion regarding the "recessed" cube in more detail? Do you have an example of how that could look in our current building project? I’m having trouble picturing it. Thank you very much!
ypg schrieb:
If you don’t want mental corrections, please say so. Then I’ll guarantee you long breakfast ceremonies in full southern sun at 7 a.m.!I didn’t know that option was available? If you don’t mind, could you please confirm my bingo jackpot next Sunday? 😀Off Topic:
kati1337 schrieb:I won’t be sharing my knowledge here anymore 😉 😉 – later you might not like the odds and blame me 😎
Could you please confirm my Bingo jackpot win for next Sunday?
G
gregman2230 Oct 2022 14:29The time has come. We have reached the next major planning stage V2. I’m attaching the updated planning documents for you.
These are the main changes:
Ground floor:
First floor:
Second floor:
Basement:
I’m curious to hear your thoughts. What do you think of these adjustments?
Thanks, as always!
These are the main changes:
Ground floor:
- The front door to the main house has been moved slightly upward so that you enter facing the stairs and gallery.
- The gallery has been enlarged to create a more impressive gallery area upstairs (lounge furniture + shelving).
- The living room and kitchen have been swapped.
- The pantry and storage room have been relocated.
- The separate apartment now has a storage room adjacent to the bathroom at the expense of the old shower.
- New terrace added to the separate apartment facing north.
First floor:
- Master bedroom
- New window front.
- Comment: We need to talk to our building authority. According to the zoning plan, window areas over 1.5sqm (16 sq ft) must be divided. That’s why the front looks somewhat fragmented.
- Some roof windows have been removed (e.g. in the walk-in closet).
- The walk-in closet has now been moved under the sloped ceiling -> I think built-in wardrobes can address this well.
- A door at the bathroom has been removed, allowing the shower to be enlarged.
- Gallery was enlarged (see above).
Second floor:
- The second attic room now has a partition wall, creating a separate enclosed room.
Basement:
- The sauna has been moved from the fitness room to the wellness room.
I’m curious to hear your thoughts. What do you think of these adjustments?
Thanks, as always!
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