Hello to all interested readers,
For about half a year now, my wife and I have been planning our new home. We have found a nice plot of land and have also decided on the building style (Ytong kit house). Initial contact with the company has been made.
Now the first draft from their architect has arrived, and we find it far from satisfactory.
Our goal is a KfW 40+ house on a slope, with a slight incline of about 3m (10 feet) over the first 5m (16 feet) in depth, then another 2m (7 feet) incline over the remaining 30m (98 feet) of depth.
- Front side facing southwest
- Lower floor planned as a full story, possibly to be converted into an apartment later. At the moment, it will be used as a guest room and office
- Roof of the office = terrace
Garage as an attached structure with a flat roof.
I’ve attached some pictures. The draft itself was created with MeinHeim3D V3. Unfortunately, I can’t upload that here. I also have plans in PDF if that helps.
The architect says that our draft is unfavorable because of the protruding office and the garage. This would be bad from an energy perspective.
Now I am under the impression that with good insulation, a lot can be achieved and that with KfW 40+ the final energy value counts, so I can compensate for some losses in the building envelope by the technology used.
Am I seeing this wrong?
For about half a year now, my wife and I have been planning our new home. We have found a nice plot of land and have also decided on the building style (Ytong kit house). Initial contact with the company has been made.
Now the first draft from their architect has arrived, and we find it far from satisfactory.
Our goal is a KfW 40+ house on a slope, with a slight incline of about 3m (10 feet) over the first 5m (16 feet) in depth, then another 2m (7 feet) incline over the remaining 30m (98 feet) of depth.
- Front side facing southwest
- Lower floor planned as a full story, possibly to be converted into an apartment later. At the moment, it will be used as a guest room and office
- Roof of the office = terrace
Garage as an attached structure with a flat roof.
I’ve attached some pictures. The draft itself was created with MeinHeim3D V3. Unfortunately, I can’t upload that here. I also have plans in PDF if that helps.
The architect says that our draft is unfavorable because of the protruding office and the garage. This would be bad from an energy perspective.
Now I am under the impression that with good insulation, a lot can be achieved and that with KfW 40+ the final energy value counts, so I can compensate for some losses in the building envelope by the technology used.
Am I seeing this wrong?
I also don’t quite understand the extra toilet in the office. It’s no big deal to leave the office and use the restroom next door... This way, costs can be artificially driven up.
The size of the children’s room could be bigger, but it doesn’t have to be. However, I’m a bit allergic to arguments like “we didn’t have it better before.” Especially when people treat themselves to such a wellness retreat in the attic. They didn’t have that before either. A bathroom can be done in 5m² (54ft²) with a small window, right? Just like in the past! *grrr*
That said, I still don’t understand why the bathroom on the ground floor has to be so large. I’d prefer a bigger children’s room and a smaller bathroom.
The hallway is really too small.
The size of the children’s room could be bigger, but it doesn’t have to be. However, I’m a bit allergic to arguments like “we didn’t have it better before.” Especially when people treat themselves to such a wellness retreat in the attic. They didn’t have that before either. A bathroom can be done in 5m² (54ft²) with a small window, right? Just like in the past! *grrr*
That said, I still don’t understand why the bathroom on the ground floor has to be so large. I’d prefer a bigger children’s room and a smaller bathroom.
The hallway is really too small.
That wasn’t meant as a suggestion to lock them in, and it clearly depends on the age. However, nowadays there are plenty of 12 to 15-year-olds who roam around at night. I wouldn’t want that. Also, having a physical separation between the parents’ and children’s areas is a good idea. But to me, this seems a bit excessive. Simply put, why doesn’t the child get the room in the basement? Out of sight, out of mind. This would allow for a smaller bathroom upstairs, a slightly different layout for the guest room, and you would also have more space in the front hallway.
I am very puzzled and keep asking: where is the architect?
I have gone through the entire thread and nowhere was a promised drawing from them shared. Even a blind person would have noticed the 8 meters from the old plot on the drawing. But never mind, that is now forgotten and behind us.
I always have to smile at the argument about how things were done in the past. But insisting on a walk-in closet and spa bathroom...
Apparently, having a too small children’s room early on changes one’s views on a functional house design.
Putting aside the mismatched room sizes: I don’t see any practical direct access to the garden, meaning barrier-free access, even though the plot would allow for it?!
On the other hand, I see that a pitched roof is now planned: this makes the knee wall height an important factor—do the doors even fit? Is the staircase planned the right way around, or will you have to duck walking through the upper floor?
There is no architect, right?
And where exactly was north again?
Best regards
I have gone through the entire thread and nowhere was a promised drawing from them shared. Even a blind person would have noticed the 8 meters from the old plot on the drawing. But never mind, that is now forgotten and behind us.
I always have to smile at the argument about how things were done in the past. But insisting on a walk-in closet and spa bathroom...
Apparently, having a too small children’s room early on changes one’s views on a functional house design.
Putting aside the mismatched room sizes: I don’t see any practical direct access to the garden, meaning barrier-free access, even though the plot would allow for it?!
On the other hand, I see that a pitched roof is now planned: this makes the knee wall height an important factor—do the doors even fit? Is the staircase planned the right way around, or will you have to duck walking through the upper floor?
There is no architect, right?
And where exactly was north again?
Best regards
reeneex schrieb:
Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
You asked for it explicitly...
reeneex schrieb:
The architect is responsible for the staircase. How he solves that is his problem. We’re waiting on that. The kitchen has to stay there. One children’s room is enough; mine was even smaller and I survived.I find the choice of words regarding the architect’s limited responsibilities and the phrase kitchen has to quite questionable. I also reviewed the thread and noticed that you do not engage with any suggestions, and you’ve left the only people here willing to help, like @kbt09, waiting for over three months since their last post.
So I wonder why you’re posting again now, especially when you respond to proposals with attitude.
Also: is this only about the KfW 40 option again?
By the way, I found the architect’s draft: it’s far from impressive, but for me, it has the only viable approach to position the building on the plot—namely lengthwise.
There are quite a few people in this forum who would be more helpful if the other party was willing to cooperate.
Similar topics