Hello dear forum members!
We have a plot of land with a south-southeast orientation, measuring approximately 20 x 30 m (66 x 98 ft). Access is from the north, there is a row of trees along the eastern boundary, and future neighbors will be to the south and west. We’re currently debating how to position the house best. At the moment, we plan to orient the long side, where the kitchen and living-dining area are located, toward the south (more precisely, south-southeast). From what we’ve heard, most people prefer a southwest orientation, but that’s where the neighbor will be. How are you doing it? Do you have any tips or suggestions? I’d be happy to hear from you!
Good luck, Mecc
We have a plot of land with a south-southeast orientation, measuring approximately 20 x 30 m (66 x 98 ft). Access is from the north, there is a row of trees along the eastern boundary, and future neighbors will be to the south and west. We’re currently debating how to position the house best. At the moment, we plan to orient the long side, where the kitchen and living-dining area are located, toward the south (more precisely, south-southeast). From what we’ve heard, most people prefer a southwest orientation, but that’s where the neighbor will be. How are you doing it? Do you have any tips or suggestions? I’d be happy to hear from you!
Good luck, Mecc
1. What does your local development plan say about the roof orientation? Are you allowed full freedom or are there restrictions you might have missed? In our case, it was specified.
2. Which orientation are you referring to specifically? Generally, most people prefer the garden to face south or west, so they can enjoy the evening sun outside.
In my opinion, you shouldn’t just follow these standards blindly. Nowadays, it’s usually possible to modify windows in most houses. Even if my terrace faces south, I can still have many windows facing west, and vice versa.
For example, our property has a nearly identical orientation and dimensions: north-south facing with a width of 21 meters (69 feet) and length of 30 meters (98 feet). We planned terrace exits to the east, south, and west (double doors on the south and west sides) because we want sunlight inside the house. Not to forget the view – checking sightlines is important. Our terrace is accessed through the east door (kitchen/dining area) and is therefore also illuminated by the west sun in the evening.
In my opinion, sightlines are often overlooked in house construction but become very important later on.
2. Which orientation are you referring to specifically? Generally, most people prefer the garden to face south or west, so they can enjoy the evening sun outside.
In my opinion, you shouldn’t just follow these standards blindly. Nowadays, it’s usually possible to modify windows in most houses. Even if my terrace faces south, I can still have many windows facing west, and vice versa.
For example, our property has a nearly identical orientation and dimensions: north-south facing with a width of 21 meters (69 feet) and length of 30 meters (98 feet). We planned terrace exits to the east, south, and west (double doors on the south and west sides) because we want sunlight inside the house. Not to forget the view – checking sightlines is important. Our terrace is accessed through the east door (kitchen/dining area) and is therefore also illuminated by the west sun in the evening.
In my opinion, sightlines are often overlooked in house construction but become very important later on.
There are no specific requirements regarding this in the development plan, as long as there is only one full storey. What do you mean by sightlines? The view from the window later on? What kind of building shape do you have, a simple cube? I can’t quite picture it with all your patio doors.
Good luck
Good luck
Our floor plan is almost square, but still with a (staggered) gable roof.
To the rear (facing south) are our living, cooking, and dining areas. The kitchen is located in the southeast, with the dining area to the south, and the living area, connected openly (only separated by a staircase), is on the south and west sides.
There is a patio door (1 meter (3 feet 3 inches)) from the kitchen at the southeast corner, a double door (2 meters (6 feet 6 inches)) in the dining area to the south, a patio door in the living room on the south side (next to the double door in the dining area, due to a small offset in the house), and another double door on the west side.
The largest portion of the garden is to the south. The terrace is not located in the southern heat but rather at the east/south corner, as we like to step out directly from the "living kitchen." Hopefully, the sun will still shine from the west in the evenings there, unless the neighbors block the sunlight (but we will see how that turns out later). If necessary, the terrace might be planned further south. The other patio doors will of course have connections, but the terrace for garden furniture will have a side position. There is a second terrace on the west side with a sofa, and a third terrace somewhere in a garden corner, depending on the sightlines.
Sightlines: Yes, when I am sitting at the dining table, I want to enjoy a nice view of the planned landscaping elements in the garden. When sitting on the sofa, I do not want to see the pathway lighting at the end of the property. From the terrace, I also want to face the "best side" of the property, but I can influence all of this with strategically placed hedges and trees. Personally, I am not a fan of a terrace located in the middle of the garden, where others can look at you. In that case, partitions are usually installed for privacy, but then you lose your own good view as well.
But you have to find your own solution. What surrounds your property?
Most rectangular houses have their gable roof oriented in a corresponding way. If you position the ridge side to the front, a side entrance is common. (I avoided that because I prefer front-facing house entrances.)
If you place the gable end facing forward, the main entrance tends to be at the front in your case. If the house is 12 meters (39 feet 4 inches) long and your plot is 20 meters (65 feet 7 inches) wide, you have 8 meters (26 feet 3 inches) left. With a setback of 3 meters (9 feet 10 inches) on both sides, you will have problems with a side garage. However, if building on the property boundary with a garage is permitted, you would have space for a single garage but not a double garage.
If you need a double garage or two parking spaces side by side, you will have to rotate the house (gable ridge to the front). Most people then build the garage at the back and have the driveway on the side of the house. If the garage is on the west side, you have the option to place the terrace in the corner between the house and the garage, which would be advantageous in terms of wind direction.
Now I have written too much… and lost track.
If you already have neighboring buildings, I would suggest standing on your plot and letting it sink in. Then comes the house design... juggling rooms and windows.
To the rear (facing south) are our living, cooking, and dining areas. The kitchen is located in the southeast, with the dining area to the south, and the living area, connected openly (only separated by a staircase), is on the south and west sides.
There is a patio door (1 meter (3 feet 3 inches)) from the kitchen at the southeast corner, a double door (2 meters (6 feet 6 inches)) in the dining area to the south, a patio door in the living room on the south side (next to the double door in the dining area, due to a small offset in the house), and another double door on the west side.
The largest portion of the garden is to the south. The terrace is not located in the southern heat but rather at the east/south corner, as we like to step out directly from the "living kitchen." Hopefully, the sun will still shine from the west in the evenings there, unless the neighbors block the sunlight (but we will see how that turns out later). If necessary, the terrace might be planned further south. The other patio doors will of course have connections, but the terrace for garden furniture will have a side position. There is a second terrace on the west side with a sofa, and a third terrace somewhere in a garden corner, depending on the sightlines.
Sightlines: Yes, when I am sitting at the dining table, I want to enjoy a nice view of the planned landscaping elements in the garden. When sitting on the sofa, I do not want to see the pathway lighting at the end of the property. From the terrace, I also want to face the "best side" of the property, but I can influence all of this with strategically placed hedges and trees. Personally, I am not a fan of a terrace located in the middle of the garden, where others can look at you. In that case, partitions are usually installed for privacy, but then you lose your own good view as well.
But you have to find your own solution. What surrounds your property?
Most rectangular houses have their gable roof oriented in a corresponding way. If you position the ridge side to the front, a side entrance is common. (I avoided that because I prefer front-facing house entrances.)
If you place the gable end facing forward, the main entrance tends to be at the front in your case. If the house is 12 meters (39 feet 4 inches) long and your plot is 20 meters (65 feet 7 inches) wide, you have 8 meters (26 feet 3 inches) left. With a setback of 3 meters (9 feet 10 inches) on both sides, you will have problems with a side garage. However, if building on the property boundary with a garage is permitted, you would have space for a single garage but not a double garage.
If you need a double garage or two parking spaces side by side, you will have to rotate the house (gable ridge to the front). Most people then build the garage at the back and have the driveway on the side of the house. If the garage is on the west side, you have the option to place the terrace in the corner between the house and the garage, which would be advantageous in terms of wind direction.
Now I have written too much… and lost track.
If you already have neighboring buildings, I would suggest standing on your plot and letting it sink in. Then comes the house design... juggling rooms and windows.
Hi ypg,
thank you very much for your detailed reply! I’ll take a closer look at it later and try to apply it to our plot of land in my mind. We don’t have any neighbors yet, so it’s just guesswork or rather hoping.
Yes, the planning. It will be challenging, but I’m really looking forward to it. The main thing is not to make any serious mistakes that you regret for a lifetime!
Good luck, Mecc
thank you very much for your detailed reply! I’ll take a closer look at it later and try to apply it to our plot of land in my mind. We don’t have any neighbors yet, so it’s just guesswork or rather hoping.
Yes, the planning. It will be challenging, but I’m really looking forward to it. The main thing is not to make any serious mistakes that you regret for a lifetime!
Good luck, Mecc
Usually, the living area is oriented southwest because that is generally when it is used. Think about what time you come home from work.
We are currently planning – our plot is accessed from the east, so it is oriented to the west. The kitchen faces east, the dining area south, and the living area southwest. We are rotating the gable roof with a photovoltaic system; otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to install full glazing up to the roof on the west side (garden).
We are currently planning – our plot is accessed from the east, so it is oriented to the west. The kitchen faces east, the dining area south, and the living area southwest. We are rotating the gable roof with a photovoltaic system; otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to install full glazing up to the roof on the west side (garden).
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