Dear forum members,
I have shared several floor plans here in the forum that I was quite confident about beforehand. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), they were thoroughly analyzed and critiqued. Just like almost all other floor plans presented here. Many experts contribute to this forum who obviously have a great deal of knowledge and experience. Maybe it would be possible to showcase particularly well-designed floor plans, regardless of size, just to get a better sense of what to pay attention to, what is currently modern, and what has proven effective. Perhaps with a brief comment on what makes each floor plan especially successful.
Best regards,
Steffi
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Info from the house building forum:
Topic was pinned at the top on 31/12/2022!
I have shared several floor plans here in the forum that I was quite confident about beforehand. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), they were thoroughly analyzed and critiqued. Just like almost all other floor plans presented here. Many experts contribute to this forum who obviously have a great deal of knowledge and experience. Maybe it would be possible to showcase particularly well-designed floor plans, regardless of size, just to get a better sense of what to pay attention to, what is currently modern, and what has proven effective. Perhaps with a brief comment on what makes each floor plan especially successful.
Best regards,
Steffi
----------------------------
Info from the house building forum:
Topic was pinned at the top on 31/12/2022!
Hello,
In my opinion, floor plans are very subjective. What one person likes can deeply bother another. Of course, there are also types of floor plans that are fundamentally poor and simply represent bad planning.
There is no perfect floor plan; it is always a matter of balancing different compromises. My self-drawn floor plan was mocked in another forum and here it was politely met with constructive criticism—which made me reflect a lot. What someone finds good or appealing is rarely mentioned.
Long story short—I found almost the same floor plan on the websites of two prefab house manufacturers. All of the criticism I had mentioned was also present in the floor plans of the prefab house providers. The architects who design the catalog homes for these manufacturers definitely belong to the skilled architects.
In my opinion, floor plans are very subjective. What one person likes can deeply bother another. Of course, there are also types of floor plans that are fundamentally poor and simply represent bad planning.
There is no perfect floor plan; it is always a matter of balancing different compromises. My self-drawn floor plan was mocked in another forum and here it was politely met with constructive criticism—which made me reflect a lot. What someone finds good or appealing is rarely mentioned.
Long story short—I found almost the same floor plan on the websites of two prefab house manufacturers. All of the criticism I had mentioned was also present in the floor plans of the prefab house providers. The architects who design the catalog homes for these manufacturers definitely belong to the skilled architects.
W
Wanderdüne19 May 2015 22:47merlin83 schrieb:
The architects who design the catalog homes offered by prefab house manufacturers are among the talented architects.The requirements for a "standard" catalog floor plan and design differ significantly from a custom design with an independently hired architect.
Custom designs are much more closely adapted to the client, the plot of land, and the neighboring buildings.
An interesting opportunity to learn why a building was planned and realized in a certain way is the Architecture Day (at the end of June). During this event, homeowners and architects present their recently completed projects on site, and visitors can ask questions about why the building turned out as it did.
The addresses and visiting times of the houses open for tours, along with brief descriptions, are available on the website of the respective architects’ association.
EveundGerd19 May 2015 23:11Wanderdüne schrieb:
The requirements for a "standard" catalog floor plan and design differ significantly from a custom plan created by an independently hired architect. However, this does not mean that an individual floor plan cannot also be obtained from a general contractor, nor that a custom architect’s design is automatically better.
Hello Steffi,
it’s not that simple.
A floor plan is not a house design. A house design with all its components depends on the plot of land with its advantages and disadvantages, as well as the wishes and needs of the clients.
A design for a couple over 60 has different components than a design for a young family of four.
And the needs of the family of four could probably be met just as well with a floor plan on a narrow city lot as with a completely different floor plan on a large rural property.
A house design develops in several phases: a trained/studied architect/planner roughly has structural engineering guidelines in mind and usually works in a structured way from the outside in. That means they look at the plot, then create a design based on the zoning/building regulations (building permit/planning permission) and the clients’ wishes, always considering all floors and exterior views (and much more) during the process. This is a process that takes more than just an evening or two.
Of course, some amateurs have acquired knowledge or skills over the years or through education that allow them to create a more structured plan or sketch with fewer “mistakes.” Still, compromises are probably more frequent than when a professional creates a design. Compromises always have to be made, but architects have the professional experience of minimizing compromises and presenting them positively.
Not everyone becomes a ceramic artist just because they attended a pottery course. Often people are so overwhelmed by their unexpected creative results that they think it’s good, although to others it might simply look amateurish.
Some basic principles that come to mind quickly for planning, in my opinion, are: efficient use of living space, minimal circulation areas, personal retreat spaces for each occupant, opportunities for development, generous shared living spaces, sufficient storage, and smooth workflows without obstacles (for example, in kitchens or bathrooms).
Spaces should also be lit well with plenty of natural light.
Personal wishes might include an impressive entrance hall, a door to the garage, a wellness bathroom, an open kitchen, a gallery, a children’s bathroom, accessibility, and so on. These wishes must fit within the budget. Preferences should be reconsidered to check if they only developed from existing living situations.
There are plenty of house designs and floor plans to find online. All house providers can be googled and have their designs on the internet—some more sophisticated, others less so.
Some families manage perfectly well with the simplest floor plan, others have individual aspirations—both are understandable. Mostly, price rules. I have often seen individually built houses that do not differ in appearance or floor plan from standard production homes.
If you flip through building magazines, you’ll see different building types. In magazines like “Schöner Wohnen,” the cottage-style house caters to current tastes just as much as Bauhaus or renovated housing estates do.
Whether one always has to build modern, I doubt.
The best thing is always to consult a professional if you sense, know, or think you are reaching your limits.
Best regards,
Yvonne
it’s not that simple.
A floor plan is not a house design. A house design with all its components depends on the plot of land with its advantages and disadvantages, as well as the wishes and needs of the clients.
A design for a couple over 60 has different components than a design for a young family of four.
And the needs of the family of four could probably be met just as well with a floor plan on a narrow city lot as with a completely different floor plan on a large rural property.
A house design develops in several phases: a trained/studied architect/planner roughly has structural engineering guidelines in mind and usually works in a structured way from the outside in. That means they look at the plot, then create a design based on the zoning/building regulations (building permit/planning permission) and the clients’ wishes, always considering all floors and exterior views (and much more) during the process. This is a process that takes more than just an evening or two.
Of course, some amateurs have acquired knowledge or skills over the years or through education that allow them to create a more structured plan or sketch with fewer “mistakes.” Still, compromises are probably more frequent than when a professional creates a design. Compromises always have to be made, but architects have the professional experience of minimizing compromises and presenting them positively.
Not everyone becomes a ceramic artist just because they attended a pottery course. Often people are so overwhelmed by their unexpected creative results that they think it’s good, although to others it might simply look amateurish.
Some basic principles that come to mind quickly for planning, in my opinion, are: efficient use of living space, minimal circulation areas, personal retreat spaces for each occupant, opportunities for development, generous shared living spaces, sufficient storage, and smooth workflows without obstacles (for example, in kitchens or bathrooms).
Spaces should also be lit well with plenty of natural light.
Personal wishes might include an impressive entrance hall, a door to the garage, a wellness bathroom, an open kitchen, a gallery, a children’s bathroom, accessibility, and so on. These wishes must fit within the budget. Preferences should be reconsidered to check if they only developed from existing living situations.
There are plenty of house designs and floor plans to find online. All house providers can be googled and have their designs on the internet—some more sophisticated, others less so.
Some families manage perfectly well with the simplest floor plan, others have individual aspirations—both are understandable. Mostly, price rules. I have often seen individually built houses that do not differ in appearance or floor plan from standard production homes.
If you flip through building magazines, you’ll see different building types. In magazines like “Schöner Wohnen,” the cottage-style house caters to current tastes just as much as Bauhaus or renovated housing estates do.
Whether one always has to build modern, I doubt.
The best thing is always to consult a professional if you sense, know, or think you are reaching your limits.
Best regards,
Yvonne
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