ᐅ Semi-detached house, 144 sqm – Request for suggestions for improvement
Created on: 29 Mar 2020 11:16
A
AlbertKamika
I have completed the guide and would greatly appreciate any suggestions or comments regarding our design.
Development Plan/Restrictions
Plot size: 400sqm (4306 sqft)
Slope: gentle slope, declining from left to right by 0.4m (16 inches) when facing the house from the front, and declining from the front to the back of the plot by 0.7m (28 inches)
Site coverage ratio: I don’t know this, but the external walls cannot be changed anymore; the focus is now only on the interior layout. Some external walls are fixed by the development plan, others by our budget.
Floor area ratio: see site coverage ratio
Building zone, building line and boundary: 6m (20 feet) distance from the front boundary of the plot; for the semi-detached house: 0m from the right boundary and 4.5m (15 feet) from the left boundary
New development area
Number of parking spaces: 1 to 2
Number of floors: 1 full floor (ground floor), 1 floor with sloping roof (knee wall also fixed by the development plan and cannot be changed), 1 attic floor (converted into living space), 1 basement (utility cellar)
Roof type: gable roof, 40 percent pitch fixed by the development plan
Architectural style: modern
Orientation: terrace/garden faces northwest
Maximum heights/limits: external walls, roof, and overall building height are fixed by the development plan
Additional requirements
Homeowners’ Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: semi-detached house, modern and open; the kitchen with an island and the dining area should be the focal point. We need 3 bedrooms and 1 office. The staircase should be enclosed.
Basement: yes, a utility cellar is required.
Number of occupants, ages: 2 adults, 2 children
Room requirements on ground and upper floors:
Ground floor: large open living-dining-kitchen area, 1 bathroom with shower, hallway space sufficient for coats and shoes without feeling cramped.
Upper floor: 3 bedrooms, attic: office
Office: home office? Yes
Overnight guests per year: few
Open or closed architecture: partly open/partly closed, see style
Traditional or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, island: yes, island
Number of dining seats: 4 for us plus 2 for guests = 6
Fireplace: no
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: garage
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Other wishes/particulars/daily routine, including reasons why certain things are wanted or not: We wanted a walk-in closet so that changing clothes can be done without waking the partner, as we get up at different times.
House Design
Planner:
- Planner from a construction company: yes
What do you particularly like? Why?
The open living-dining area with the kitchen island (the island is not shown in the plans but I think its location is clear). We wanted a large glass-metal door in the hallway-to-living-room passage to avoid the hallway being too dark.
What do you dislike? Why?
I think many details are still unfinished.
Price estimate according to architect/planner: 310,000
Personal budget limit for house including equipment: 310,000
Preferred heating technology: heat pump and underfloor heating
If you have to give up something, which details or expansions
- Can you give up: I think we already kept it quite simple; there is nothing we can give up.
- Cannot give up: kitchen island, attic office, showers on both ground and upper floors, walk-in closet
Why is the design the way it is now? E.g.
Standard design from planner? No, the ground floor design is partly ours and partly from the planner. We mainly wanted the kitchen island and a cozy TV area that is not the main focus but rather a “niche”, while the kitchen should be central. This was only possible with a narrow staircase due to the fixed external walls. The upper floor was then designed by the planner around the staircase.
What makes it particularly good or bad in your eyes?
The living room was realized according to our wishes. However, I now find the master bedroom somewhat small, which is due to our desire for a walk-in closet.
What is the most important/basic question regarding the floor plan, summarized in 130 characters?
The external walls cannot be changed. It is a semi-detached house, 7 meters (23 feet) wide and 11.60 meters (38 feet) long. Our wishes were implemented, but I still find the design somewhat unfinished. What can be improved?
Additionally, 3 specific questions:
Ground floor: can the washbasin and toilet be swapped? Is that feasible? Could the hallway be made narrower to enlarge the living area, or would it become too narrow?
Upper floor: can the shower and toilet be swapped? Is that feasible?
THANK YOU!!!
Note: All planning rights belong to the architectural company.
Development Plan/Restrictions
Plot size: 400sqm (4306 sqft)
Slope: gentle slope, declining from left to right by 0.4m (16 inches) when facing the house from the front, and declining from the front to the back of the plot by 0.7m (28 inches)
Site coverage ratio: I don’t know this, but the external walls cannot be changed anymore; the focus is now only on the interior layout. Some external walls are fixed by the development plan, others by our budget.
Floor area ratio: see site coverage ratio
Building zone, building line and boundary: 6m (20 feet) distance from the front boundary of the plot; for the semi-detached house: 0m from the right boundary and 4.5m (15 feet) from the left boundary
New development area
Number of parking spaces: 1 to 2
Number of floors: 1 full floor (ground floor), 1 floor with sloping roof (knee wall also fixed by the development plan and cannot be changed), 1 attic floor (converted into living space), 1 basement (utility cellar)
Roof type: gable roof, 40 percent pitch fixed by the development plan
Architectural style: modern
Orientation: terrace/garden faces northwest
Maximum heights/limits: external walls, roof, and overall building height are fixed by the development plan
Additional requirements
Homeowners’ Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: semi-detached house, modern and open; the kitchen with an island and the dining area should be the focal point. We need 3 bedrooms and 1 office. The staircase should be enclosed.
Basement: yes, a utility cellar is required.
Number of occupants, ages: 2 adults, 2 children
Room requirements on ground and upper floors:
Ground floor: large open living-dining-kitchen area, 1 bathroom with shower, hallway space sufficient for coats and shoes without feeling cramped.
Upper floor: 3 bedrooms, attic: office
Office: home office? Yes
Overnight guests per year: few
Open or closed architecture: partly open/partly closed, see style
Traditional or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, island: yes, island
Number of dining seats: 4 for us plus 2 for guests = 6
Fireplace: no
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: garage
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Other wishes/particulars/daily routine, including reasons why certain things are wanted or not: We wanted a walk-in closet so that changing clothes can be done without waking the partner, as we get up at different times.
House Design
Planner:
- Planner from a construction company: yes
What do you particularly like? Why?
The open living-dining area with the kitchen island (the island is not shown in the plans but I think its location is clear). We wanted a large glass-metal door in the hallway-to-living-room passage to avoid the hallway being too dark.
What do you dislike? Why?
I think many details are still unfinished.
Price estimate according to architect/planner: 310,000
Personal budget limit for house including equipment: 310,000
Preferred heating technology: heat pump and underfloor heating
If you have to give up something, which details or expansions
- Can you give up: I think we already kept it quite simple; there is nothing we can give up.
- Cannot give up: kitchen island, attic office, showers on both ground and upper floors, walk-in closet
Why is the design the way it is now? E.g.
Standard design from planner? No, the ground floor design is partly ours and partly from the planner. We mainly wanted the kitchen island and a cozy TV area that is not the main focus but rather a “niche”, while the kitchen should be central. This was only possible with a narrow staircase due to the fixed external walls. The upper floor was then designed by the planner around the staircase.
What makes it particularly good or bad in your eyes?
The living room was realized according to our wishes. However, I now find the master bedroom somewhat small, which is due to our desire for a walk-in closet.
What is the most important/basic question regarding the floor plan, summarized in 130 characters?
The external walls cannot be changed. It is a semi-detached house, 7 meters (23 feet) wide and 11.60 meters (38 feet) long. Our wishes were implemented, but I still find the design somewhat unfinished. What can be improved?
Additionally, 3 specific questions:
Ground floor: can the washbasin and toilet be swapped? Is that feasible? Could the hallway be made narrower to enlarge the living area, or would it become too narrow?
Upper floor: can the shower and toilet be swapped? Is that feasible?
THANK YOU!!!
Note: All planning rights belong to the architectural company.
AlbertKamika schrieb:
A structural opening of 80cm (31 inches) for a shower is very narrow. The same applies to the toilet. I also don’t see a kitchen island in the plan.
AlbertKamika schrieb:
We need the garage. For what purpose?
It seems unnecessary. Adding it will block all the windows on the left side of the floor plan. No natural light will come in anyway—do you really think the one-meter (3-foot) air gap will compensate? It won’t! Also, what kind of view is that supposed to be? It’s awful.
I don’t like the ground floor layout either. A long, dark hallway leads guests straight to the kitchen cleanup area. I don’t see any kitchen island either. OK, you can then turn into the dark living room, but I would rather head straight out to the garden.
The upper floor is okay, except for the drawback that Child 2 sleeps right next to the bedroom wall. That’s unfortunate but manageable given the limited space. Maybe the wall could be made thicker.
I would definitely add a window to the walk-in closet. The bathtub under the sloping roof is completely below the 2-meter (6.5-foot) height line. Do you really want to crawl in there? Maybe it’s better to leave it out.
What about the area in front of the house? Could it be used as a parking space and just build a small shed instead?
I would switch the kitchen and living area and then add a door to the kitchen to create a short route for groceries. A shower under a sloped ceiling doesn't bother me at all. We had that before and will have it again in the new house starting mid-May.
Otherwise, I really like the floor plan.
Instead of a garage, I would also lean towards a carport to let more light in from the side. If you place the garage at the front, you could still fit a large shed at the back.
Otherwise, I really like the floor plan.
Instead of a garage, I would also lean towards a carport to let more light in from the side. If you place the garage at the front, you could still fit a large shed at the back.
kaho674 schrieb:
What is the height of your knee wall, and how is the bed positioned? How much space is next to it?The knee wall is 1.05 meters (3 ft 5 in) high, and there is about 70 cm (28 inches) of space on each side of the bed.
Müllerin schrieb:
The knee wall is 1.05 meters (3 ft 5 in) high, and there is about 70 cm (28 inches) of space on both sides of the bed.That 25 cm (10 inches) really makes a difference. I think your bathroom is very nicely designed.H
hampshire30 Mar 2020 18:31What I like about the design is that you have clearly focused on the kitchen and dining table, while accepting a “TV-relaxation area.” I would install a large door between the family room and the hallway – this will provide you with more quiet in the upper floors.
Placing the master bedroom in the attic has the advantage of creating a better retreat space (quiet) but the disadvantage of being less aware of what is going on (with small children). In any case, I would make the partition wall to the dressing room reversible and have connections installed for the option of adding a bathroom later on in the attic.
The location of the garage is unfortunate but constrained by the plot.
An external access to the basement could prove practical as long as it does not block the path to the garden.
Placing the master bedroom in the attic has the advantage of creating a better retreat space (quiet) but the disadvantage of being less aware of what is going on (with small children). In any case, I would make the partition wall to the dressing room reversible and have connections installed for the option of adding a bathroom later on in the attic.
The location of the garage is unfortunate but constrained by the plot.
An external access to the basement could prove practical as long as it does not block the path to the garden.
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