ᐅ Semi-detached house: approximately 145 sqm with a pitched roof – potential for improvement in the bathroom?
Created on: 26 Aug 2019 10:46
S
StrahlemanS
Strahleman26 Aug 2019 10:46Hello everyone,
I hesitated for a long time about whether to share our building project here. Mainly for one simple reason: many of you are brutally honest, and of course, you don’t want your floor plan, which you’ve grown so attached to, to be torn apart. But it doesn’t help if, after a few years, you realize the house was built blindly. So I’ve decided to ask for your (partly professional) opinions on our project.
To give you some context: it’s a semi-detached house with about 145 sqm (1,560 sq ft) in a quiet residential area. The development plan is fairly recent (from 2013) and is designed flexibly enough that basically all our wishes and requirements for the house can be realized.
About the project:
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: approx. 415 sqm (4,465 sq ft)
Slope: none, just slightly inclined (max. 0.5 m (1.6 ft) over 33 m (108 ft))
Site coverage ratio: 0.4
Floor area ratio: 1.0
Building area, building line, and boundaries: see development plan (building area large enough for the project, approx. 10 x 15 m (33 x 49 ft))
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: max. 2
Roof type: gable roof
Orientation: southwest
Maximum height restrictions: max. 9.60 m (31.5 ft) (9 m (29.5 ft) house + 0.6 m (2 ft) foundation slab above ground level)
Homeowners’ Requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: a mix of gable roof and Bauhaus style, bright living room and children’s rooms with large windows on the south side
Basement, floors: yes to basement (full height living space), ground floor, upper floor
Number of occupants, ages: currently 2 (33, 30 years old), planning for 1-2 children
Space requirements on ground and upper floors:
Office: study room for my wife (teacher)
Overnight guests per year: very rare, max. 1-2 times a year
Open or closed layout: ground floor open layout (kitchen-dining-living area)
Conservative or modern construction style: mixed (?!?)
Open kitchen, cooking island: open kitchen, separated cooking area against a wall, but no freestanding island
Number of dining seats: 4-6
Fireplace: optional, initially not planned (chimney will be installed)
Balcony, roof terrace: no, French balconies on the upper floor
Garage, carport: double carport planned
House Design
Who designed it: planner from a building company
What do you particularly like? Why?
Good room layout (children’s rooms not too small, fairly evenly distributed), despite the gable roof, there is a large share of full ceiling height rooms on the upper floor
What do you not like? Why?
Preferred heating system: ground source heat pump with horizontal trench collector, underfloor heating (+ heating circuit adjustment)
If you had to give up something, what details or features could you let go of?
Could probably give up: finishing the basement for living purposes, comfort features like heating circuit adjustment, or walk-in showers
Cannot give up: the office on the ground floor
Why did the design turn out this way?
The design is based on a standard layout from the planner, which we modified with our own ideas and wishes such as the office on the ground floor and the T-shaped bathroom. From our perspective, the floor plan is internally consistent, and it reflects our daily life needs. For example, it was important to my wife to have an office on the ground floor so she can immediately put away work things after coming home instead of having them scattered around before moving them upstairs. The open kitchen-dining-living area with large windows offers space and feels very homely without large empty areas. Additionally, there is enough storage space in the kitchen, so you don’t have to run to the basement for every can of food. The separate hallway with stairs to the upper floor is also very nice for us, as the living room does not become a thoroughfare.
We are unsure about the sofa as a divider in the living-dining area. There is about 1.3 m (4.3 ft) between the dining table and sofa, so it shouldn’t be a tight spot, right?
The upper floor is also balanced in size, with a small dressing room visually separated by a low wall. A wardrobe directly opposite the bed was a no-go for us. Possible improvements might be needed in the bathroom. The T-shaped bathroom was initially a wish of ours, but it now feels somewhat unorganized. We have already considered an alternative that makes the room appear larger while still visually separating the toilet and shower from the rest of the bathroom. The shower in the alternative layout would be 1.1 x 1.3 m (3.6 x 4.3 ft), similar to the T-shaped bathroom, and the toilet would be separated from the rest by a half-height wall to allow more light inside. The toilet area would also be 1.1 x 1.1 m (3.6 x 3.6 ft), as in the T-shaped bathroom.
By the way, the roof is initially not planned to be finished as living space, but it is prepared so that this can be added later if needed.
What is the most important/fundamental question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
Are there any points, layouts, or rooms that could be improved? We like the plan, but here are many experts with the right eye for details.
Note on the designs: The window on the east side in the office is floor-to-ceiling, allowing direct garden access from the office. In the master bedroom, a roof window above the bed brings in more light. Neither is shown on the plan yet.
Looking forward to your opinions!
I hesitated for a long time about whether to share our building project here. Mainly for one simple reason: many of you are brutally honest, and of course, you don’t want your floor plan, which you’ve grown so attached to, to be torn apart. But it doesn’t help if, after a few years, you realize the house was built blindly. So I’ve decided to ask for your (partly professional) opinions on our project.
To give you some context: it’s a semi-detached house with about 145 sqm (1,560 sq ft) in a quiet residential area. The development plan is fairly recent (from 2013) and is designed flexibly enough that basically all our wishes and requirements for the house can be realized.
About the project:
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: approx. 415 sqm (4,465 sq ft)
Slope: none, just slightly inclined (max. 0.5 m (1.6 ft) over 33 m (108 ft))
Site coverage ratio: 0.4
Floor area ratio: 1.0
Building area, building line, and boundaries: see development plan (building area large enough for the project, approx. 10 x 15 m (33 x 49 ft))
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: max. 2
Roof type: gable roof
Orientation: southwest
Maximum height restrictions: max. 9.60 m (31.5 ft) (9 m (29.5 ft) house + 0.6 m (2 ft) foundation slab above ground level)
Homeowners’ Requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: a mix of gable roof and Bauhaus style, bright living room and children’s rooms with large windows on the south side
Basement, floors: yes to basement (full height living space), ground floor, upper floor
Number of occupants, ages: currently 2 (33, 30 years old), planning for 1-2 children
Space requirements on ground and upper floors:
Office: study room for my wife (teacher)
Overnight guests per year: very rare, max. 1-2 times a year
Open or closed layout: ground floor open layout (kitchen-dining-living area)
Conservative or modern construction style: mixed (?!?)
Open kitchen, cooking island: open kitchen, separated cooking area against a wall, but no freestanding island
Number of dining seats: 4-6
Fireplace: optional, initially not planned (chimney will be installed)
Balcony, roof terrace: no, French balconies on the upper floor
Garage, carport: double carport planned
House Design
Who designed it: planner from a building company
What do you particularly like? Why?
Good room layout (children’s rooms not too small, fairly evenly distributed), despite the gable roof, there is a large share of full ceiling height rooms on the upper floor
What do you not like? Why?
Preferred heating system: ground source heat pump with horizontal trench collector, underfloor heating (+ heating circuit adjustment)
If you had to give up something, what details or features could you let go of?
Could probably give up: finishing the basement for living purposes, comfort features like heating circuit adjustment, or walk-in showers
Cannot give up: the office on the ground floor
Why did the design turn out this way?
The design is based on a standard layout from the planner, which we modified with our own ideas and wishes such as the office on the ground floor and the T-shaped bathroom. From our perspective, the floor plan is internally consistent, and it reflects our daily life needs. For example, it was important to my wife to have an office on the ground floor so she can immediately put away work things after coming home instead of having them scattered around before moving them upstairs. The open kitchen-dining-living area with large windows offers space and feels very homely without large empty areas. Additionally, there is enough storage space in the kitchen, so you don’t have to run to the basement for every can of food. The separate hallway with stairs to the upper floor is also very nice for us, as the living room does not become a thoroughfare.
We are unsure about the sofa as a divider in the living-dining area. There is about 1.3 m (4.3 ft) between the dining table and sofa, so it shouldn’t be a tight spot, right?
The upper floor is also balanced in size, with a small dressing room visually separated by a low wall. A wardrobe directly opposite the bed was a no-go for us. Possible improvements might be needed in the bathroom. The T-shaped bathroom was initially a wish of ours, but it now feels somewhat unorganized. We have already considered an alternative that makes the room appear larger while still visually separating the toilet and shower from the rest of the bathroom. The shower in the alternative layout would be 1.1 x 1.3 m (3.6 x 4.3 ft), similar to the T-shaped bathroom, and the toilet would be separated from the rest by a half-height wall to allow more light inside. The toilet area would also be 1.1 x 1.1 m (3.6 x 3.6 ft), as in the T-shaped bathroom.
By the way, the roof is initially not planned to be finished as living space, but it is prepared so that this can be added later if needed.
What is the most important/fundamental question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
Are there any points, layouts, or rooms that could be improved? We like the plan, but here are many experts with the right eye for details.
Note on the designs: The window on the east side in the office is floor-to-ceiling, allowing direct garden access from the office. In the master bedroom, a roof window above the bed brings in more light. Neither is shown on the plan yet.
Looking forward to your opinions!
I think it’s perfectly fine.
I’d start planning the kitchen already. I believe the distance to the kitchen island is a bit too large – but that’s no big deal.
I like the T-shaped bathroom better than the new version, but you can keep experimenting with it endlessly. I would also try to include a laundry chute down to the basement right away.
Other than that, I only see positives. Get building!
I’d start planning the kitchen already. I believe the distance to the kitchen island is a bit too large – but that’s no big deal.
I like the T-shaped bathroom better than the new version, but you can keep experimenting with it endlessly. I would also try to include a laundry chute down to the basement right away.
Other than that, I only see positives. Get building!
Hi...
We have a similar semi-detached house in terms of dimensions, but without a basement and with a closed kitchen.
However, I think your layout is good!
I don’t like the bathroom layout with the door positioned like a T, because when you open the door, you immediately face the sink.
I prefer the second option better. In our case, the shower is recessed because we have a slightly different staircase design.
Overall: everything is great.
A note from personal experience:
I don’t know where you have planned Venetian blinds and where roller shutters, but I would definitely recommend Venetian blinds for the children’s rooms.
They face full sun exposure, and if the roller shutters are always down—as is common in this kind of weather—it’s inconvenient for the children to play.
Venetian blinds work much better in this case. They block the sun while still letting in light.
We have a similar semi-detached house in terms of dimensions, but without a basement and with a closed kitchen.
However, I think your layout is good!
I don’t like the bathroom layout with the door positioned like a T, because when you open the door, you immediately face the sink.
I prefer the second option better. In our case, the shower is recessed because we have a slightly different staircase design.
Overall: everything is great.
A note from personal experience:
I don’t know where you have planned Venetian blinds and where roller shutters, but I would definitely recommend Venetian blinds for the children’s rooms.
They face full sun exposure, and if the roller shutters are always down—as is common in this kind of weather—it’s inconvenient for the children to play.
Venetian blinds work much better in this case. They block the sun while still letting in light.
In principle, I also think it's fine. The kitchen has already been discussed.
What I also noticed is that, since it seems to be a zero knee wall, the 2 m (6 ft 7 in) line in the bedroom is too far from the bottom wall. Firstly, the headboard of the bed can’t be very tall, it could feel quite cramped to lie there, and when getting up you could easily hit your head. A width of 335 cm (11 ft) is also quite narrow for the master bedroom.
What I also noticed is that, since it seems to be a zero knee wall, the 2 m (6 ft 7 in) line in the bedroom is too far from the bottom wall. Firstly, the headboard of the bed can’t be very tall, it could feel quite cramped to lie there, and when getting up you could easily hit your head. A width of 335 cm (11 ft) is also quite narrow for the master bedroom.
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