ᐅ Single-Family Home: Decision Between Two Floor Plan Options

Hello everyone,

After an endless search, we, a couple with two children, are finally ready to build a new house. We have been on the waiting list for the plot for years. It’s not ideal because it faces east, but there are hardly any other options. Now the planning begins, and we have two rough design options. We need to decide on one and would appreciate subjective opinions as well as arguments for and against each.

Development plan / restrictions
Plot size: 576 sqm (6,200 sq ft)
Slope: none
Site coverage ratio: 0.4
Floor area ratio: 0.7
Building envelope, building line, and boundary: usual 3 m (10 ft) from neighbors, 1.5 m (5 ft) from the street
Edge development? Only detached single-family houses
Number of parking spaces: 9 m (30 ft) garage plus parking space in front
Number of floors: 2
Roof type: gable roof, 35 degrees
Style: modern
Orientation: east
Maximum heights / restrictions
Additional requirements

Homeowners’ requirements
Style, roof type, building type
No basement, 2 floors
Number of occupants, ages: 4 (33, 33, 3, and 1 years old)
Space requirement on ground floor and upper floor: approx. 75-80 sqm (800-860 sq ft) each
Office use: family use or home office? Small home office
Guests staying overnight per year: none
Open or closed architecture?
Conservative or modern design?
Open kitchen? Yes, but separation possible with sliding doors, for example. Kitchen island or peninsula: yes
Number of dining seats: 8 (up to 14)
Fireplace: no
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony or roof terrace: no
Garage or carport: yes, 9 m (30 ft) garage
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Additional wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons why some things should or should not be included

House design
Who created the design?
- Planner from a building company
- Architect: yes
- Do-it-yourself: yes
What do you like in particular?
Bay window
Large children’s rooms
Front entrance is a must-have

What don’t you like?
No lighting from the west
The floor plan is too uninspired and resembles a townhouse layout

Price estimate according to architect/planner: 350,000 (without additional costs or earthworks)
Personal price limit for house including fittings: maximum reached
Preferred heating system: ground-source heat pump (deep drilling) + controlled ventilation system

Why is the design like this?

The desire for a front entrance because on the north side the garage is not wide enough for both entrance and parking space, plus a seating area in the south. This limits the width to 10 m (33 ft) including the bay window.
What do you think makes it particularly good or bad?
Unfortunately, it seems too standard

What is the most important fundamental question about the floor plan in 130 characters?

Which of the variants would you choose and why?
Where are the critical points?
Are there more creative ideas or completely different approaches?
Both attic floors are not good for storage—what is the lesser evil?

For orientation: the site plan shows bottom as east, access via the street at the top (west), garage on the right (north).

East boundary: 16.6 m (54 ft)
West boundary (in front of house): 18.75 m (62 ft)
Terrace desired on east and south sides

Thank you very much, I look forward to your feedback.

Stockum2019 schrieb:

Too uncreative floor plan, floor plan resembles a terraced house

Terraced house floor plans are usually quite good if you have the detached house version and can build wider.
You want to place your carport somewhere anyway.
And now this is your task: try drawing the house on the site plan and add the carport, etc. Please also include the north arrow, otherwise on page 2 this will just be guessing. Reading it strains the eyes.

I find an east orientation one of the most challenging, so it really helps to include the neighboring buildings and things like

Stockum2019 schrieb:

desire for an entrance at the front

Stockum2019 schrieb:

additional seating area in the south

just as rigid guidelines. You have to experiment a bit. If the neighboring buildings and street are quiet and green, you can, for example, move the seating area to the front behind a hedge, etc.

Stockum2019 schrieb:

Unfortunately somewhat too standard

Either hire an architect (not a builder’s planner) or realize that everything depends on budget and the floor plan. Just having straight corners in a standard design does not mean it’s uncreative.

Could it be that you also want symmetry at the front? That is the first thing to reconsider if you want more light from the west.

Stockum2019 schrieb:

Modern style

Stockum2019 schrieb:

Bauhaus bay window

Stockum2019 schrieb:

Entrance at the front as a must-have

I see that as contradictory to having symmetry in the front garden.

Honestly, I think the floor plan is very good. I would prefer the platform version. I would probably use the full width (10m (33 feet)) to give the hallway a bit more space for furniture. Also, add a large window in the living room on the north side.

With a budget of 350k, you can’t expect any extravagances. You have nice southern sunlight in the house, and the rooms are appealing in size and layout. The carport can go on the north side. I would buy it as is.

If you want a designer home, you should quickly take out an additional 100k loan. Why? Just so your neighbors are amazed by how special you are? Nonsense!

Attic conversion isn’t feasible or important with a 350k budget anyway.

kaho674 schrieb:

Honestly, I think the floor plan is very good.

I also like it, but the issue with the west side would bother me a bit. Still, you can’t have everything.

I don’t think the design of the platform stairs is bad either and would prefer it.

ypg schrieb:

I also think it’s good, but the issue with the west side would bother me a bit, too. But you can’t have everything.

Yes, especially if the entrance has to be on the west side.