ᐅ Single-family house approximately 160 sqm with flat roof – Optimization / Planning

Good morning,

the plot has finally been purchased... now the actual planning begins. Attached is our first draft, which I would like to open for discussion here. It is still very basic at this stage; no windows or furniture are drawn in yet, that will follow in the next step.

Development Plan / Restrictions

Plot size: approx. 500 sqm (5,380 sq ft)
Slope: no
Site coverage ratio
Floor area ratio: 0.4
Building envelope / building line / boundary setback: 3 m (10 ft) distance from plot boundaries
Edge development: yes and no, garage with 1 m (3 ft) side setback, 5 m (16 ft) front setback
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of stories: 2 full stories
Roof type: -
Architectural style: -
Orientation: -
Maximum heights / limits: ridge height < 6.2 m (20 ft); eaves height < 9.7 m (32 ft)
Further regulations

Client Requirements
Architectural style, roof type, building type: flat roof
Basement, floors: no basement, ground floor, upper floor
Number of occupants, age: 4 (two adults, two children)
Space requirements on ground and upper floors:
Ground floor: open living/dining area with kitchen, pantry, utility room, bathroom with walk-in shower, guest room (later bedroom for older age)
Upper floor: bedroom, 2 children’s rooms, walk-in closet, 1 bathroom with walk-in shower, laundry room
Office: family use or home office? no
Overnight guests per year: yes, about once a month over the weekend
Open or closed architecture: open
Conservative or modern style: modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open kitchen with freestanding island
Dining seats: 6-8 persons
Fireplace: no
Music / stereo wall: yes, integrated with the TV
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: yes, preferably a double garage with storage / hobby room due to no basement
Kitchen garden, greenhouse: no (possibly raised beds)
Other wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons for design choices or exclusions:

• Straight staircase (even though it takes up more space)
• From the kitchen, the dining area and living room should be visible

House Design
Who designed the plan: Do-It-Yourself
What do you particularly like? Why?

• Straight staircase
• Open kitchen/dining/living area

What do you dislike? Why?
Price estimate by architect/planner: -
Personal price limit for the house (including fittings): 350-400 thousand EUR
Preferred heating system: air-to-water heat pump (underfloor heating)

If you had to give up something, on which details / expansions
- could you do without:
- could you not do without:

Why was the design made this way?
No architect involved yet, own planning inspired by online sources, magazines, and model/holiday homes

What do you think makes it particularly good or bad?

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

Thank you very much for your suggestions, criticism, etc.!

Without doors, orientation, and furniture, it’s quite difficult to say anything meaningful... Would you be able to add those details?

Windows would also be nice

Draw the furniture to scale.
A double bed and wardrobe will not fit in the guest room downstairs.

Attached are the plans showing doors, windows, and furniture.

Windows on the ground floor:
- On the left (west), all standard windows
- On the south side at the dining area, a lift-and-slide door
- On the south side in the living room, a standard window

Windows on the upper floor:
- No floor-to-ceiling windows
- In the bedroom, still undecided whether standard or clerestory windows
- In the children's room, also still undecided (I think the rooms are large enough to position windows and furniture)

@haydee: The room downstairs will indeed be a bit tight if a 2m x 2m (6.6 ft x 6.6 ft) bed plus a wardrobe are placed there later. This is only for an "emergency" situation, which hopefully will not occur. An alternative might be a stair lift or a smaller bed.

A smaller bed would be a single bed. A 160 cm (63 inch) bed for two people, where at least one has severe mobility limitations, is not suitable. Assistive devices of all kinds require space.

Is the upper floor recessed?