ᐅ Single-Family Home Floor Plan / Feedback, Criticism, and Suggestions
Created on: 10 Sep 2021 15:07
J
Jens 1985
Dear housebuilding forum,
After much deliberation, we have decided to start our housebuilding project in the Hannover region. Following some disappointing discussions with various developers/general contractors, we tried to put our ideal plans on paper.
Development plan/restrictions
Plot size: approximately 1,800 m² (19,375 sq ft), not divisible or similar
Slope: no, flat
There is no formal development plan; after preliminary consultation with the permitting authority, §34 applies. Due to the surrounding buildings, approval for 2 full floors has been provisionally granted. The building must be aligned towards the street at the front.
Edge development: multi-family house
Number of parking spaces: 2 + trailer space
Number of floors: 2 full floors plus option to convert the attic later
Roof type: gable roof
Style: modern
Orientation: facing north
Homeowners’ requirements
Style, roof type, building type: simple, timeless, modern gable roof house
Basement, floors: no basement due to costs, 2 full floors
Number of occupants, age: 2 adults, 2 children
Space requirement: 180 m² - 200 m² (1,937 - 2,153 sq ft)
Office: occasional home office + family use as guest room
Guest stays per year: at least 10 - 15 nights
Open or closed architecture: ?
Conservative or modern construction: modern
Kitchen type, island: prefer closed kitchen but with sliding door and small island
Number of dining seats: 6 seats
Fireplace: maybe, yes, as room divider to dining area
Music/sound wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: garage preferred over design; could also be prefabricated garage or carport; implementation with later savings possible
Utility garden, greenhouse: utility garden for the family, but care might be an issue later due to size
House design
Who planned it:
Do-it-yourself
What do you particularly like? Why?
Large utility/technical room, direct access to garage, L-shape in living-dining area, 2 large children's rooms, straight staircase
What don’t you like? Why?
Much wasted movement space on ground floor, want to optimize total area to approx. 180 m² (1,937 sq ft)
Price estimate from developer: 470,000 EUR without garage, painting, and flooring
Personal price limit for house including fittings: about 500,000 EUR without garage including additional construction costs, land already owned
Preferred heating system: air source heat pump
If you must give up on which details/extensions
Can you give up:
Smaller living-dining area, staircase form, reduce children's rooms to 16 m² (172 sq ft)
Cannot give up:
Large utility/technical room, large living and dining area including closed kitchen, partial brick cladding
Why is the design as it is now?
Arrangement and orientation based on existing driveway and features we don’t like in our current rented townhouse (city villa 155 m² (1,668 sq ft))
What makes it particularly good or bad in your view?
It meets our wishes on paper, but we lack experience whether it can be built economically; possibly better ideas for layout of utility room including wardrobe and garage
What is the key/basic question regarding the floor plan in 130 characters?
How can I optimize living space for best cost savings? Is the floor plan feasible within our budget? Proceed with architect or builder?
I hope this information is sufficient; feel free to ask for further details.
Thank you very much for your support and honest, constructive feedback. And don’t hesitate to be straightforward.
After much deliberation, we have decided to start our housebuilding project in the Hannover region. Following some disappointing discussions with various developers/general contractors, we tried to put our ideal plans on paper.
Development plan/restrictions
Plot size: approximately 1,800 m² (19,375 sq ft), not divisible or similar
Slope: no, flat
There is no formal development plan; after preliminary consultation with the permitting authority, §34 applies. Due to the surrounding buildings, approval for 2 full floors has been provisionally granted. The building must be aligned towards the street at the front.
Edge development: multi-family house
Number of parking spaces: 2 + trailer space
Number of floors: 2 full floors plus option to convert the attic later
Roof type: gable roof
Style: modern
Orientation: facing north
Homeowners’ requirements
Style, roof type, building type: simple, timeless, modern gable roof house
Basement, floors: no basement due to costs, 2 full floors
Number of occupants, age: 2 adults, 2 children
Space requirement: 180 m² - 200 m² (1,937 - 2,153 sq ft)
Office: occasional home office + family use as guest room
Guest stays per year: at least 10 - 15 nights
Open or closed architecture: ?
Conservative or modern construction: modern
Kitchen type, island: prefer closed kitchen but with sliding door and small island
Number of dining seats: 6 seats
Fireplace: maybe, yes, as room divider to dining area
Music/sound wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: garage preferred over design; could also be prefabricated garage or carport; implementation with later savings possible
Utility garden, greenhouse: utility garden for the family, but care might be an issue later due to size
House design
Who planned it:
Do-it-yourself
What do you particularly like? Why?
Large utility/technical room, direct access to garage, L-shape in living-dining area, 2 large children's rooms, straight staircase
What don’t you like? Why?
Much wasted movement space on ground floor, want to optimize total area to approx. 180 m² (1,937 sq ft)
Price estimate from developer: 470,000 EUR without garage, painting, and flooring
Personal price limit for house including fittings: about 500,000 EUR without garage including additional construction costs, land already owned
Preferred heating system: air source heat pump
If you must give up on which details/extensions
Can you give up:
Smaller living-dining area, staircase form, reduce children's rooms to 16 m² (172 sq ft)
Cannot give up:
Large utility/technical room, large living and dining area including closed kitchen, partial brick cladding
Why is the design as it is now?
Arrangement and orientation based on existing driveway and features we don’t like in our current rented townhouse (city villa 155 m² (1,668 sq ft))
What makes it particularly good or bad in your view?
It meets our wishes on paper, but we lack experience whether it can be built economically; possibly better ideas for layout of utility room including wardrobe and garage
What is the key/basic question regarding the floor plan in 130 characters?
How can I optimize living space for best cost savings? Is the floor plan feasible within our budget? Proceed with architect or builder?
I hope this information is sufficient; feel free to ask for further details.
Thank you very much for your support and honest, constructive feedback. And don’t hesitate to be straightforward.
J
Jens 198510 Sep 2021 23:48@11ant
In this design, the garage would actually be a solid structure, meaning the garage exterior wall is the same as the house exterior wall. However, I would build the exterior wall of the house first and later add a carport or an FT garage Rekers in front if the lottery win mentioned above happens.
In this design, the garage would actually be a solid structure, meaning the garage exterior wall is the same as the house exterior wall. However, I would build the exterior wall of the house first and later add a carport or an FT garage Rekers in front if the lottery win mentioned above happens.
J
Jens 198510 Sep 2021 23:50Unfortunately, I relied too much on prices of 1,800 euros to 2,000 euros per m2 (10.8 sq ft) of living space for our cost estimate.
Organized by chronology:
Thanks for the site plan. South is probably diagonally downwards????????
I would place a completely different house on the plot — with different room orientation, sunlight in living areas, shifting the multipurpose room, etc. You have plenty of land, so there’s a lot possible. But close to the budget. The current plan is unrealistic in terms of size. And honestly: do you really want your storage space, which you’re missing now, in the living room and that empty hallway extension between living room and kitchen? Or how did the idea for the multipurpose room come about?
Financially, this castle in the air is not feasible. Delete it, crumple it up, destroy it, and stay grounded with the next design.
Jens 1985 schrieb:That’s good. However, I would place the storage space on the ground floor so you don’t have to carry boxes up and down all the time.
I’m considering self-employment and thinking about creating a separate workspace here, independent from the storage area.
Jens 1985 schrieb:I think I’m right in advising to declutter first, before the next floor plan is designed. Families of four can manage well with 140 m2 (1,507 sq ft). OK, with some discipline. But what you describe sounds like accumulation of surplus items. Keeping and holding on to unnecessary things. A household of four should manage with standard room sizes and about 20 m2 (215 sq ft) of storage space.
We currently live in a single-family house with 150 m2 (1,615 sq ft), and it feels completely full. Filled with things I never would have imagined before we had children. The attic is also full; initially, I would like to install a proper staircase to the attic as part of an attic conversion.
Jens 1985 schrieb:@pagoni2020 has already said it all in #3!!!
Build smaller. Build more efficiently.
Where or in which areas would you build more efficiently?
Jens 1985 schrieb:That’s probably because the general contractor is sticking to the budget, but you are not.
The alternative designs no longer match our ideas.
Jens 1985 schrieb:No, definitely not. I believe the basic layout is wrong. But that’s not a big deal since you as non-professionals don’t know better.
To get to the living room or kitchen, you first have to go to the far end of the house and then turn back.
Would you add an additional door from the hallway?
Jens 1985 schrieb:That’s not ideal either! Sorry, but you’re planning 225 m2 (2,422 sq ft) with oversized rooms, a lot of empty space, and long corridors, but something important like a cloakroom for four people is tucked away in a corner of the utility room.
I don’t see a cloakroom.
The utility room accessible from the hallway is supposed to be used as a cloakroom.
Thanks for the site plan. South is probably diagonally downwards????????
I would place a completely different house on the plot — with different room orientation, sunlight in living areas, shifting the multipurpose room, etc. You have plenty of land, so there’s a lot possible. But close to the budget. The current plan is unrealistic in terms of size. And honestly: do you really want your storage space, which you’re missing now, in the living room and that empty hallway extension between living room and kitchen? Or how did the idea for the multipurpose room come about?
Financially, this castle in the air is not feasible. Delete it, crumple it up, destroy it, and stay grounded with the next design.
P
Powermichi11 Sep 2021 00:46For the children's rooms, move the doors so that there is still space for a wardrobe behind the door. Usually, a wardrobe is placed against the wall where the door swings. If the doors stay where they are, the wardrobe can only be positioned at the edge of the open door, which means you always face a wardrobe when opening the door...
Jens 1985 schrieb:
Unfortunately, I relied too much on prices of 1,800 euros to 2,000 euros per m2 (10.8 to 18.6 sq ft) of living space for our cost estimate.I am not familiar with prices in the Hannover area, but I would say the opportunity has long passed. Regarding the floor plan, I have to agree with the others. It somehow isn’t quite right yet.
Jens 1985 schrieb:
I am considering starting my own business and thinking about creating a separate work area here, independent from the storage, if necessary. In that case, you should definitely finalize your financing beforehand; otherwise, I expect at least one or two waiting periods before you can get started.
Jens 1985 schrieb:
The alternative designs no longer match our ideas at all. Do you wonder why that is? Because—as has already been mentioned here—the design cannot simply be scaled down in Photoshop to the desired smaller size.
Jens 1985 schrieb:
The walk-through room labeled HAR leading to the hallway is intended to be used as a cloakroom. That is certainly an unusual approach.
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