ᐅ Single-Family Home Orientation: Garden and Patio Facing South or West?
Created on: 31 Mar 2024 10:43
R
Ralf1980
Hello.
I would like your advice on the basic planning of the ground floor, specifically regarding the orientation of the garden and the terrace—whether the south side or the west side of the house is better.
At this stage, the rest of the house is not the main focus and will be adjusted later. Still, here are the key details.
Development plan/restrictions
Plot size: 814m² (8757 sq ft)
Slight north-facing slope
Site coverage ratio 0.4
Floor area ratio 0.7
Building envelope, building line, and boundary: See pictures
Surrounding development
Number of parking spaces: Large double garage (2 cars, bicycles, etc. should fit)
Number of floors: Basement and ground floor
Roof type: Gable roof, pitch 30°, ridge direction east-west as prescribed by the building envelope, but this might be flexible
Architectural style: Standard
Maximum height/limits: None
Owners’ requirements
Basement and floors: Due to the slope, there will be a basement with two large rooms on the north side, each with a large window
Number and age of occupants: 4 people, ages 44, 42, 13, and 14
Conservative construction method
Open kitchen
Seating for 6-8 at the dining table
No fireplace
Music/sound system wall, large TV on sideboard or mounted on the wall
House design
Designed by: Self-designed
Preferred heating system: District heating, 100% renewable
Level access from the garage is explicitly desired, and all necessary rooms (bedroom, bathroom, office) should be on the ground floor level. The children will have large rooms with proper windows (no light wells) and a shared bathroom in the basement on the north side.
An upper floor is probably excluded due to cost constraints. The north-facing slope is a given, with about a 2m (6.6 ft) height difference across the entire plot; inside the house, it is about 1m (3.3 ft). The terrain on the north side will be adjusted accordingly. Slight deviations from the building envelope will likely be tolerated.
I have been working on this for a while but still can’t decide whether the living room and terrace should face the south or the west side of the house.
If the terrace is on the west side, it will get sun at noon and in the evening, but the "best side" of the house will not be very visible from the street. I am also unsure if the living room suits the west side.
What is your opinion, or what would you change and why?
All plans are oriented to true north; my own sketches are slightly rotated because I cannot draw otherwise.
Thank you very much.
Regards, Ralf
I would like your advice on the basic planning of the ground floor, specifically regarding the orientation of the garden and the terrace—whether the south side or the west side of the house is better.
At this stage, the rest of the house is not the main focus and will be adjusted later. Still, here are the key details.
Development plan/restrictions
Plot size: 814m² (8757 sq ft)
Slight north-facing slope
Site coverage ratio 0.4
Floor area ratio 0.7
Building envelope, building line, and boundary: See pictures
Surrounding development
Number of parking spaces: Large double garage (2 cars, bicycles, etc. should fit)
Number of floors: Basement and ground floor
Roof type: Gable roof, pitch 30°, ridge direction east-west as prescribed by the building envelope, but this might be flexible
Architectural style: Standard
Maximum height/limits: None
Owners’ requirements
Basement and floors: Due to the slope, there will be a basement with two large rooms on the north side, each with a large window
Number and age of occupants: 4 people, ages 44, 42, 13, and 14
Conservative construction method
Open kitchen
Seating for 6-8 at the dining table
No fireplace
Music/sound system wall, large TV on sideboard or mounted on the wall
House design
Designed by: Self-designed
Preferred heating system: District heating, 100% renewable
Level access from the garage is explicitly desired, and all necessary rooms (bedroom, bathroom, office) should be on the ground floor level. The children will have large rooms with proper windows (no light wells) and a shared bathroom in the basement on the north side.
An upper floor is probably excluded due to cost constraints. The north-facing slope is a given, with about a 2m (6.6 ft) height difference across the entire plot; inside the house, it is about 1m (3.3 ft). The terrain on the north side will be adjusted accordingly. Slight deviations from the building envelope will likely be tolerated.
I have been working on this for a while but still can’t decide whether the living room and terrace should face the south or the west side of the house.
If the terrace is on the west side, it will get sun at noon and in the evening, but the "best side" of the house will not be very visible from the street. I am also unsure if the living room suits the west side.
What is your opinion, or what would you change and why?
All plans are oriented to true north; my own sketches are slightly rotated because I cannot draw otherwise.
Thank you very much.
Regards, Ralf
For me, there is an internal priority order for where the washer/dryer and their surroundings should ideally be located
Although as a tenant with a basement outside the apartment, positions 2 and 3 would be swapped—they would prefer the bathroom over the basement.
- a dedicated room within the living area, with drying options, a folding surface for laundry, and ideally a collection point for dirty laundry
- basement
- bathroom
- kitchen, unfortunately often still the case in rental apartments
- no space at all and laundromat
Although as a tenant with a basement outside the apartment, positions 2 and 3 would be swapped—they would prefer the bathroom over the basement.
The appearance could still be concealed with a niche, but the fact that one person might want to take a relaxing bath and is already looking forward to it, while another has just started a machine, would regularly annoy me as well.
If you don’t have a dedicated utility room, then the equipment has to go into the technical room or, at best, the guest bathroom.
If you don’t have a dedicated utility room, then the equipment has to go into the technical room or, at best, the guest bathroom.
M
motorradsilke20 Apr 2024 11:15kbt09 schrieb:
For me, there is an internal order of preference for where the washing machine, dryer, and their surroundings should ideally be located:
- A dedicated room within the living area, with drying options, a surface to fold laundry, and ideally also a laundry hamper for dirty clothes
- Basement
- Bathroom
- Kitchen, unfortunately still common in rental apartments
- No space at all and a laundromat
However, for apartment renters with a basement outside the living area, points 2 and 3 would be switched, preferring the bathroom over the basement.What’s missing for me is the usually standard utility room.
Do you want to soak hand-washed laundry in the sink?
Store dirty socks and fresh-smelling sportswear in the bathroom until they are washed?
A drying rack placed between the shower and bathtub?
The spin cycle doesn’t feel meditative or relaxing to me.
We are not talking about a small house here. The floor area does not require space-saving measures. The circulation space alone takes up endless room.
Store dirty socks and fresh-smelling sportswear in the bathroom until they are washed?
A drying rack placed between the shower and bathtub?
The spin cycle doesn’t feel meditative or relaxing to me.
We are not talking about a small house here. The floor area does not require space-saving measures. The circulation space alone takes up endless room.
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