ᐅ Single-family house with a recessed upper floor, southwest-facing, located in Bonn
Created on: 5 Oct 2020 20:40
B
BenrathHello everyone,
we have purchased one of three plots that were divided from a larger property and still need to be developed. Access is via a private road, and all three owners share the traffic area equally. The plot is very well connected for us, located centrally in Bonn, and is perhaps a bit larger than we actually needed. However, it’s not like there are always free plots available in a similar location.
Because there was a lengthy legal dispute between the seller and the neighbors beforehand, we can only build a partial recessed upper floor to a limited extent. Probably for this reason, the plot was mainly interesting for private buyers. An accessory apartment is not possible, and we don’t want one anyway.
Up until now, the planning was done from scratch without considering costs or practical aspects, at least from our side. The architect apparently enjoys drawing, which is understandable at this stage and has a certain artistic approach. We are generally open to all suggestions and ideas on what could be done differently, especially where costs might be saved easily.
Our next step will be to conclude an architect contract for service phases 1 to 5 plus general contractor / main contractor.
Development plan/restrictions
Plot size: >800sqm (8600 sq ft), no slope, building envelope etc. See plan.
Parking spaces: 1 on traffic area and 1 garage
Number of storeys: Only 1 full storey plus a recessed upper floor
Roof style: Flat roof; architectural style: rather Bauhaus
Orientation: Front of the house faces southwest
Maximum height/limits: 7–8m (23–26 ft)
Owners’ requirements
We basically have no specific style requirements. A flat roof results partly from the recessed upper floor and height restrictions, which probably don’t allow a pitched roof.
We want a basement with excavation and two daylight rooms (this was more the architect’s idea). Currently, there are three of us, possibly four in the future. Early 30s and a baby.
We had planned for just over 100sqm (1076 sq ft) on the ground floor and about 75% of that upstairs. Currently, it’s roughly 230sqm (2475 sq ft) ground floor and upper floor combined plus terraces, etc., and the basement.
Office: occasional use, not very important.
Number of overnight guests per year: unknown, but a guest room is planned
Open kitchen, kitchen island: We definitely want a separate kitchen area and like the suggestion of an extended island
Number of dining seats: 4 in the kitchen, more like 8 in the dining room
Fireplace: Not very important, probably no.
Music/surround sound system: 5.1 system around the TV
Balcony, roof terrace: Terrace is a must, balcony above the kitchen results from the recessed floor
Garage, carport: The garage width of 4.5m (15 ft) is unusual and probably makes it more expensive.
House design by the architect
What do we particularly like? Why? Good use of the sunny side, and otherwise all our wishes have been taken into account.
Upper floor: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and walk-in closet.
What don’t we like? Why? I could imagine a nicer staircase, perhaps a longer, more open design. Overall, the hallway feels a bit large.
The upper-floor terrace seems somewhat oversized. We are wondering if the overhang casts too much shade on the ground floor.
Price estimate according to architect/planner: with general contractor and all additional costs >900,000€ (over 900,000 euros)
Personal budget limit for the house, including fittings: rather below that.
Preferred heating technology: no opinion so far
Why does the design look like it does?
For example:
There was an initial meeting with the architect during which our wishes were noted.
Ground floor: separated kitchen, combined living/dining area. Another separate room as office/guest room (and possibly bedroom if needed).
Passage from the garage to the house, possibly as a utility room.
Upper floor: 3 rooms plus 2 bathrooms, including one en-suite.
First draft at the second meeting, and at the third meeting this final design was presented.
we have purchased one of three plots that were divided from a larger property and still need to be developed. Access is via a private road, and all three owners share the traffic area equally. The plot is very well connected for us, located centrally in Bonn, and is perhaps a bit larger than we actually needed. However, it’s not like there are always free plots available in a similar location.
Because there was a lengthy legal dispute between the seller and the neighbors beforehand, we can only build a partial recessed upper floor to a limited extent. Probably for this reason, the plot was mainly interesting for private buyers. An accessory apartment is not possible, and we don’t want one anyway.
Up until now, the planning was done from scratch without considering costs or practical aspects, at least from our side. The architect apparently enjoys drawing, which is understandable at this stage and has a certain artistic approach. We are generally open to all suggestions and ideas on what could be done differently, especially where costs might be saved easily.
Our next step will be to conclude an architect contract for service phases 1 to 5 plus general contractor / main contractor.
Development plan/restrictions
Plot size: >800sqm (8600 sq ft), no slope, building envelope etc. See plan.
Parking spaces: 1 on traffic area and 1 garage
Number of storeys: Only 1 full storey plus a recessed upper floor
Roof style: Flat roof; architectural style: rather Bauhaus
Orientation: Front of the house faces southwest
Maximum height/limits: 7–8m (23–26 ft)
Owners’ requirements
We basically have no specific style requirements. A flat roof results partly from the recessed upper floor and height restrictions, which probably don’t allow a pitched roof.
We want a basement with excavation and two daylight rooms (this was more the architect’s idea). Currently, there are three of us, possibly four in the future. Early 30s and a baby.
We had planned for just over 100sqm (1076 sq ft) on the ground floor and about 75% of that upstairs. Currently, it’s roughly 230sqm (2475 sq ft) ground floor and upper floor combined plus terraces, etc., and the basement.
Office: occasional use, not very important.
Number of overnight guests per year: unknown, but a guest room is planned
Open kitchen, kitchen island: We definitely want a separate kitchen area and like the suggestion of an extended island
Number of dining seats: 4 in the kitchen, more like 8 in the dining room
Fireplace: Not very important, probably no.
Music/surround sound system: 5.1 system around the TV
Balcony, roof terrace: Terrace is a must, balcony above the kitchen results from the recessed floor
Garage, carport: The garage width of 4.5m (15 ft) is unusual and probably makes it more expensive.
House design by the architect
What do we particularly like? Why? Good use of the sunny side, and otherwise all our wishes have been taken into account.
Upper floor: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and walk-in closet.
What don’t we like? Why? I could imagine a nicer staircase, perhaps a longer, more open design. Overall, the hallway feels a bit large.
The upper-floor terrace seems somewhat oversized. We are wondering if the overhang casts too much shade on the ground floor.
Price estimate according to architect/planner: with general contractor and all additional costs >900,000€ (over 900,000 euros)
Personal budget limit for the house, including fittings: rather below that.
Preferred heating technology: no opinion so far
Why does the design look like it does?
For example:
There was an initial meeting with the architect during which our wishes were noted.
Ground floor: separated kitchen, combined living/dining area. Another separate room as office/guest room (and possibly bedroom if needed).
Passage from the garage to the house, possibly as a utility room.
Upper floor: 3 rooms plus 2 bathrooms, including one en-suite.
First draft at the second meeting, and at the third meeting this final design was presented.
Finally, a draftsman who knows what they’re doing and doesn’t just rely on conservative standard drawings. When it comes to functionality, the sightlines are very important in an aesthetically pleasing house – and if you have the space, you can make it happen.
I’m struggling a bit with the site plan... did you sketch in the north orientation on the floor plans?
I would save on the basement. I don’t see a need for a basement. Also, the space requirements for hobbies, a second office, etc. were not mentioned.
With a large house footprint, you can easily create spacious utility rooms on both floors. On a flat plot, additional excavations and daylight rooms get very expensive without really being necessary.
Therefore, enlarge the utility room a bit on the ground floor, arrange the toilet and office between spaces, make the cloakroom bigger, and add some tall cabinets in the kitchen with a window facing the front. Reducing the living room width by about 1 meter (about 3 feet) will still make it feel spacious.
Similarly, on the upper floor, plan the utility room as a laundry room.
A roof terrace probably won’t be used much if there’s a garden and will only increase construction costs.
In general, it’s worth noting that having too little space for children and too much for parents is an imbalance.
I’m struggling a bit with the site plan... did you sketch in the north orientation on the floor plans?
I would save on the basement. I don’t see a need for a basement. Also, the space requirements for hobbies, a second office, etc. were not mentioned.
With a large house footprint, you can easily create spacious utility rooms on both floors. On a flat plot, additional excavations and daylight rooms get very expensive without really being necessary.
Therefore, enlarge the utility room a bit on the ground floor, arrange the toilet and office between spaces, make the cloakroom bigger, and add some tall cabinets in the kitchen with a window facing the front. Reducing the living room width by about 1 meter (about 3 feet) will still make it feel spacious.
Similarly, on the upper floor, plan the utility room as a laundry room.
A roof terrace probably won’t be used much if there’s a garden and will only increase construction costs.
In general, it’s worth noting that having too little space for children and too much for parents is an imbalance.
Thanks for the feedback
We’re glad to hear that. What do you mean by sight lines?
Ah yes, sorry, I knew I forgot something. The upper right corner is north. That’s what my arrow was supposed to show ;D
The building plan is a bit confusing and the property boundaries are missing. The letters indicate the three building plots. Ours is labeled C.
True, we didn’t mention that directly. Even though one of the daylight rooms was intended as a play/hobby room—for model trains or table tennis. The excavation didn’t sound too expensive. However, no exact figure was given, or it sounded like it wouldn’t make the basement much more expensive otherwise.
We already have a lot of stuff, and I find it hard to imagine living without a basement if we don’t have an attic. Ok, you could probably build a double garage and fill one half like Americans do. But we wanted to make the garage smaller so the otherwise unused space on the north side can be better utilized with the garage.
What do you mean by “arrange in between”?
We’re wondering that too, but at least the terrace above the kitchen could make sense because it faces the evening sun directly. Otherwise, it would just be a roof. I think the circulation area could probably be made smaller.
You find our parents’ area too big? We thought 15 square meters (about 160 square feet) for the children’s rooms is enough, and well, eventually they leave and then the rooms become unused space.
ypg schrieb:
Finally, a drafter who has mastered it and doesn’t just rely on conservative standard drawings. For a house with a good design, sight lines are very important – and if you have the space, you can make it happen.
We’re glad to hear that. What do you mean by sight lines?
ypg schrieb:
I’m having trouble with the site plan... did you scribble the north orientation onto the floor plans?
Ah yes, sorry, I knew I forgot something. The upper right corner is north. That’s what my arrow was supposed to show ;D
The building plan is a bit confusing and the property boundaries are missing. The letters indicate the three building plots. Ours is labeled C.
ypg schrieb:
I would save on the basement. I don’t see the need for a basement. Also, the space requirement for a hobby room, second office, etc., was not mentioned.
With a large house footprint, you can easily realize generous utility rooms on both floors. On a flat lot, extra excavation and daylight basements become quite expensive without being necessary.
True, we didn’t mention that directly. Even though one of the daylight rooms was intended as a play/hobby room—for model trains or table tennis. The excavation didn’t sound too expensive. However, no exact figure was given, or it sounded like it wouldn’t make the basement much more expensive otherwise.
We already have a lot of stuff, and I find it hard to imagine living without a basement if we don’t have an attic. Ok, you could probably build a double garage and fill one half like Americans do. But we wanted to make the garage smaller so the otherwise unused space on the north side can be better utilized with the garage.
ypg schrieb:
So enlarge the utility room a bit on the ground floor, arrange the WC and office in between, make the cloakroom bigger, and add some tall cupboards in the kitchen with a window facing the front. The living room will still be generous and spacious, even if it’s one meter narrower.
Same for the upper floor: plan the utility room as a laundry room.
What do you mean by “arrange in between”?
ypg schrieb:
A roof terrace probably won’t be used with a garden and just adds to construction costs.
We’re wondering that too, but at least the terrace above the kitchen could make sense because it faces the evening sun directly. Otherwise, it would just be a roof. I think the circulation area could probably be made smaller.
ypg schrieb:
Basically, just mentioning that having too little space for children compared to too much for parents is unbalanced.
You find our parents’ area too big? We thought 15 square meters (about 160 square feet) for the children’s rooms is enough, and well, eventually they leave and then the rooms become unused space.
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