ᐅ Suggestions for the floor plan of a single-family house, approximately 175 sqm, with a pitched roof
Created on: 4 Nov 2022 22:51
E
epinephrin
I’m venturing into this part of the forum to share our floor plan for discussion. I’m hoping for constructive feedback and ideas in case improvements would be advisable.
We want a bright house of about 160-170 sqm (1700-1830 sq ft). We would prefer an open staircase design, but it should not interfere with the floor plan. The flat roof dormer is more than just a nice-to-have... 🙂
Overall, we like the current floor plan very much, but since we are building novices, we would like to go over it with you experts to identify any possible issues. As we haven’t signed the contract with the general contractor yet, there are unfortunately no detailed dimensions available. The furnishing in the kitchen, bathroom, and living area is not yet fixed, so please don’t focus too much on those!
Orientation: the street and entrance are on the north side, terrace faces southwest.
Development plan / restrictions
Plot size: 854 sqm (9190 sq ft)
Slope: no
Site coverage ratio: 0.4
Floor area ratio: 0.8
Building envelope, building line and boundary: 3 m (10 ft) from plot boundary
Edge development: garage approx. 1 m (3 ft) northeast
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of storeys: max. 2 full floors
Roof type: gable roof 30-45°, hipped roof 25-35°, shed roof, flat roof possible
Style: modern
Orientation: southwest
Maximum height/building limits: ridge height 8.50 m (28 ft)
Additional requirements: driveway max. 4 m (13 ft) wide
Client requirements
Style, roof type, building type: modern gable roof house (without eaves)
Basement, floors: no basement; 1.5 or 2 storeys; cold roof
Number of people, ages: 4 people (42, 41, 8, 5)
Room requirements on ground floor: kitchen, living, office, shower/WC, utility room; upper floor: sleeping, dressing room, 2 children’s rooms, bathroom, reading corner
Office: used for family or home office? 1 home office
Number of overnight guests per year: max 2
Open or closed architecture: open and bright
Conservative or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open (but no direct view to living area), kitchen island if possible
Number of dining seats: 6 (preferably extendable to at least 8)
Fireplace: bioethanol / water vapor fireplace
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no, but projecting bay window on upper floor
Garage, carport: garage or carport (6x9 m (20x30 ft) – position and storage room next to or behind garage not fixed yet – orientation on plot either lengthwise or widthwise)
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Further wishes / special features / daily routine, also reasons for decisions:
House design
Origin of the design: original floor plan from Gussek House “Zypressenallee,” adapted to our needs and wishes by a general contractor’s planner
What do you like most and why? We like the layout and orientation of the ground floor, with sightlines from the entrance area
What do you like least and why? Uncertainty whether the kitchen is too tight; arrangement options for living room (sofa, piano!, bioethanol fireplace?) – possibly remove the middle square window in the living area on the ground floor in favor of more space for furniture?
Price estimate from architect/planner: 600,000 EUR (including garage, additional construction costs)
Personal price limit for house including equipment: 600,000 EUR
Preferred heating system: air-to-water heat pump
If you have to give up on certain details or extras:
- Can give up: staircase, 10 sqm (110 sq ft) of living space
- Cannot give up: bay window on upper floor (I just really like this nesting box)
Why is the design as it is now? For example:
The desire for a bay window with reading window and open architecture was implemented, combining examples from various magazines...
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
see above
We want a bright house of about 160-170 sqm (1700-1830 sq ft). We would prefer an open staircase design, but it should not interfere with the floor plan. The flat roof dormer is more than just a nice-to-have... 🙂
Overall, we like the current floor plan very much, but since we are building novices, we would like to go over it with you experts to identify any possible issues. As we haven’t signed the contract with the general contractor yet, there are unfortunately no detailed dimensions available. The furnishing in the kitchen, bathroom, and living area is not yet fixed, so please don’t focus too much on those!
Orientation: the street and entrance are on the north side, terrace faces southwest.
Development plan / restrictions
Plot size: 854 sqm (9190 sq ft)
Slope: no
Site coverage ratio: 0.4
Floor area ratio: 0.8
Building envelope, building line and boundary: 3 m (10 ft) from plot boundary
Edge development: garage approx. 1 m (3 ft) northeast
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of storeys: max. 2 full floors
Roof type: gable roof 30-45°, hipped roof 25-35°, shed roof, flat roof possible
Style: modern
Orientation: southwest
Maximum height/building limits: ridge height 8.50 m (28 ft)
Additional requirements: driveway max. 4 m (13 ft) wide
Client requirements
Style, roof type, building type: modern gable roof house (without eaves)
Basement, floors: no basement; 1.5 or 2 storeys; cold roof
Number of people, ages: 4 people (42, 41, 8, 5)
Room requirements on ground floor: kitchen, living, office, shower/WC, utility room; upper floor: sleeping, dressing room, 2 children’s rooms, bathroom, reading corner
Office: used for family or home office? 1 home office
Number of overnight guests per year: max 2
Open or closed architecture: open and bright
Conservative or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open (but no direct view to living area), kitchen island if possible
Number of dining seats: 6 (preferably extendable to at least 8)
Fireplace: bioethanol / water vapor fireplace
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no, but projecting bay window on upper floor
Garage, carport: garage or carport (6x9 m (20x30 ft) – position and storage room next to or behind garage not fixed yet – orientation on plot either lengthwise or widthwise)
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Further wishes / special features / daily routine, also reasons for decisions:
- Seating window on upper floor (bay window) – to hopefully bring plenty of light into the hallway and provide a nice view
- Open staircase (straight or with landing, no preference)
- Kitchen without direct line of sight from living area
- Office preferably with garden access
House design
Origin of the design: original floor plan from Gussek House “Zypressenallee,” adapted to our needs and wishes by a general contractor’s planner
What do you like most and why? We like the layout and orientation of the ground floor, with sightlines from the entrance area
What do you like least and why? Uncertainty whether the kitchen is too tight; arrangement options for living room (sofa, piano!, bioethanol fireplace?) – possibly remove the middle square window in the living area on the ground floor in favor of more space for furniture?
Price estimate from architect/planner: 600,000 EUR (including garage, additional construction costs)
Personal price limit for house including equipment: 600,000 EUR
Preferred heating system: air-to-water heat pump
If you have to give up on certain details or extras:
- Can give up: staircase, 10 sqm (110 sq ft) of living space
- Cannot give up: bay window on upper floor (I just really like this nesting box)
Why is the design as it is now? For example:
The desire for a bay window with reading window and open architecture was implemented, combining examples from various magazines...
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
see above
E
epinephrin5 Nov 2022 12:51I will now try to address everything...
The bathroom became that large because I was worried it would feel cramped with a freestanding tub. The bathroom furniture hasn’t been finalized yet — I’d actually like the tub placed in front of a T-wall; I’m not sure if that’s possible... The hallway was also designed that way out of concern it would be too cramped for four people. It’s never easy to judge. The office will remain an office; the piano is there by mistake — it’s actually meant to go in the living room.
Do you mean the second door in the utility room that leads to the garage? We don’t necessarily need that. Basically, I would like to have a pantry and laundry room separate on the ground floor (at least if the size stays the same), but that sounds like a completely new plan...
One thought was to leave the connection to the walk-in closet open, without a door. Or would you suggest removing some windows?
We didn’t want the staircase to be visible from the living area, so that future friends of our children don’t see us lounging on the couch in the evenings 🙂 Therefore, it ended up in the hallway. Would you have a good idea regarding that? We don’t like the living room layout either. We’re considering removing the middle window and placing the TV on the exterior wall with the sofa opposite on the stair wall, or the other way around. Do you think that would be a solution, or would that make the living room too dark?
If I understand you correctly, you think there’s little hope for the floor plan? Could there maybe be some ideas to optimize a few things, even if not everything?
K a t j a schrieb:
The bathroom is huge, and the hallway also seems oversized. The office, on the other hand, is quite narrow. That’s okay for an office, but as a concert hall for the piano? Is it just for the son or daughter to practice, or is it meant for playing together?
Unfortunately, the living room feels a bit uncomfortable because it becomes a passageway. The utility room would be too small for me, especially since there’s no laundry room on the upper floor. The second door takes up a lot of space and, in my opinion, doesn’t make much sense.
If it were my house, with this size, I would have a pantry as well as a laundry room, and reduce the space a bit in the bathroom and hallway. More practical use and less “wow factor.”
The bathroom became that large because I was worried it would feel cramped with a freestanding tub. The bathroom furniture hasn’t been finalized yet — I’d actually like the tub placed in front of a T-wall; I’m not sure if that’s possible... The hallway was also designed that way out of concern it would be too cramped for four people. It’s never easy to judge. The office will remain an office; the piano is there by mistake — it’s actually meant to go in the living room.
Do you mean the second door in the utility room that leads to the garage? We don’t necessarily need that. Basically, I would like to have a pantry and laundry room separate on the ground floor (at least if the size stays the same), but that sounds like a completely new plan...
Myrna_Loy schrieb:
What I really don’t like is the master bedroom. The bed seems to be hiding in front of all those windows. And the left side of the bed is close to two doors.
One thought was to leave the connection to the walk-in closet open, without a door. Or would you suggest removing some windows?
ypg schrieb:
What are you planning to do with the large hallway? I find it a bit too big... and also a shame to have an open staircase but hardly see it while living. It’s almost like a hall... almost a bit unwelcoming 🙁
Overall, the design might work. I would also move the doors in the utility room, but you have to say the master bedroom somehow seems unplanned, and the hallway gets those awkward corners on the left and right due to the staircase location from the gallery...
That’s due to the staircase being positioned sideways. I like it, but what bothers me is the furnishing of the living room (two facing two-seaters and turning heads to watch TV???) and yes: the feeling of sitting in the living room between two exits. Then there’s the kitchen, which is hard to furnish (unless you like a U-shape with a dance floor in the middle)... So you could use the hallway and kitchen as a dance floor, the living room not for watching TV, and the window seat not for sitting with a view, and I would just walk away — out of the house — and into the circular filing cabinet.
We didn’t want the staircase to be visible from the living area, so that future friends of our children don’t see us lounging on the couch in the evenings 🙂 Therefore, it ended up in the hallway. Would you have a good idea regarding that? We don’t like the living room layout either. We’re considering removing the middle window and placing the TV on the exterior wall with the sofa opposite on the stair wall, or the other way around. Do you think that would be a solution, or would that make the living room too dark?
If I understand you correctly, you think there’s little hope for the floor plan? Could there maybe be some ideas to optimize a few things, even if not everything?
I want to leave some praise.
You see many floor plans in the building forum, and this one immediately strikes me as very well designed and appealing.
What some might consider unnecessary extras could actually be the highlight that makes the house special and something you enjoy for many years.
I wouldn’t give up the large bathroom if it’s important to you and you like to bathe or spend time there. The appropriate bathroom size really depends on personal preference.
One thing I would reconsider: the bed niches in the children's rooms – will you still be able to furnish the rooms satisfactorily when the children get older and want a wider bed? You’d probably have to use those niches for wardrobes then.
The office is relatively small. It depends on how often you plan to use it and whether that feels limiting. With a piano, it might feel a bit cramped.
The utility room at 10m² (108 square feet) can work—we had something similar in our first house—but since you don’t have another space for laundry, it will likely need to accommodate quite a bit: cleaning supplies and equipment, house technology, and everything needed for washing. If you are considering a photovoltaic system or possibly a home battery in the future, I would think about whether part of that could be sensibly installed in the garage storage room and what preparations would be necessary for that.
You see many floor plans in the building forum, and this one immediately strikes me as very well designed and appealing.
What some might consider unnecessary extras could actually be the highlight that makes the house special and something you enjoy for many years.
I wouldn’t give up the large bathroom if it’s important to you and you like to bathe or spend time there. The appropriate bathroom size really depends on personal preference.
One thing I would reconsider: the bed niches in the children's rooms – will you still be able to furnish the rooms satisfactorily when the children get older and want a wider bed? You’d probably have to use those niches for wardrobes then.
The office is relatively small. It depends on how often you plan to use it and whether that feels limiting. With a piano, it might feel a bit cramped.
The utility room at 10m² (108 square feet) can work—we had something similar in our first house—but since you don’t have another space for laundry, it will likely need to accommodate quite a bit: cleaning supplies and equipment, house technology, and everything needed for washing. If you are considering a photovoltaic system or possibly a home battery in the future, I would think about whether part of that could be sensibly installed in the garage storage room and what preparations would be necessary for that.
kati1337 schrieb:
You see many floor plans in this building forum, and I find this one immediately very well designed and appealing.That was exactly my reaction as well. It seemed great at first... then you take another look, sleep on it, review it a couple more times... and somehow it doesn’t seem so good anymore. What feels a bit misleading to me are the generous staircase and the minimal partition walls on the ground floor.Overall, it’s really enjoyable for me. But it can be deceiving.
epinephrin schrieb:
Put the TV on the exterior wall and the sofa opposite it on the staircase wall, or vice versa.The problem for me would be that the entrance to the living room—meaning the door on the left and the kitchen on the right side of the sofa—wouldn’t be visible. That’s not a cozy, cave-like effect. If someone isn’t bothered by this or isn’t sensitive to spatial perception, that might be fine. For me, that’s almost a no-go.
The same applies if the sofa is reversed. Then you’re sitting with your back to the garden and cannot see it from the sofa.
epinephrin schrieb:
If I understand you correctly, there would be little hope for improvement in this floor plan, in your view?We’ll see. Usually one small change leads to a chain of further changes...epinephrin schrieb:
Would there be ways to optimize a few things, even if not everything?... and then sometimes it’s easier to start fresh. There’s not much to lose when you consider rearranging the rooms.May I ask if the double garage with the storage room is included in the price?
epinephrin schrieb:
We considered removing the middle window and instead placing the TV on the exterior wall with the sofa opposite on the stair wall, or vice versa. We moved the windows and doors so the TV is on the exterior wall, which gave us two advantages:
when the TV is off, there is a nice view of the garden from the sofa;
when the TV is on, no window glare interferes.
We also made the bathroom larger, specifically to accommodate a sauna.
I would carefully plan the staircase, because if something doesn’t fit, it could ruin the entire floor plan.
I roughly calculated the dimensions relative to the length of the house. At about 37 degrees, the staircase will be quite steep, as it is rather short. The headroom will be very tight, just on the edge of the minimum requirement.
I roughly calculated the dimensions relative to the length of the house. At about 37 degrees, the staircase will be quite steep, as it is rather short. The headroom will be very tight, just on the edge of the minimum requirement.
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