Hello everyone,
We plan to build next year. Together with an architect, we have created an initial rough draft. Since then, we have made several changes that have not yet been discussed with the architect. Attached is the current version. Before going into the next round with the architect, I would like to hear your opinions. I appreciate any suggestions.
Intended use:
Thanks and regards,
Jim
We plan to build next year. Together with an architect, we have created an initial rough draft. Since then, we have made several changes that have not yet been discussed with the architect. Attached is the current version. Before going into the next round with the architect, I would like to hear your opinions. I appreciate any suggestions.
Intended use:
- The ground floor will be occupied by the parents, later rented out, and possibly lived in by us in old age.
- The parents want two adjacent single bedrooms, which has already proven to work well.
- The upper floors will be occupied by us and should form a separate living unit from the ground floor.
- Two full stories are allowed.
- On top, a recessed story with a flat roof and at least 25% open terrace area is permitted; all sides must be set back 40cm (16 inches), with the front set back at least 1m (39 inches).
- The house is located in the second row, connected by a small access road from the southeast.
- Garages must be on the northeast side of the house; access is necessarily from the southeast.
- Downhill corresponds to south.
- The terrain rises slightly towards the north.
- There is a school to the northwest; no neighbors to the north and west.
- It is very quiet towards the northeast.
- The best views are towards the southwest and northeast.
Thanks and regards,
Jim
Hello Wastl,
That's exactly what I tried again yesterday – and I found a pretty good solution for the first upper floor (OG1), which unfortunately didn’t work well for the ground floor (EG) and the second upper floor (OG2). But maybe the architect still has some ideas regarding this.
What I like about the current solution for the first upper floor is that the children's bedrooms are on the opposite side from the master bedroom. This could be quite helpful for everyone involved, especially during the teenage years...
That's exactly what I tried again yesterday – and I found a pretty good solution for the first upper floor (OG1), which unfortunately didn’t work well for the ground floor (EG) and the second upper floor (OG2). But maybe the architect still has some ideas regarding this.
What I like about the current solution for the first upper floor is that the children's bedrooms are on the opposite side from the master bedroom. This could be quite helpful for everyone involved, especially during the teenage years...
Have you ever stood in a children's room that is 2.5m (8 feet) wide but 6.14m (20 feet) long? Calling it a "corridor" is putting it mildly.
The living room should be at least 4m (13 feet) deep.
Going straight from the dining area to the bathroom is not ideal either.
And the slanted walls from the "improvements" only make things worse.
I would say it’s back to square one.
The living room should be at least 4m (13 feet) deep.
Going straight from the dining area to the bathroom is not ideal either.
And the slanted walls from the "improvements" only make things worse.
I would say it’s back to square one.
Hello Musketier,
these points bother me as well.
- Kitchen --> Bathroom: Where the shelf is currently drawn, a partition wall could of course be installed. Would it still be really problematic or “indiscreet” then?
- Depth of the ground floor living room and children’s room: The development plan would allow increasing the house depth. (Whether the budget allows it, remains to be seen.)
- Sloped walls on the first floor: Where exactly do you see the problem?
- I’m also wondering if the space between the front door and the staircase, the staircase itself, and the landing before the first floor is sufficient.
Back to square one: Next week, a different architect will be involved, maybe this will actually lead to a total reset. However, I suspect that an entirely different solution would require a different staircase concept. And that’s not simple:
– The two upper floors should be open within themselves,
– but separated from the ground floor,
– both parties need cellar access,
– the available space should be used efficiently, so all staircases stacked as much as possible.
So far, no one has had an ultimate idea that solves this better than the current approach. (Which doesn’t mean a better one doesn’t exist.)
these points bother me as well.
- Kitchen --> Bathroom: Where the shelf is currently drawn, a partition wall could of course be installed. Would it still be really problematic or “indiscreet” then?
- Depth of the ground floor living room and children’s room: The development plan would allow increasing the house depth. (Whether the budget allows it, remains to be seen.)
- Sloped walls on the first floor: Where exactly do you see the problem?
- I’m also wondering if the space between the front door and the staircase, the staircase itself, and the landing before the first floor is sufficient.
Back to square one: Next week, a different architect will be involved, maybe this will actually lead to a total reset. However, I suspect that an entirely different solution would require a different staircase concept. And that’s not simple:
– The two upper floors should be open within themselves,
– but separated from the ground floor,
– both parties need cellar access,
– the available space should be used efficiently, so all staircases stacked as much as possible.
So far, no one has had an ultimate idea that solves this better than the current approach. (Which doesn’t mean a better one doesn’t exist.)
I also believe that there must be a different staircase solution. In my opinion, the U-shaped staircase with a half landing is the most common in multi-family buildings. I think this would also be the most practical solution in your case. As for how to close off the stairwell opening on the first floor, your architect will surely be able to advise you.
What speaks against choosing a staircase that does not split the individual levels in half, so you always end up with narrow rooms shaped like corridors?
Additionally, you could place a more comfortable staircase between the first and second upper floors (OG1 and OG2) in a completely different location, allowing for a full living unit upstairs rather than these fragmented spaces.
I would also say: start over and plan from scratch. Right now, you are starting to divide the space and create angled walls instead of understanding that it’s better to plan well and from the beginning.
A two-family house does not need to be completely redesigned. 😉
Additionally, you could place a more comfortable staircase between the first and second upper floors (OG1 and OG2) in a completely different location, allowing for a full living unit upstairs rather than these fragmented spaces.
I would also say: start over and plan from scratch. Right now, you are starting to divide the space and create angled walls instead of understanding that it’s better to plan well and from the beginning.
A two-family house does not need to be completely redesigned. 😉
I also think you should start over from scratch. Often, new ideas emerge that you wouldn’t have considered with the existing design. I would definitely plan for a storage room near the kitchen area; you don’t want to have to run to the basement for every little thing, right? Even as a shower bathroom, 9m² (95 sq ft) is quite spacious (you probably don’t need more on that level). Better to take 1m² (11 sq ft) from that and create a small storage room for things like the vacuum cleaner and supplies.
I would also try to make the rooms a bit more square. A 3.6m (12 ft) wide living room feels quite cramped; our couch is 3m by 2.5m (10 ft by 8 ft) and is not particularly “oversized.” With a room width of 3.6m (12 ft), it will be very tight.
I like that you live upstairs—it gives the place a bit of a penthouse feel. So write down everything you absolutely want, and then back to the drawing board (or notebook :-))
Best wishes and good luck!
I would also try to make the rooms a bit more square. A 3.6m (12 ft) wide living room feels quite cramped; our couch is 3m by 2.5m (10 ft by 8 ft) and is not particularly “oversized.” With a room width of 3.6m (12 ft), it will be very tight.
I like that you live upstairs—it gives the place a bit of a penthouse feel. So write down everything you absolutely want, and then back to the drawing board (or notebook :-))
Best wishes and good luck!
Similar topics