ᐅ Corner bungalow: should the terrace be fully or partially covered?
Created on: 7 Jul 2017 20:05
W
winnetou78
Hello,
I would like to ask for your help and opinions.
We are building a bungalow with 115 sqm (1236 sq ft) of living space.
It will be an L-shaped bungalow.
Our plan was to fully cover the terrace with the bungalow’s hip roof.
This would create a terrace measuring 5.00 by 4.60 meters (16.4 by 15.1 feet).
The terrace faces southwest.
The living and dining area, about 35 sqm (377 sq ft), faces the terrace.
This room has one window or door opening onto the terrace measuring 1.80 by 2.13 meters (5.9 by 7.0 feet) and another door opening about 0.80 by 2.13 meters (2.6 by 7.0 feet).
In addition, there are two windows facing west, each measuring 1.00 by 1.26 meters (3.3 by 4.1 feet).
The architect has now suggested in the preliminary design to make the roof a Dutch hip roof (gablet roof) for aesthetic reasons.
This would reduce the covered terrace area to 2.75 by 4.60 meters (9.0 by 15.1 feet).
To me, that seems almost too small, and I thought our original idea was more practical for usability during events and gatherings.
My partner suddenly worries that the original design might result in too little natural light entering the room.
Is that really the case? I would appreciate your help with this.
All the people we know so far have recommended choosing the larger terrace.
It’s difficult — after all, this is meant to last forever.
Best regards,
Daniel
I would like to ask for your help and opinions.
We are building a bungalow with 115 sqm (1236 sq ft) of living space.
It will be an L-shaped bungalow.
Our plan was to fully cover the terrace with the bungalow’s hip roof.
This would create a terrace measuring 5.00 by 4.60 meters (16.4 by 15.1 feet).
The terrace faces southwest.
The living and dining area, about 35 sqm (377 sq ft), faces the terrace.
This room has one window or door opening onto the terrace measuring 1.80 by 2.13 meters (5.9 by 7.0 feet) and another door opening about 0.80 by 2.13 meters (2.6 by 7.0 feet).
In addition, there are two windows facing west, each measuring 1.00 by 1.26 meters (3.3 by 4.1 feet).
The architect has now suggested in the preliminary design to make the roof a Dutch hip roof (gablet roof) for aesthetic reasons.
This would reduce the covered terrace area to 2.75 by 4.60 meters (9.0 by 15.1 feet).
To me, that seems almost too small, and I thought our original idea was more practical for usability during events and gatherings.
My partner suddenly worries that the original design might result in too little natural light entering the room.
Is that really the case? I would appreciate your help with this.
All the people we know so far have recommended choosing the larger terrace.
It’s difficult — after all, this is meant to last forever.
Best regards,
Daniel
I believe the living room still gets enough light from the two small windows on the west side (we only use the living room from the evening anyway), but I wouldn’t like the dining area at all with a larger covered terrace. It already has little light and is practically located in a hallway, if I’ve understood the section of the plan correctly. For us, the dining room is the most important room during the day. I also wouldn’t like the kitchen with the small window. Even with a glass door, it lets in very little light.
On the other hand, a covered terrace only really makes sense if it’s large enough so that the furniture with seat cushions or similar can stay there even when it’s raining. With slanting rain, the 2.74 meters (9 feet) might not be enough for that.
Just my amateur opinion.
Good luck
On the other hand, a covered terrace only really makes sense if it’s large enough so that the furniture with seat cushions or similar can stay there even when it’s raining. With slanting rain, the 2.74 meters (9 feet) might not be enough for that.
Just my amateur opinion.
Good luck
winnetou78 schrieb:
As much as I appreciated your answers so far, this doesn’t really help now.
What do you find too dark, both options?
Oh, sorry, no, the larger version. I think the pitched roof is fine. But of course, it also reduces the amount of light. That’s just the way it is with covered terraces.
W
winnetou788 Jul 2017 13:40Yes, everything has its pros and cons.
The dining and living rooms are combined, but slightly separated.
This is the only way it works for the kitchen, as our relatively new kitchen from the old house needs to fit in there.
The dining and living rooms are combined, but slightly separated.
This is the only way it works for the kitchen, as our relatively new kitchen from the old house needs to fit in there.
I fully agree with the previous commenter regarding the use of the dining area and the desired brightness there. However, I disagree with the rest.
We don’t always have summer and long evenings outside; most of the time the sun sets directly in the west, but in winter it sets more towards the southwest. When looking out this window onto the terrace, you will constantly have those 2 to 3 meters (6.5 to 10 feet) of the canopy in view. You probably won’t see the sky, but rather the wooden structure beneath the roof, which will feel quite dark and uncomfortable.
Personally, I would choose the smaller option (since rain mostly comes from the west side, where you could add a simple partition wall) and place a floor-to-ceiling double window on the west side of the house, on the left side of the plan, instead of two smaller individual windows. You don’t need a window behind the sofa, and this way the dining area would receive more natural light.
Best regards in brief
We don’t always have summer and long evenings outside; most of the time the sun sets directly in the west, but in winter it sets more towards the southwest. When looking out this window onto the terrace, you will constantly have those 2 to 3 meters (6.5 to 10 feet) of the canopy in view. You probably won’t see the sky, but rather the wooden structure beneath the roof, which will feel quite dark and uncomfortable.
Personally, I would choose the smaller option (since rain mostly comes from the west side, where you could add a simple partition wall) and place a floor-to-ceiling double window on the west side of the house, on the left side of the plan, instead of two smaller individual windows. You don’t need a window behind the sofa, and this way the dining area would receive more natural light.
Best regards in brief
winnetou78 schrieb:
Yes, everything has its pros and cons.
It’s basically an open plan kitchen and living room.
But slightly separated.
For the kitchen, this is the only option because we want to reuse our relatively new old kitchen there.
I find the layout quite conservative. If you are open to improvements, feel free to share your entire floor plan here.
In the pinned post under Idea Generation, you’ll find the instructions.
Best regards in brief
W
winnetou788 Jul 2017 14:08No, I think if I post the entire floor plan, I’ll get 20 different opinions again and won’t know what to decide myself.
My partner and I have spent weeks working on it, so now it will stay as it is.
And the terrace is only half done.
Replacing two small windows with one large window might be an idea.
Although I’m not sure if I would like that.
Would it make a difference to widen the two windows to 1.25 meters (4 feet) each?
My partner and I have spent weeks working on it, so now it will stay as it is.
And the terrace is only half done.
Replacing two small windows with one large window might be an idea.
Although I’m not sure if I would like that.
Would it make a difference to widen the two windows to 1.25 meters (4 feet) each?
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