Floor plan design: Single-family house with 4 bedrooms and an office, 160 sqm

150sqm with 4 bedrooms, guest / office, guest toilet with shower and large utility room, 2 home office spaces

I first had to check which thread with which requirements we are in. The headline defines 160sqm.

A room for each child and an office is not exaggerated now.

Well, as I posted yesterday: the same applies to you as to your unknown opponent, who also tries to accommodate many wishes or rooms. There are a lot of rooms, it is said to be a 6-room house, 4 bedrooms, office plus living. , however, has only one child, but he wants a dressing room as well as a utility room upstairs. You both want an office, where an older couple shall sleep for a few days a year. In the past, building was basically smaller: I do not want to start with 8sqm kids’ rooms now, but 12 could also be enough, especially if you have to plan three of them. The office used to be the dining table. Ok, today you need at least 8sqm for home office, but 8sqm is not enough to let an older couple sleep there. About the past: people gathered together when visiting. One child had to make room and go into the room, or the parents made their double bed available for grandma and grandpa and they slept in the caravan or on the sofa. Yes, that is neither nice nor comfortable, but it certainly did not harm anyone to improvise for the few days a year. I also want to say that people used to visit each other more, often for several days, since alternatives were rare. Nowadays people go to Legoland or wellness vacations and on the way they at most visit the family for a drink. Maybe it is different with you, but this should be reconsidered and then planned into the house and daily routine. We also initially had a two-seater in our office in case the children or grandchildren stay over. The sofa is gone now because it was never used. The distance is not so far that they drive back at night. Or they come right away with their sleeping camper. The grandchildren sleep in the bed. When they are older, they are allowed to spread out their bedding with many mattresses in the living room, which is much cooler. The own children can also do that when visiting. So, these are just options if you play with ideas mentally.

Construction prices are just high, but does that mean you should completely give up? What is the alternative? E

Nowadays people continue to build smaller. A colleague sat down with four people in a Flair, the 109 model. The two boys (around 10 years old) were really happy during construction and looking forward to their rooms, which are certainly not spacious in the 109 with the sloping roof. What I want to say: don’t get distracted by space eaters. For example, a 90x90 shower in the ground floor is sufficient, a 100x100 shower in the family bathroom. The kitchen must work for 5 people, it is the heart of the family and the house. Secondly, for me personally, and this does not apply to others, coming home must bring joy. For me that is a tidy and bright hallway. If I open the door and see a chaos of clothes in all colors that perhaps make the hallway narrower than it is, it looks like work and tidying up but certainly not like feeling good. It is not reasonable in a 150 or 160sqm house to use [TK] for utility room, pantry, hallway and wardrobe if basically a kitchen with two more cabinets, a hallway with 2 meters of storage and the hallway itself as entrance would function well. That is space-saving and effective. That possibly a shoe cabinet finds space in the [TK] room, that can still be done. So, my tip is to gather what is really important to you. Daily routine and moods of the individual persons. Maximum 160sqm are fixed. I have already said at the start that a gable roof offers more possibilities than a hipped roof.

I always thought it made sense to plan the bathroom upstairs above the utility room?

It makes sense to run supply lines, meaning wastewater pipes together, so bathroom above bathroom. Also, every toilet must be vented through the roof. It makes sense that not too many concealed pipes disturb the rooms in front of the walls, for example so that a cupboard or window can no longer be placed or set.

Many thanks again for the helpful feedback so far! I wanted to give another update on our planning. Windows still need to be revised.

What has changed:

[*]The floor area has increased slightly
[*]Switch from a half-turned staircase to a landing staircase (not a rational decision, just for the look)
[*]Front door closer to the carport and therefore removal of the side entrance door
[*]Larger office / guest room
[*]Wardrobe included in the hallway
[*]Larger kitchen
[*]Children's room layout upstairs somewhat better (not quite as narrow, though still not ideal)

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I would simply ask the question: Do you like it? For example, the living space as an I without any zoning (apart from the expected furnishing)? What about the narrow entrance area? Is this the house of your dreams?

Regarding the remaining objections. Of course, we try to accommodate as much as possible on as little square meters as possible. But only necessary rooms. I do not consider a room for each child and an office to be excessive. Construction prices are high, but does that mean you should completely give up on it? What is your alternative?

I have mentioned the alternative several times: moving away from the city villa to a gable roof house, where there is more space on the ground floor, the children benefit from the sloped roof area, and in the attic there is either room for expansion or storage options.

I find this living-cooking-dining hall extremely impractical, especially for five people. I would definitely plan an L shape.

You are absolutely right and I also liked your suggestion from #47. Because I have now read everything again, and every time the combination of 3 children/5 people/plus overnight guests from the grandparents bothered me with the straight all-room layout, where you somehow always run into each other, can’t even park the children on the family sofa, the senior cannot put their feet up and have a quiet moment while the rest of the family takes care of food etc.

One could also relieve the kitchen by good storage planning in the utility room.

Laundry for 5 people is already being stored there – mind you, next to the technical equipment.

Landing staircase (not a rational decision, simply for the look)

But that also steals 2 sqm from you. The storage space under the landing can’t be accessed either when the vacuum cleaner and broom are stored in the higher area.

What additionally bothers me now: at first I still think, why always place the carport on the west side… but that of course makes sense if the access to the backyard property is on the east side.
But why is the house always placed crosswise so that you cannot walk from the front garden to the back garden at all?
In my thoughts, I would probably first rotate the house so that it aligns with the plot.
Then I would plan an L-shaped all-room. Simply like (I think that’s how he planned it).
That also has the advantage that you still get some west sun into the house.

What are the plot dimensions?

I would simply ask the question: Do you like it? For example, the living space as an I-shape without any zoning whatsoever (apart from the expected furnishing)? What about the narrow entrance area? Is this the house of your dreams?

Maybe we lack imagination here. But we basically also have the I-shape in our apartment and it doesn't bother us. I can understand the criticism about the entrance area, it will indeed be tight.

What bothers me additionally now: at first, I still think, why always put the carport on the west side… then of course it makes sense if on the east side there is the access path to the rear property. But why is the house always placed crosswise, so that you cannot walk from the front yard to the backyard at all? Probably in my mind I would rotate the house first so that it aligns with the plot. Then I would plan an L-shape as an open space. Simply like @WilderSueden (I think he planned it that way). That also has the advantage that you get some west sun into the hut. How are the plot dimensions?

The plot is 18m wide and 30.5m deep. A different orientation is an interesting idea. We had always thought to have as much garden as possible at the back (south). Here, the distance to the neighboring house is also significantly greater than to the left/right. Or did I misunderstand you?

The plot is 18m wide and 30.5m deep

But 3 meters on the east side are taken off for the access road?! How is the driveway from the rear property owner to you separated? That will be their driveway, not common property?

Or did I misunderstand you there?

No, I don't think so. We just have different views.

We always thought to have as much garden as possible at the back (south).

What use are 2 or 3 meters more if you don't even have privacy on the east side? You can't just get from the front yard to the back, nor can you create a nice ambiance in the east with bushes or a hedge so that you can look into your garden there without being disturbed by the neighbor's car. That side or free corner will probably also be important for a bike shed.

Here the distance to the neighbor's house is significantly larger than on the left/right.

Not from the house?! You are building tightly at the front, almost row house style, and life in the garden doesn't get any easier because of that. So, that's my opinion and I'll come up with a suggestion later. What you make of it is your business. One more tip: read through the current parallel threads in the planning forum regarding terrace location and co.