Floor plan draft for a 220m² single-family house

On Thursday we have an appointment to discuss the calculation after finalizing the draft. Then we will see if minor or medium adjustments are still necessary.

The architect just called to say that the structural engineer has now informed him that we will not be able to do without beams in the living room, as was previously suspected here. He said that this is not a problem because dimmable LED lighting can be used. I didn’t understand that but didn’t have time to discuss it further on the phone. We may need to come back to that on Thursday. It would, of course, be bad to have to start over because of these beams. It already sounded here in the forum that the beams absolutely must not be installed!

What other points do you think should be clarified to complete the draft planning and before entering the execution planning? Flooring etc. probably not yet. Building services? That is done by a specialized planner for building services or one of the executing companies if you want to save money on a TGA planner.

Just now the architect called to say that the structural engineer has now informed him that we actually cannot do without beams in the living room, as was already suspected here. [...] Of course, it would be bad to have to start all over again because of these beams. It already sounded here in the forum as if the beams absolutely must not be installed!

Why should the beams absolutely not be allowed to be installed?

I am just curious where the joker wants to put them: a possible ceiling section would be living room - pantry - study. Actually, a beam would have to be there because of the corner at the top roughly in the course of the drain pipe. But that is not possible because you can't rest a beam on top of a window lintel. The corner where the terrace door recesses would also be convenient. But that is not possible either because the chimney is in the way on the opposite side. In between would work, but looks the worst.

He said that this is not a problem because one can work with dimmable LED light. I didn't understand that, but I also didn't have time to discuss it on the phone. Maybe we need to return to this on Thursday.

He probably means that using LEDs instead of low-voltage halogen would ease the problem with transformers in/on the ceiling.

Regarding the beams, I referred to this post here:

I am certainly no structural engineer, but I could imagine that these points need to be supported by beams on the ground floor, which are visually anything but great. I would rather ask the architects about that and clearly communicate that you don’t want to see beams in the living area (if that is desired, it might also be that you want a steel beam visible as an installation ) Alternatively, a required beam could be concealed again by a suspended ceiling.

I meant that you need to consider for yourselves whether you want to see a steel beam. You can use a double-T beam, where you then create indirect ceiling lighting with the help of an LED strip. But in my opinion, it's all just a makeshift solution. I wouldn't want it.

Much more likely, I would think about a suspended ceiling, which primarily also simplifies the ventilation installation and offers many more possibilities for lighting planning. In the current planning phase, it should not be a problem to make the ground floor shell 20 cm higher to avoid losing the finished room height. It all costs a lot of money: steel beam, higher shell, longer stairs, suspended ceiling. Quite a hassle.

I have now reached the rough electrical installation. Since I now know what possibilities exist that are only possible with a suspended ceiling, I would definitely build with a suspended ceiling next time, at least on the ground floor.

In principle, a supporting beam is nothing bad, but only you can know and decide whether that is okay or not.

No, I don’t want to see steel beams in the living room. I’d rather have it redesigned again. An open space only benefits me if the ceilings are also nicely high. We were thinking 2.65m. And now artificially raising everything for that, no definitely not. That won’t fit the budget either. Paying for 20cm more room height just to not see the beams. Surely, a tailored floor plan with the same room area will be significantly cheaper.

Oh man.... so not really at the end yet..... and time is running out.....

Oh man.... so not really at the end yet..... and time is running.....

Well, then think once again kindly about my proposal to build on the existing basement. I am sure you can even make something nicer - with hand and foot.