Climbee
2018-07-09 16:05:44
- #1
Hm, I think the OP has signed off... too much criticism.
I can understand that he submitted the building application (BA) in order not to lose the building rights. And if I am correctly informed, a building application remains valid for 5 years. During that time, a rather extensive revision application (Tekturantrag) must be submitted here.
It would basically be interesting to know what else I can change with the revision application, meaning: how far can I go with it? Could it possibly become a completely new house, or must I stay within the framework of the submitted building application? I am uncertain about that. We will also need a revision application, but for very different reasons (the existing garage must be replaced, which was not planned), and the actual house has only a few altered windows, so I don’t know how much a revision application is allowed/can interfere with the original planning. I would try to find that out first.
And then find an architect who knows how to deal with the building authority. I speak here from my own painful experience. An architect who can and wants to work with the people in the responsible building authority will be able to get a lot more out of it than one who just slaps his plans down in front of those people.
Otherwise, regarding the drafts now presented one after the other here (I generally like Kaho’s designs better than the OP’s): I also find it hard to find a consistent line here.
The originally presented log house is honestly just scary from the outside. A 300sqm house offers many interesting possibilities, but this one looks like two log cabins strapped up and glued together with a middle part.
It does not have to be a Bauhaus style, but something like that???
And the inconsistent exterior is transferred to the layout inside, which is almost unusable in a meaningful way. So: how far can I still change the entire shell with a revision application?
Odor phobia:
I don’t know how many times I have said it here already: I’ve tried all variations: kitchen separate, kitchen as an open-plan kitchen separated from living room, combined living/cooking/dining area.
When you roast something, it smells throughout the whole house, no matter how separated the kitchen is. And, at least for me, it first smells really good. So it’s not disturbing. After that, there are only a few effective ways to get rid of the cooking smells:
- you have a very effective exhaust system
- you have controlled residential ventilation (which I would always recommend; dry air is a solvable problem; only happens with bad controlled residential ventilation)
- you air out the whole house after eating (already a lot of work with 120sqm, with 300sqm - good luck! - I don’t even want to talk about the heat loss in winter)
- you limit yourself to a cold kitchen (without odor-intensive cheese and onions)
With a 300sqm house, I would always recommend a very good exhaust system combined with controlled residential ventilation. And then you can have a void or a gallery (which in a house of this size just suggests itself).
Here, two children’s rooms with bathroom are planned firmly and in addition a guest area with bathroom.
And it’s not even certain whether one wants to engage in procreation at all.
So worst case: I have planned about 20% of the total living area for children’s rooms and bathroom but never have offspring. Not because it didn’t work out (which is bad enough), but because one does not want children.
I would incorporate this starting point into the planning. Meaning: at first no children’s rooms, but the possibility to create a children’s area with a few conversions if it ever comes to that. If not, as a couple I might treat myself to a spare bedroom (if one of us starts snoring, is sick, etc.) and otherwise a generous living area containing a library, a music room or whatever else.
A good architect can offer concepts here.
A residential palace of this dimension for two people would definitely include a straight, representative staircase, a void and/or gallery (ideal for a library unit), a well-planned, central kitchen, a huge table—you have the space and the builders seem to like having many guests. Possibly also a second, somewhat separated living area so that one can withdraw sometimes. You could also plan a TV there, maybe you would want one after all.
In the private area, a wellness bathroom with all the bells and whistles. Before I spend money on children’s rooms and bathrooms which might never be used, I’d rather spend it here. I read something about a sauna house by a lake? That is of course AMAZING! If you can plan it big enough with a relaxation room and shower, that is basically an outdoor wellness area, a dream. Otherwise, plan the sauna in the wellness bathroom, because what really doesn’t work is a sauna outside and then you have to trudge back inside the house to shower and rest.
Utility room for laundry on the upper floor in the private area.
Oh yes: the last drafts were without a basement. I would massively miss storage space despite the large living area, and I don’t think I saw a freezer room either.
Freezer! That reminds me of something! I read that: we have the freezer chest in the barn. HELP!!!
Loits, you are building 300sqm for two people, cooking for 20 to 50 people, and if you need something from the freezer in the middle of such a cooking frenzy, you have to run out to the barn? Seriously???
With that amount of space there should definitely be room for a small (or larger) pantry where at least the freezer fits and I’d bet my head that you will love it. Anyone who cooks that intensively definitely needs a corresponding “back concept” in the kitchen, especially if you have the space. You can also store ready-made dishes in between etc. VERY practical, I swear it to you.
Overall, I already have the impression that you have your wishes, but they are still somehow all floating separately in your head. The entire concept, the reality check, is missing. What makes sense, what is important, what do I sacrifice for what, what would I give up. That already becomes apparent to me from the planning of two children’s rooms including bathroom although it’s not even certain that one wants children. Something doesn’t fit.
You want a large kitchen with professional equipment, but the freezer is in a barn outside. Ever cooked in a professional kitchen? Freezer and fridge rooms are as close to the action as possible and never a marathon away. There’s a reason for that...
And then: you must have had parties at home, right? And where do they usually end? Exactly: in the kitchen. Therefore it makes sense, especially if you like guests, to place kitchen and dining area next to each other and not plan a (quiet) living area in between. Something like that is just totally without a concept. And that’s what I stumble upon in all your drafts: lack of concept and that is defended to the death.
Also fits into this category: you plan meals for up to 50 people, but how is that supposed to work with the entrance area? Do you give exact arrival times so that only max. 4 guests arrive at a time? There is no more space. Anyone who likes to have many guests has to consider that in the entrance area. A spatial concept that fits maybe 4 people just isn’t enough.
And so on and so forth. Overall still totally unripe, shuffling rooms will not help.
I can understand that he submitted the building application (BA) in order not to lose the building rights. And if I am correctly informed, a building application remains valid for 5 years. During that time, a rather extensive revision application (Tekturantrag) must be submitted here.
It would basically be interesting to know what else I can change with the revision application, meaning: how far can I go with it? Could it possibly become a completely new house, or must I stay within the framework of the submitted building application? I am uncertain about that. We will also need a revision application, but for very different reasons (the existing garage must be replaced, which was not planned), and the actual house has only a few altered windows, so I don’t know how much a revision application is allowed/can interfere with the original planning. I would try to find that out first.
And then find an architect who knows how to deal with the building authority. I speak here from my own painful experience. An architect who can and wants to work with the people in the responsible building authority will be able to get a lot more out of it than one who just slaps his plans down in front of those people.
Otherwise, regarding the drafts now presented one after the other here (I generally like Kaho’s designs better than the OP’s): I also find it hard to find a consistent line here.
The originally presented log house is honestly just scary from the outside. A 300sqm house offers many interesting possibilities, but this one looks like two log cabins strapped up and glued together with a middle part.
It does not have to be a Bauhaus style, but something like that???
And the inconsistent exterior is transferred to the layout inside, which is almost unusable in a meaningful way. So: how far can I still change the entire shell with a revision application?
Odor phobia:
I don’t know how many times I have said it here already: I’ve tried all variations: kitchen separate, kitchen as an open-plan kitchen separated from living room, combined living/cooking/dining area.
When you roast something, it smells throughout the whole house, no matter how separated the kitchen is. And, at least for me, it first smells really good. So it’s not disturbing. After that, there are only a few effective ways to get rid of the cooking smells:
- you have a very effective exhaust system
- you have controlled residential ventilation (which I would always recommend; dry air is a solvable problem; only happens with bad controlled residential ventilation)
- you air out the whole house after eating (already a lot of work with 120sqm, with 300sqm - good luck! - I don’t even want to talk about the heat loss in winter)
- you limit yourself to a cold kitchen (without odor-intensive cheese and onions)
With a 300sqm house, I would always recommend a very good exhaust system combined with controlled residential ventilation. And then you can have a void or a gallery (which in a house of this size just suggests itself).
Here, two children’s rooms with bathroom are planned firmly and in addition a guest area with bathroom.
And it’s not even certain whether one wants to engage in procreation at all.
So worst case: I have planned about 20% of the total living area for children’s rooms and bathroom but never have offspring. Not because it didn’t work out (which is bad enough), but because one does not want children.
I would incorporate this starting point into the planning. Meaning: at first no children’s rooms, but the possibility to create a children’s area with a few conversions if it ever comes to that. If not, as a couple I might treat myself to a spare bedroom (if one of us starts snoring, is sick, etc.) and otherwise a generous living area containing a library, a music room or whatever else.
A good architect can offer concepts here.
A residential palace of this dimension for two people would definitely include a straight, representative staircase, a void and/or gallery (ideal for a library unit), a well-planned, central kitchen, a huge table—you have the space and the builders seem to like having many guests. Possibly also a second, somewhat separated living area so that one can withdraw sometimes. You could also plan a TV there, maybe you would want one after all.
In the private area, a wellness bathroom with all the bells and whistles. Before I spend money on children’s rooms and bathrooms which might never be used, I’d rather spend it here. I read something about a sauna house by a lake? That is of course AMAZING! If you can plan it big enough with a relaxation room and shower, that is basically an outdoor wellness area, a dream. Otherwise, plan the sauna in the wellness bathroom, because what really doesn’t work is a sauna outside and then you have to trudge back inside the house to shower and rest.
Utility room for laundry on the upper floor in the private area.
Oh yes: the last drafts were without a basement. I would massively miss storage space despite the large living area, and I don’t think I saw a freezer room either.
Freezer! That reminds me of something! I read that: we have the freezer chest in the barn. HELP!!!
Loits, you are building 300sqm for two people, cooking for 20 to 50 people, and if you need something from the freezer in the middle of such a cooking frenzy, you have to run out to the barn? Seriously???
With that amount of space there should definitely be room for a small (or larger) pantry where at least the freezer fits and I’d bet my head that you will love it. Anyone who cooks that intensively definitely needs a corresponding “back concept” in the kitchen, especially if you have the space. You can also store ready-made dishes in between etc. VERY practical, I swear it to you.
Overall, I already have the impression that you have your wishes, but they are still somehow all floating separately in your head. The entire concept, the reality check, is missing. What makes sense, what is important, what do I sacrifice for what, what would I give up. That already becomes apparent to me from the planning of two children’s rooms including bathroom although it’s not even certain that one wants children. Something doesn’t fit.
You want a large kitchen with professional equipment, but the freezer is in a barn outside. Ever cooked in a professional kitchen? Freezer and fridge rooms are as close to the action as possible and never a marathon away. There’s a reason for that...
And then: you must have had parties at home, right? And where do they usually end? Exactly: in the kitchen. Therefore it makes sense, especially if you like guests, to place kitchen and dining area next to each other and not plan a (quiet) living area in between. Something like that is just totally without a concept. And that’s what I stumble upon in all your drafts: lack of concept and that is defended to the death.
Also fits into this category: you plan meals for up to 50 people, but how is that supposed to work with the entrance area? Do you give exact arrival times so that only max. 4 guests arrive at a time? There is no more space. Anyone who likes to have many guests has to consider that in the entrance area. A spatial concept that fits maybe 4 people just isn’t enough.
And so on and so forth. Overall still totally unripe, shuffling rooms will not help.