Renovation of an old building, floor plan layout, experiences

Hello from the North,

we are now the new owners of a house built in 1959 with a living area of about 100 sqm. The house comes from the family and has a high emotional value for me. Therefore, I would rather not tear it down and build new on it, but modernize it. The house was originally built by an architect.

So far, a structural engineer and an energy consultant have been on site. A structural engineer because I would like to have the wall on the ground floor removed (number 3 on the floor plan is the kitchen) in order to have a large open-plan kitchen. However, this wall is now load-bearing and significant costs will arise, as in addition to the steel beam, supports would also have to be added on the left and right, and 50 cm on each side of the walls may not be demolished. The energy consultant will send me the renovation schedule in the coming days. So far, there is an oil heating system installed (23 years old from Viessmann). I would like to switch directly to a heat pump and photovoltaic system. On the 1st floor, room 9 no longer exists because the wall was torn down, but we would probably put a wall back there.

Neither of us really has much expertise, but I learn quickly and gladly and am very interested. The request is meant as a kind of support, as unfortunately we don't really have an idea of how we would like to divide the rooms.

What’s more: On the 1st floor, every room has knee walls that I would like to remove because they take up quite a bit of space. These are also marked on the floor plan. The house is also partially basemented. The area starts at number 5 at half of the living room toward the garden. There is no basement under the kitchen.

What do you think? How would you divide the rooms? Possibly I had the idea of building a large open-plan kitchen on the left at number 5 and then planning a utility room by the current kitchen. For the future, two children's rooms should be planned, although one room is enough for now; life makes other plans anyway :). I’m also not happy yet with the hallway and the entrance area, but after countless hours on YouTube, at fairs, etc., we are somewhat clueless.

I look forward to your ideas and exchange.

Best regards
Anni


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In 1959 already three layers thick exterior walls, so it was ahead of its time. Overall, it looks quite charmingly planned, also show the sections for that. Judging by the floor plans, the roof is probably a hip roof. Possibly there would still be some space to gain by converting the roof to a gable. However, regarding the knee walls, there are probably no hopes as they mostly only conceal low eaves. One would have to look at the section to see how the roof construction is designed. I do not believe the wall between rooms "3" and "5" is load-bearing, but only bracing, which is probably more important here. Converting the kitchen into a utility room seems much wiser than the elaborate substitution of this wall, especially as it probably couldn’t be accomplished with the construction described. Show some pictures, the plot and the building envelope. Don’t forget the north arrow!

I would also rather convert the old kitchen into a utility room or office or something else. For that, the kitchen with dining area depending on where the garden is, in room 5 either to the right or in the area adjoining room 3. Since there is an oil heating system, there is presumably also a basement, so water can also be easily laid below the basement ceiling.

I'm not really happy with the hallway and entrance area yet either, but after countless hours on YouTube, at fairs, etc., we're a bit at a loss.

Because you always see the same thing? Besta as a white coat rack and acoustic panels.

Two children's rooms are to be planned for the future, although one room is enough for now; life ends up making different plans anyway.

That means they don't exist yet. The large room no. 8 is fine for now, also for two children, then we'll see further.

Good morning, thank you all already. I will post more of the floor plan and the pictures tomorrow or already this evening. The knee walls are already relatively wide, I must say, so I would also like to tear them down. The roof was redone 20 years ago, so it would be a shame to tear everything down, or what do you think?

I would therefore like to leave the wall in the kitchen standing. It is simply too expensive for me and not worth it to have everything torn down, then I would rather use the room for something else. I think it will become my office downstairs since I am self-employed and then basically have a separate area from the living area. Unfortunately, the wall in the second hallway cannot be torn down; it is also load-bearing according to the structural engineer. I had possibly thought about installing a shower in the guest WC, but I don’t know if that would make sense space-wise. Otherwise, I also had the idea of relocating the front door in the second hallway, but I find it quite tight with the stairs then.

I will upload more of the floor plan and the pictures tomorrow or already this evening.

I am much more eagerly waiting for the plot, building envelope (it’s best if you take a large-scale cadastral map), and sections.

Unfortunately, the wall in the 2nd hallway cannot be demolished; according to the structural engineer, it is also load-bearing.

Which one do you mean?