Single-family house on the north slope - Please share your opinions and tips on orientation

Hi,

hm, maybe you misunderstood me after all or I simply wasn’t precise enough regarding the background story. So more detailed, because it actually was a bit more than just “discussed briefly”:
A first draft (from us) was revised by an architect who works with a potential timber house builder, was given professional aspects, and implemented as a preliminary draft (of course based on the development plan and the community’s specifications), the walls etc. were calculated, and after about 4 weeks we received a cost estimate. Afterwards, for the reasons mentioned above, we initially put the matter on hold and continued searching for plots. Somehow, though, we always keep coming back to the first one *g*

Now it’s such that by now we would like to make a few changes. For example, it has become clear to me how important the study in the northwest would be. But we can hardly submit one or more ideas every few weeks to have new preliminary plans created over and over again. Sure, now would probably be the time to say, “We’re going to do it, buy the plot, and commission the architect, then it will work out.” But I’m hesitant to do exactly that. Since the plot doesn’t quite reach 100% (but still by far the most of all the plots for sale), at least the idea of the house has to be right. And it’s not about KfW or insulation techniques or heating or anything else (these things are more or less fixed), but just about a room layout on the ground floor that – in short – achieves the following:
- Dining/living room in the south or southwest
- Kitchen with east window
- Study in the northwest
- Living room with north (panorama) window
- (South)west terrace
- WC
- Staircase to the upper floor and staircase to the basement
- lots of light, large window areas

On an optimally oriented plot with the street to the north, I wouldn’t have any problems going to the architect full of optimism, because there are so many great ideas to implement. Here it looks different, though. And if it turns out in our considerations that the limitations the plot imposes on the house are too great, then we have to write off the (pretty ) northern slope.

Uff, this is difficult In any case, I actually don’t want to know or have so much planned as it might initially have sounded.

Thanks for the help!

Hello Christiane,

okay, maybe someone else can see something useful here.
Wooden house is also coming,...

Best regards

Does a wooden house complicate the construction project? Or rather, in which exact points is it more difficult than with solid construction?

Hello Christiane,

that depends on what you understand by a wooden house.

If it is the classic log cabin, then the walls must of course be planned so that they are also feasible.

A timber frame construction is already closer to a solid construction, only the statics come into play here, i.e. possibly larger space requirements, but also, for example, a "limitation" through ceiling spans. (Dimensioning, costs)

These are clearly different construction methods, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Of course, it makes sense to plan in such a way that the advantages of the respective construction method come into play. Very important here is the later indoor climate as well as the lighting.

I hope your architect has clarified this and is not just a "seller" of the timber construction company.

Best regards

Addendum to my last comment on page 1

Hello Christiane,

here’s a small example, your study room.
You write that you spend a lot of time there.

Where would you even want to place your desk in the 3 drafts?

Or put differently, can the windows work like that?
(Lighting for the workplace, is there perhaps a screen there as well)

What about the area ratio of window surface to room surface,...

Then you will certainly want to work concentrated and with as little distraction as possible.
Here, the adjoining rooms play an important role again.
For example, when are people mostly present there, what noise levels are created,...

As you can see, many things depend on the function of a room,
which determine the later quality of a "living space".

Please don’t misunderstand me, but if you are a German teacher,
you might give me the tip to delete everything here in the text field again, with the idea that it can be done much better and without errors.

Best regards

Hi, thanks for the tips.

By wooden house I meant a house built with timber frame construction. We had basically decided on that very early on (KfW40 level, natural insulation materials, wooden ceiling, etc.).

No, I am not a German teacher, and no, please don’t delete everything.

About the study: My husband and I have already thought a lot about it. He is usually away until early evening. When there are children later, I will often come home at noon and then be more or less simultaneously mother, housewife, and professional. I know from home (my mother is also a teacher) that it only had advantages when a mother was also reachable while preparing or correcting lessons. Of course, for example, one wouldn’t be out of touch in the upper floor, but the whole family atmosphere is so different. So the study on the ground floor is fixed.

My desk (L-shaped) is currently positioned with one side in front of a window, the other side against a wall, which I don’t necessarily need. The monitor stands diagonally in the corner; so I don’t look into the bright when I look at it. We also have two windows in the study now, although one is very small, but the lighting situation is much better than with only one; I really enjoy that. But since there is no window facing south or west, I often feel the urge to work in the living room, which is only rarely feasible. So I notice that I permanently miss the afternoon and evening sun and would like to consider that in the new house.

That wouldn’t be a problem if I didn’t also want to keep the beautiful hillside view to the north in the living room. It would simply be a shame if it could only be enjoyed from the study.

Well, I’ll keep thinking. But as you suggested, I’ll first sketch again on a blank sheet. For example, the (new) idea has already emerged to let the study partly “protrude” from the north wall (bay window?). That would also have an enlarging effect on the basement floor, but would proportionally reduce the upper floor area (it must not become a second full floor). Maybe I’ll draw that too.

Thanks and best regards,
Christiane