To "conjure" a 5th room

  • Erstellt am 2014-04-28 19:43:59

CoCoBB

2014-04-28 19:43:59
  • #1
Hello everyone,

we have a problem planning our house and hope you can help us.

We found our dream plot (680 sqm, 25mx25m) and also had our dream house in mind: an angled bungalow, 145 sqm, 5 rooms. Everything was finished in our heads.

Since there is no development plan for the plot, we asked the responsible building authority about the construction and told them our idea (175 sqm gross floor area...). The really nice gentleman on the phone said it would be very difficult to get this approved, as we have to adhere to the surrounding development and in this area there is no house with such a large floor area. That we are building in the second row supposedly makes it even "worse" (although the house cannot be seen from the street and there is forest on the other side, well...). This can only be clarified with a preliminary building permit, which we now want to apply for. He suggested reducing the floor area to 155 sqm; then we would have good chances.

So for us it meant either reducing the house size, expanding the roof, or building two stories. My husband insists on the bungalow; from the perspective of old age, he wants to live on one level, finds that nice and practical. He does not like sloping ceilings at all, and unfortunately we do not like city villas. So two stories are out.

Our house builder offered us a 125 sqm bungalow (4 rooms), including roof expansion, which would cost about 30,000 € extra with everything included (windows, stairs, different ceiling etc.). However, we do not need a 125 sqm expanded attic, just a 5th room (office) that would then be under the roof. But for 30,000 € extra and what to do with the remaining space?

My husband says that as long as there are no children, we have two rooms, one of which can be used as an office. But in 4-5 years the second child should arrive (the first one is in the making…), and what then? Since I am a teacher, I always have to work at home and need space for my materials. In addition, I still have a crafting and sewing desk that would find no place in a 125 sqm house.

Now we are going back and forth and no longer have any creative ideas where to "magically" create the 5th room. The ideal would be the 145 sqm bungalow but the preliminary permit wouldn’t have the rosier prospects of being approved. Then there would be a 3 month wait and 400 euros lost (although the 3-month decision time bothers us more than the 400 euros...) and after rejection for the 125 sqm bungalow we would have to apply for another preliminary permit (again 3 months and 400 euros...).
And having the attic expanded for 30,000 euros for one room – that really is a big chunk of money for something we basically didn’t want. But my husband resists the two-story option … really just a stupid situation. We know we have to make compromises, but nothing really seems like a good compromise. My husband would most like to leave out the 5th room because he simply doesn’t need it... but I can’t see myself without a working area :(

Maybe you still have ideas/opinions/experiences on the subject?
Many thanks and sorry for the long post :rolleyes:

Best regards, CoCoBB
 

nordanney

2014-04-28 20:15:19
  • #2
Stupid question, but how old are you that you are planning children but already want to build a house for old age? If only a bungalow is acceptable for you, why don’t you expand the attic only when it’s needed? That way you initially save money but keep all options open for the future. My credo, however, is to live in the now, i.e. I don’t need a house for old age now but a hut in which life with children rages (preferably on two / three floors). If the life situation changes, the house must also change = new build for old age or perhaps more relaxed an [ETW] with a large terrace or big balcony.
 

CoCoBB

2014-04-28 20:38:43
  • #3
Hello Nordanney,

we are both 30 years old, so there is still some time until old age ;) I see it similarly to you ... for me it doesn’t have to be a house for old age yet but my husband definitely wants to grow old in the house, he is not willing to compromise on that. He always wants to take all eventualities into account. Especially since the alternatives are not exactly huge if you don’t want sloping ceilings and no "city villa".

We are already considering finishing the attic later as an option – nevertheless, we would have to invest about 15,000 euros now to even make the attic expandable (roof windows/dormer, concrete ceiling, different roof structure, possibly already a proper staircase instead of the foldable ladder to the attic!?) ... and later certainly another 10,000 for the finishing. What do you do about the electricity and heating? Can that be easily moved to the attic later or does it have to be done now? And what if you don’t end up using it because, for example, the second child doesn’t work out or whatever. Then the 15,000 are wasted. Also annoying. But maybe really the best compromise...
 

toxicmolotof

2014-04-28 21:39:29
  • #4
I am just wondering why one needs a 145sqm bungalow with 5 rooms at an older age. Hobby room, ironing room...

How about planning the ground floor so that it is self-contained and as large as you currently need, including all necessary rooms. That means: kitchen/dining/living room, bedroom, study, house connections, storage/laundry room. And upstairs, there is a staircase with a second bathroom and children’s rooms in the required number.

This has two advantages: a separate children’s area, even when the children are older, if one child moves out, a well-planned own apartment upstairs for one child, or if both children move out, then the unnecessary space can be rented out.

That is exactly how we are planning and are very satisfied. Basically, a complete single-level apartment with children’s rooms built on top.
 

ypg

2014-04-28 21:55:07
  • #5
A bungalow with a second level under a partial roof for an office, possibly a children's area on the ground floor that can be separated later as a granny flat, could be achieved with this building style, just google "Danwood Bravo 176". Danwood has cool floor plans
 

DG

2014-04-28 22:26:59
  • #6
Hello Coco,

Your husband obviously has the idea that he can do something that no serious appraiser can – namely look 40-50 years into the future. Regarding the topic of the actual useful life of residential properties, there are indeed different opinions, which are particularly based on the fact that the actual useful life of residential properties is becoming shorter and shorter because our world, including the conditions, is changing faster and faster. This concerns (without claiming completeness) the following points:

1. Housing demand in 40 or 50 years
2. Equipment/quality/technical standards especially regarding energy supply/costs
3. Development of the immediate surroundings (100-250m radius)
4. Development of the city/region especially in relation to the working world, local supply, hospitals/emergency services etc. etc. (up to 25km)

I claim to be reasonably interested in this, but planning a property today that meets all demands in 30 or 40 years and still has potential for another 10-20 years is already quite a bold move. Just take a look at properties from the 70s or even the 80s (!). They are only about 30-40 years old today and in some cases already energetically and/or with regard to use completely outdated.

But maybe it’s also a matter of personal type, because many people actually only build a house once in their life and leave it feet first. Others – and I count myself among them – at least have the plan that in old age and when the children have left the house, they will also change their living conditions. If that is absolutely not an option for your husband... then you should simply choose another plot of land, because I believe that otherwise you will have to make so many compromises during construction that you actually don’t want to make, that you will ultimately not live in the house you envision. Third solution – you find an architect who solves all your problems.

Best regards
Dirk Grafe
P.S.: What just occurred to me – if your plan deviates from the permitted development, it is sometimes possible to work with a neighbor’s approval. Ultimately, however, the municipality/city must also cooperate.
 

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