Early stages of design – Thoughts
I am in the design process of my house build in Maine. I am trying to build something I can stay in for 20+ years.
Here are the early stages of my plans. I am working with an architect on this, just looking for any and all opinions as the process progresses.
I am really interested in green building and I am slightly regretting getting this far as a single level, large foot print house. Hopefully I can justify it to myself by the large lot size and long term plans.
The exterior is conceptual. The site (11 acres) is almost entirely sloped. It also has ledge. Once a location is finalized, the exterior will be modified. The idea is the garage will be in a lower daylight level. A portion of the driveway will continue up to a first floor level for guest and general use. I am currently thinking full basement in the garage and mechanical/storage space. The rest I would like to do crawl space.
Here are the changes I have identified that I want so far.
-Shed some sq footage
-make dining room anywhere but right when you walk in
-open mud room area to main entry
-possible addition of general closet (bathroom, linen, etc.)
-possible elimination of jog in exterior footprint.
-add mechanical/storage to full foundation. Located to the left as you get to the bottom of the stairs.
-change shower to tub in common bath
-possibly eliminate tub in master.
-wish I had an office in this but do not want to add sq ft.
GBA Detail Library
A collection of one thousand construction details organized by climate and house part
Replies
I built a the two story house and really, really wish I'd made a bungalow. I also have lots of land, and the amount of material and energy saved by having two stories instead of one are probably not that significant in the long run.
Good feedback, that helps me stick to my original thoughts of wanting one level..
JMLIII,
The most difficult and expensive place for a basement is under a garage. I would consider whether it was necessary, or move it behind the garage where you could still access it from grade as the site slopes.
I have kind of always wanted a basement beneath the basement. But the current plan is the garage is part of the basement. You would go down the stairs and to the right would be the garage, to the left would be at the mechanical space. Outside of the mechanical space would be slab on grade or crawl space.
In old cities multi-level basements are common.
Here in DC, as the city gets built out more excavation is starting to be seen. In residential zones a building footprint can only occupy 40% of the lot are but underground you can build to the property line. So you see houses where the basement is much bigger than the house and then there's a deck or patio over the uncovered part. I know someone who recently built a home with a 21' deep basement, he has a basketball court down there. He figures he might break it into two levels at some point.
JMLIII,
Reading your description again, the fault is mine. I thought you were proposing one under the garage.
I think you have a pretty good preliminary design and look forward to seeing it refined with the grade taken into account.
Thanks! excited for the next rendition and to get working on the site.
JMLIII,
Just as an FYI, I am now in my 10th year of my forever home. Our lot is sloping as well and on lots of rock, so some similar parameters were at play. I nixed the under garage idea. I did keep the basement in part due to rock elevations and expansive clay issues. It is nice to have my shop inside and not in an outbuilding.
I am very grateful for my at grade garage. Keeping the drive clear of snow and slogging in the groceries is MUCH easier on one level. If you insist on the under garage, plan on a dumbwaiter. I would suggest a different kitchen layout to combine that with a bigger pantry, but that is a longer post. Based on the provided isometrics of the house, I am not seeing how you would bring the drive level up for guest and additional parking. The dip and turn to get down to the garage could be quite the Ice Capades come winter.
Not sure just how much abuse you are looking for by asking for comments, but I will note some things and step back.
The front door seems very close to the "porch" roof edge. Ungainly visually and not well protected.
The main roof has a shift in plane at the same location and mostly serves to create a flashing and snow collection problem.
The porch roof off the great room will dump snow down onto the driveway in front to the garage doors.
The support posts will make garage entry and exit most interesting.
The great room actually looks like it will feel small. Depends on total family count. Can't isolate little ones or teens.
Lots of hallway. How big are the bedrooms. A little squeezing to get the office back?
Have you really discussed the laundry placement?
You will tire quickly of tromping through the closet to get to the toilet. The closet will be moist and pickup odors.
Lots of disconnected plumbing needs. Some are on exterior walls and how peepish are your neighbors.
You mentioned rock on the lot. The rock hammer I hired was not my favorite expense, do you really need an 54' long basement?
Looking for all of the abuse!
The house is approached from below. The driveway would turn off at the garage and continue up the slope to get to the ground floor level. My thought was someday down the road, I could build an additional garage at the ground floor level as well. Right now it is done this way for the sake of saving money..
The porches are just thrown on there to show ideas. None are actual until location and grade are finalized.
The job in the foot print is what is causing that plane difference. That is one of the items I am looking to change.
The occupants are my wife, my son, and possibly one more child. What would you do to solve the great room issue?
Yes! I hate the hallways but it is unavoidable really with this foot print.
I want a full laundry room if possible but do not want to add sq ft. Our laundry is in our unfinished basement now and its no big deal. What are you seeing for an issue?
I have two experiences with walk through closets that I really like. I also haven't heard of anyone have any complaints. My mother has had one for more than 10 years with no issues. Have you heard otherwise?
Yeah, I wish I could shorten up some of the plumbing runs. May be able to flip flop the closet and bath in the next design. This house is going to be centered in 11 wooded acres. I do not anticipate any privacy issues.
The partial full/crawl design is intended to mitigate the concerns with ledge and blasting.