Planning Approved - Feedback on proposed layout

[Owain1602]

Thanks for your comments.

 

I certainly agree that the South facing glazing would likely be a big overheating issue. Was taking the approach of designing in what would be the ideal scenario to start with, before pairing it back based on some calculations. Paying for solar reflective glass is a possibility (rough price comparison I saw was: standard double glazing £50/m2 and solar reflective £130/m2), although I'd prefer if it could be designed out without much compromise on the effect.

 

@Mike That is a good suggestion on the width of downstairs corridors, will have a look how best to implement this. 

On your point regarding the main bathroom; we have relatives that have a very similar dimensioned bathroom and have a good idea how we'd position everything. 

 

@ETC

1. Is your point regarding separation of kitchen from stairs and upstairs due to fire regulations? If so, there are many examples of new houses with voids directly above the kitchen to upstairs, with no separation. I can see how we could separate the kitchen from the stairs without too much trouble.
2. We're not big window cleaning people to be honest, typically let them get dirty to the point where we can't stand it then do the bare minimum.
3. Yes, will become a bit smaller in-light of Mike's suggestion to try and widen the corridors.
4. Which rooms do you feel are too small/too long? I'd really appreciate if you could elaborate here so we can benefit from your expertise.

 

[Glenn]

Thank you for sharing with us. Quite a difference, some very interesting updates. I like the 'peeking' over into the lounge void, likewise looking down on the hallway. Also the bringing together of much of the water services.

 

Couple of thoughts/triggers:

1. As others have said, corridor and hallway widths give luxury. pretty well any circulation path. So the wider the better

2. On the upstairs hall - if the MVHR could fnd a new home, that would allow a window at the end of the hall - very common architectural trick to draw you into the space, as oppose dto walking into a dead end

3. Entranceway and hallways - so many doors off them! No idea what that would be like in real life, but if some variety could be found, might be more interesting

4. The gym is marked as a potential guest space, but the nearest WC is on teh other side of the house, the nearest shower/bath a floor away? Maybe not an ensuite, but if the study is a bonus room (still getting over how vast some rooms like the playroom etc are), could it be repuposed as downstairs bathroom? That would eliminate the WC by the entrance,, group all your water and waste services all together. Short runs, etc

5. Kitchen/pantry integration. Maybe delete the door into the pantry from te mini-hallway, enter the pantry for the kitchen? SLiding or pivot door to hide it all away. Shortens journeys like kitchen <--> Pantry, Kitchen <--> outside

6. I'm terrible at reading plans, but wasn't your kitchen originally on the main entrance side, so that the lounge are was where the wraparound deck was? But now these are flipped? Does that put the kitchen on the west rather than east? Sorry for my confusion 

7. As others have pointed out, some  big spaces but a couple of strange proportions - eg upstairs bathroom

8. Depending on how adventurous you're feeling, that void combined with the huge amount of room you have to play with gives an opporunity to play with different floor levels to delineate areas, break the space up a bit

9. Woodburner gone?

 

I think though this is a huge step forward in your design and I hope you're feeling much better about it

 

Regards

Glenn

[Mike]

23 hours ago, ETC said:

2. How are you going to clean all that high-level glass?

At the last trade show I went to they were plenty of window-cleaning robots being demoed - would be ideal for the main window.

[Mike]

3 minutes ago, Glenn said:

4. The gym is marked as a potential guest space, but the nearest WC is on teh other side of the house, the nearest shower/bath a floor away? Maybe not an ensuite, but if the study is a bonus room (still getting over how vast some rooms like the playroom etc are), could it be repuposed as downstairs bathroom? That would eliminate the WC by the entrance,, group all your water and waste services all together. Short runs, etc

Good idea.

[LDNRennovation]

On 17/03/2025 at 20:05, ETC said:

1. You’ll need to separate the kitchen from the staircase as well as separating the void over the kitchen from the upstairs.

2. How are you going to clean all that high-level glass?

3. Hall is massive.

4. Some rooms too small/too long.

5. I could go on.

If all the windows to the habitable rooms are to fire escape regulations, would that mean the stair and void didn’t have to be separate? 
 

 

[ETC]

No.

[torre]

14 minutes ago, LDNRennovation said:

separating the void over the kitchen from the upstairs

A fire rated glass partition where the plans indicate a reduced height wall might be one solution for this, still giving the look of openness

[Adsibob]

I’m a bit late to this discussion, but here are my thoughts on the ground floor:

If you switch the boot room with the WC, you can install a side door that gives you direct access to the boot room. This will require making the study and/or snug a little smaller to accommodate the boot room, but I think it’s worth it as you can then avoid walking through your hallway with muddy boots. A benefit of MVHR is that having ventilation from windows for toilets is no longer required.

 

 Currently, there does not appear to be a doorway into your snug.

[LDNRennovation]

37 minutes ago, ETC said:

No.

I think you can have either the escape windows or a protected staircase?

 

You might need sprinklers if the kitchen is too close to the stairs.

Edited Wednesday at 21:26 by LDNRennovation

[Owain1602]

Thanks all for your valuable comments.

 

Regarding the fire regs, we are planning to implement what @torre mentioned. The corridors downstairs will have suitable fire doors (not looked yet, but hopefully we can get some with nice, big glass panes) and the upstairs landing will need to have fixed glazing for the bit that overlooks the kitchen/dining/living room. 

I wanted to try and avoid the sprinkler/misting systems if possible.

[LDNRennovation]

Ask building regulations (the people at the local authority), don’t just follow advice here. 

[Owain1602]

19 minutes ago, LDNRennovation said:

Ask building regulations (the people at the local authority), don’t just follow advice here. 

Not sure why you felt compelled to post this, but I really don’t need you to tell me who I should and shouldn’t take advice from regarding building regs. 

[LDNRennovation]

That’s a bit rude. I’ll leave you to it then.

[ETC]

2 hours ago, LDNRennovation said:

Ask building regulations (the people at the local authority), don’t just follow advice here. 

Have to agree. Organ grinder and monkey come to mind. No offense.

[Owain1602]

12 hours ago, ETC said:

Have to agree. Organ grinder and monkey come to mind. No offense.

Agree with what?

 

I am not following any advice posted here for building regs, the approach to protect the stairway I outlined above was put forward by our architect.

[LDNRennovation]

15 hours ago, ETC said:

Have to agree. Organ grinder and monkey come to mind. No offense.

 

None taken from me, I’m a happy little monkey lol!

 

I did just now check with building control just to check if the stairs needed protection (did it anonymously and just described the issue), it’s a free service and they are always very happy to help. They said it was fine as is, as long as the windows, 30 min doors and smoke alarm systems were up to the code. I’m sure OP needs no help from me just discussing with you ETC as you seem like you know a thing or two.
 

It bothered me since I did a self-build and did much the same thing with no issue! Unless I’m missing something of course.
 

 

Edited Friday at 13:26 by LDNRennovation

[ETC]

In all honesty I think you need to appoint a good architect. Not an architectural designer - an architect who knows how to build, design and who knows the Building Regulations.

 

I get the impression that you are not content with what your own designer has come up with otherwise why would you ask for feedback from an anonymous internet forum.

 

If you have been advised that you need fire doors downstairs and a wacking great big void to below is acceptable you’ve been misled.

 

A two storey dwelling doesn’t need fire doors unless you are creating a protected staircase and why go to the expense or inconvenience of doing so if you don’t need to.

 

I do think you are missing a trick - a great architect will create a building which is a joy to live in rather than just individual spaces. You could have had an atrium in the middle with courtyard (like many Mediterranean houses) or used the shell of the building as just a shell and created a series of buildings within the shell.

 

I am by no means a fantastic architect but I do consider myself to be pragmatic and practical perhaps to the extent of boring but I can recognise talent and to be honest I don’t think your proposal is the best it could be. I’m also fairly versed in the Building Regulations although in my UK region we are slightly behind England - we would be less flexible in relation to fire control.

 

Don't get triggered - the members here are genuinely interested and have offered some - largely - practical advice.

 

Good luck and I hope you get sorted.

[LDNRennovation]

Courtyard idea is cool, any idea that drives the design is a way forward. I honestly think the first layout had more joy to it. It’s all lacking ideas and inspiration, I mean look at the site, look at the family using the space, put some creativity into it. Where are the views, the sun. It looks like there’s a playroom, but what is that going to be in the future. 
 

I personally love designing barns, they have so much potential. If OP is interested there’s so many opportunities for something just a bit more special and coherent. I’m aware he’s taking a dislike to me lol. 

attached is what I think would look great, a few details for the windows, a ‘wow’ looking front elevation. You can just tell the spaces inside are great to be in. Good luck op hope you find what you need.

 

[ETC]

I think Elvis has left the building!

[Owain1602]

Thank you all, we’ll have a look around for a different architect to work with.

[ETC]

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