A U-shaped house is a useful plan and provides a number of advantages, as you describe. Of course, your photo is a one story house and your plan is a two story house, so they won't look similar.

A lot of your elements are out of scale (too small). Whatever program you are using is either not showing certain items in the right dimensions or you don't know the sizes of key items. For example, the minimum width for a water closet is 3'-0. A 6" wall is needed to contain the soil stack. Regular closets only need be 2'-0 deep (the depth of a rack of clothes on hangars).

Your stair treads are too wide and your riser count is not correct. If you're going to spend time using a CAD program it's important to use the proper dimensions and sizing, else it risks the plan being a non-starter and not worth the effort.

I don't see any space for HVAC, water heater, main electrical panel, alarm, etc.

IMO, you'd be better off using the open space above the kitchen as usable second floor space, since with five beds your upstairs bath is seriously under sized. If it were me, I'd place the sleeping area in the wing over the kitchen, place a compartmented bath and utilities in the center section. If this puts you over your allowed limit, I'd shave a foot or two off the entire perimeter as needed to get back within the allowed area.

Good luck on your project.

Hi Virgil, thank you for your input.

Have you seen a home like this in two stories? I cannot find any images. What would you search under? Someone mentioned dog trot but that appears to be different.

The "program" I use is a silly little free thing I found online. It is really designed for laying out furniture in a room. It has no way to put in all the things you (rightfully) mention. I really just use it to play with ... to see if I can fit what I want. I think there is enough wiggle room here for the realties of systems, code, etc. At this juncture it doesn't make sense for me to buy or "learn" a real program, since these are just exploratory. Think of them as "back of the napkin". When we have a closing date, we will hire an architect. I am just wondering if I want to tell him we would consider a 'U" to get his take on it.

We have three kids, not five. But I laid out their rooms for maximum accommodations (although we have a little 120 sq foot bunkhouse and will build a 450 sq ft guesthouse). I think the hall bath is fine for 3 kids, for a summer home.

Nonetheless, you are right that it is a waste to give up the space over the kitchen. Im debating it only because I have fallen in love with a kitchen that is one story, but has an open exposed gable ceiling.

I think my main question is really about the mass -- do the proportions of this U look ok? And, have you ever seen this done in a 2-story?

thanks!

The architectural style of the house you posted is not Modern, Spanish or Italianate; it is a simple cottage style that is common to New England shores especially on Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard and it is often used by New England architects as in your example.

New England farmhouses are generally Colonial or Greek Revival with clapboards but this house is neither of those styles.

A 2 story version would destroy the cottage scale and make the courtyard dark but you might get away with a 1 1/2 or 2 story element on the north side and 1 story elements on the other sides.

When the weather gets better visit Nantucket and get a book of the older houses there.

Nantucket beach cottage

Thanks, Renovator, for that idea about uneven sides. I did suspect that you don't see much in the way of u-shape two stories because of the darkness factor. I imagine there is some relationship between the bldg height and the courtyard size that can make up for it (think hotel complexes).

PS I didn't mean that the first house was modern, spanish or italianate ... i meant that those styles are what i think of when i think of a U around a courtyard.....

Here are some images. What is common to the style is natural red or white cedar shingles left to weather, close rakes and eaves without gutters, corner boards and multi-paned windows. More modern adaptations often have larger windows with larger panes and dramatic bi-parting barn doors as in your example.

If you know the style you like and have a clear program there is no point in postponing working with an architect. When clients bring me a plan it is all but forgotten within an hour. If that weren't the case I would need to find another line of work. Photos of favorite house elements are much more helpful.

In what town is the project?

Here is a link that might be useful: nantucket cottages

Thanks, I was looking for images of 2story courtyard homes, not Nantucket or Cape Cod style (that I know). I am not finding images of 2story courtyard homes because they prob don't exist because, as I suspected, the courtyard is usually too dark.

I am not hiring an architect until the ROW problem is solved and we are SURE we will be closing. It's just too soon, but I am impatient and hence my amateur exercises. I would also never hand an architect a plan. But I might say "hey, do you think a U could work".

The project is oceanfront in RI. The architecture there is pretty uniform in this particular locale,,, one of the things I like about it. Whatever we do it will certainly be white cedar left to grey, probably with a red cedar roof. That's a given. This area has a very country feel, with rolling green hills and old stone walls. So a farmhouse look works particularly well.

Thanks for the images, and, as always, for your input.

I love it in a one story - a nod to traditional New England coastal architecture with a modern spin. I can't envision it as a two story and am afraid it might lose some of its charm as such.

Your proposed lot sound lovely. I had a high school friend who summered in Rhode Island and I have been to visit (since we didn't "summer" anywhere). It is beautiful!

Hi Athensmom,
Thanks. Yes, it is a very lovely spot. I just wish we could close and get started!

Virgil,
I respect your opinion so it's good to know you don't think it is a total non-starter. At this point we are just trying to educate ourselves about the possibilities. I think we've looked at this enough know to say, it is worth asking the architect but it may be a long shot.

thanks, again

Would you consider an L shape?

Hi Nyce,

yes, that may be a better alternative to preserve light

What about something like this? The nice thing is that the deck space shouldnt count against your square footage, so with a plan like this you have your 1400 sq foot interior space, and then you have both main floor and second floor outdoor areas. The main floor outdoor area gives you the wind/elements protection, but the second floor outdoor space elevates you, and lets you take full advantage of the views, the wind, the sun, the moon, whatever.

An alternate suggestion would be to get rid of the "U" shape, and go with either an "L" shape or just a plain old two story rectangle, add in this style of deck, so that you still have your two outdoor spaces. The biggest problem with the "U" is that with such a small allotted square footage, you are hard pressed to find a really good solution for floorplan. A two story rectangle would maximize interior, but you wouldnt have the wind protection. The "L" shape might give you a little of both.

Thanks, theballs, for posting that photo.

Unfortunately, in this location decking is part of the footprint. Basically anything that you would see flying over is footprint, with the exception of stonework, since that is viewed as permeable...

I had long assumed we would do a simple 2-story farmhouse-y rectangle, but when I came across the first photo above, I tried to contort it to our needs. Most likely, it won't work.

I am back to fiddling with rectangles, and maybe using the guest house structure as part of an "L".

thanks again

While our covered terrace is probably not as big as you will want...but our house is 2-story. The garage and master suite are the "wings" that make the courtyard. (well, actually, the hall to the mudroom, then the garage.) Anyway, it is very private. We did do two skylights in the porch roof...but I think the light would be ok even without them. Anyway, this isn't the style you wanted, but I wanted you to see how our house wraps around the terrace.

This is the back view of our house...you can't see all of the porch in the photo.

An "L-shaped" house has many of the same characteristics as a "U-shaped" house, except it obviously is an "L", rather than a "U"! Profound, right? Point is that an "L" creates a sense of enclosure, a sense of space and a degree of privacy, while allowing views and natural light to be utilized for warmth and passive energy benefits--assuming proper orientation.

Perhaps the iconic and memorable aspect of coastal New England houses, particularly vernacular houses, is their simple massing and shapes--much like Monopoly houses and hotels, i.e., there's something about these simple, clearly stated shapes that is understandable and appealing to most all of us.

My advice is to try and stay with a very simple shape for the house and don't "tart it up" with a lot of builder gimmicks and a patchwork quilt of materials and finishes. This is a setting and a type of house where less is really more. Simple is really hard to do, but it's really refreshing and eternally enjoyable.

Good luck on your project.

I love the u shape idea. I'd mention it to the architect and see if they can come up with something before totally abandoning it. Also, and note that I know nothing about accordion french doors, but...
If a u-shape won't work, what if the wall facing the ocean on the main room of the first floor was a wall of accordion doors? During a gorgeous day you could just open them all up and create a feeling of the outdoors being inside?

[Traditional Living Room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2107) by San Francisco Interior Designer EJ Interior Design, Eugenia Jesberg

This is modern, but the idea of how they use it in all of the spaces would be lovely, and it's an L-shape.

[Modern Exterior design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-exterior-home-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_736~s_2105) by San Francisco Architect J. Weiss Design

I love this idea of the kitchen counter. Of course, I have no idea how this would hold up in winter weather...

[Spaces design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/home-design-ideas-phbr0-bp~) by Other Metro Windows And Doors NanaWall

Just some ideas!

Hi Chris,
I will definitely bring up the U with the architect, I was exploring it here first. I think it is unlikely but it does raise the idea of wind shelter - for us, the primary draw in that layout. So at least our siting of the house and layout should consider that aspect, even if we can't make a "U" that evokes the feel of that first photo.

In re the glass doors, one of the tricks to this house design will be how to maximize views and yet still evoke the farmhouse look that prevails in the area. It is tempting to go with huge expanses of glass, but that will look all wrong. The windows should probably be less than 3' wide and they should probably be fairly tall. Most of the homes in the area are 2 over 2, which I like from a style viewpoint and which also is less disruptive to the view than more heavily muntined windows.

Virgil,
Your Monopoly analogy is apt, which is why from day one i was thinking rectangle, rectangle rectangle. And more than one rectangle in a cluster is even more the vernacular (ie, the mainhouse is the Monopoly hotel, with a guest house like a Monopoly house) .

As far as simplicity, I could not agree more. We rejected one architect because I felt his homes were not pared down enough, they looked like all the new construction homes here in Fairfield County. Complex roof line, lots of variety in windows. too many doodads and frills. It takes discipline to create beauty out of very simple forms, but that is what we are looking for. Although a U sounds contrived, the photo at the top of this post is not at all contrived. It would fit, but blown up to a 2 story, it prob would not fit.

We have no decisions to make in re materials. The uniformity on the island is so complete that you'd almost think it was a planned community. White cedar shake clad with red cedar shake roof. White cornerbords and window trim. My only exterior finish choice is the front door color....

http://www.dongardner.com/plan_details.aspx?pid=433

this is a L shape? house plan that we thought about building at one point - would probably put a master on the first floor where the study is.

Here is a link that might be useful: don Gardner

Mtn, BTW, I know someone who has family in the area of this build (going back many generations). She gave me the name of two builders if you're interested...

Thanks, Archie.

Chris, yes ... I would really appreciate it! I think my email works if you dont want to post it here for any reason.

Thank you so much!

Take a look at the life dream house designed by Hugh Newell Jacobsen for a starting off point. Very simple farmhouse/modern look that I think would translate well to a beach house. In fact, I think he designed Jackie Onassis' house on Martha's Vineyard.

Here is a link that might be useful: Life dream house

Jacobsen's house is clearly a masterpiece of modern design. Keep in mind that it is a very complex and expensive house to build and heat/cool. There's a maximum of perimeter, foundation, siding, flooring and roofing. The vaulted ceilings make for wonderfully dramatic spaces, but require great care for insulation and sealing in order to strive for as tight, energy-efficient envelope as possible. HVAC distribution in this house is challenging, as the highly visible supply and return grilles demonstrate.

Houses that visually appear simple are often very complex to build and finish, often requiring builder skill far beyond that of the average spec-house builder.

If one has a high six-figure or seven-figure budget this would make a wonderful, light-filled house (in the right climate where the heat gain would not be overwhelming). I can't imagine many architects that wouldn't love the opportunity to design such a house. I suspect, however, that it will take a special owner to want a house like this.

Good luck on your project.