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Building a Home Flooring Design Dilemma

the X-shaped house - a gorgious novelty or a fad? pros & cons

6 years ago

Hello Houzzers :) we decided to build a house and we have a dilemma now - whether the X-shaped house designed by our architect isn't too exaggerated? Please see the floor plan below and have a look at our list of pros & cons. We'll greatefull for any opinion you can share with us :)

Our pros:

1) the entry corridor - pretty wide with a high ceiling and a view to the garden through the window at the end; creates a "bufor" between a garage and the house itself

2) dinning area - close to the kitchen, nice view to the garden through a big window

3) sitting room - directed to the south so we can have sunlight even in the wintertime, corner window can become a cosy sitting zone for quiet reading

4) master bedroom and laundry both on ground floor so we can live without going upstairs

5) entersol (balcony open to the sitting room) - nice view and communication with a ground floor, nice place for work with a laptop or reading without separating from family

6) bathroom

Our cons:

1) the entry corridor - difficult and expensive to heat

2) dinning area - between kitchen and the rest of the house - communication can be more difficult

3) sitting room - might be too high and spacious and not cosy at all, difficult to heat and it can be constantly cold inside (sitting only with a blanket on)

5) entersol - high, open can be cold, all mess will be seen, generates additional metres that are not really useful

6) bathroom - difficult triange shape, have to with the toilet because of lack of the space

Featured Answer

PRO

Virgil Carter Fine Art

6 years ago

Actually...if one looks at the sun diagram, and then looks at the floor plan, one finds that the Living Room has large windows oriented to the south, and on the westerly side of the living room there are simply two small windows, separated from one another by a large, solid wall, making the westerly sun a minor issue.

And...how many plans have we seen submitted here on this forum with a sun/site diagram included? That, in and of itself, is remarkable.

Like all strong designs, this design is not for everyone. We must assume that the OP and their architect worked closely together and the design is for them and their lifestyle. I think it's a remarkable design.

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Comments (68)

palimpsest
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I would be concerned with the entryway being right under the valley of two roofs.

I don't understand the master bath layout.

I've always lived where orientation of the house was dictated by the lot or the street.

Otherwise I like it pretty much.
doc5md
6 years ago
I love it.

I hate it.

I just don’t know here. It is so very interesting. Definitely creative talent by the designer. I need to stare at it all more.
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smitrovich
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Extremely well thought out design–I love it! Can't wait to see the progress.
Joanna Shepard thanked smitrovich
pink_peony
6 years ago
As someone who doesn’t like hallways this doesn’t appeal to me. When i look at this plan all i see are hallways everywhere and to me that equals wasted space.
Joanna Shepard thanked pink_peony
User
6 years ago
+1
Suru
6 years ago
It seems like the garage door is a little too close to the entry door. And the entry seems very small.
Joanna Shepard thanked Suru
Jennifer Koe
6 years ago
It's interesting, for sure! It also strikes me as church-looking - the newer churches specifically. But that depends on where you live, I guess.

My biggest criticism of the elevation is the front entry. It's hidden and buried and visually secondary, which to me, makes the home feel less inviting and approachable. Again, a personal preference, and entirely dependent upon what the neighboring homes look like.

Good luck with your build!
Joanna Shepard thanked Jennifer Koe
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Wait a minute!! The aerial image is dated "23 rd June 2018"! Are you from the future?
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
6 years ago
What were the PowerBall winning numbers for 7 February 2018?
summersrhythm_z6a
6 years ago
Only one car garage?
User
6 years ago
I'm getting the impression this house/site isn't in the USA. True? If it's outside the USA, a one-car garage makes a lot of sense.

I really like the design and would happily live here.
nhbaskets
6 years ago
Found this [additional post[(https://www.houzz.com.au/discussions/the-x-house-opinion-needed-dsvw-vd~5068413) from the OP. Home would be in Central Europe. Post also explains the time traveling aerial images.
worthy
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
All that attention to the home's relationship to the sun and neighbouring dwellings along with the assumption that the owners weren't set on typical shapes. It'll never make any American parade of homes.
MotherOfGiants
6 years ago
I suspect most of the comments on size are probably from posters from North America, where there are different expectations of size.

This is an amazing design, and I say that someone who's not a huge fan of modern. No matter the style, well-done design endures... and to my eye, this is exceedingly well done.
Joanna Shepard thanked MotherOfGiants
cpartist
6 years ago
Ok maybe I'm missing something but to me it appears that late afternoon the sun will be baking the OP in the kitchen and dining room. Late afternoon the sun will be less intense in the living area, but it will still be adding lower light into the windows?
Joanna Shepard thanked cpartist
PRO
Virgil Carter Fine Art
6 years ago
Yep!...missed that window...that's gonna be a sun blaster...will need a 300-year old Oak outside that window!
palimpsest
6 years ago
If you have windows on all four sides of the house, something has to face primarily west. If the sun is that strong, this could be modulated with a brise soliel or plantings or something, couldn't it?
PRO
MDLN
6 years ago
Would love to see it IRL. Great to see a good, unique design.
User
6 years ago
According to the aerial photo, there may well be a 300-year-old oak (or other trees of the same age) outside that window. I had a HUGE west-facing window in my house in Germany and I loved it. It only got hot about two weeks out of the year, so it was a non-issue. I did have curtains that I could draw when the light through that window caused glare (or heat), but it was rare I had to.
Joanna Shepard thanked User
Wendy
6 years ago
I really like the design. I find it intriguing and well thought out. The sun diagram is really great to include. Depending on the elevation of the house, trees can help or even a simple solar shade can do the trick. We have mostly south and north facing windows at our house and are surrounded by trees but still need solar shades during days when the sun is lower in the sky. If you are building from scratch, include shade pockets and low voltage shade wiring in the project up front for a clean integrated look.
Joanna Shepard thanked Wendy
homechef59
6 years ago
I don't like having to cross the kitchen/dining area to get to the living area. But, if you flipped them, you would have to cross the living room to get to the kitchen. I don't know how you would solve that dilemma.

Interesting to view a residence that does not have the North American need to acquire and amass loads of "stuff".
Joanna Shepard thanked homechef59
PRO
User
6 years ago
Original and exciting!
Joanna Shepard thanked User
beckysharp Reinstate SW Unconditionally
6 years ago
"the X-shaped house - a gorgious novelty or a fad?"

Definitely not a fad, and possibly gorgeous novelty. But more a very custom, individualized answer to your family's and your lot's particular circumstances. Good luck on your new adventure!
Joanna Shepard thanked beckysharp Reinstate SW Unconditionally
bluesanne
6 years ago
I love the geometry of this house...Pythagoras would be pleased.
Too often angled walls create awkward, wasted spaces. Here, the non-square spaces make sense and add to rather than detract from pleasant living.

Assuming that a minimum of trees need to be removed for construction, I don't believe direct sun will be a big problem here. Will a house be built on the property next door, or is that a green space?
Joanna Shepard thanked bluesanne
Hamma
6 years ago
As an example, It has been done before, and the results were quite striking, in my opinion...

"X House is an X-shaped house built into the side of a steep hill on the outskirts of Barcelona, Spain. Designed by Cadaval & Solà-Morales, the 2-story residence was designed around several site restraints and desires of the homeowners like wanting to maximize the views of the sea and the mountains on opposite sides, needing access to the house from the street, and saving a pine tree that was at the top of the lot."

More here:

https://design-milk.com/an-x-shaped-house-in-spain-by-cadaval-sola-morales/
Hamma
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Just as a side note, but "the grass is always greener"...Having moved to North America from overseas a while ago, I haven't stopped enjoying the vastness of spaces here. Even the sky is different. It's big and flat. No one told me about that one before. Visiting busy cities with narrow one-way cobblestone streets could be quite charming, but when it comes to actually living there...suffocating. Your neighbours know what you're having for dinner sort of thing. I feel blessed and very thankful to be in a house that I live in now. Its size allowed me to fill it with two of my biggest obsessions: books and art. Unimaginable (in these quantities) back home. But perhaps I fell into the proverbial mouse trap. Who knows...
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
6 years ago
"Found this [additional post[(https://www.houzz.com.au/discussions/the-x-house-opinion-needed-dsvw-vd~5068413) from the OP. Home would be in Central Europe. Post also explains the time traveling aerial images."

Darn!
Joanna Shepard thanked Mark Bischak, Architect
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
6 years ago
Thank god it won’t make a US parade of homes I love it . Good architect that can think past mcmansion
Joanna Shepard thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
Joanna Shepard
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you Mark for your opinion. This is our second preliminary project and our second architect and we hope it's the last one. As some noticed, we worked closely with the architect and he designed a project that suits all our needs. It's unusual in shape, but the building land is demanding. After listening to the "Undercover Architect" podcast we understand how the process of a project creating should look like, and that also we - investors - have to prepare for a meeting with the architect. Now we know how important is the sun and noon, that's why I added the aerial image (in the middle of the summer) so everyone sees and can share his/her opinion. The only thing that prevents us from starting, is the budget - the unusual shape dictates higher rates for the building. On top of that, the unusual shape is.... well, unusual and for sure will be outstanding in the neighbourhood - not sure if the building will fit well (as it's already mentioned).
Joanna Shepard
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you, everyone, for valuable comments - we really appreciate this.

The house might be built (the decision is still under discussion) in Central Europe.

@tphilly - yes, indeed we spend a lot of time with the architect and now the project really suits us. Next door, there's a duplex from the 80ties, however opposite there's a nice American-like house, and in the north, there's a nice contemporary house. Our architect who walked over the building ground said it's will OK, we're still thinking (also the building cost are higher than we expected).

@everdebz - we will think over the toilet location. The main concern now is it's size and shape + angle when reaching the kitchen.

@Diana Mears - we need more heating - cooling is only for 2-4 weeks in the year. We were discussing the heat pump and we'll take into consideration again.

@cpartist - yes, indeed the rooms upstairs are pretty small, but 2 of them will be kids' rooms and they probably won't spend much time there, as above the garage there'll fitness room, and of course, the family life will be downstairs. The 3rd room is for visitors - only to sleep over the night.

@PirateFoxy - we already asked for alternative master bath layout - the one is simply not acceptable.

@ Kristin S - we spend a lot of time on houzz and archdaily and when we saw the project we both said: Yey, it's great and look fantastic. Anyway, now we need to be a bit more down to Earth and think over the budget.

@pink_peony - I also have this mixed feeling - on one hand I like that it's spacious, but on the other hand, hallways are everywhere and you don't live in hallways. But the do the ambience in this case, I think.

@suru11 and Jennifer Koe - that's what my husband says - we will talk about it with the architect - the entry door should be welcoming!

@summersrhytm_z6a - one garage for one car + 2 motorbikes and an additional one for 2 cars as a standalone reachable directly from the street.
Joanna Shepard
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you Virgil Carter Fine Art for your opinion! I'll share it with our architect. We listened to all podcasts of the "Undercover Architect" and we now know that the sun, the location and the neighbourhood do matters and even the way how you enter the building ground, that's why I included all this information. We plan to have some sun shades on that particular window - however, these will be needed probably for 2-4 weeks a year, in the other time of the year (especially in the winter time) we will really appreciate any sun from those south and western windows.

On top of that, there's an approx. 100 year old oak and few younger.
PRO
Summit Studio Architects
6 years ago
What a pleasure to see what can be done when the clients and architect start with strong site analysis and needs assessment. Great project!
beckysharp Reinstate SW Unconditionally
6 years ago
I thought I'd look up the Undercover Architect podcast mentioned by Joanna. If anyone else is interested, here's the link to architect Amelia Lee's website,

"Undercover Architect" podcast
cpartist
6 years ago
@cpartist - yes, indeed the rooms upstairs are pretty small, but 2 of them will be kids' rooms and they probably won't spend much time there, as above the garage there'll fitness room, and of course, the family life will be downstairs. The 3rd room is for visitors - only to sleep over the night.

Joanna, it wasn't me who had a problem with the size of the bedrooms upstairs. I don't. I think they are fine for the size of the house. My questions were the following. And they weren't asked of you, but of the architects on the forum since those things always come up anyways.

Why is this house so wonderful when the upstairs bedrooms only have a single window in each bedroom?

Also it looks tight in the master bath?

And the entry foyer is only 51" wide?

Overall, I think the house is fun and different and will be wonderful with all the light and views.
Joanna Shepard thanked cpartist
Joanna Shepard
Original Author
6 years ago
The architect changed the master bedroom layout and now it looks as below.

Unfortunately, the architect doesn't feel kitchens at all so that's what we chose - we'll have to work with some "kitchen" specialist on it.

And here's the winter sun diagram:
Joanna Shepard
Original Author
6 years ago
Apologies - kitchen is here:
KD
6 years ago
The new bathroom looks kind of cramped. Do you need a toilet and a bidet? (I’m assuming that’s what that is.) If you could go with one of the toilets with a washlet seat that you can get these days, that would give a little extra room.
PRO
Virgil Carter Fine Art
6 years ago
The OP is in Europe, you know!
Joanna Shepard
Original Author
6 years ago
And here's how we imagine the sitting room with the entresol. The view is from the mezzanine with a glass handrail and we want the roof to stay original with wooden bars. Anyway, I'm afraid a bit it won't be cosy but high and spacious and as mentioned before cold (warm air goes up and cold stays down) - the ceiling in the highest point will be 6 metres high (167 ft).
Joanna Shepard
Original Author
6 years ago
We also plan use the space in kids room for mezzanines as shown here:

https://www.houzz.com/photos/the-larch-house-contemporary-kids-gloucestershire-phvw-vp~14264081

or here:

https://www.houzz.com/photos/kingston-upon-thames-surrey-traditional-bedroom-london-phvw-vp~18982745
kirkhall
6 years ago
Is it correct that you are in an area that never entertains outside? If not correct, how do you envision outside entertainment to be situated? Backyard access? (this is just difficult for me to see in the plan. Is there a back door?)
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
6 years ago

https://www.pinterest.com/ritaharder/hugh-newell-jacobsen/?lp=true
just_janni
6 years ago
I am absolutely captivated with the determined contemplation and wide stance (US joke) of the toilet / bidet by the 2D floor plan occupant.
cpartist
6 years ago
That master bath still seems very tight for all that you have in it. It's only 7.7 feet wide. I personally would rather have a single sink and a single toilet so it feels a bit more spacious.
User
6 years ago
A bidet is a wonderful thing.
KD
6 years ago
Which is why I mentioned the washlet option. Bidet functionality on your toilet, less floor space required! The bathroom as it is looks cramped and annoying to clean. Yes, European spaces tend to do more with less square footage than we do in the US, but that doesn’t mean cramming everything in is a good idea. If the standalone bidet stays, then I think the bathroom would benefit from being a touch bigger.
summersrhythm_z6a
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Just want to point it out, obesity rate is much higher here than Europe, so we might have different views on bathroom sizes. It may not be cramped at all for them....... :-) To me there is no need to have large bathrooms, it's an unnecessary expense to have a huge bathroom unless you are living in the bathroom.......
User
6 years ago
That bathroom is MORE THAN big enough to be comfortable and functional. Americans (in general) have a propensity to make things too big for whatever reason.

That's why I'm constantly harping on the "bigger is not necessarily better" in house design. We are hoping to have between 800 and 1,000sf in our next home, and we DON'T need all the storage space the people here (in general) scream for.
KD
6 years ago
I’ve lived in Europe. There are no magical changes to physics in Europe that make it possible for people to pass each other comfortably in a narrow space, or that make it easier to clean around the fixtures in a cramped space. People in Europe are used to putting up with tiny stuff because that’s what they’ve had, especially with older building stock where a bathroom may well have been added in whatever space was available. (One of my first homes in England was originally built with just an outhouse, which remained in the backyard.)

In places where there is more space, bathrooms do tend to sprawl much more than they need to, but I’m suggesting making an extra couple of square feet of space, not adding a whole new wing for the bathroom. I don’t really see the point of spending all the money it takes to build a brand new home designed thoughtfully by an architect but then not do better than what technically fits in the bathroom.

You don’t have to follow all of them, but the NKAB guidelines on space for people to use fixtures in the bathrooms and move around the space aren’t pulled out of thin air, they’re based on ergonomics and how people use spaces. They’re worth reading and understanding.

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