Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Feb 21, 2013 8:00 pm Where would you put North on this floorplan? I'm confusing myself with pros and cons of different locations. I would LOVE to hear anyone else's opinions?? Any other thoughts on the floor plan welcome also but am mostly interested in orientation. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Floorplan For Flickr by Em_Brisbane, on Flickr Thanks very much! I'm a new member and I suspect I'll be on here a lot over the next few years. Re: Where would you ideally put North on this floorplan?? 2Feb 21, 2013 8:23 pm I would probably have North at the top of the floor plan although there doesn't seem to be an obvious choice The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Where would you ideally put North on this floorplan?? 3Feb 21, 2013 8:26 pm Hi EmyN and welcome to the forum. I'm quite new myself and also deciding about orientation for our build. If you have the choice, I would put northern light coming in from the top, slightly to the right-hand side. That way it would stream in through the living and dining and light up the kitchen and also reach the master. The theatre would also receive some light if you wanted it at times. Having it at an angle might help shield the minor bedrooms from getting direct western sun. I'm no expert though as I just asked a similar question. There are many members with plenty of experience and knowledge. Best of luck Re: Where would you ideally put North on this floorplan?? 4Feb 21, 2013 8:45 pm It's not an ideal plan for passive solar orientation and also doesn't allow for much in the way of crossbreezes-but bashworth's suggestion probably makes the most sense. Deemaree Kyndylan Capers: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=46852 My blog: http://www.sufficientlysufficient.blogspot.com/ Re: Where would you ideally put North on this floorplan?? 5Feb 21, 2013 9:28 pm Deemaree It's not an ideal plan for passive solar orientation and also doesn't allow for much in the way of crossbreezes-but bashworth's suggestion probably makes the most sense. Thanks for the replies everyone! Deemaree can I please clarify what you mean by this? Would an "ideal" plan have all the living on one side, and all the bedrooms on the other?? Or more like some walls with few windows and the other walls with lots of windows? Also what do you mean about no crossbreezes? What kinds of house layout WOULD allow crossbreezes? Southern Highlander and Bashworth - about North at the top - it was my immediate thought too but then the sun would rise against the living/theatre area and then the hot setting sun would be on the bedrooms... is this not a bad thing? Our thoughts - what about flipping the plan horizontally and then North on the left (east at the top). This would mean the sun would flood the patio in the morning (we would do grand alfresco so the sun may not penetrate to main building) and then the setting sun would hit the garage and two bedrooms at the bottom... it would mean that North is where the "living" and "theatre" rooms were and we could do some nice big windows to try and get light in. Would that work at all? My concerns with this plan are that the living end would heat up during the morning (although I don't think this will be too severe as there are some trees to block some of the morning sun) and then would it be too dark in the living end in the afternoon?? Errr so confused! Thanks so much for the advice! Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=65085 Re: Where would you ideally put North on this floorplan?? 6Feb 21, 2013 10:31 pm Good call EmyN. Flipping, or mirroring seems your best option if going with this plan. BUT keep North at top Other things possibly worth considering; Drop one of the side windows in the Living Room, as they would then be on the West. Go for the absolute minimum Window size on the Theatre. ( West now also ) You want to have a Theatre dark, and minimum window size will also minimise your curtain costs. Finally, moving the Bedroom 3 window around to the East would help wake up the junior member!! It could be downsized the same as bed 2. Windows are costly items, but it depends on your builder whether they would pass on the savings they would see themselves. That's out of my scope, as I am doing OB .. Re: Where would you ideally put North on this floorplan?? 7Feb 22, 2013 6:34 am EmyN-without knowing exactly where you are building-for maximum passive solar orientation you would have main living areas on the Northern-side ( slightly skewed NE) with most window along there- with either deciduous trees or narrow pergola-this allows the low winter sun access and blocks the summer sun( which is higher in the sky). Bedrooms & utility rooms would be on the southern side. If you choose to have larger windows on this side then curtains are the best insulation in the cooler months for the windows. For effective cross breezes, then you need windows either side of the house-with minimal blackages between ( walls, rooms in the middle of the house etc). Minimise western windows and have shade which blocks the summer sun if you have western windows-the late afternoon sun in winter can be welcome. Light coloured roofs help cool a house & good insulation is a must. This is a brief synopsis and if you try the search function on here you should find more info. Deemaree Kyndylan Capers: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=46852 My blog: http://www.sufficientlysufficient.blogspot.com/ Re: Where would you ideally put North on this floorplan?? 8Feb 22, 2013 2:32 pm Thanks Deemaree, really helpful information! And thanks tezzab also, great thoughts about adjusting windows etc, I will have to ask the builder if they allow that and costs involved! Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=65085 Re: Where would you ideally put North on this floorplan?? 9Feb 22, 2013 3:47 pm Making some windows smaller is a good option as it also improves the overall insulation. See http://www.anewhouse.com.au/?p=727 With our builder reducing the windows was a no cost option. For all west facing windows I would look at a reflective film to keep the afternoon / Evening sun out. The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Where would you ideally put North on this floorplan?? 10Feb 22, 2013 8:38 pm ^^^ Depends where you live bashworth-that late afternoon sun is really welcome through the western windows in the winter here. Relective film blocks that. Deemaree Kyndylan Capers: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=46852 My blog: http://www.sufficientlysufficient.blogspot.com/ 2 6382 Bought in Nov 21 at the height of the market (classic). Good area, atrocious floor plan. BUT has land out to the left-hand side that we can extend out on (see second… 0 8729 Thanks mate. Yeah good points! Leaning towards Option 3 to get a bit extra space in the cabinets but not going too crazy high (and expensive). Would require a mini… 13 39457 |