Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jun 25, 2014 3:26 pm Hi Everyone,
Most of the times the East and North facing lots are given much of love. My lot if West facing ( front is west facing) and is a narrow lot. (13m wide and 30 m long). We will be making a 11.16 metre wide and 21.5 metre around double garage single story house on it. I wanted to ask if we need to take few precautions in home designs? I have gone to few builders and they don't give much of ideas. Few things I know are: 1. Living room to be North Side. 2. 2 Bedrooms at the back ( east side windows), so they will have some sun in the morning. 3. Kitchen next to living area, so will be in South side of house and window opening towards that side as well. 4. one of the bedroom will be towards South and window opening at same side as well. Most of the houses have master broom in front which I cannot change which means lots of sun in the afternoon. Might have to fit in shade or plants outside. Any experiences or suggestions are welcome. Edit: Added the picture of a design on our lot. Front of the house is at the bottom. BAck retaining wall will be quite high ( over 10 feet), which I saw recently when visited the site . http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae8/Gaggy08/IMG_20140625_212724_zps7fd7d6ad.jpg Re: Design ideas for West facing Lot 2Jun 25, 2014 3:40 pm By west facing - do you mean the back of the block is facing west ? This is not an issue if the house is sited the right way. House can be flipped - in various way - so the initial plan means little in some ways. Garage wall to west can be useful - no window. Also - utilities. But agree - living is often best if facing north. I like the sun waking me - but not everyone does. Re: Design ideas for West facing Lot 3Jun 25, 2014 4:45 pm Saint Mike By west facing - do you mean the back of the block is facing west ? Sorry for the confusion. The front of the lot is west facing. Back is east facing. Re: Design ideas for West facing Lot ( West in front) 4Jun 25, 2014 5:45 pm The sun may not get into your kitchen but if your living areas are north facing that will be lovely. Just remember if you put an alfresco under the roofline on the north side it can reduce the sun to your living areas in Winter. You could also consider a skylight if you are worried a plot any areas that may be dark. Re: Design ideas for West facing Lot 5Jun 25, 2014 5:46 pm Gaggy Saint Mike By west facing - do you mean the back of the block is facing west ? Sorry for the confusion. The front of the lot is west facing. Back is east facing. Oh - well that shouldn't be a real problem. If you have the house to the right of the block you'd have the back facing east and the left facing north. Things to remember: - sun is higher in summer so won't be a problem if you have eaves etc. But in winter it will come into the outside area - warming the area. This is a real plus. We face north at rear and can sit outside all year round. People across the road won't go outside most days - at the rear. - west to the front - so that's garage face and front of house - maybe one bedroom. I'd have my outside area on the n/e corner. If the house is the other way round on the plan - you can flip it. Mirror reverse it. Many houses are built in modules - so you can move parts about. I'd get the block plan and the house and start to play around with it. If its the wrong way around - flip it over and see how that looks. Garage has to be at front of course, but left side can become right. Hope that makes sense. - TV/media room maybe on the right side (ie south - no sun). Re: Design ideas for West facing Lot ( West in front) 6Jun 25, 2014 6:47 pm Narrow, east/west blocks are arguably the best orientation because this allows for maximal sun penetration in winter. You just need to remember, garage west, pref north-west, living north. Kitchen east is unlikely but not a huge problem, put an alfresco north east for your morning coffee in the sun. Majority of windows north and you are set. Re: Design ideas for West facing Lot ( West in front) 7Jun 25, 2014 9:28 pm MadamImAdam Narrow, east/west blocks are arguably the best orientation because this allows for maximal sun penetration in winter. You just need to remember, garage west, pref north-west, living north. Kitchen east is unlikely but not a huge problem, put an alfresco north east for your morning coffee in the sun. Majority of windows north and you are set. Thanks Adam. I like the idea of having Alfresco towards North East and it makes perfect sense. Good food for thought Re: Design ideas for West facing Lot 8Jun 25, 2014 9:39 pm Saint Mike - sun is higher in summer so won't be a problem if you have eaves etc. But in winter it will come into the outside area - warming the area. This is a real plus. We face north at rear and can sit outside all year round. People across the road won't go outside most days - at the rear. - west to the front - so that's garage face and front of house - maybe one bedroom. I'd have my outside area on the n/e corner. Hope that makes sense. - TV/media room maybe on the right side (ie south - no sun). Thanks Saint for some real good ideas. I will make sure we will move the lot towards north. We dont have much space and will leave only .91 metre on each side. Few of the designs are narrow. I was thinking earlier to expand to the maximum allowed. Now I will try to move it south direction so that we have more space towards north and a bit far from the neighbouring house. Alfresco needs to be done towards North as well. Re: Design ideas for West facing Lot ( West in front) 9Jun 25, 2014 10:22 pm This link will show you how far your north facing windows will need to be from fences etc to make the most out of the winter sun. http://www.anewhouse.com.au/2012/01/winter-sun/ 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: Design ideas for West facing Lot ( West in front) 10Jun 25, 2014 11:26 pm bashworth This link will show you how far your north facing windows will need to be from fences etc to make the most out of the winter sun. http://www.anewhouse.com.au/2012/01/winter-sun/ Thanks. But that website was blocked bybanti virus for having identity threats. Re: Design ideas for West facing Lot ( West in front) 11Jun 26, 2014 1:30 am Yeah you're right, blocks with northern frontages get a lot of loving. Real estate agents are always talking them up, I don't know why. That would be my least favourite aspect. Most of the northern light blocked by a massive double garage door. My favourite aspect would probably be a western frontage, where the garage will block hot afternoon sunshine in summer time. Pity if you'll have to have the master bed at the front, as it will get hot. If you must have a bedroom at the front - and you're having a spare bedroom - this would be a better place for it. 13m is quite narrow, but not too bad. I totally agree with Saint Mike, I'd move the dwelling to the southern side of the block, to maximise northern sunshine. Bashworth makes a good point about determining how shading will affect your house. Is there a house built to the north of your block, is it single or double story? If there's not a house, will there be one in the future? Google Sketchup has a great shadow analysis tool which will help determine how your house will be effected by shading. Draw up a plan of your northerly neighbours dwelling, or the maximum size of a complying dwelling, then see what shadows will be cast on your block. Obviously it's best to have living areas, along with a high proportion of your glazing, facing north. However, if you have a large 2 storey dwelling on a small block tucked up close to your northern boundary, you may have privacy issues. If this is the case you may also want also want some of your living areas to face east, towards the rear of your block. As rear setbacks are much larger than side setbacks you're much less likely to be staring straight at a neighbours wall or window when you look towards the rear of your block. Better to utilise the more private areas for living areas not for bedrooms. So I'd recommend having your bedrooms along the southern side of your house, living areas to the N & NE. As joannek mentions, if you have a N facing alfresco it will rob your living areas of valuable northern sunshine. I'd have it east facing, adjoining the kitchen, a great sunny place for morning breakfasts. Also these large E facing eaves will protect your house from summer morning sunshine. If you end up with a narrow build, & decide to have your northern living areas towards the rear of the house, you may want to consider having the entrance on the side of the house, to the north. This would stop you from having a long entrance hallway. If you find that you can't get an acceptable amount of unshaded northern glazing you could consider north facing clerstory windows down the centre of the build. A couple of these ideas are moving into custom build territory, so mightn't be appropriate for you situation. Re: Design ideas for West facing Lot ( West in front) 12Jun 26, 2014 8:10 am ddarroch Yeah you're right, blocks with northern frontages get a lot of loving. Real estate agents are always talking them up, I don't know why. That would be my least favourite aspect. Most of the northern light blocked by a massive double garage door. My favourite aspect would probably be a western frontage, where the garage will block hot afternoon sunshine in summer time. Pity if you'll have to have the master bed at the front, as it will get hot. If you must have a bedroom at the front - and you're having a spare bedroom - this would be a better place for it. 13m is quite narrow, but not too bad. I totally agree with Saint Mike, I'd move the dwelling to the southern side of the block, to maximise northern sunshine. Bashworth makes a good point about determining how shading will affect your house. Is there a house built to the north of your block, is it single or double story? If there's not a house, will there be one in the future? Google Sketchup has a great shadow analysis tool which will help determine how your house will be effected by shading. Draw up a plan of your northerly neighbours dwelling, or the maximum size of a complying dwelling, then see what shadows will be cast on your block. Obviously it's best to have living areas, along with a high proportion of your glazing, facing north. However, if you have a large 2 storey dwelling on a small block tucked up close to your northern boundary, you may have privacy issues. If this is the case you may also want also want some of your living areas to face east, towards the rear of your block. As rear setbacks are much larger than side setbacks you're much less likely to be staring straight at a neighbours wall or window when you look towards the rear of your block. Better to utilise the more private areas for living areas not for bedrooms. So I'd recommend having your bedrooms along the southern side of your house, living areas to the N & NE. As joannek mentions, if you have a N facing alfresco it will rob your living areas of valuable northern sunshine. I'd have it east facing, adjoining the kitchen, a great sunny place for morning breakfasts. Also these large E facing eaves will protect your house from summer morning sunshine. If you end up with a narrow build, & decide to have your northern living areas towards the rear of the house, you may want to consider having the entrance on the side of the house, to the north. This would stop you from having a long entrance hallway. If you find that you can't get an acceptable amount of unshaded northern glazing you could consider north facing clerstory windows down the centre of the build. A couple of these ideas are moving into custom build territory, so mightn't be appropriate for you situation. Thanks dd for such brief explanation. Unfortunately at this stage I dont know what build will be on my north. I will try to post the design we liked on lot map. Secondly do you recon to face alfresco towards south north, currently it is towards north east next to living. I liked your idea of having clerstory windows. We are building single story. Re: Design ideas for West facing Lot ( West in front) 13Jun 26, 2014 9:51 am Our master bed is facing West - it is fantastic now it the winter... lovely and warm in there in the afternoon. My build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=68002 Re: Design ideas for West facing Lot ( West in front) 14Jun 26, 2014 12:00 pm Burnsfirsttime Our master bed is facing West - it is fantastic now it the winter... lovely and warm in there in the afternoon. Yes, it will feel great in the winters. Summers will be a bit of problem. That might be resolved by either putting shutters or planting summer plants/trees in front window. Re: Design ideas for West facing Lot ( West in front) 15Jun 26, 2014 12:07 pm Added a desgin to the lot to give better picture of what we are discussing here. Front of the house is west faced. Re: Design ideas for West facing Lot ( West in front) 16Jun 26, 2014 12:14 pm You can make use of all aspects - and even west is good. Living is best for north imo - but clearly when an agent uses aspect as a plus he means this - not the front of the house/garage - surely ... If you must have west to living - good use of shade can still be done. Veranda, louvers, awning etc. Just keep the idea in your mind and try to utilise the aspect as best you can. Re: Design ideas for West facing Lot ( West in front) 17Jun 26, 2014 1:38 pm Saint Mike an agent uses aspect as a plus he means this - not the front of the house/garage - surely ... True. But some do say North facing properties are good. The lots facing east and north are somehow more expensive in the pricelist and sold before others. Yes, we will take note of all recommendations mentioned here. From the design, we will move Alfresco a bit further to allow more room in living room. Unfortunately Master broom cannot be altered, so will have to see alternatives like high windows ( not sure if that will be a good idea in front) and planting some summer plans/trees to provide shade in summer. This is one more design from Allworth which we liked and has living area as suggested. Liked the location of media room and bathroom in the south. One bedroom will be left south facing, but rest looks fine. Few suggested not to have Alfresco in front of Living room. But I could not move it as the other bedrooms. My backside showed retaining wall is quite high.Around 10 feet or more. Not sure if bedrooms or alfresco with 4 metres away ( 12 feet approx.) from the 10 feet high (+ approx 5 feet fence) retaining wall will have any sun light. Will try to use google sketchup as DD suggested. It did not seem that challenging when I bought the lot Re: Design ideas for West facing Lot ( West in front) 18Jun 26, 2014 1:53 pm Gaggy Burnsfirsttime Our master bed is facing West - it is fantastic now it the winter... lovely and warm in there in the afternoon. Yes, it will feel great in the winters. Summers will be a bit of problem. That might be resolved by either putting shutters or planting summer plants/trees in front window. Yeah but in the summer you aren't hiding out in your bedroom, you are sitting out on the alfresco enjoying the evenings with a drink in hand So a hot bedroom has cooled by the time you go to bed My build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=68002 Re: Design ideas for West facing Lot ( West in front) 19Jun 26, 2014 2:18 pm Gaggy Saint Mike an agent uses aspect as a plus he means this - not the front of the house/garage - surely ... True. But some do say North facing properties are good. The lots facing east and north are somehow more expensive in the pricelist and sold before others. Yes, we will take note of all recommendations mentioned here. From the design, we will move Alfresco a bit further to allow more room in living room. Unfortunately Master broom cannot be altered, so will have to see alternatives like high windows ( not sure if that will be a good idea in front) and planting some summer plans/trees to provide shade in summer. This is one more design from Allworth which we liked and has living area as suggested. Liked the location of media room and bathroom in the south. One bedroom will be left south facing, but rest looks fine. Few suggested not to have Alfresco in front of Living room. But I could not move it as the other bedrooms. My backside showed retaining wall is quite high.Around 10 feet or more. Not sure if bedrooms or alfresco with 4 metres away ( 12 feet approx.) from the 10 feet high (+ approx 5 feet fence) retaining wall will have any sun light. Will try to use google sketchup as DD suggested. It did not seem that challenging when I bought the lot They may - but they are wrong. Having a north facing block - ie the front - is a bit silly imo. The rear is the key to facing north. your house - front facing west - looks pretty good to me. Although the main BR cld get a tad hot on summer nights. Your family room is ideal - and if you ever got a pool it would be good outside the FM - ie get north sun all day and late W sun. I might consider a window in the main BR north wall. Also - perhaps a few long thin windows on west side - not one big large window. Would look good and would cut sun. I mean thin rectangular - running down the wall - maybe 2 or even 3. Design/look from front would be nice. Alfresco is almost perfect - not large but sited well imo. Re: Design ideas for West facing Lot ( West in front) 20Jun 29, 2014 1:25 pm Saint Mike I might consider a window in the main BR north wall. Also - perhaps a few long thin windows on west side - not one big large window. Would look good and would cut sun. I mean thin rectangular - running down the wall - maybe 2 or even 3. Design/look from front would be nice. Alfresco is almost perfect - not large but sited well imo. Thanks. Yes, I would definately consider the high windows. I like these . Will have to select the facade likewise as well. It might be a bit darker in the mornings but the light is still light, so you should be getting it. Similar to what you see from your western windows 3 20135 I recently finished my house and after landscaping, have begun to plan a fence. To be honest its been a bit of an afterthought so I'm after some much needed advice. The… 0 2096 Hi all, Need some ideas for my front yard. There are a few elements where the landscaping needs to take into account: There is a slight slope forward with steps going to… 0 1102 |