Making Plans ... Part 3
This is where we are going... read on.
So, for anyone just joining, here is the recap regarding the plans:
Ideas, sketches, more ideas, more sketches..
First Plan, refinement, muito - over budget, so...
Adapted Plan - not followed.
New Plan....
New Plan ideas, sketches, ideas, refinement... changes, refinement... you get the idea.
Finished Plan. Approval.
The New Plan
So, after being knocked back on the main plan due to over-budget, and finding the adapted plan a bit lacking, I was pretty despondent. But never fear.
My project manager showed me a property under construction when I was over on Faial in 2016. It was a bit of a shell at this stage, just a foundation and some walls, no roof; the property was being built for a guy named Soren. At this stage I knew little else about Soren, except of course that this property 'under construction' was something that made me go ahead and buy the land and embark on the Azores build in the first place.
So, after the disappointment of the over-budget quote and realising that even the re-work of the plan was still pushing the finances (and was not what I had truly hoped for), my project manager suggested we take a look at Soren's plan.
Soren had literally just moved into his new home on Fail; yes, the one I saw under construction a year and a half ago. Even better, we had a firm price on the build of that property. It was also designed by my architect, so came from the same brilliant stable of designs.
Soren's finished house. An impressive elevation He's now living there after moving all his worldly belongings. Happy guy for sure. Hoping to meet him and his partner on my next visit to the island, summer 2018.
Soren was happy to share his plans, and also my architect was happy for me to have the design (bearing in mind it is his intellectual property - you can't just 'nick' someones plans and ideas!). So they got e-mailed over to me to take a look at.
Soren's house was just the job... but of course I wanted the studio space, so I very, very slightly increased the floor area by a few square meters, bearing in mind my previous over indulgence. I also moved a few rooms around for my preference.
Here's my render of the new plan; based on Soren's but changed up a bit. Still got the nice big deck, some skylights moved to over the kitchen (as shown) and a porch over the entrance door.
It was quite easy to take Soren's floor plan and re-draw it in Chief Architect, make my adjustments and get these back to the architect so he could make the engineering drawings.
I tried a few ideas. For example moving the stairs into different positions; even making an outside staircase... which was unsuitable due to planning regulations. Soren's plan didn't have an entrance foyer - the front door opened straight into the living room - I changed this, mainly to make the house draught free in the cooler winter months. Not that it ever gets truly cold.
Here's a render I made, taken from the main entrance towards the living area and kitchen, showing the two skylights over the kitchen and the very large patio doors to the decking. Very light and spacious with great views over the land and in reality, towards the island of Pico.
Yes, anyone can draw a floor plan that looks pretty, but your architect is invaluable: they make sure that your design meets all of the legislation, and further, make sure that it is a design that will work and not fall down! A floor plan is not an architectural drawing. Be advised.
My architect informed me that because I had extended the plan, an extra supporting pillar would be required, as the span of one room was over 6 meters. This is proper engineering. He also asked me where I would like the pillar - we had a choice, and decided to put the pillar in a convenient position near the stairs, not blocking any view from the living area to kitchen. These sort of important discussions where conducted over Skype ... brilliant, if strange to start with, but within five minutes you forget you are miles away from each other.
Three west facing skylights shine afternoon and early evening sun into the living area, giving a bright and sunny space. Even in winter, this should provide warmth and light. The main entrance is under the stairs and so any draughts should be reduced; optionally doors or drapes can be fitted here. The upstairs studio mezzanine extends over the dining area.
Many of the features of the original plan where here in Soren's adapted plan: A mezzanine for the studio and guest sleeping space, a large open plan living area, kitchen and dining space, a reasonably spacious bedroom with a door opening onto a decked area, a dressing room leading to a shower and toilet. Also a nice front deck for sitting and eating; not as big as the first plan, but just as useful. Also Soren's plan made good use of skylights to give a light and airy feel. These of course have been retained, but re-positioned to my likes and the position of the property in relation to the sun. There are some nice large glass patio doors to the main decking. All good.
Here's my render from the dining area through to the living room. It gives a good impression of the space; certainly more than can be expected in most UK homes. Bear in mind that this is for what is essentially a one bed home! Luxury. Space to swing a cat. Check. The stairs are extra wide, so that they give good entrance space underneath as well as useful storage under. Support pillar not shown on this render (mentioned earlier), but it is at the side of the stairs.
And from the kitchen ... very open and light.
The bright and breezy bedroom with patio doors to the front garden and vegetable plot, with afternoon sunshine area decking. The doors on the right lead to a large dressing room which pass through to the en-suite shower room and toilet. Spacious due to the lack of clutter as little furniture is required as it is all built in to the dressing room.
The mezzanine studio, providing a music studio space and room for a futon bed and for general chilling out. To one roof line are three large skylights, illuminating the living area below, and on the other roof line two skylights illuminating the kitchen and mezzanine and giving views over the land from the studio. Top bollocks. Everyone needs a mezzanine.
Now to save time I'll tell you straight off that planning was granted after some small adjustments to the design. So all is good, and on we go... yay!
Next Up ... Building Starts!
