Lot Pics/Placement Help

10 years ago

See lot picture
I'd love your ideas and suggestions about placement of the house on our lot. It's a large rectangle which leaves huge side yards available, but not much space for a back yard that actually feels like a backyard . Some things to note: We don't have a final floor plan yet, suppose to start that process with the architect in the next two weeks.

As of now we (the builder/architect, yes he's a REAL architect) feel the best location for the driveway will be the rock road to the right. The house will face the main St. (South) In order to build a driveway off the front street we'd have to build a large culvert since it's a fairly large "ditch" off the road to my flat land. That's $$$$ anyway.

While I have ideas on floor plans (Planning 4 BR one story, 3K-3300K SF.) 2 Kids, 10 & 5, this is in North Texas, Dallas Area.

What I'm struggling with is the placement of where to put the house, considering direction/sun placements, the headlights that will come down the road that curves left, etc. Of course my builder will help me with this, but you guys have great perspective and think of something I'm not thinking about. I'd love to angle the house somehow to have some sort of division of what is "back yard"/ front yard. Maybe I'll just have to get used to front yard and side yard.

I wrote this up really quickly, gotta run to pick up my kids. Be back soon to answer any questions. Just fire away with all your thoughts that pertain to sun direction, parents house, back yard, etc. Thanks !

Featured Answer

PRO

Virgil Carter Fine Art

10 years ago

Is Rock Road a public or private road. Having lived for some time on a gravel county road, all I can tell you is never again. Your cars will take a pounding. The curve in Main Road is a limitation against a drive and access to the middle of your property, but it seems obvious that you could locate an access drive toward either corner of your property along the front property line. My early choice for access would be the southwest corner of your property, adjacent to your parent's house.

As far as placement of your house, it really depends on the overall configuration and concept for the design. You have plenty of room, however. The major initial concern which I see is that the front of your lot is very open to view, and I would want all the "public" spaces, i.e., living, dining, etc., to face the rear of the lot where privacy could be maintained, and where indoor-outdoor spaces could be developed together and maintain privacy from the street.

Besides visual privacy, at night, auto headlights will be illuminating your house façade and the rooms facing Main Street. So you will want to take that into consideration in the design and positioning of your house, plus in the design of your landscaping.

Good luck on your project!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

PRO
Virgil Carter Fine Art
10 years ago
Do you have back and side setback lines?
Lindsy
10 years ago
20' set back on back and sides
Related Professionals
Washington Architects & Building Designers · McAllen Architects & Building Designers · Champaign Architects & Building Designers · Albany Architects & Building Designers · Canton Architects & Building Designers · Madison Design-Build Firms · Brooklyn Design-Build Firms · Wausau Design-Build Firms · Belleville Home Builders · Memphis Home Builders · Auburn Home Builders · Albert Lea Home Builders · Durango Home Builders · Sarnia Home Builders · Sanford Home Builders
Lindsy
10 years ago
The Gravel Road is actually white rock road which I hate and at first was a firm no on driving on it at all, but I can't think of a better solution really...
Lindsy
10 years ago
Virgil, yes Rock Rd is private road, already have permission though. No HOA and out of city limits. County won't pave the road.. The SW corner was my original thought of driveway placement. However, I was thinking I may prefer the garage to not be to their side, mainly because my husband and I both work at the business they own. Sometimes I may sneak in the office late or meet the husband for a quick lunch . While it's not like a huge deal work wise, it would just be nice knowing they didn't always know if I was home or not. Yes, obviously they could walk to the other side to see, but they wouldn't. And with a garage there they couldn't miss the view. Silly reason? Maybe. But then the culvert was brought up. I don't know how expensive it would be or if there is a different solution, my mom just said it was expensive. Even with a driveway at Southwest corner, I don't see how we could get it to make the house centered around the lot. It seems like the house will be on one side or the other of the lot and I'm having a hard time thinking it would look cohesive... I really am typing all my thoughts so sorry if it's long..

But yes to the main areas of the house would be on the North side with the head lights taken into consideration. It's a small subdivision, less than 28 houses all on over an acre. I have the smallest lot. Most are 3-4 acre lots. The traffic is mainly school hours as its used as a cross thru Rd. Other times it's not really that busy of a road. (the main Rd) the Rd in front of my parents dead ends after two more homes.

Can anyone think of a certain angle of direction that would look good? Or nix the angle since my builders have said it's more $$. Or think an L shaped design could help bring the whole lot "together" I trust my architect to come up with a great plan once we start brainstorming, but I just want to feel like I exhausted all options as far as the placement before making a decision.
PRO
Virgil Carter Fine Art
10 years ago
Well, you obviously have a lot more to sort through than just a site analysis and home design! Siting and designing a custom home is not about "a certain angle", it's really about a thorough site analysis, combined with your functional requirements, your budget (neither of which you haven't described) and a lot of creativity and experience. There's not much anyone here can add until there is something more specific to see and evaluate. You and your architect need to start the process and see where it leads. Hopefully s/he isn't a captive architect of the builder and won't propose a "standard" plan the builder has already built, but rather something tailored to the site, your needs versus your wants and your budget. Good luck!