Why a single story?
A single story house has no stairs; it’s the most comfortable layout for older people, small children and wheelchair users. In return it needs a larger plot: the same area isn’t split over two floors but spread out on one.
Example: 3 bedroom villa, 127 m² net
| Space | Inside dimension | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Living + dining | 6.20 × 5.00 m | 31.0 m² |
| Main bedroom | 4.40 × 5.00 m | 22.0 m² |
| En suite bathroom | 2.80 × 2.60 m | 7.3 m² |
| Dressing room | 2.80 × 2.20 m | 6.2 m² |
| Kitchen | 4.20 × 3.40 m | 14.3 m² |
| Bedroom 2 | 3.00 × 3.40 m | 10.2 m² |
| Bedroom 3 | 2.80 × 3.40 m | 9.5 m² |
| Bathroom | 1.60 × 3.40 m | 5.4 m² |
| WC | 1.40 × 3.40 m | 4.8 m² |
| Hall | 13.80 × 1.20 m | 16.6 m² |
Day and night zones
When the living room and kitchen are grouped at one end of a single story house and the bedrooms at the other, nobody has to pass the bedrooms even when guests are over. In the example the main bedroom, with its own bathroom and dressing room, works like a separate suite; the children’s rooms are next to the shared bathroom.
Checklist
- Bedrooms at least 9 m², short side at least 2.50 m
- Hall at least 1.20 m wide
- Room doors at least 0.90 m, front door at least 1.00 m
- Bathrooms and WCs close to the bedrooms
- Kitchen a short distance from the dining table
The plans and dimensions in this post are layout ideas. A building permit, structural design or construction project requires a design by, and approval from, a licensed architect and engineer; ask your municipality about the details of the regulations.