Heartful plans

It immediately became apparent that we made the right decision not to show other builders' plans to each designer. The designer at Heartful came up with an idea very different to what we had seen before.

His idea was to get two modules with a ratio of 13x6 (japanese units of 910mm) and fit them together. One is at an angle of 135 degrees to the other and they overlap. This enables the roof to face sSouth while part of the house looks out over the river and toward the lake.

We were impressed with this original take on our brief and liked some of the style options that this brought. There is a separate triangular study downstairs that is accessed by a wood deck. The deck, with its two doors into the house, also serves the purpose of allowing air to flow through the house from the North. Upstiars there is a nice line that continues from the bench on the outside deck through the kitchen counter to the dining table.

While these initially had us wowed, after more consideration, we now realise there are some important things that need changing.

• Immediately apparent was the lack of roof on the deck. This will be easily remedied to give us the outside room.
• The courtyard seems pointless.
• Space could be better managed downstairs. By making the wood deck corridor into part of the spare room will almost double the size of that spare room.
• The master bedroom and the first of the children's bedrooms can be switched to enable us to make the master bedroom ensuite.
• Whereas there is a great view from the deck and kitchen, the living room loses out in that aspect and the washing and bathroom areas completely block that wall from having a view.
• There are seven outside doors downstairs and we wonder how much they are going to coost!
  

We are now awaiting a quote from Heartful to see if it is going to be possible to move forward with this plan.

First plans from Heartful and contact with Sekisui

After 6 weeks of waiting, we are due to see the first plans from Heartful in the morning.
Since first contacting Hearful we have again met with Yutaka (OM Solar) and seen some slightly ammended plans based on putting the house on both plots of land. If we decide to go down that route I have a feeling that we will need to redesign the house to suit its new location. However, we are happy with the plans and price that they have quoted so far, and not wanting to waste their time, feel that the other companies need to get to the same stage before it is justifiable to ask them to put much more work in.

Sekisui Heim is part a large Japan-wide company that mass produces houses. We spoke with a salesperson at the start of November and are now awaiting plans from them too.

They differ vastly in their dealings with the customer from the othr companies we are in contact with. Although they try to retain the personal approach, you are clearly being led along their sales programme. This doesn't concern me too much as it has its advantages too. They are upfront and clear about the flow of the process, and present this in an easy to understand way.

They offer houses to include whatever you want ("not two of our houses are the same..."), but at the mention of a jacuzzi on the balcony we were immediately pushed towards having a bathroom with a large window.

We are looking forward to getting their plans too and trying to keep open minds. The builders have not seen each other's plans so they should come up with different interpretations of the same briefing.