Evaluating Single Family Houses In Miami

Posted on: May 17th, 2010 | 37 Comments

Today is Day 118 of the Slow Home Project and we need you to join us in our quest to evaluate the design quality of houses in nine North American cities in nine months. This week we are analyzing single family houses in Miami and if you watched Saturday’s post you will know that we are tying our work into the discussion that is surrounding a documentary on Florida’s suburban sprawl that aired a few days ago.

Welcome to Miami! This is our first official day evaluating the design quality of new housing in South Florida and we hope everyone is able to join our cause and search for new house projects online and then evaluate them using the Slow Home Test. This is really easy to do – (and a lot of fun we might add!) – and it will really help us to to understand the level of the design quality of the new housing market in Miami.

We are changing the order of which housing type we will be analyzing first in Miami and we are starting with single family houses to tie into the discussion that is surrounding the “Imagining a New Florida” documentary that takes a critical look at the housing industry in this state.

To get things kicked off, we are also going to try a bit of a different approach for our “Monday Design Exercise” segment. We would like everyone to use the Slow Home Test to score the same project and then post the results in the comments section as well as what you liked – and did not like – about this house. We are doing this to get an idea of how the community is scoring the projects as a group – where we are similar and where we are different – when using the Slow Home Test. We think this will open up some discussion about how the Test is being applied to a variety of different housing types.

The project we have selected for everyone to analyze today is the “Sanibel” in the “Isles of Oasis” subdivision in the community of “Atlantis”. It was built by Lennar and is a 1,628 sq ft bungalow with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathroom as well as a single car garage.

When you are finished your analysis of the “Sanibel” using the Slow Home Test and have posted your comments to the site, you can click on the player below to reveal how John and Matthew have scored and evaluated this project.

See how John and Matthew scored the “Sanibel” residence by clicking on the link below.

Join us tomorrow for a “Which House Should I Buy” episode where we will be comparing two single family house properties in the Miami area to see which one would be the better real estate choice!

  • MollyK

    Slow Home test score 5/20…is this the picture of things to come?

    1. N…I actually plugged in an address in the development and got a walkscore of 35/100.
    2. N…Only reference to water heater & high efficiency HVAC. You can’t infer anything positive from a one-car garage…it could have been a design feature that allowed for an increased number of homes in the development. Where do you think that 2nd car is?…in the driveway keeping your neighbors’ cars company. Can you imagine the view as you stroll through the neighborhood?
    3. N…Satellite image tells it all. Narrow lots with little side yard indicates lack of privacy and poor natural light. The west end of the development is adjacent to FL 821 Toll and several miles to the east is Homestead AFB. Can anyone say “flight path”.
    4. N…Dark bowling alley circulation. Organization is not good with rooms split on 2 sides of the house with alot of side windows (no view).
    5. N…Narrow space with no closet. Sorry, but to be consistent I’m staying with the closet requirement. It rains in Florida (umbrellas and raincoats need storage) and people still kick off their shoes at the front door. Come on folks, let’s make them have a closet.
    6. N…Poor location for living room and side view only. Concerned about actual furniture space in family room because of the circulation path to the patio door.
    7. Y…Satellite image shows back yards albeit small. Must admit that you won’t always have the luxury of that image to help with this category.
    8. Y…fulfills minimum requirements.
    9. N…No true dining area. I didn’t consider breakfast area as dining…maybe I should if more plans are like this one.
    10. N…Master bedroom dimensions are ok but the remaining rooms have the bare minimum space; plus, 2 have only side yard views.
    11. Y…(with reservations) Master vanity should have only 1 sink for more efficient counterspace and the door swing should be flipped, but the space is not supersized and the family bath is adequate.
    12. Y…No designated room but front bedroom would work fine.
    13. Y…Laundry has its own (small) room away from the main circulation path.
    14. N…Although the garage holds only 1 car and therefore has a smaller footprint, it still manages to take up half of the house’s frontage. Its location also interferes with the amount of natural light that can enter the front and side of the house.

  • MollyK

    John & Matthew,
    Reviewed your scoring of the so-called “Oasis” and had a couple of comments.

    I noticed you counted the breakfast area as dining. Should it become the “default” if a room labeled Dining doesn’t exist? I just can’t remember scoring the Dining category in this way in the past, but admittedly who can remember everything we’ve scored.

    I was confused when the Master closet was referenced with the bathroom during your critique. Wouldn’t concerns about the closet affect the Bedroom score instead of the Bathroom score? Or was this more of an observation?

    Finally, warmer climates should not exempt a plan from having a closet at the entries. Bad weather is everywhere…rain coats and umbrellas are to Florida what parkas and boots are to Toronto. Plus, in warm weather people come home with wet bathing suits and sandy feet/shoes. Also, closets offer storage for everything from vacuum cleaners to Fido’s leashes. I realize it isn’t on the test but it is forever discussed when we score these plans…why not make it a permanent criteria under Entry?

  • Terri

    I came up with 3 on the Slow Home Test. No for everything except Kitchen, Bathrooms and Study (by default only).

    I rated most of it the same as MollyK did, except I didn’t feel the Outdoor Living was “easily accessible” with that little door being at the end of the family room, while en route we have a bedroom door. I also felt that the laundry wasn’t big enough or private enough beside the living room.

  • Tiffany

    Slow home Test – Sanibel – 7/20
    1. 0 – I agree with the comments stated and also did not give points
    2. 0 – Could not find anything that builder was doing to set the project apart environmentally
    3. 0 – I felt that the lots were very tight and faced N-S so the side yards would be very dark and unsuable
    4. 0 – I felt that the house was poorly organized, with living spaces and bedrooms mixed all over and no grouping of the spaces
    5. 0 – I did not give the point for the entry as there is no closet and the garage door and front door have a door swing conflict
    6. 0 – No focal point or connection to the outside exists in the plan
    7. 0 – Only a small patio exist and the lots look farly small from google, need more information as to the outdoor living area
    8. 1 – I think that the kitchen is well organized to work, has lots of storage/counter space and is well connected to the adjacent living area
    9. 1 – a small tabel could be accomidated in this area for daily use. The test says nothing about it needing to be a formal dining space and I feel that it is adaquate for a table.
    10. 1 – Though organized badly I feel that the bedrooms are not huge and have good sized closets for each room
    11. 1 – I appreciate that there are minimal bathrooms and that they are fairly compact.
    12. 1 – the front bedroom could easy work as a study/den.
    13. 1 – Though a bit tight I think that it is well located and functional
    14. 1 – I like the fact that it is one car.

  • Terri

    I finally got to John and Matthew’s analysis. I hate to say this, guys, but that little closet you pointed out as being near the entry is actually labelled “linen,” so I agree with MollyK’s comments regarding entry. We should be putting “appropriately sized closet” under the entry requirements on the Slow Home Test.

    I also disagree with your analysis of the garage. After Matthew pointing out how it takes up 50% of the front AND it causes all kinds of problems with the circulation after that, it really can’t get the point. The criteria states: “does not dominate of interfere with the rest of the house.”

    I didn’t think the Master bathroom wasted all that much space. Sure, it looks a little big compared to all these crowded rooms, but we’ve seen far more wasteful spaces. I guess if it were tighter, though, that closet could have been integrated better though, so maybe I have to take away a point. That means that I came up with a 2 and not 3! This place is FAST.

    The windows are all small (and high) in this home (I watched the video). Is it heat or privacy they’re worried about? A horrible place to live.

  • MollyK

    Terri,
    I’m confused about your comment regarding the laundry room. Are we looking at the same thing? I found the laundry room to the left of the front door housed with the water heater.

  • BradW

    A detached house that really should be a condo. Long and narrow building on similar lot. Side yard conditions are minimal. Car-dependent location near Homestead AFB and big box shopping. AFB location has pros (employment) and cons (noise). We know why this development was built – to satisfy the dream of home ownership at an affordable price. To do that everything is done to minimum standard.

    1. N – walkscore = 20.
    2. N – no story here
    3. N – narrow streets, narrow lots, narrow side yards – some lots with good solar orientation could be deserving of a partial score
    4. Y – what else are you going to do (maybe a side entry behind the garage and no front entry)?
    5. N – no closet
    6. Y – family room = living room, living room = flex space : rec room/dining room/study
    7. Y – depends on lot
    8. Y – just
    9. Y – again just
    10. N – too many, too small, master closet causes grief
    11. Y – OK
    12. Y
    13. N – too small, awkward location
    14. Y

    9/20

  • MollyK

    Quick comment on Laundry…my first impression was No since it is small and the door will whack you if you’re in the room with it closed. Then I considered the “door-whacking” to be more of a circulation issue, and, since there is no circulation path through the room, the whacking probably wouldn’t occur. Honestly, who is going to go in that room and close the door anyway…it’s too small.;)

  • bbhorner

    The “Sanibel”

    1. N – this location is not walkable
    2. N – There was an attempt to appear energy efficient with ‘high-end’ appliances and high efficiency central air.
    3. N
    4. N
    5. N – The front entry is an appropriate size but with no closet it is rendered inefficient. I also feel that the backdoor is just a hole in the wall and does not allow a smooth transition from indoor to outdoor living space.
    6. N – I thought that the main living area of the kitchen, breakfast area, and family room worked rather well. However the focal point is missing.
    7. N – Compared to the rest of the house the outdoor space is too small. A driveway takes up the front yard.
    8. Y – The kitchen has an effective work triangle and sufficient counter-space.
    9. Y – I interpreted the breakfast area as the dinning room
    10. Y- The bedrooms all are large enough to accommodate a double bed and have fair sized closets.
    11. N – The master bathroom is poorly designed and wastes a lot of space in the middle of the room. The other bathroom functions fine but could use more storage. Another bathroom would have been appreciated because three bedrooms and the main living area sharing a bathroom seem to be pushing the limit.
    12. N – Because there was not a space specified for a study or an office I ranked this area as No.
    13. Y – There was enough space to work in the laundry area without disrupted the flow to the bathroom or 3rd bedroom.
    14. N – The garage and driveway seem to dominate the front of the house and restrict the view/interaction with the neighborhood

    Total: 4/ 20

  • Matthew North

    Hi Terri – thanks for your comments – yes, that is a linen closet at the front door – so…..can I reverse my score? Also, I am going to give some more thought to the way parking is scored. I have been looking at it as a discrete element and whether or not clearances are met, but I am going to give the criteria about “not dominating the house” another think through.

  • Alison G

    I scored the Sanibel a 5/20.

    1. N – I notice in google maps the same freeway problem.
    2. N
    3. N
    4. N
    5. N – No storage! I know it’s Florida but we all need someplace to stash our odds and ends as we leave and enter our home.
    6. Y – I gave it this point because the main living space (kitchen/breakfast nook/family room) is oriented towards the backyard.
    7. N – The plan didn’t show outdoor space development, which leads me to believe it hasn’t been contemplated.
    8. N – I disliked the way the kitchen island was offset from the counter space due to the A/C closet.
    9. Y – Just barely.
    10. N – The three bedrooms seem minuscule, but perhaps I am too used to super-sized features? Plus, three of the four closets have awkward unusable angled corners.
    11. Y – I thought they were OK, particularly the second bathroom.
    12. Y – Default point.
    13. N – Although it could be OK with a stacked washer/dryer and moving the water heater.
    14. Y – It’s a one car garage, score!

    All of the Miami house plans I’ve looked at have no entry storage and a central cave-like living room. Maybe Floridians have so much sun in their lives the living room needs to be a dark sanctuary?

  • Allie G

    1. N
    2. N
    3. N – I would really, really hate living so close to the other houses.
    4. N
    5. N – Again, as you’ve all said, no closet. Although I do like the arch which connects the foyer to the rest of the house. The way I imagine it, it could be very aesthetically pleasing.
    6. N – I don’t believe there is enough connection to the outside. It will also probably be very dark.
    7. N – There is virtually no outside space at all.
    8. Y – Although the kitchen could be improved, I think it is adequate enough to please most people and deserves the point.
    9. Y
    10. Y – Seeing as the rooms are reasonably sized and have good closet space, I give the point.
    11. N – I don’t mind the guest bathroom, but the master bathroom seems to me to be oddly designed. Especially the way the shower and the counters are angled.
    12. Y
    13. Y
    14. N – I think the front of the house could have been better utilized instead of using half of it on a garage.

    Score = 5/20 : pretty close to the marks given out by the rest of you.

  • MarisaM

    suggested you will be capable to drive quickly to your destination rather than walk or cycle.

    2- N(0) The homebuilder does not include about environmental building materials and only includes two appliances in the house package. The homebuilder does not mention if the appliances are qualifed energy efficient machines. General Electric’s website mentions only selection of appliances are rated energy efficient.

    3- 0 The homes look very close together with little side and back yard space.

    4- 0 Most of the rooms look into the side yard therefore into the neighbors home, and may have following privacy issues with sightlines into the bedrooms and bathroom. The living room off of the garage is inefficient use of space with little natural light since the window is facing the side yard. The house is organized to flow only in one direction. There is the central hallway with rooms to either side and lacks an overall flow.

    5- 0 The entry is a hallway and lacks any closet needed for storage space. The layout plan suggests the entry hallway to be slightly larger than the other hallways within the home. I wonder if the covered entry is needed, but rather could have been used differently to incorporate a closet. The front door and garage door entrance being in the same front hallway can be considered an efficient use of space and provides good flow. It removes the need of creating two separate storage areas for boots, coats and so on, but this home lack the storage space all together.

    6- 0 The interior living area seems wasted with the extra living room off of the garage area. Therefore there lacks a focal area and disconnects the home, unless the living room is meant as an office space (as the photographs indicate). The family room would have to be set up in a very one sided fashion for the furniture. The natural light is provided but could have their been another window next to the window in the breakfast/dining area?

    7- 0 The outdoor living area seems small and has little area for gardening. The majority of the front outdoor living area is covered and seems unnecessary.

    8- 1 The kitchen is well laid out and has more than enough counter surface and storage.

    9- 1- The breakfast and bar area would be friendly for daily use although I feel the focal point would be more around the kitchen island than the table. A table could fit into the area provided.

    10- 1 The bedrooms are a decent size with the space well used. The closets are sufficient sizes to provide most of the storage space for a person. The master’s walkable closet seems excessively large and the space could have been cut to provide a larger dining area.

    11- 0- The first bathroom is efficient but lacks counter and storage space. There is a small linen closet down the hall way but that can break up the flow in the house. The master bathroom lacks any counter space by having two sinks, the bathroom would be more efficient with one sink. If the toilet and shower were reversed, there may have been more room for storage rather than storing items in the clothing closet.

    12- 1 I will assume for this house it is the family room as the homebuilder is marketing it that way in the photographs. The area is large enough for a desk and storage but the natural light may be skimpy as the window looks into the side yard.

    13- 1 The laundry room seems a sufficient area for its purpose. If the stacking appliances were purchased the room would be more efficient with area to store cleaning supplies and maybe a folding table.

    14- 0 A single car garage seems unnecessary if there is a covered area for parking already.

    A total score of 5.

  • Tara

    1. 0
    2. 0
    3. 0
    4. 0 – two main living areas are separated from each other and bedrooms are not grouped well at all. Circulation begins linearly but diverts
    5. 0 – No closets (I guess you don’t use coats in Florida) and entry conditions are not nice.
    6. 0 – family room is very large, would be difficult to furnish. living room seems like an extension of circulation space as it is open to hallway and enclosed by other rooms.
    7. 0 – patio space is ridiculous. the door swing occupies most of it.
    8. 1 – kitchen is pretty good – not overly large but good amount of space
    9. 1 – can’t find anything to not score it
    10. 1 – don’t necessarily like the side yard view in two bedrooms, but they seem to be well sized.
    11. 0 – not enough storage, master has wasted space
    12. 1 – no study
    13. 0 – really cramped space
    14. 0 – considering the narrow width of the house, the space the garage is in could be put to much better use within the plan, with a separate garage at the back.

    4/20

  • MarisaM

    Sorry my 1, got cut off. Here is the rest of it!

    1- N(0) From the map provided and close proximity to the highway, the house is suggested you will be capable to drive quickly to your destination rather than walk or cycle.

  • Hilda

    1. N
    2. N
    3. N
    4. N-It feels the rooms are all over the place. And why would anyone want bedroom that’s by the front door is beyond me.
    5. N-Won’t it be better if the entrances, especially the back entrence are wider?
    6. Y-Despite the mess of room locations, there is a good central focus of living provided by the kitchen, breakfast area and living room.
    7. N-Thinking that the patio space could be bigger
    8. Y-While it could use more space, the organization of the storage spaces and other kithen utilities seem adequate enough for everyday uses.
    9. Y-It’s okay.
    10.N-Location of Bedroom 4 and the Master Bedroom’s closet is one of the major reason that I dislike this floor plan. Bedroom 4′s reason is already mentioned in 4. As for the Master Bedroom’s closet, I know from experience, that steam from hot showers can do terrible things to clothes, so I would advise keeping the closet space and bathroom space seperated.
    11. Y- No wasted space there, although the Bath seemed abit small on the plan.
    12. N-no point since the space doesn’t even exist on the plan
    13. N- Feeling uneasy about the space availbility for movement and its location. Maybe move it to where the Garage is? Going by the plan, the Garage seems to have room to spare.
    14. Y- One car parking, Nice!

    I gave this project a score of 5/20… This seem to be the average analysis…

  • Murray

    You know you are in trouble when the house you are looking at is in a community called Atlantis – according to Plato “in a single day and night of misfortune … the island of Atlantis … disappeared in the depths of the sea.

    I arrived at a score of 3/20. I almost gave it 2 more points for Siting – it does respond to its surroundings, but in such an ugly, passive manner that I changed my mind.

    1 point each for the kitchen, the laundry, and the study – one of those small, isolated bedrooms would make a fine study.

    I think this awful house is a very good intro to the idea of a consensus on ratings, but I would suggest future examples that can allow for more nuanced scoring.

  • Hawerchuk#10

    1 – 0 next to a toll road and busy highway
    2 – 0 the illusion or appearance of energy efficiency in appliance description in details section (high efficiency central AC and quick recovery water heater
    3 – 0
    4 – 0
    5 – 0 – In agreement with the no storage space, but has anyone thought about the garage since the entry is connected through the foyer
    6 – 1 – size seems appropriate however, is there a need for both?
    7 – patio is small, good for a couple not a family.
    8 – kitchen seems small and limited counter space beside stove and fridge, island is decent.
    9 – 0 – breakfast area – means open to back portion of house, not a separate dining area.
    10 – 1 – Master seems large in floor plan however, in photo seems crammed for space with all the furniture.
    11 – 0 – bathrooms are typical toilet, shower in bathtub, sink with limited counter space.
    12 – 0 – no designated study, conversion of one bedroom means less space for overnight guests.
    13 – 0 – typical use of space with dual machines, cramped quarters
    14 – 0 – single car garage – idea to reduce the need for a second vehicle could be perceived as a step toward environmental sustainability, however, due to accessibility, the need to drive and thus own two vehicles is necessary.

    2/20 seems harsh. The layout seems suitable for a single couple that utilize home minimally and spend more time out-and-about.

  • Hawerchuk#10

    What is interesting that the property does score quite high on the walk score – 89/100. According to the website, http://www.walkscore.com

  • PeterB

    1. 0 – walkscore of 20, 91% of homestead have a higher walkscore
    2. 0 – Only high efficiency air conditioning
    3. 0 – very condensed housing, no yard, overwhelming development
    4. 0 – Living areas spaced too far apart, living room is cramped in between bedrooms and the garage.
    5. 0 – Narrow entryways which lack closets.
    6. 0 – Although the family room is spacious, it seems the only room which holds any purpose within the house. The living room feels like an enlarged hallway and would be awkward to really be in if there were occupants of the front two bedrooms. It just seems like a nuisance.
    7. 0 – patio way too small.
    8. 1 – kitchen is a decent size with a nice layout.
    9. 1 – flows nicely from the kitchen to the family room.
    10. 1 – decent sized with ample closet space.
    11. 0 – while the master seems alright, the front bathroom could benefit from having a pocket door. I envision the first time somebody forgets to lock the door and somebody else enters, the lack of space in front of the sink will allow for the door to smack somebody at the sink. also little to no storage besides maybe cabinets underneath sinks.
    12. 1 – no study
    13. 1 – while accessible, it may feel cramped given the placement and size of appliances.
    14. 0 – I agree with a previous commenter who stated this property could benefit from a rear garage or even a detached garage. This garage, while yes it is only a one car, it overwhelms the house and is the second largest space in the home taking up the front rooms. i’m no car expert, but 20 feet seems awfully long for any car in sunny Florida, which i’d hope is not full of trucks.

    I scored this property a 5/20

  • Hawerchuk#10

    My mistake is that I submitted a walkscore for the home address, not the property address. “Post 3:26pm – was wrong”.
    The property does score a 20/100 which denotes as car dependent. I apologize for the mistake.

  • Matthew North

    Murray – thanks for the comments – we chose this house as it is fairly easy to score – over the next weeks we will see projects with more room for interpretation. As for the name of the community being “Atlantis” – don’t you think this is a Florida thing – with the whole Disney influence? I laughed at your Plato reference! Thanks for posting that.

  • JessicaD

    1-0 not a walkable community
    2-0 high efficiency air conditioning is used as a selling feature, but doesn’t seem to be a trend throughout the home
    3-0 little connection to surroundings
    4-0 the bathroom, laundry and linen closet are well grouped, but the rest of the house lacks this cohesion
    5-0 entries are too narrow and lack closets
    6-0 the family room is focal point for the home, but due to the placement of the dining area would easily become cluttered or cramped. the living room is poorly situated as it sits by a high traffic area and lacks a good connection to the outdoors
    7-0 the patio is tiny compared to the home — a four bedroom home likely has at least four occupants and the patio is not large enough to comfortably entertain even the household
    8-1 the kitchen is well organized with ample counter space and the island provides a connection to other rooms
    9-0 the dining area is too small and sits within a high traffic area
    10-1 the bedrooms are all about the same size which is nice and each has a decent sized window and closet
    11-0 the master bath is poorly organized with lots of wasted space
    12-1 each of the three smaller bedrooms would serve as a good study space
    13-1 well situated next to bathroom and linen closet. large enough to work in, but doesn’t waste excess space
    14-0 the one car garage is nice as it promotes other forms of transportation within the household, but the placement of the garage at the front takes over the front of the house rendering the front yard a wasted space and cuts the occupants off from interacting with their neighbours and/or outdoor spaces
    total 4/20 = fast home

  • Kadoman

    Slow Home Test

    Location – 0
    It seems to be located amongst a mass of free ways and housing developments. Unless the only place you ever needed to walk to was your neighbors, the location seems pretty abysmal.

    Environmental Performance – 0
    It is difficult to search for any positive indications for this category. As mollyk said, there were some high efficiency appliances listed, though nothing more. It is hard to say, but I think that alone is reason to not give it a point in this category.

    Siting – 0
    The development is adjacent to a free way, seemingly only separated from the houses by a small copse of trees. The tiny lots also do not help.

    Organisation – 0
    Scattered bedrooms, weird placement of the MasterBedroom off of the family room, with very few and small windows means the house has a dark hallway feel to it. Gives you the sense of a schizofrenic experience.

    Entry – 0
    There is a front entry, though there are no obviously useable storage (closets) spaces. The back “entry” is a door to the family room. This is awkward.

    Indoor Living – 0
    There seems to be no focal point. There is a link between the kitchen, eating and family rooms, but the bedrooms are scattered awkwardly and the bathroom location seems an afterthought. As well, the placement of the living room tells me it would be mostly unused and a “display” case if anything.

    Outdoor Living -0
    A very tiny patio encompasses all of the opportunity be “comfortable” outside.

    Kitchen – 1
    There does appear to be a useable organization in the kitchen. A triangular link between the sink, stove and fridge. As well there is some usable counter space, cupboards along one side and a pantry. I would say it may be a little small, but the kitchen seems to have some thought.

    Dining – 1
    The eating space seems large enough for daily use and is positioned beside the kitchen. There is also a “bar” for eating opposite the sink that would help with dining space/use.

    Bedrooms – 1
    Though they are scattered, their size, scale and shape looks to be useable, fair and consistent. The closet in the Master Bedroom being in the Master Bathroom is odd though.

    Bathrooms – 1
    Size and usability look good. Though, as above, the Master Bathroom having a walk in closet is awkward. It could also be debated that having 1 smaller bathroom for the 3 other bedrooms in the house may not be enough.

    Study – 0
    Doesn’t exist, unless you count one of the bedrooms as a study. Though as they are being marketed as a bedroom, I will not consider them as a study.

    Laundry – 0
    Very small and awkward with the water heater between the washer and dryer. There would not be enough room to deal with 5 people’s laundry in this laundry room. It would spill out somewhere or other.

    Parking – 0
    Fair sized garage, though it creates a dark feel throughout the front of the house. It also adds to the house feeling more like one long hallway.

    Score 4/20 Fast Home

    Overall I got a very schizophrenic feel to this house. It has a long dark hallway, and rooms seemingly placed without much thought, creating unnecessary foot traffic. Even though it is larger, I also think (primarily the front of the house) would feel quite a bit smaller than it is. The small feel seems mostly to be created by the many walls and the resulting long hallway into the back of the house.

  • nicole

    Score of 4
    1- 0, Walkable – not really
    2- 0, No environmental incentives, but it appears to be a bonus that you get a smoke detector!!
    3- 0 , long and narrow
    4- 0 – very segmented + choppy plan
    5- 0 – no rear entry space (mud room), closets are very small in the front
    6- 0- no focal point but rear living connects to rear yard
    7- 0 – small patio shown
    8- 1 small and compact, but could maybe use some more prep space (corners are not ideal for prep)
    9- 1
    10- 0- Sizes ok, but did not like the closet locations / angles
    11- 0 – no storage / counter space, mbr ensuite = not well laid out
    12- 1 – ok size
    13- 0 – not so private of an area when guests walk by to use the washroom
    14- 1 –

    _Found this plan to have too many angular walls
    _flooring transitions were not thought out (angular shapes)
    _disliked the mbr entry – located on the same wall as the television, and in the line of traffic
    _the use of arches is a personal taste, but not shared with me.

  • Murray

    It is really exciting to see new name folks posting. Yeah. Thanks!

  • Kadoman

    Thanks for the warm welcome Murray.

    I watched John and Matthew’s analysis and I mostly agreed. I hadn’t considered the traffic through the dining area. My scale was a little off I think. It seems true though, that adding a table and chairs would encroach on the mighty hallway and mean traffic through the dining area. I would take a point away from my score for that.

    I also hadn’t considered the entrance into the bedrooms being alongside the closets. That can definitely make for an awkward entry. Although I think over all, the bedrooms are still fairly well done, and deserve the point.

    The Master bathroom does indeed seem to have no counter/storage space, and there is a lot of wasted space in the middle thanks to the closet traffic. Having 1 effective bathroom for 5 potential people then, is pretty bad, and I could justify taking the bathroom point away.

    When referring to the laundry, I am pretty sure John and Matthew pointed out the Air Conditioning closet. There is a little A/C on top of the box. I think the laundry closet is actually closer to the front with the water heater. I don’t think laundry deserves a point as the laundry “work space” would essentially be crowding the entrance to the bathroom and the 3rd bedroom. Let’s face it, that small room with the water heater (supposed to leave space around the water heater!) is not enough to do a weeks worth of laundry for 2 people, let alone 5.

    After reviewing my scores, it could drop to a 2/20 given the above considerations. Not good!

  • Grace Coulter

    4/20
    Overall I think I was fair about grading the house. I could have been a lot harsher in some areas but I tried to score this house with the same leniency I have been giving other homes.

    1.No – its in the middle of nowhere? What are you going to walk to beside your neighbours?
    2.No This is single family housing in a new development. Not infill. Plus it seems totally auto dependent
    3.No
    4.No The living room is so far away from the rest of the spaces? Why? Its totally disconnected. This makes no sense. Why have a formal living room and a family room? Especialy when the formal living room doesn’t work? Also there is a bedroom off the front entrance? This could be an office but it seems extremely awkward and long.
    5.No – There is no closet in the front
    6.No – Again why do you have the living room in the middle?
    7.No – This patio is so small you can barely see it?
    8.Yes – Finally the kitchen makes sense!
    9.No?- I am not actually sure where you are supposed to eat? They clearly outline a “breakfast area” but don’t show a table so I don’t know what would actually fit in there
    10.No- four bedrooms is not only an excessive waste of space but they have places them awkwardly throughout the house
    11.Yes- I am glad they only have two bathrooms and although the public one is tight, it still works unless you want to open the door while someone is washing their hands….
    12.Yes -If the front room is the study that’s fine….a better office than study but since it is not defined I am not going to use this point
    13.Yes-its tight but it is in a good location
    14.No-It dominates the front façade

  • Athena

    Here’s my first Slow Home Test, my score is 6/20.

    Location as you can tell from google maps not great -right beside a huge freeway. Walking distance is not the greatest.

    I found it odd how they didn’t even mention anything about the Evironmental Performance in a place where air conditioning is used throughout the day.

    The houses were quite close together, which made the formal living room look out to another house. Same with two of the four bedrooms. Those spaces would not be very pleasant to stay in with the lack of natural light and lack of privacy from your neighboors!

    The Kitchen was the best asset to this house. Had a nice “work triangle” and it was tucked quite nicely into a corner. Yes a point!

    Entry nothing was particularly wrong with it I thought.

    Outdoor Living, that patio is the size of the laundry room. Much too small for the great weather in Florida!

    I thought the Laundry was decent since you could fit yourself into the room and not interfere with the hallway.

    All in all it wasn’t an amazing plan, could use some improvement.

    Thank you.

  • JPHH

    1- N I got a walk score of 42/100
    2- N
    3- N
    4- N The rooms are spread all over the house no grouping of living spaces and sleeping spaces.
    5- N There are no closets, no space at rear entry.
    6- N I don’t see the need for two living spaces. The living room could have better lighting if the garage was not directly in the front.
    7- N Patio looks more like a landing.
    8- Y Kitchen seems to have a good layout. The island with bar connects it with the breakfast area.
    9- N Good connection to kitchen but could be tight with a table in high traffic area.
    10- Y The bedrooms have good layout with closets. The master closet could have been made smaller to provide more room to the breakfast area. They could have been group together better. Size of rooms would work.
    11- Y The bath is good location beside the laundry room. the master bath could use more counter space and not a double sink.
    12- Y Any one of the three bedrooms would work as a study.
    13- Y good layout and enough room that it doesn’t conflict with other spaces.
    14-N Front garage takes up lots of the front facade. It would also be tight to fit other stuff in with a car.
    5/20 = Fast house

  • Bell604

    6/20- Fast, The size and orientation of the house seems to be directed towards the first-time home buyers. A reasonable price (at low 200,000′s) makes it affordable to most working class people, and seems like it would be a decent starter home for many people. The layout of this house should be more concerned with the way that people live within it, then with building fast and selling faster.

    1- No, Not walkable. This lost received a walkscore of 20/100, showing that 91% of homesteads have better walkability
    2- No, the project claims to have ‘quality appliances’, but fails to mention any actual ratings of any kind. This homestead also comes fully auto dependent, which increases its environmental impact
    3- No
    4- No, Doesn’t seem to be well organized at all. The plan displays a strange organization of bedrooms and social sectors, which does not generate good household circulation
    5- No, The front entryway shows potential, but the connection of a bedroom, garage and lack of a closet makes it inappropriate for this house. Also, the backyard entryway opens onto a much to small balcony.
    6- Yes, although the living room is a little small, it acts as a secondary social sector in the house. The family room is a fair size, with easy access to natural light through windows and the rear entryway, as well as access to the kitchen. The overall orientation to natural light and regular geometry deem the interior living acceptable.
    7- No, This plan demonstrates no outdoor living spaces besides the covered entry at the front of the house, which is little more then an extended foyer.
    8- No, the kitchen is far to small for a house that would have 5+ people living in it. Their is little counter space. However, if it were not for the constraint by the angled hallway, the size could be enlarged to an appropriate size.
    9- Yes, Their is space for both a reasonably sized kitchen table, with some bar stool seating on the island.
    10- No, Two out of four bedrooms face sideyards. Bedroom 4′s location would be more suited for a den/study then a bedroom. The size of the Master Bedroom is small, and the Master Bath and Closet are over half the size of the bedroom itself.
    11- Yes, Though two bathrooms may be a little light for a house with 4 bedrooms and fighting for shower time may be hectic. The placement of the bathroom in close conjunction with bedrooms is right. The layout of the Master suit seems claustrophobic, but I’m sure a seller would call it ‘cozy’
    12- Yes, IF Bedroom 4 is also considered a “study”. It is small at 10′x10′, but would serve well as a study with a good forward facing window.
    13- Yes, The size is good, but the floorplan shows a SxS instead of a stacked washing/drying machine, which would be much better for the size of the room and house.
    14- Yes, I am not a fan of people buying a garage with a house attached to it, and would much rather see a pedestrian oriented front yard. However, the use of a single car garage, with ample driveway parking is acceptable.

  • Andrew

    Overall I gave the Sanibel house a 6/20.

    1-0
    2-0
    3-0
    4-0
    5-0
    6-0
    7-0
    8-1
    9-1
    10-1
    11-1
    12-0
    13-1
    14-1

    The house is not in a walkable area of the city, the organization of the interior is scattered (particularly the bedroom), there is not closet at the front entrance, the back patio is not large enough for any outdoor furniture and the flow through the interior is disrupted by the shape of the walk-in-closet.

  • Neogi

    1. 0
    2. 0
    3. 0
    4. 0
    5. 1
    6. 0
    7. 0
    8. 1
    9. 1
    10.1
    11. 0
    12. 1
    13. 1
    14. 0

    6/14

  • Neogi

    The house makes pretty good use of space with plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms, however the organization of the house is a little off. Especially the bedroom off the foyer, however it also has the positive aspect as the room can act as a den. The living room has a side facing view which is definitely not very appealing. Another problem are is the outdoor space, there should more emphasis on indoor-outdoor living. I agree with andrew regarding the awkward angle of the master closet causing problems with the flow into the family and kitchen.

  • Jessica

    1. LOCATION/ somewhat walkable… not good enough (N)
    2. ENV PERFORMANCE/ some efficiencies, but nothing outstanding (N)
    3. SITING
    4. ORG/ like spaces are not grouped; BR off of foyer? ewe. (N)
    5. ENTRY/ no closet space, garage door opens into path of the main entry. (N)
    6. INDOOR LIVING/ laundry space is tight. lack of coherence in spatial procession. living room too contained, but still lacking in definition. master closet imposes on shared living space.
    7. OUTDOOR LIVING/ little articulated connection to the outdoors (N)
    8. KITCHEN/ efficient use of space, but enough storage? (N)
    9. DINING/ possible to use daily (Y)
    10. BEDROOMS/ poorly distributed. no consistent private quarters (N)
    11. BATHROOMS/ adequate space, but inadequate storage, especially given the fact that three bedrooms + guests rely on this space. (N)
    12. STUDY/ foyer bedroom were used as the study, this space would be sufficient (Y)
    13. LAUNDRY/ not large enough for movement around machines (N)
    14. PARKING/ smallish footprint (Y)

    3/20

  • cnick

    My first thought was wow, this house is so long and narrow! There is so much wasted space in the long corridor down the center of the house connecting all the rooms. The kitchen is tri-functional and has ample counter space though, despite the pantry being very small. I like where the laundry room is located. That is a very smart location though.The living room and bedroom have windows that will be facing another house though so that could have been reworked better. The shower in the master bathroom is also awkward cutting in front of the sinks. There are many smaller flaws I could point out in this house plan, but my overall problem is with the long hallway down the center like a spine and the rooms that do not face the front of back of the house but are sandwiched in the middle with little natural light available.

  • DJS

    6/20 (Very narrow house which is the main cause of why this is a fast house but there are areas they could’ve improved on even with the narrow design. Energy efficieny, Bathroom, Siting, location and closets could all be changed to make it a slower house. I feel the remaining areas could only be improved if the design was changed from the long narrow hallway it resembles.)

    1) No – Very close to highway making it easy to drive places.. but not walkable.
    2) No- Most homes aren’t properly oriented towards the sun and the lack of information about appliances makes it hard to judge how energy efficient the home is.
    3)No- All the houses are squished together making the surrounding area not very appealing and takes away from all the green areas on the sides.
    4) No- because of how narrow the house is it’s hard to have it well organized, no outdoor connection from living room.
    5) No- it’s not that great of an entrance the foyer is small and is right beside a bedroom also the front door is receded into a covered entry making it very uninviting.
    6)Yes- maybe i’m being generous but even though the living room is off to the side and has no real connection to outside (small window, no view) the family room is large with a nice sized window and has a entrance to outside.
    7)No- not easily accessible, you have to walk past every room and through the breakfast and living rooms to get there and the patio is tiny.
    8)Yes- it is a good design lots of useable counterspace due to the L shape and island. Has good storage and decent amount of appliances.
    9)No – I can’t think of any reasonable way of placing a dining room table in the breakfast area.
    10) Yes- Master and Bedroom 4 have good amounts of natural light. Bedroom 2,3, and 4 have appropriately sized closets. Master Bedroom has a small walk-in and I also don’t like how its only accesible through the bathroom. All fit beds without wasting space. Overall it gets a point.
    11)No- since the criteria for getting a point is that all bathrooms has ample storage and no wasted space or awkward elements, this will not get a point. The master bathroom is poorly designed with wasted space and awkward positioning of the shower and sinks.
    12) Yes- Depending on which bedroom was the study. If bedroom 4 was the study it would be easily accessible and have good natural light.
    13) Yes- I like how it is in a good sized room but still private. I don’t like the lack of workspace. you wouldn’t be able to have one person load the washer and another person load the dryer as there isn’t enough space. Since it is accessible and private and has sufficient workspace I gave it a point.
    14) Yes- I like the layout of it, its positioned nicely beside the front door and does not dominate the rest of the house.