Agree with kateinhobart, you have 4000sqm of land. Where is the actual building envelope on your block?. The house seems all wrong with orientation. Where are the views? For instance….Why have a solid wall on the north side of the rumpus room? What is the climate where you are building? What is causing the orientation dilemma on such a large piece of land??

Its a big piece of land but the north is the right corner of the block. Most acerage designs look like this one long with alfresco at the back. Ideally I would just like it to face forward like in the picture. If I turn the plan on its side the living will be south-west. Flip it the other way it will be north-east but positioned away from the driveway so quite awkward. I feel like we need another design but have no idea where to start. We have been to 5 builders all with the same ideas and little consideration for the aspect.

It comes down to your brief. U seem to want a particular ranch style house facing frontage but chose land that does not suit that orientation. You need to change sonething

Sorry can u be clearer on wear north is. You say right hand corner of lot is north. Can you put a north arrow on the site plan. You seem to have a self contained annex attached but with no connection into main house. What is its purpose.

Why can’t you orient the home this way, with all alfresco areas facing north.? Why does the garage have to be part of the home.? Why can’t it be stand alone with a cover walkway into home? Then it doesn’t matter where the driveway is. Place the stand alone garage on the west side to block the hot sun? Again, what climate are you building in?

Example of design that could be built as per above orientation.

Did you reply about your climate? I can't see it.

This is your opportunity to make sure your design suits your climate and build a practical and efficient home.

We are in the redlands at Thornlands

Sorry, where is that? And do you have cold winters and mild summers, or hot summers and mid winters??

I just googled Thornlands, Queensland. Your average weather seems similar to Perth weather, so I would be definitely orienting to direct north, with all living area facing north, garage on the west. With lots of windows and doorways that are able to let the cross breezes through the home.

Other designs with orientating living areas to north.

Do you think it would be best to redesign? We were looking at a completely different design after all the advice one here. Something like this one but all living on the other side. I love the ranch style house but might not suit our block

The design you have posted is for a suburban block. And when you say living on the other side, what do you mean? I have just posted rural farmhouse designs…..which a better suited for your land. Do you even need a formal entry??

That design is listed under acerage designs although I do agree its not a great use of the land. I would flip the design so living is north east. I dont need a formal enterence.

off the shelf acreage designs are usually just wider versions of residential house plans but there are usually extra restrictions about plumbing including wastewater disposal and fresh water storage so, before we can recommend alterations to your preferred house plan, i would be focusing first on your block and the local climate and we need a site plan (rough hand drawn with readbe writing) showing .. 1. direction of any slope, 2. location of any good or bad views, 3. existing or proposed neighnours' houses, 4. location of all access road/s, 5. existing gate and driveway (and 6. can existing gate be moved?) 7. location and size of any compulsory building envelope, 8. location of existing power and water to the block... and, do you want a

9. pool or extra sheds a dam or animal enclosures and please describe your 10. local climate and 11. how many and what ages will live in the house and what essentials and nice to haves are on 12. your wish list?

A list of wants, ie bedrooms etc, showing aspect and is driveway crossover locked in, seems like you might need to look at a different shape, are there new builds next to your block yet

Hello there, This is my forte'... getting the home you want oriented correctly for the site and the northerly aspect. I would love to assist you in bringing this all together for you and your family. When I googled your address above it looks like a suburb of Brisbane: is that correct? I invite you to look over my website and contact me through there. I am sure we can create the look of the home you want with the aspect taking advantage of the lovely large site you have. With north off to the corner it will create an interesting home with less restrictions on the shape and size (budget considered) I look forward to chatting with you and gathering information to create your dream home for many years of collecting happy memories. Cheers Margot