ᐅ Plan the house first and buy the land afterwards?

My girlfriend and I want to start building within the next 1-4 years. We already have a clear idea of our house. We know exactly that we want to build in the town where we already live. However, I think our house might not fit on the plots in the new development area. The largest plots are 680 square meters (7309 square feet) and have a maximum ridge height of 9.5 meters (31 feet). I also don’t want the house to feel cramped on the lot. So I was wondering if it would make more sense to first discuss our wishes with an architect, who could then look for a suitable plot where the house would actually fit. Or am I completely on the wrong track, and is this approach very unusual?

Here are our ideas for the house. I just added one thing from another discussion here on the forum. My girlfriend is really into steel trims for window decoration. Can an architect work with a requirement like that?

Plot/House General

• Number of floors does not matter – maximum 4 if the attic is developed
• Attic, if not developed, used as storage
• Basement, if included, with windows
• No sloped ceilings in any rooms except for a developed attic or on the 4th floor
• Roof shape does not matter, just no flat roof
• Brick facade
• Terrace not too close to neighboring plot, minimum 5 meters (16 feet) distance
• Large double garage
• 2 outdoor parking spaces for cars

Entrance Area (Vestibule/Foyer)

• Entrance area with wardrobe
• Stairs not in the entrance area but in the hallway leading to the living area
• Access to the garage from the entrance area

Dining/Living Room

• Only dining and living room open plan – kitchen in a separate room
• Dining table for minimum 10 people; chairs or corner bench possible
• Living room space for 2 large functional sofas (3-seat) and side tables
• Fireplace visible from the sofas
• Large media wall with TV

Kitchen

• Lots of storage – small dining table for 4 people
• Doors to the hallway and dining area

Master Suite

• Bedroom
• Walk-in closet
• Bathroom with tub, large shower, double sink
• Separate toilet

Children’s Rooms

• 2 rooms at least 16 square meters (172 square feet) each
• Separate bathroom for children with tub and shower

Fitness Room

• At least 30 square meters (323 square feet)

Office

• At least 14 square meters (150 square feet)

Guest WC

• Without shower or tub

Terrace

• Partially covered (without glass)
• Dining table for 10 people
• Outdoor kitchen (grill/sink/fridge/work surface)
• Terrace large enough to also fit 6 beer garden-style benches with backrests
• Terrace must be open on only 2 sides
• Transparent protective roller shutters on the terrace
• Terrace accessible from the living/dining area and level with no steps

Heating/Utility Room

• Large, also suitable for washing and drying clothes – possibly a separate room for washing and drying on the sleeping level

Special Requests

• Large separate room for bicycles/trash bins/car tires/lawnmower/garden tools etc.
• Storage closet on each floor
• Central vacuum system
• Fireplace in the living room connected to the heating system
• Central ventilation/alarm system/underfloor heating/shutters/lights – electronically controlled via units in ground floor hallway and master bedroom
• Steel trims embedded in plaster in the window lintels, wallpapered over. Window decorations freely positionable on magnetic hooks
• Lots of indirect lighting
• Visible beams (rustic modern), can also be fake
• Alarm system securing lower windows and doors
• Laundry chute (omit if there is a separate laundry room on the sleeping level)
• Solar system
• Attic, if present, accessible via regular stairs
• Accessible for disabled – doors and corridors wide enough – enough space for stairlift
• Many electrical outlets
• LAN cables in office and children’s rooms
• Finished ceiling height slightly higher because of visible (fake) beams or suspended ceilings (indirect lighting)