ᐅ Single-family house on a sloped site, approximately 220 m², 2.5 stories, pitched roof – any design ideas?

Hello everyone,

we would greatly appreciate your constructive feedback on our building project.

Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 508 m² (approx. 17 meters wide)
Slope: yes (south-facing slope), 8-9 meters (26-30 feet) drop down to the street
Plot ratio: 0.4, floor area ratio: 0.8
Building envelope, building line, and boundaries: -
Number of floors: 2.5
Roof type: gable roof

Client Requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: solid construction (masonry), gable roof
Basement, floors: basement, ground floor, upper floor
Number of occupants, ages: 2 (36), (29)
Office: family use or home office?: home office
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open kitchen with island
Fireplace: yes
Balcony, roof terrace: balcony on the ground floor
Garage, carport: carport
Utility garden, greenhouse: no

House Design
Designed by:
- general contractor & own ideas
What don’t you like? Why?: staircase placement, the shape of the house (feels a bit dull)
Cost estimate by architect/planner: not available yet
Personal budget for the house, including fittings: 450,000
Preferred heating system: air source heat pump

If you have to give up something, which details/extensions

• can you do without: party room in the basement
• cannot do without: dressing room & balcony, pantry near the kitchen

Why is the design the way it is now?
Designed according to our wishes


What is the most important/fundamental question about the floor plan:

We are interested in open and honest feedback (of any kind) regarding the floor plans. What could possibly be done more beautifully or elegantly? Is the window arrangement appropriate?

Thank you very much for your support.

Where is north?

Why are the nicest rooms with garden access the office and party room?
I think cooking and dining belong by the garden and would move those rooms to the lower level.

Depending on your own work, your budget might not be enough. The slope adds cost.

Swap parents and child 1.

Thank you! Going down to the basement to "live" is not an option for us. The hillside faces south, and from there you have a fantastic "view."

Markus_21 schrieb:
Going down to the basement to "live" is not an option for us.

Why not?

The best rooms are being used here for an office and an occasional room...

A kitchen/dining area directly facing the garden would be one of the reasons why I would even build a house.

This is not a simple basement, but good living space because of the slope.

Markus_21 schrieb:
Thanks! Going to the basement to "live" is not an option for us. The hillside side faces south and offers a fantastic "view".

Why not?
With the hillside, you also have a good view from the basement level.
You're building a large house with the drawbacks of an apartment.

The view from the balcony is even better than from below. We discussed the idea of locating the living area in the basement, weighed the pros and cons, and decided against it. After all, you want to feel comfortable. You can’t just leave the sliding doors open easily in the basement (for example, with children), and my partner also wants to be able to see the street from the kitchen. We don’t want to go up and down stairs every day, for instance, to open the front door for someone. There is more space upstairs for the large living and dining area, as the rooms at the back of the basement are quite dark. Later on, the rooms downstairs can still be repurposed if needed.

That said, both of you are of course right, and I know many people who want their living space to open directly onto the garden. We are just not among them.