Hello,
We were recently offered a plot of land from a neighboring municipality at short notice.
Pros
- 437 sqm (4,704 sq ft)
- very affordable price
- new development area
- located on the edge of fields facing southeast
- floor area ratio 0.4
Cons
- The plot is quite elongated and therefore very narrow – approximately 16 x 27 m (52 x 89 ft)
- Maximum ridge height 7.5 m (24.6 ft), maximum eaves height 4.5 m (14.8 ft)
Because of the narrow shape, I can only imagine the layout as drawn (in red): garage/house positioned in the upper/rear half.
However, this results in the main garden not being behind the house (towards the fields), but instead lying southwest alongside the house, running the entire depth of the plot.
Here is the issue: A private garden where we can feel comfortable is very important to us. According to the development plan, only 80 cm (31.5 inches) tall fencing (fence or hedge) is allowed along the north side (street), and possibly the same along the south side (field path).
I can only build higher fencing if the enclosure is within the building zone, which is approximately 2.5 m (8.2 ft) set back from the long sides of the plot. But that would mean losing half of the garden and end up with a useless front yard. Alternatively, with low fencing, the view from the street directly looks through to the fields.
Does anyone have an idea or suggestion on how to solve this?
We are not looking for anything special – just considering a classical house shape of about 8 x 11 m (26 x 36 ft) currently.
Thank you very much
We were recently offered a plot of land from a neighboring municipality at short notice.
Pros
- 437 sqm (4,704 sq ft)
- very affordable price
- new development area
- located on the edge of fields facing southeast
- floor area ratio 0.4
Cons
- The plot is quite elongated and therefore very narrow – approximately 16 x 27 m (52 x 89 ft)
- Maximum ridge height 7.5 m (24.6 ft), maximum eaves height 4.5 m (14.8 ft)
Because of the narrow shape, I can only imagine the layout as drawn (in red): garage/house positioned in the upper/rear half.
However, this results in the main garden not being behind the house (towards the fields), but instead lying southwest alongside the house, running the entire depth of the plot.
Here is the issue: A private garden where we can feel comfortable is very important to us. According to the development plan, only 80 cm (31.5 inches) tall fencing (fence or hedge) is allowed along the north side (street), and possibly the same along the south side (field path).
I can only build higher fencing if the enclosure is within the building zone, which is approximately 2.5 m (8.2 ft) set back from the long sides of the plot. But that would mean losing half of the garden and end up with a useless front yard. Alternatively, with low fencing, the view from the street directly looks through to the fields.
Does anyone have an idea or suggestion on how to solve this?
We are not looking for anything special – just considering a classical house shape of about 8 x 11 m (26 x 36 ft) currently.
Thank you very much
Terrace facing west, privacy screen on the terrace to the north, enclosure with a hedge 80cm (31 inches) high and taller plants behind it. Small trees, espalier fruit trees.
Or maybe an angled bungalow with a south-facing terrace?
But in the end, you have to say, new development area, 437 sqm (4,700 sq ft), privacy is another matter. You really have to find that one gem that meets all your wishes.
Or maybe an angled bungalow with a south-facing terrace?
But in the end, you have to say, new development area, 437 sqm (4,700 sq ft), privacy is another matter. You really have to find that one gem that meets all your wishes.
Rob11 schrieb:
and I would have a useless front garden. A front garden is never useless because it can be enjoyable. You can really get creative with perennials and low shrubs that bring you pleasure—every day when you come home, even in winter, when you rarely get to enjoy the rest of the garden.
Niloa schrieb:
I would plant a hedge and let it grow taller than 80cm (31 inches), hoping that no one comes to check or a neighbor doesn’t report me. That I would do facing the field...
Müllerin schrieb:
As if you were so interesting that the neighbors have nothing better to do than watch every little thing in your garden... Don’t take that (too) seriously. Hehe... that’s often how I feel too.
Basically, for comfort, the terrace should be somewhat enclosed with shrubs—it depends, of course, on the rest: how tall, what type, etc.
At your place, you could do this continuously along the north side. The rest, meaning the left northern part of the property, could have bushes about 80/100cm (31/39 inches) high. Between them, a path could form, which could nicely lead into the front garden. Facing the field, you could plant an Amelanchier or something similar (a shrub or tree that grows about 5–7 meters (16–23 feet) tall) between the field and the terrace... so you’d be almost invisible from the terrace.
But honestly: you’ll get to know everyone who uses the path later on. And a chat here and there is not to be underestimated.
For a lounge area, you can create planting or a privacy screen right in the lawn, which helps structure garden spaces.
Neighbors are everywhere—if not on this plot, then somewhere else with a balcony looking over. But they have their own lives too.
I don’t think the plot is bad at all; quite the opposite.
It’s sufficient for a house and manageable for a garden. The orientation is good enough. And the location is great: it’s basically a dead-end street with a view of the fields...?
I’d approach it with more enthusiasm and make the best out of it.
Thanks in advance.
First of all, I want to say that I don’t feel the need to justify my desire for privacy. In many countries, this is quite normal, but in some parts of Germany it seems not to be understood. It’s not about nobody seeing us—I just simply don’t want to see the street, and I want to enjoy the garden on nice days as an extension of the living room.
On the other hand, I want to avoid multiple “layers” of hedges or bushes if possible, due to maintenance effort, and I don’t want to sacrifice half of the garden as a front yard either. But it probably won’t work any other way. I was hoping someone might have a clever idea for the floor plan or layout—perhaps combined with a slim built structure.
Wire mesh fences are definitely not allowed.
First of all, I want to say that I don’t feel the need to justify my desire for privacy. In many countries, this is quite normal, but in some parts of Germany it seems not to be understood. It’s not about nobody seeing us—I just simply don’t want to see the street, and I want to enjoy the garden on nice days as an extension of the living room.
On the other hand, I want to avoid multiple “layers” of hedges or bushes if possible, due to maintenance effort, and I don’t want to sacrifice half of the garden as a front yard either. But it probably won’t work any other way. I was hoping someone might have a clever idea for the floor plan or layout—perhaps combined with a slim built structure.
Wire mesh fences are definitely not allowed.
Rob11 schrieb:
On the other hand, because of maintenance effort, I want to avoid multiple “layers” of hedges/bushes if possible, and I also don’t want to give away half the garden as a front yard. Hmm... Considering 2.5 meters (8 feet) as half the garden seems quite exaggerated to me.
And regarding the word garden, just look it up on Wikipedia to understand what it means. You can’t avoid shrubs and perennials entirely, by the way, they require less work than a lawn.
Just be glad you received some suggestions and ideas to consider.
Rob11 schrieb:
Wire mesh fences are definitely not allowed. ... aha... how were we supposed to know that?
There isn’t even a floor plan posted, right????
With 437 sqm (4,704 sq ft), you will always have at least 3 m (10 ft) of setback distance on all sides, except for garages. That means roughly 50% of the plot area consists of setback zones, and another 25% is taken up by the house itself.
The feeling of "waste" inevitably arises. A flaw in the system.
The orientation is fine, a dead-end street, probably little local traffic. Not much more is possible.
The feeling of "waste" inevitably arises. A flaw in the system.
The orientation is fine, a dead-end street, probably little local traffic. Not much more is possible.
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