ᐅ Modern single-family home designed by an architect in southern Germany

Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 701 m² (8,435 sq ft)
Slope: None
Floor Area Ratio: 0.4
Building envelope: Marked in the current plan as “brackets”; rotation of the building envelope has been tentatively approved by the planning authority
Number of parking spaces: Garage within the garage building envelope (existing and to be retained from 1980, 6.48 m x 4.48 m (21 ft 3 in x 14 ft 8 in))
Number of floors: 2.5
Roof style: Gable roof, 45°–55° pitch
Architectural style:
Orientation:
Maximum heights/limits: Top of roof = 6.3 m (20 ft 8 in); ridge height 12.0 m (39 ft 4 in)
Further requirements:

Client Requirements
Architectural style, roof type, building type: Modern single-family house.
Basement = Yes. Number of floors =
Number of occupants, ages: 2 adults in their early 30s and 2 small children (3 years & 0.5 years)
Space requirements on ground floor and upper floor:
Office: Home office—currently 5 days a week; after Covid likely 4 days a week
Overnight guests per year: So far, no regular overnight guests.
Open architecture, modern design, open kitchen, preferably with a cooking island
Number of dining seats: When the whole family is present, 12 adults and 4 children
Fireplace: No
Music/stereo wall: Hi-fi only; TV will be located in the attic level (top floor)
Roof terrace: Yes.
Technology: Controlled mechanical ventilation, KNX smart home system
Garage, carport: Garage already exists
Utility garden, greenhouse: Vegetable garden planned but manageable in size for two children and one full-time earner

House Design
Designer: Architect
What do you especially like? Spacious entrance area despite the small building envelope. Large living/kitchen area
What do you dislike? The floor plans for ground floor and first floor have already been revised once; this version 2 now meets our expectations. The attic layout could still be improved. It is planned to be used as a guest room and TV room.

My architect strongly favors building to the highest energy efficiency standards. The energy consultant believes KfW 55 standard is just achievable – I want to avoid excessive insulation because otherwise the living space would shrink too much due to the very small building envelope. I would prefer KfW 55 standard, but I expect the planned photovoltaic system to compensate for the slightly higher energy consumption.

The floor height on the ground floor has been increased by one stair step (+1 step = about 30 cm (12 in)) after consultation with heating engineers due to the ventilation system. Plans are being updated accordingly. I am quite alone on this, as my architect has never designed a house with controlled mechanical ventilation before.

Architect’s cost estimate: 690,000 €
Personal maximum budget for house including fixtures and fittings: See architect’s cost estimate

Preferred heating system: Air-to-water heat pump or ground-source heat pump (mainly due to noise concerns in the garden and slightly better cooling performance via underfloor heating). Payback on ground-source heat pump likely won’t occur within my lifetime.

If you had to make compromises, on which details or extensions
-could you compromise: Sun deck or the entire attic floor in an emergency.
-could not compromise: The landing staircase, even if it is not very space-efficient.

What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?

I believe we have created a good floor plan with the architect. I hope you can review the plans with fresh eyes to prevent me from overlooking possible issues. I also welcome ideas for bathroom and kitchen layouts.

With that, I now venture from quietly reading to stepping into the lion’s den. I will provide scaled plans with dimensions after receipt if desired.

Martial.white schrieb:

Music/Stereo Wall: Only hi-fi – TV should be located in the attic

I usually don’t comment on floor plans, but having to go up to the attic for TV – especially with two kids – is a no-go! However, this has nothing to do with the floor plan itself.

Watching TV is still working well at the moment. In fact, we don’t have one right now. However, as the children get older, it will probably become unrealistic to keep it that way. Just to be safe, I’ll plan for a TV socket and a LAN connection at a potential TV location in the living room.

The attic is definitely a luxury, and the unit can be separated as a "granny flat" according to the development plan. In the living area, I would suggest installing a TV socket on the wall facing south. A TV can be mounted there on the wall. Nowadays, large TV cabinets are no longer necessary.

For me personally, the living area feels too exposed to the driveway. I would consider swapping the living room and kitchen. Why not place the entrance on the east side (by the wardrobe window)? This would save a lot of paved surface and create a larger garden.

Why are you limiting yourselves to 10 x 9 m (33 x 30 ft)? It’s not that it’s small or insufficient. But without having read the details, based on the gross floor area, plot size, and floor area ratio, I would consider making the floors larger rather than building upwards. I don’t like the elevations at all, but that’s a matter of personal taste.

RomeoZwo schrieb:

For me personally, the living area would be too exposed to the driveway. I would try to swap the living room and kitchen. Why not place the entrance on the east side (near the cloakroom window)? That would save a lot of sealed surface and create a larger garden.

I like the idea of the entrance by the east window, but I don’t want to narrow the driveway to the garage too much; 3.60 meters (12 feet) simply isn’t enough space.

Regarding visibility concerns, I understand your point. However, there are only gardens around because it’s a rear property that existed before the surrounding residential area was developed in 1906. That’s also why we have the annoying issue with the building envelope.

DASI90 schrieb:

Why are you squeezing into 10 by 9 meters (33 by 30 feet)? Not that it’s small or narrow. But without reading the details, considering the gross floor area, the plot size, and the floor area ratio, I would rather make the floors larger instead of building upwards. I don’t like the elevations at all, but that’s a matter of taste.

We (the grandparents) had to argue with the city 20 years ago because they initially removed the entire building envelope on the property. Only after a lot of back and forth did they allow rebuilding the existing or a new house exactly on the original external walls.

That’s why the design goes upwards rather than outwards or longer.