ᐅ Differences Between Timber Frame Houses

You’ve summed it up perfectly, and everything you said makes sense to me.

However, I’m reluctant to have any additional service- or maintenance-required systems installed in the house, especially those that run invisibly throughout the entire building. I can’t really explain it from a technical standpoint, but I just resist it, much like I do with plastic insulation. I’m simply a fan of what has worked well for 100 years—it can’t be much worse now. I’m missing long-term experience with these "new" houses. Who should I ask among our friends who have houses only 1 to 10 years old? Yes, times change and so on, but I’d rather pay €10 (about $11) more per month in heating costs than live in these "forced-ventilation" houses. It might be narrow-minded, but I think I’d just feel more comfortable that way. Besides, we’re home every day, and airing out the house once daily has never been a problem for us. On longer vacations (if we can afford it), my parents live in the same town and can take care of ventilation for us.
I feel very differently about the heating system, though. Ideally, I want a ground-source heat pump with horizontal trench collectors that we install ourselves. And photovoltaic panels will also go on the roof...

Occupied in 2017, without a mechanical ventilation system, works well. You don't have to follow every trend.
Window frame vents Regelair plus an exhaust fan in the bathroom. At the moment, it is summer, all windows are tilted open, there is some airflow in the house, not too warm.

joschua_85 schrieb:

I’m simply a fan of what has been “good” for 100 years; it can’t be much worse now.

Are you also building a house with wall construction, electrical wiring, and a coal stove—all of which worked well for 100 years? Times are changing. Instead of coal, today it’s a brine heat pump. Instead of two-wire electrical cables, it’s smart home technology. Instead of drafty wooden windows with single glazing, it’s a high-tech frame with triple or even quadruple glazing. And so on.

Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery improves quality of life. You can have it (I would choose it every time), but it’s not absolutely necessary.

joschua_85 schrieb:

any system requiring service or maintenance

It’s nothing complicated. Replace the filter twice a year, and after 10 years (that’s what I was told, we’re not there yet) clean the air distribution boxes.

Nordlys schrieb:

Moved in in 2017, without mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, works fine. You don’t have to follow every trend.
Window frame vents Regelair plus an exhaust fan in the bathroom. Right now it’s summer, all windows tilted open, there’s some airflow inside the house, not too warm.

That’s exactly what I wanted to point out, I’m also considering a decentralized ventilation system with a humidity sensor in both the bathroom and guest toilet, not final yet.
What I copied from you is the staircase down to the basement, that still definitely needs to be included somehow.

nordanney schrieb:

Are you building a house with wall construction, electrical wiring, and a coal stove that was good for 100 years?
Times change. Instead of coal, today it’s a brine heat pump. Instead of two-core electrical cables, it’s smart home technology. Instead of drafty wooden windows with single glazing, it’s a high-tech frame with triple or even quadruple glazing. And so on.
Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery improves quality of life. You can have it (I would always choose it again), but it’s not an absolute necessity.

I think if you really want, you can read into my text what I mean.

Nordlys schrieb:

Window rebate ventilator Regelair plus an exhaust fan in the bathroom.

So, a mechanical supply and exhaust ventilation system without the mechanical part. An uncontrolled ventilation = forced ventilation.