ᐅ Single-family house in Bauhaus style with flat roof, 2 full floors plus basement

Development Plan / Restrictions
- No formal development plan. Construction governed by §34 Federal Building Code
- Plot size 700 sqm (7,535 sq ft)

Requirements from the Homeowners
Style: Bauhaus

Roof type: Flat roof

Building type: Single-family house

Basement: Yes

Floors: 2 full stories

Number of occupants, ages: Currently 2 (31 and 33 years old) + 1 child later

Space requirements on ground and upper floors: at least 180 sqm (1,938 sq ft) of living space

Office: Family use or home office? Both

Overnight guests per year: 0

Open or closed architectural style: open

Conservative or modern design: modern

Open kitchen, kitchen island: both

Number of dining seats: at least 6

Fireplace: yes

Music/stereo wall: home theater to be added later (Dolby Atmos)

Balcony, roof terrace: not required

Garage, carport: double garage

Utility garden, greenhouse: no

Additional wishes / special features:
- Photovoltaic system with battery storage
- Basement to be convertible into home theater
- Increased ceiling height on ground floor. Usable height of 2.8 meters (2.55 m (8 ft 4 in) in upper floor)
- Ventilation system
- Ground floor designed for age-appropriate accessibility
- Access to terrace from dining area via fully folding sliding door to extend dining space into garden
- Plot borders a busy street to the south

House Design
Designed by:
- Architect

Cost estimate according to architect/planner:
€586,000 (approximately $635,000) without basement (€70,000 (approximately $76,000) for basement), land is extra

Personal budget limit for house including fittings:
€600,000 (approximately $650,000)

Preferred heating system:
Air-to-water heat pump with underfloor heating on all levels

If you have to give up, which details/features
- can you give up:
- basement
- open space with gallery

- cannot be compromised:
- increased ceiling height

Why did the design become the way it is?

We wanted a modern house that can still be used in old age or in case of disability. That’s why we planned a large office/guest room on the ground floor that can later be converted into a bedroom. For this reason, the ground floor bathroom is equipped with a walk-in shower. The exit to the terrace is designed to be level so that it can also be used with a wheelchair. Originally, the house was planned without a basement, so larger storage areas were created in the utility room and garage. The technical equipment will now be moved to the basement. We keep the storage areas upstairs despite having a basement so these remain accessible in old age. The basement might not be accessible in old age.

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

First, my wife and I are very happy with our architect’s design. Nevertheless, we would appreciate outside feedback. We are open to both positive and negative critiques as long as they are constructive. Maybe someone has useful suggestions for improvements.

Since we will have a fireplace and can obtain unlimited free firewood, maybe someone has ideas on where and how to store the wood efficiently.

At first glance, it looks stylish. I’ll take a closer look later. So, just one question: which bathroom does the child use?

If you can no longer manage the stairs as you get older, having a bathroom only downstairs won’t work for you.
There are stairlifts that make living on multiple levels possible. If that no longer helps, the question is whether you still want or can live in the house at all.

The budget is a bit tight; you are already over it.

Which bathroom does the child use?

Please provide all measurements again.

How much space do you have for maneuvering in front of the garage? We built ours the same way and needed 8.0 meters (26 feet) of space to be able to drive the car into the garage.

Ibdk14 schrieb:

At first glance, it looks nice. I’ll take a second look later. So just one question: which bathroom will the child use?

The plan is for the child to use the parents’ bathroom during their early years and then to use the bathroom downstairs as a teenager. We initially considered a separate kids’ bathroom, but with only one planned child, we think three bathrooms are excessive.

haydee schrieb:

If you’re no longer able to climb stairs as you get older, the downstairs bathroom won’t be convenient for you.
There are stairlifts that can enable living on all levels. If those no longer help, the question is whether you’d still want or be able to live in the house at all.

The budget is a bit tight—you’re already over it.

Which bathroom will the child use?

Please post all the dimensions again.

Regarding the bathroom: see above.

Regarding the budget: we have a significant amount of equity and only set the budget to make sure the architect doesn’t become overly ambitious. The basement is generously provided by our in-laws as a gift, so it doesn’t incur any costs for us.

Good aesthetics are naturally a matter of personal taste, but what I can say is this: the cost estimate from the architect might, at best, be accurate only for the cheapest area in Germany. If you’re heading further south, a significant additional amount will be needed. Garden and kitchen costs, etc., are extra as well, which is generally understood nowadays.