ᐅ Planning a 130 sqm single-family house on a 500 sqm plot of land

Hello,

we have been juggling ideas back and forth for several days now and would appreciate some fresh external input.
The plot is already owned, and the house has been purchased from a major general contractor (134 sqm (1,444 sq ft)).
We are maximizing the zoning plan, meaning we cannot build larger or taller.

Besides optimizing the floor plan, we are still considering the positioning of the house.
It is an excellent plot with a 3 m (10 ft) wide access path, so we only have to keep 3 m (10 ft) distance on all sides.
Two parking spaces side by side would be ideal, but I would prefer not to risk ending up just 3 cm (1 inch) too close to the neighbor.
Alternatively, we could arrange them in tandem or enlarge the "front garden" and convert it into parking space.

The house could be rotated if that helps.

Zoning Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 500 sqm (5,382 sq ft)
Slope: no, almost perfectly flat
Site coverage ratio (floor area ratio): 0.2
Floor space index: 0.4
Building window, building line, and boundary: 3 m (10 ft) distance on all sides
Border development: none
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 1.5
Roof type: gable roof
Architectural style: classic
Orientation: N/E
Maximum heights/limits: ridge height 8.8 m (29 ft), eaves height 4.3 m (14 ft)

Homeowner Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: single-family house
No basement
Number of occupants: 2 adults + 2 children
Room requirements ground floor: 70 sqm (753 sq ft), upper floor: 60 sqm (646 sq ft)
Family use with small office/guest sofa
Guests per year: 5
Conservative construction
Open kitchen with island: yes
Number of dining seats: 6
No fireplace
Music/stereo wall: yes
Carport

Guest WC with shower
Small walk-in closet in master bedroom
Small pantry
"Open" walk-in shower upstairs without door between 3 walls, toilet somewhat hidden, large washbasin/mirror (3 women at home...)

House Design
Planning origin: modified catalog house
What do you particularly like? Why? All desired rooms included, open-plan living area as the heart of the ground floor, equally sized children’s rooms
What do you not like? Why? How to distribute everything sensibly? Small walk-in closet affected by roof slope
Cost estimate from architect/planner: not applicable, as already purchased
Preferred heating technology: air-to-water heat pump

If you have to give up, on which features/extensions
-Can you give up: pantry, storage room upstairs
-Can’t give up: equally sized children’s rooms, open kitchen, office, guest WC with shower

Why is the design as it is now?
Example: standard design from the general contractor

What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
How can we optimize the layout (adjust walls, windows, doors)?

Thank you very much for your suggestions!

Best regards,
Ruska

Where is north,
where are the neighboring houses located on the right and left?

Where is north?

Ruska schrieb:

Alternatively, we can stand facing each other

Not allowed, no official parking space according to many/all? building codes/planning regulations.
Please provide the dimensions of the bathroom.
Better to skip the pantry than to have a maze-like corridor leading there.

Selling spaces side by side is tight but should be possible.

Thank you for the quick responses!

Nida35a schrieb:

Where is north,
where are the neighboring houses on the right and left?

I have redrawn the north arrow. On the right is only garden; on the left, the neighboring house has been added.

ypg schrieb:

Where is north?

Not allowed, no full parking space according to many/all? building codes/planning regulations.
Please provide measurements for the bathroom.
Better to skip the pantry than to have a maze-like corridor leading to it.

We currently also have two parking spaces one behind the other in the same town; that seems to be acceptable.

The pantry is more like a walk-in cupboard. For larger items, the utility room is available.
Right now, it’s quite annoying to store canned goods and supplies in kitchen cabinets.

hanghaus2000 schrieb:

Parking spaces side by side are tight but should work.

Would it still be possible to add a (double) carport? I found 6 m (20 ft) width as a guideline, which is not available here.
How large should the turning area in front of the house be if both cars park side by side?

Ruska schrieb:

Right now, I'm really frustrated with storing canned goods and supplies in the kitchen cabinets.

Plan your kitchen carefully.
A pantry cabinet holds twice as much as an apothecary cabinet.
Only use pull-out drawers, 90–100cm (35–39 inches) wide.
They hold a lot and help keep everything visible—avoid corner cabinets.
I would shift the house 2m (6.5 feet) north for the terrace and evening sun,
or, if you prefer sun all day, move it fully north and position parking spaces as a visual screen toward the street.