ᐅ Wish List for the Architect

Hello,
I have had preliminary discussions with several architects. They all asked me about the basic framework conditions (location, building regulations, neighborhood) and my personal preferences. The next step is for me to provide a wish list, in exchange for which I will receive proposals for the architectural services. I am currently compiling this wish list and would appreciate your feedback. In particular, I am interested in:

• Are there wishes included that lead to a significant cost increase without much added value?
• Are there important aspects missing that I should still add to my list?

Wish List for the Architect
Framework Conditions

• Two-story two-family house without basement and without internal staircase
• Exterior dimensions (W x D) approx. 19.2 x 9 m (63 x 30 feet), depth not yet fixed (7 – 11 m (23 – 36 feet)); 15° pitched roof
• Gable sides without windows (due to adjacent buildings)
• Budget: total €300,000 – 350,000 (without land, additional costs, or finishes)
• Buildings should visually blend in with the existing courtyard ensemble (four-sided farmyard, mainly brick, partly half-timbered)

Priority 1

• Each apartment: one bedroom, two studies/offices, a bathroom with shower and WC, a guest WC with shower (plus open kitchen, living area, dining area, etc.)
• Barrier-free living for 2 people
• Suitable for rollator; single-level living; minimal thresholds (entrance area)
• External staircase with the option to install an elevator later; external corridor/walkway
• Walk-in showers without enclosures at the entrance (similar to swimming pools)
• Light switches, door handles, and electrical outlets at 85 cm (33 inches) height
• Very bright rooms (hence: tall windows; ground floor ceiling height at least 320 cm (10.5 feet), upper floor at least 290 cm (9.5 feet); preferably higher if it brings more daylight)
• Main entrance on the courtyard side (northeast), living room facing the garden (southwest)
• Ground floor living room with garden access
• Excellent thermal and sound insulation; triple-glazed sash windows
• Windows and exterior doors with opening sensors and RC2 (burglary resistance class)
• Bathroom: forced ventilation
• Separate fresh water and greywater systems; rainwater cistern
• Photovoltaic system (southwest orientation)

Priority 2

• Door widths: 90 cm (35 inches), front door 100 cm (39 inches)
• Bathroom door opens from outside (emergency lock)
• In the bathroom:
• Thermostatic faucets
• Raised toilet seat (48 cm / 19 inches)
• Air-to-water heat pump (reversible for summer cooling?)
• Underfloor heating (also for cooling?)
• Wood plank flooring (or parquet?)
• Electrical system:
• At least two circuit breakers per room (for outlets and lighting)
• All cables installed in conduit
• Conduits to all windows (for later installation of opening sensors)
• CAT7 cabling from the technical room to every room

Priority 3

• Apartment can be divided into two smaller units with reasonable effort (not required for all apartments)
• Windows positioned relatively far outward to create interior "window seats"

Open Questions

• Central or decentralized ventilation system (mechanical ventilation with heat recovery)? Possibly only decentralized in WC, bathroom, kitchen, laundry room
• Bidet?
• Possibly suspended ceiling (10 cm (4 inches) to install lighting, cables), adjust room heights accordingly
• Simple wall construction (for recycling/disposal), no external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS / EIFS)
• KfW55 or better? KfW40, KfW40Plus?
• Electric exterior roller shutters? Is it possible to integrate them into a suspended ceiling so that no window height (= daylight) is lost?

300,000 – 350,000€
I stopped reading there.

Well, if that is the price per apartment, then it’s quite reasonable.

I wanted to ask if this is for both apartments. 2 x 19 x 7 m (62 x 23 ft) is never going to work, no matter what your wishes are!

Please do not debate my cost estimate; this is the least important point on this list. Apparently, I should have left it out. For your information: the basis here was 2 * 135 = 270 m² (2,906 ft²) * 1,300 € = 351,000 €. I will see the actual costs later in the quotes and invoices. I would very much appreciate comments on the other points on the list.

karl.jonas schrieb:

Please do not debate my cost estimate; this is the least important aspect of this list. Apparently, I should have left it out. For your information: the basis here was 2 * 135 = 270 sqm (2900 sq ft) * 1300 EUR = 351,000 EUR. I will see the actual costs later in the quotes and invoices. I would greatly appreciate comments on the other points of the list.

But building a house costs around 2,600 EUR per sqm (240 sq ft)!

The estimate is so far from reality that there is nothing to discuss.