ᐅ Wish List for the Architect

You’re asking if there are major cost drivers.
But it doesn’t make sense to discuss that if you have to expect double your estimate.
And even 700,000 (seven hundred thousand) could become tight depending on the region for KfW40 standard for 2 apartments with your specifications.

Also:
Outdoor stairs are expensive, 2 bathrooms are expensive, large RC2-rated windows are expensive, a central ventilation system is expensive, a cistern is expensive, electric shutters are expensive, very good sound insulation is expensive, good electrical fittings are expensive.

We have almost none of these because they are too costly.
But only you can decide the cost-benefit ratio, and only you know if you can afford it.

karl.jonas schrieb:

Are there any important aspects I should still add to my list?

The most important thing is missing. You discuss house details with the architect but not the actual goal: to build the best home for you and your family. The architect can only design this if they know the “soft criteria” by which “best” should be measured. If this is difficult for you—many people haven’t actively considered their lifestyle—try to question why you want the listed aspects and what specific contribution they make to your quality of life and overall satisfaction. This way, you can also identify cost drivers that you can either fully commit to or easily do without. With a clear mind and a defined goal, all decisions become much easier.

If you don’t do this, the result might be good, but it could also be meaningless, and you will need to put on rose-colored glasses again and again over the years.

A good architect should be able to help you through this process.

karl.jonas schrieb:

Exterior dimensions (WxD) approx. 19.2 x 9 m (63 x 30 ft), depth still open (7 – 11 m / 23 – 36 ft); 15° pitched gable roof

So, 9 m (30 ft) average depth, ranging from 7 to 11 m (23 to 36 ft)?

karl.jonas schrieb:

The buildings should visually fit into the setting of an existing farmyard (four-sided courtyard, mainly brick, partly half-timbered)

I think it’s about time you shared an aerial photo and a land registry extract. That would be at the very top of my list of wishes for an architect (from an architect’s point of view). My overall impression is that you are planning the development of your grandparents’ remaining farmstead (?).

Since you seem to be following my posts attentively, you should have noticed regarding the KfW energy standard that I consider KfW55 to be today’s de facto market standard (and the legal standard for 2024/25). On the other hand, KfW40, especially with “double turbo,” strikes me as a fantasized "must-have" from the commercially inexperienced emotional world of avant-garde eco-enthusiasts and those who always block the parent-child parking spots near the entrance with their Teslas, just to make sure no one misses their progressiveness.

Your description reads as if it’s tailored to be accessible for people with disabilities and reduced mobility, yet on the other hand, the 90 cm (35 inches) door width doesn’t quite add up.

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Hausbautraum20 schrieb:

We don’t have most of that because it’s too expensive. But only you can answer the cost-benefit ratio.

Exactly. What I meant are desires whose cost-driving effects might be easy for me as a layperson to overlook. For example (and I hope this isn’t entirely wrong) walls that have multiple offsets or dimensions that deviate from usual standard sizes. Whether a wall is 11 or 11.5 or 12 cm thick might not matter to me. But 11.5 cm is perhaps the common standard and therefore cheaper to build.

hampshire schrieb:

The most important thing is missing. You discuss details of the house with the architect but not the main goal: to build the best home for you and your family.

Thank you very much for this advice. It makes perfect sense to me right away, and I will add it to my list. For example, I actually don’t care much about room height – what’s important to me is that they are bright. How to achieve that should be up to the architect. Thanks!

11ant schrieb:

So 9 m average depth, ranging from 7 to 11 m?

No. I don’t yet know what depth I’m allowed to build. In any case, I want to build in a straight line. I’m currently thinking about 9 m, but it could be more (if the architect says more space is needed for the wishes) or less (if the architect doesn’t require the space, or if the building authority / planning permission doesn’t allow that depth).

11ant schrieb:

I think you should sooner or later come around with an aerial image and land registry extract.

The land registry extract has been applied for (the architects asked for it, too 🙂 Once I know what I’m allowed and have an architect’s draft, I will create a new post for that.

11ant schrieb:

My overall impression is that you’re planning the development of your grandparent’s old farmstead (?)

Unfortunately not, I had to buy the farmstead :-(

11ant schrieb:

that I consider KfW55 to be today’s de facto market standard (...)

Yes, and that is currently also my favorite option.

11ant schrieb:

on one hand designed for "disabled and frail-friendly," but on the other hand the door width of 90 cm doesn’t quite match.

Well, “disabled-friendly” can mean many things; I was thinking of my time using a walker, not a wheelchair. And I’ve read in many places about a clear door width of 90 cm and a height of 205 cm. Although the latter doesn’t immediately make sense to me. Do you think 90 cm is too narrow? But I expect an architect will identify such inconsistencies.

hampshire schrieb:

The most important thing is missing.

I can only agree with @hampshire. We are also currently planning our new house with an architect and have just finished the initial discussion about the preliminary planning. Our focus was quite different... of course, we talked about the areas and budget, but only roughly. It was more about what is important to us and how we live: a large kitchen with level access to the terrace, a spacious dining area for eating with friends, space for many plants indoors during winter, a living area not visible from the street, our favorite color white, a calm visual style, a guest apartment for the children and grandchildren, etc. She also wanted to see photos of houses or details we like. Now it is her turn; she knows the plot. In our opinion, the details come much later.

karl.jonas schrieb:

Please do not discuss my cost estimate; it is the least important point in this list. I probably should have left it out. Just for information: the basis here was 2 * 135 = 270 sqm (2,904 sq ft) * 1300 € = 351,000 €. I will see the actual costs later in the offers and invoices. I would really appreciate comments on the other points in the list.

Yes, it’s better to leave cost estimates out in this forum. Not everyone is building in Munich for 2700 €/sqm (250 sq ft) with everything done... which for the southern regions would count as luxury finishes. It wouldn’t even be enough anymore.