ᐅ Floor Plan Design: Single-Family Home with Basement; 560 sqm Plot

Hello everyone,

so far we have only been silent readers in this forum and have already gained some interesting ideas this way. We are currently in the planning phase of a single-family house with a basement and have tried to put our wishes into a floor plan. Maybe some of you would like to give feedback on our first drafts. Important: The design is not yet complete. For example, light wells are still missing, the bathroom on the upper floor is not yet fully planned, outdoor areas, etc. Therefore, some changes are still possible, and we would welcome constructive criticism.

Development Plan / Restrictions

• Size of the plot: 560m² (about 6,000 sq ft)
• Slope: slight, approx. 1m (3 ft) drop across the entire width of the plot
• Site occupancy index: 0.35
• Floor area ratio: 0.6
• Building envelope, building line and boundary: present
• Edge development: possible with garage
• Number of parking spaces: at least 2 required
• Number of floors: max. 2 full stories
• Roof type: no direct specification, except slope direction for shed roofs
• Architectural style: modern
• Orientation: no restrictions
• Maximum heights / limits: 7.5m (25 ft) eaves height, 10m (33 ft) ridge height
• Other requirements: should be considered, can be provided upon request/questions

Homeowners’ Requirements

• Architectural style, roof type, building type: staggered shed roof, preferably optimal orientation for photovoltaics or gabled roof
• Basement, floors: basement + 2 full stories
• Number of occupants, ages: 2 adults, 2 children (one toddler), possibly 3rd child
• Space requirements
• Ground floor, generally planned so two people can live comfortably on this level
• Hallway: as small as possible, as large as necessary. If no entrance area, space for shoes/coat storage etc. (cloakroom) must be provided
• Office: one of the parents works very often from home
• Large living room with separate kitchen and pantry
• Bathroom with shower and toilet
• Upper floor:
• Hallway: as small as possible, as large as necessary
• Office for home office in case both parents work from home
• Two children’s rooms
• Parents’ bedroom
• Larger (main) bathroom
• Small storage room for laundry, cleaning supplies, vacuum cleaner, etc.


• Office: family use or home office? Yes
• Guest stays per year: 5-8 overnight stays annually
• Open or closed layout: closed kitchen, open living-dining area, separate hallway
• Conservative or modern construction: modern
• Number of dining seats: at least 4, up to 12 for larger celebrations such as New Year’s Eve or Christmas
• Fireplace: yes
• Music/surround sound wall: surround system would be good and partially available
• Balcony, roof terrace: yes
• Garage, carport: yes, double garage
• Utility garden, greenhouse: no

House Design

• Designed by: architect in cooperation with us

What do we particularly like? Why?

• Laundry chute in both bathrooms
• Very wide and spacious staircase
• Wet rooms stacked above each other
• Nice large living room
• Kitchen with direct pantry and garden view
• Basement prepared for a possible sauna
• Large workshop
• Balcony on the upper floor
• Underground garage

What do we not like? Why?

• Garden is too small, but this is largely due to the plot, the required number of parking spaces, and building envelope restrictions and cannot really be changed
• Windows in the kitchen and second child’s room: windows facing the street were omitted for better furniture arrangement inside. Also, the view of the neighboring house is not to our liking. Unfortunately, the downside is that the exterior appearance of the house suffers from this. What do you think?
• We originally wanted direct access from the garage into the house on the ground floor. This could not be properly realized due to space constraints (staircase too small). That is why the staircase in the garage leads to the basement.