ᐅ Floor Plan for a Two-Family House (Side-by-Side) on a South-Facing Slope
Created on: 7 May 2025 15:59
P
philipeHello everyone.
My partner and I are planning to build a house, specifically a two-family house with side-by-side apartments. We would live in the larger apartment, and the future parents-in-law would occupy the smaller one. A visit to a home builder resulted in an initial draft. This is attached along with the plot.
I am mainly referring to the larger apartment.
I look forward to hearing your opinions.
Regards
Development Plan/Restrictions
Plot size: 2218 sqm, about 860 sqm (9240 sq ft) covered by the development plan, the rest is outdoor area, building zone according to the development plan
Slope: yes, about 5 m (16 ft) over 30 m (98 ft) from north to south
Floor area ratio (FAR): 0.4
Plot ratio / total floor area ratio: 0.8
Building zone, building line, and boundary: see screenshot (north at top, south at bottom)
Edge development: yes. Garage may have height issues due to the sloping terrain
Number of parking spaces: 4
Number of floors: 1, with a permitted residential basement due to the slope (excerpt from the development plan: I-full floors are stipulated. The number of full floors is the maximum. However, due to the challenging topography, one additional full floor is exceptionally allowed under § 31 para. 1 of the Building Code because the basement caused by the slope can be counted as a full floor according to regional regulations.)
Roof shape: 23–28° (23–28°) gable or hip roof, orientation open
Architectural style: classic
Orientation: terrace facing south
Maximum heights/limits: ridge height 8.50 m (28 ft), eaves height 3.75 m (12 ft), floor-to-floor height 3 m (10 ft)
Other regulations
Client Requirements
Style, roof shape, building type
Basement, floors: ground floor full floor, basement residential, attic unfinished
Number of people, ages: party 1: 2 (eventually 2 children); party 2: 2
Space requirement on ground and upper floor: party 1: approx. 150 sqm (1615 sq ft); party 2: approx. 100 sqm (1076 sq ft)
Office use: family use or home office? Partially home office
Guest bedrooms per year: 3
Open or closed layout: open
Conservative or modern design: modern
Open kitchen, cooking island: open
Number of dining seats: 6–8 // 4
Fireplace: no
Music/sound system wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: yes, preferably 2 double garages
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Additional wishes/special features/daily routine, including reasons for preferences or exclusions:
Mandatory: level access from the kitchen-living area to the terrace
House Design
Who designed it:
- Planner from a building company
What do you like most? Why? Terrace access
What do you dislike? Why? Dark entrance area, bedroom next to the main entrance
Price estimate from architect/planner: not yet available
Personal budget for the house, including fittings: 550,000 EUR
Preferred heating technology: air-source heat pump
If you have to give up something, which details or expansions
- You can give up: one double garage
- You cannot give up: terrace access
Why is the design the way it is now? For example
Standard design from the planner? Custom design
Which wishes were implemented by the architect?
Yes, but these have changed. Currently, a straight open staircase leading down would be interesting to create a visual axis from the front door to the terrace.
My partner and I are planning to build a house, specifically a two-family house with side-by-side apartments. We would live in the larger apartment, and the future parents-in-law would occupy the smaller one. A visit to a home builder resulted in an initial draft. This is attached along with the plot.
I am mainly referring to the larger apartment.
I look forward to hearing your opinions.
Regards
Development Plan/Restrictions
Plot size: 2218 sqm, about 860 sqm (9240 sq ft) covered by the development plan, the rest is outdoor area, building zone according to the development plan
Slope: yes, about 5 m (16 ft) over 30 m (98 ft) from north to south
Floor area ratio (FAR): 0.4
Plot ratio / total floor area ratio: 0.8
Building zone, building line, and boundary: see screenshot (north at top, south at bottom)
Edge development: yes. Garage may have height issues due to the sloping terrain
Number of parking spaces: 4
Number of floors: 1, with a permitted residential basement due to the slope (excerpt from the development plan: I-full floors are stipulated. The number of full floors is the maximum. However, due to the challenging topography, one additional full floor is exceptionally allowed under § 31 para. 1 of the Building Code because the basement caused by the slope can be counted as a full floor according to regional regulations.)
Roof shape: 23–28° (23–28°) gable or hip roof, orientation open
Architectural style: classic
Orientation: terrace facing south
Maximum heights/limits: ridge height 8.50 m (28 ft), eaves height 3.75 m (12 ft), floor-to-floor height 3 m (10 ft)
Other regulations
Client Requirements
Style, roof shape, building type
Basement, floors: ground floor full floor, basement residential, attic unfinished
Number of people, ages: party 1: 2 (eventually 2 children); party 2: 2
Space requirement on ground and upper floor: party 1: approx. 150 sqm (1615 sq ft); party 2: approx. 100 sqm (1076 sq ft)
Office use: family use or home office? Partially home office
Guest bedrooms per year: 3
Open or closed layout: open
Conservative or modern design: modern
Open kitchen, cooking island: open
Number of dining seats: 6–8 // 4
Fireplace: no
Music/sound system wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: yes, preferably 2 double garages
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Additional wishes/special features/daily routine, including reasons for preferences or exclusions:
Mandatory: level access from the kitchen-living area to the terrace
House Design
Who designed it:
- Planner from a building company
What do you like most? Why? Terrace access
What do you dislike? Why? Dark entrance area, bedroom next to the main entrance
Price estimate from architect/planner: not yet available
Personal budget for the house, including fittings: 550,000 EUR
Preferred heating technology: air-source heat pump
If you have to give up something, which details or expansions
- You can give up: one double garage
- You cannot give up: terrace access
Why is the design the way it is now? For example
Standard design from the planner? Custom design
Which wishes were implemented by the architect?
Yes, but these have changed. Currently, a straight open staircase leading down would be interesting to create a visual axis from the front door to the terrace.
Hello Tom,
Thank you for all the plans and the detailed description. That really helps to put everything into perspective.
First of all: your project seems well thought-out, and the division into two living units is solidly arranged. The floor plans are clearly structured, but there are a few points I would still reconsider:
What caught my attention is the entrance area of the larger apartment. It does seem a bit dark and cramped. Perhaps adding a larger glass surface or a side window next to the door could bring in more natural light. The idea of a visual axis to the terrace through a straight staircase sounds nice – that can create a really attractive effect and make the space feel much more spacious. This could be further enhanced with an open gallery in the stairwell area.
Regarding the south-facing terrace, that’s definitely a good idea, especially considering the sloped site. It’s great that you are planning for level access, which is comfortable in the long run. If you use the slope cleverly, you might even partially integrate the garages into the hillside. This saves building height and avoids a bulky appearance from the street. With the slope, I would recommend consulting a structural engineer early on – keywords are drainage, waterproofing, and possible extra costs for excavation and concrete work.
About the development plan: the requirements don’t seem too restrictive at first glance, but with the two full stories (ground floor plus a basement living area), you should be formally within the limits. Just be careful when building close to the boundary (especially on the south side toward the open area) to avoid issues with setback distances, even if nothing is currently planned there.
Regarding parking spaces, it looks okay. However, two double garages might be a bit excessive considering the floor area ratio. Perhaps one large double garage plus two outdoor parking spaces would be sufficient?
If you like, I can put together some rough ideas to optimize the floor plan, just as a brainstorming exercise. Let me know.
Best regards
Thank you for all the plans and the detailed description. That really helps to put everything into perspective.
First of all: your project seems well thought-out, and the division into two living units is solidly arranged. The floor plans are clearly structured, but there are a few points I would still reconsider:
What caught my attention is the entrance area of the larger apartment. It does seem a bit dark and cramped. Perhaps adding a larger glass surface or a side window next to the door could bring in more natural light. The idea of a visual axis to the terrace through a straight staircase sounds nice – that can create a really attractive effect and make the space feel much more spacious. This could be further enhanced with an open gallery in the stairwell area.
Regarding the south-facing terrace, that’s definitely a good idea, especially considering the sloped site. It’s great that you are planning for level access, which is comfortable in the long run. If you use the slope cleverly, you might even partially integrate the garages into the hillside. This saves building height and avoids a bulky appearance from the street. With the slope, I would recommend consulting a structural engineer early on – keywords are drainage, waterproofing, and possible extra costs for excavation and concrete work.
About the development plan: the requirements don’t seem too restrictive at first glance, but with the two full stories (ground floor plus a basement living area), you should be formally within the limits. Just be careful when building close to the boundary (especially on the south side toward the open area) to avoid issues with setback distances, even if nothing is currently planned there.
Regarding parking spaces, it looks okay. However, two double garages might be a bit excessive considering the floor area ratio. Perhaps one large double garage plus two outdoor parking spaces would be sufficient?
If you like, I can put together some rough ideas to optimize the floor plan, just as a brainstorming exercise. Let me know.
Best regards
N
nordanney7 May 2025 16:30philipe schrieb:
Personal budget limit for the house, including fittings: 550,000 eurosphilipe schrieb:
Space requirements on the ground floor and upper floor: Party 1: approximately 150 m² (1,615 sq ft); Party 2: approximately 100 m² (1,076 sq ft)If the price refers only to Party 1, that should be sufficient. However, if the price covers the entire building, meaning 250 m² (2,691 sq ft) of living space, I would recommend adding a safety margin of at least 200,000 euros. Pure construction costs of 2,200 euros per square meter will not be enough.LarsBr80 schrieb:
If you like, I can roughly put together some optimization ideas for the floor plan, just to brainstorm a bit. Let me know. Gladly, I am especially interested in floor plan ideas for the straight staircase and the sightline.
nordanney schrieb:
As long as the price only refers to party 1, that is sufficient. But if the price relates to the entire project, meaning 250 m² (2,690 sq ft) of living space, I would recommend having a buffer of at least 200,000. Pure construction costs of €2,200 will not be enough. Yes, correct, this referred to party 1.
ypg schrieb:
Could you please add the house and the slope to the site plan?
I’m not quite understanding the design. Is there no terrace planned for the open living area? Sorry for the confusion, the terrace was placed on the wrong floor in the plan. Attached is a perspective view; the current plan is to retain the slope like this, though whether that’s realistic is a good question! I will provide the house on the site plan soon.
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