ᐅ Prefabricated house: should you start with an architect’s design and then choose a prefab provider, or the other way around?
Created on: 13 Aug 2025 22:38
G
Gänseblümchen7
We are currently planning a single-family house. The plot is already secured, and the development plan is straightforward (large building area; we are allowed two full stories with a pitched roof…).
We have spoken with several prefabricated house suppliers and gone through the preliminary model selection process. We were actually ready to make a decision soon. We are basically laypeople but have continuously gathered information. I noticed that in one of the offered floor plans, the utility room does not have an exterior wall (which seems problematic for a heat pump, right?).
It is generally said that the “detailed planning” will be done with the architect later. I’m starting to wonder if it might be smarter to first have the planning done with an architect we pay ourselves, and then request offers from prefabricated house manufacturers to implement it?
Currently, we are considering Schwörerhaus, Weberhaus, and Fingerhaus. We are not completely satisfied with any of their floor plans. With Weberhaus, we could stay within one building series, which theoretically could improve the price, but is that really true?
What are your opinions?
We have spoken with several prefabricated house suppliers and gone through the preliminary model selection process. We were actually ready to make a decision soon. We are basically laypeople but have continuously gathered information. I noticed that in one of the offered floor plans, the utility room does not have an exterior wall (which seems problematic for a heat pump, right?).
It is generally said that the “detailed planning” will be done with the architect later. I’m starting to wonder if it might be smarter to first have the planning done with an architect we pay ourselves, and then request offers from prefabricated house manufacturers to implement it?
Currently, we are considering Schwörerhaus, Weberhaus, and Fingerhaus. We are not completely satisfied with any of their floor plans. With Weberhaus, we could stay within one building series, which theoretically could improve the price, but is that really true?
What are your opinions?
Papierturm schrieb:
There was a recent discussion where I shared my experience. Let’s see if I can manage to include the link:
Recent thread on the topic
Brief summary: We started out similarly and then chose the architect route, which we have not regretted. Financially, it has also been beneficial so far. However, since the house is not built yet (construction will start soon… finally…), I cannot give a final conclusion. You probably wanted to link to your post #8 there https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/generalunternehmer-suche-vs-planung-mit-archi-und-ausschreibung-allgemeines-vorgehen.49354/page-2#post-692331.
Papierturm schrieb:
I would rather start with floor plans that fit directly or smaller floor plans and enlarge them as needed. The wheelbase (ridge length) is fine, but the track width (gable width) is not, because then you move structurally out of the modular system.
Gänseblümchen7 schrieb:
We gladly welcome recommendations! I am happy to help you set the course; just follow the guidance in my house-building schedule (see post #3).
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Papierturm schrieb:
PS: Our house won’t win any beauty contests. But there isn’t any house like it in this area. I have to say that I actually like exactly that, meaning houses that look “ordinary” or simple from the outside but are stylishly designed with taste and character inside.
We had quite few requirements in the building permit / planning permission and, after some initial design experiments, quickly and deliberately decided on a simple rectangular building shape with a gable roof. We then put a lot of effort into making the interior truly beautiful for ourselves.
So, you still have 100% of the possibilities; I tend not to like houses where individuality is forced on “by design,” such as with bay windows, special dormers, or gables (formerly half-hipped roofs, ugh).
Thank you 🙂
Did you forget to attach the file?
Gänseblümchen7 schrieb:
I quickly made another draft,
Did you forget to attach the file?
Papierturm15 Aug 2025 06:49Arauki11 schrieb:
I have to say, I really like houses that look "ordinary" or simple from the outside but are stylishly designed inside with taste and clear character.
We had very few requirements in the building plan and after some initial design experiments, we quickly and deliberately chose a simple rectangular building shape with a pitched roof and put a lot of effort into making the interior truly beautiful for us.
So you still have 100% of the possibilities; I tend to dislike houses where individuality is forced—often with bay windows, special dormers, or gables (in the past, half-hipped roofs, ugh). Thanks!
Well, honestly, I would prefer to give the house less individuality. The combination of the building mass and roof just doesn’t look quite right to me. The proportion between roof and building doesn’t seem balanced. It feels like the house either needs a steeper roof (which isn’t allowed) or should lose about half a floor (which also isn’t allowed). So it reminds me of a Monopoly house stretched upwards. (But most houses have this issue, except for some multi-family homes, where the larger footprint makes the roof appear more in harmony with the wall height.)
We’ll focus on making the interior nice instead and try to break up the tall walls with the terrace, entrance canopy, and similar features.
G
Gänseblümchen715 Aug 2025 07:09I forgot to attach it..
Problems usually arise from the dimensions. Walls and stairs create a grid that either leaves too little or too much room length on the left or right, while the house width determines the rest. This results in predefined rooms upstairs.
If an office is also intended as a bedroom, guests should not have to pass through the living room to reach the toilet. Otherwise, of course, an office can be made accessible from the living area.
Hallways always need enough closets, and the utility areas must usually accommodate laundry facilities and storage space for miscellaneous items.
In short: Always include all measurements; otherwise, you won’t be able to tell if a wall is sufficient or not.
If an office is also intended as a bedroom, guests should not have to pass through the living room to reach the toilet. Otherwise, of course, an office can be made accessible from the living area.
Hallways always need enough closets, and the utility areas must usually accommodate laundry facilities and storage space for miscellaneous items.
In short: Always include all measurements; otherwise, you won’t be able to tell if a wall is sufficient or not.
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