ᐅ Single-family house floor plan on a southwest-facing slope, approximately 160 sqm (1,722 sq ft) of living space plus basement
Created on: 18 Sep 2025 22:32
M
Matthias F
We are currently in the floor plan design phase and welcome any feedback and suggestions for improvement.
We have completed the questionnaire as thoroughly as possible.
Our plot is located on a southwest-facing slope, with the driveway planned from the northeast side.
The main entrance to the house will be on the upper side of the plot. Due to the slope, we envision a basement level that opens directly onto the garden.
We want a cozy single-family home with a maximum of 160m2 (1,722 sq ft), preferably around 150m2 (1,615 sq ft). It is especially important for us to have a spacious dining and living area that is visually separated by a large, open rounded arch.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size approximately 1300m2 (0.32 acres), roughly 29 x 47m (95 x 154 ft), with the wider side facing southwest
Slope 10-15%
Number of parking spaces: 2, planned area 6 x 6m (20 x 20 ft)
Building levels: ground floor and upper floor plus basement
Roof type: gable roof
Style: traditional
Orientation: southwest
Homeowner Requirements
Project planned for 2 adults + 2 children
Two full floors plus basement planned
Space requirements on ground floor: separate kitchen with pantry, combined living/dining room, guest toilet, wardrobe area near basement access
Space requirements on upper floor: 2 children's rooms, separate toilet and bathroom, master bedroom with walk-in closet
Office: none (possibly in basement)
Guest room to be planned in the basement
Open or closed architectural style
Conventional construction
No fireplace
No balcony
Carport: roof to be extended to cover the bay window
Utility garden + play area for children
House Design
Designed by: planner from a construction company + DIY
Preferred heating system: heat pump + photovoltaic system
If you had to give up anything, which details/expansions could you do without?
- Could give up: square meters, especially on the upper floor
- Cannot give up: separate kitchen, separate toilet and bathroom, bathtub + shower
Why does the design look the way it does now?
It currently best meets our requirements
What do you think makes it particularly good or bad?
Likes: dining area in the bay window + living room “around the corner,” separate storage space near basement stairs
Identified problems: collision between entrance door and guest toilet door, collision between toilet and bathroom doors
We have completed the questionnaire as thoroughly as possible.
Our plot is located on a southwest-facing slope, with the driveway planned from the northeast side.
The main entrance to the house will be on the upper side of the plot. Due to the slope, we envision a basement level that opens directly onto the garden.
We want a cozy single-family home with a maximum of 160m2 (1,722 sq ft), preferably around 150m2 (1,615 sq ft). It is especially important for us to have a spacious dining and living area that is visually separated by a large, open rounded arch.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size approximately 1300m2 (0.32 acres), roughly 29 x 47m (95 x 154 ft), with the wider side facing southwest
Slope 10-15%
Number of parking spaces: 2, planned area 6 x 6m (20 x 20 ft)
Building levels: ground floor and upper floor plus basement
Roof type: gable roof
Style: traditional
Orientation: southwest
Homeowner Requirements
Project planned for 2 adults + 2 children
Two full floors plus basement planned
Space requirements on ground floor: separate kitchen with pantry, combined living/dining room, guest toilet, wardrobe area near basement access
Space requirements on upper floor: 2 children's rooms, separate toilet and bathroom, master bedroom with walk-in closet
Office: none (possibly in basement)
Guest room to be planned in the basement
Open or closed architectural style
Conventional construction
No fireplace
No balcony
Carport: roof to be extended to cover the bay window
Utility garden + play area for children
House Design
Designed by: planner from a construction company + DIY
Preferred heating system: heat pump + photovoltaic system
If you had to give up anything, which details/expansions could you do without?
- Could give up: square meters, especially on the upper floor
- Cannot give up: separate kitchen, separate toilet and bathroom, bathtub + shower
Why does the design look the way it does now?
It currently best meets our requirements
What do you think makes it particularly good or bad?
Likes: dining area in the bay window + living room “around the corner,” separate storage space near basement stairs
Identified problems: collision between entrance door and guest toilet door, collision between toilet and bathroom doors
Matthias F schrieb:
Overall, the plot slopes down by about 4m (13 feet).
The plan is to partially level this slope, probably using several terraces. Oh, multiple terraces mean expensive landscaping and earthworks.
However, it’s important to see how the slope behaves within the building area.
Matthias F schrieb:
The slope descends quite linearly towards the southwest, so the house would be positioned perpendicular to the slope. That’s not ideal. Usually, it’s better to build with the slope to minimize the height difference.
But this needs to be assessed individually to find the best solution.
Matthias F schrieb:
Access would be via a road planned from the right side of the property (there is a right of way there).
Parking spaces would then be arranged perpendicular to the road. Try drawing that out, preferably on graph paper, with a rough sketch of the terrain profile.
Matthias F schrieb:
There is currently no plan regarding the basement. However, the basement should include a guest room, technical room, utility room, shower, and WC. That’s not very practical or advisable. The basement is the foundation of the house and needs to support the rest. Also, you seem to give the basement a better status—since its level acts as a connection between the house and garden. Let’s stop calling it a “basement” and instead refer to it as a lower ground floor, since it contains usable living space.
Now consider this: three levels? The basement is not included in the budget. So, two levels. Forget the idea of a basement and focus on two floors—the upper level likely being the main entrance and the lower level connecting to the garden.
Matthias F schrieb:
I don’t quite understand what you mean? The kitchen is directly adjacent to the dining room and therefore easily accessible. You should be able to reach the kitchen and pantry via a short route from the entrance area.
Matthias F schrieb:
The budget is about 650,000. I can link you to recent discussions about hillside houses here, but you can also search the forum yourself.
Here’s an example where the entrance is not located where the living room/kitchen are:
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/grundriss-einfamilienhaus-ca-160m-haupteingang-im-keller-nordhang-1700m.47820/
Here is a recognized problem with a slope and considerations on what kind of house fits:
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/grundriss-entwurf-einfamilienhaus-mit-10-suedhang-hauseingang-podesttreppe.49361/
Here is a steep slope:
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/grundriss-ueberarbeitung-tipps-und-erfahrungen-zur-verbesserung.49467/
Here’s a hillside build:
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/grundriss-zweifamilienhaus-nebeneinander-am-suedhang.49076/
And here, very illustrative:
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/grundriss-einfamilienhaus-in-hanglage.49127/
Also, @kati has a long thread with a very good solution in 2023/2024, though she appears to have left. You can still find it here.
There’s more — just try searching the forum.
If you want to stay within your budget, you should set aside an additional €50,000 for the slope (earthworks, landscaping). Then another €50,000 for outdoor areas, garage, and contingency, as well as €50,000 for additional construction costs.
You have €500,000 for the house. About 150–160 square meters (1,615–1,722 square feet). To use this space efficiently, you could allocate around 45 square meters (484 square feet) for living room/kitchen/dining area, 10 for technical room, 5 for utility room, 45 square meters (484 square feet) for 3 bedrooms, and 15 for bathrooms. About 20 square meters (215 square feet) are needed for stairs and corridors. 10 square meters (108 square feet) for an office/guest room. The rest fits into the remaining areas.
You have €500,000 for the house. About 150–160 square meters (1,615–1,722 square feet). To use this space efficiently, you could allocate around 45 square meters (484 square feet) for living room/kitchen/dining area, 10 for technical room, 5 for utility room, 45 square meters (484 square feet) for 3 bedrooms, and 15 for bathrooms. About 20 square meters (215 square feet) are needed for stairs and corridors. 10 square meters (108 square feet) for an office/guest room. The rest fits into the remaining areas.
N
nordanney19 Sep 2025 18:31ypg schrieb:
You have €500,000 for the house. A good 150/160sqm (1,615/1,720 sq ft) … and you have to skip the basement. With that budget, that will be the tough pill you have to swallow.
The unused basement will become the highlight with direct garden access.
Use the basement as a living area. We do the same. Why build a tower unnecessarily? The days of oil tanks or coal cellars are over, as are pantry rooms designed to support large families through the winter.
Use the basement as a living area. We do the same. Why build a tower unnecessarily? The days of oil tanks or coal cellars are over, as are pantry rooms designed to support large families through the winter.
H
hanghaus202320 Sep 2025 09:17How has the neighbor to the north secured the boundary? Is there a retaining wall? I didn’t ask for pictures of the neighboring properties out of boredom.
Is it possible to access the site from the west? An aerial view section would also help a bit. In my opinion, a 14% slope is not insignificant.
Is it possible to access the site from the west? An aerial view section would also help a bit. In my opinion, a 14% slope is not insignificant.
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