ᐅ House Design on a 1,000 m² Sloped Plot: Reviewing Our Modern Single-Family Home Plan
Created on: 2 Dec 2025 19:14
U
Uwe-gss11
Hello everyone,
so ... starting over, and this time properly ;-)
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size
- approx. 1,000 sqm (10,764 sq ft)
Slope
- slight slope starting from the middle; drops about 1.5 m (5 ft), but should not be a problem for the house
Site occupancy index / Floor area ratio
- Buildable according to the building regulations of RLP, similar to neighboring buildings ... 2 houses nearby also have 2 full stories + 45° gable roof
Building window, building line, and boundary
- about 20 m (66 ft) from the street, 3 m (10 ft) boundary clearance
- boundary construction max. 12 m (39 ft) on one side, average wall height 3.2 m (10.5 ft), construction facing the street does not count as boundary construction ... only 50 cm (20 inches) distance must be kept from the sidewalk
- Plot width: 25.8 m (85 ft) - depth: approx. 38 m (125 ft)
Edge development
- no
Parking spaces
- Garage = 2 parking spaces, at least 4 more cars can fit in the driveway (for visitors, for example)
Number of floors
- 2 full stories
Roof type
- Gable roof with 45° pitch (= slight optimization for photovoltaic systems from autumn to spring ... summer gets plenty of sun anyway)
Architectural style
- simple but modern
Orientation
- South-southeast
Maximum heights / limits
- previous building (demolished) was 11.9 m (39 ft) high
Further requirements
Client Requirements
Style, roof type, building type
- see above
Basement, floors
- no basement, 2 full stories + unfinished attic under the gable roof
Number of occupants, ages
- 2 adults in their mid to late 50s, 2 teenagers
Space requirements on ground and upper floors
- We currently live in an old building with large rooms ... it should not feel cramped ;-)
Office: family use or home office?
- Yes, "multipurpose room for office + guests"
Guest stays per year
- rare ... probably mainly used as office, or if one parent wants to "move abroad" for a while ;-)
Open or closed plan
- living, dining, and kitchen open; rest closed
Conservative or modern construction
- modern, whatever that means ;-)
Open kitchen, kitchen island
- Yes
Number of dining seats
- basically a table for 6 is enough but should be extendable for gatherings
Fireplace
- no
Music / stereo setup
- 2 floor-standing speakers next to the TV
Balcony, roof terrace
- terrace ... the one on the east is shaded in midsummer (= good), but the terrace also extends to the south ... we will see which becomes our "main terrace" once we live there
Garage, carport
- large garage with plenty of storage space (since we don’t have a basement)
Utility garden, greenhouse
- some space for growing things ... strawberries, mint, chives, rhubarb, tomatoes
Other wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons for preferences or exclusions
- the "village main road" is to the north and relatively busy during peak hours. Therefore, all living areas face south
House Design
Who designed it:
- Do-it-yourself
What do you particularly like? Why?
- Large, bright rooms with unobstructed views of greenery
What do you not like? Why?
- Overall it fits, but where/how does the living room door open onto the terrace ... we still don’t know where our main terrace will be.
- When I wasn’t sure how much space I needed, I preferred to have "a bit more" ... maybe it’s too big? ... honestly, I don’t know where to cut significantly ... okay, I could reduce 1 m (3 ft) in the south, but I don’t want the dining table and sofa directly at the glass wall. Upstairs this would be easier, but that one meter???
- I originally wanted the wardrobe directly between the front door and the door to the garage (on the exterior wall, where the guest WC is now). But a guest WC without daylight is probably not desirable.
Cost estimate from architect/designer:
Personal price limit for the house, including fittings:
- none yet ... but I’m relatively flexible
Preferred heating technology:
- waiting for the heating demand calculation ... ideally, at least 80% would be covered by controlled residential ventilation. For extremely cold days (if they still happen), more baking in the oven or other heating methods will be used ;-)
If you had to give up on any details or additions
- basically nothing ... we are only building once in life, and then it should fit.
Why was the design made this way?
Own design based on “gut feeling” about what we would like ... it has been in my mind for years.
PS: This is my second attempt here; the first one (under https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/unser-efh-aufm-land-4-personen.49842/) had too little information.
I have already adjusted the plan a bit here:
- The garage is less deep so that the technical room gets a window, and the supply / air for controlled residential ventilation can go directly outside.
- I have slightly redesigned the kitchen (dining table in the middle instead of at the bottom). This could save some space downstairs, but not much.
... I’m a bit clueless ... but maybe you can give me some suggestions. I will also talk to the planner again and ask a friendly architect for advice.
Okay, now “fire away” 😀
THANK YOU!
Uwe-gss11
so ... starting over, and this time properly ;-)
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size
- approx. 1,000 sqm (10,764 sq ft)
Slope
- slight slope starting from the middle; drops about 1.5 m (5 ft), but should not be a problem for the house
Site occupancy index / Floor area ratio
- Buildable according to the building regulations of RLP, similar to neighboring buildings ... 2 houses nearby also have 2 full stories + 45° gable roof
Building window, building line, and boundary
- about 20 m (66 ft) from the street, 3 m (10 ft) boundary clearance
- boundary construction max. 12 m (39 ft) on one side, average wall height 3.2 m (10.5 ft), construction facing the street does not count as boundary construction ... only 50 cm (20 inches) distance must be kept from the sidewalk
- Plot width: 25.8 m (85 ft) - depth: approx. 38 m (125 ft)
Edge development
- no
Parking spaces
- Garage = 2 parking spaces, at least 4 more cars can fit in the driveway (for visitors, for example)
Number of floors
- 2 full stories
Roof type
- Gable roof with 45° pitch (= slight optimization for photovoltaic systems from autumn to spring ... summer gets plenty of sun anyway)
Architectural style
- simple but modern
Orientation
- South-southeast
Maximum heights / limits
- previous building (demolished) was 11.9 m (39 ft) high
Further requirements
Client Requirements
Style, roof type, building type
- see above
Basement, floors
- no basement, 2 full stories + unfinished attic under the gable roof
Number of occupants, ages
- 2 adults in their mid to late 50s, 2 teenagers
Space requirements on ground and upper floors
- We currently live in an old building with large rooms ... it should not feel cramped ;-)
Office: family use or home office?
- Yes, "multipurpose room for office + guests"
Guest stays per year
- rare ... probably mainly used as office, or if one parent wants to "move abroad" for a while ;-)
Open or closed plan
- living, dining, and kitchen open; rest closed
Conservative or modern construction
- modern, whatever that means ;-)
Open kitchen, kitchen island
- Yes
Number of dining seats
- basically a table for 6 is enough but should be extendable for gatherings
Fireplace
- no
Music / stereo setup
- 2 floor-standing speakers next to the TV
Balcony, roof terrace
- terrace ... the one on the east is shaded in midsummer (= good), but the terrace also extends to the south ... we will see which becomes our "main terrace" once we live there
Garage, carport
- large garage with plenty of storage space (since we don’t have a basement)
Utility garden, greenhouse
- some space for growing things ... strawberries, mint, chives, rhubarb, tomatoes
Other wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons for preferences or exclusions
- the "village main road" is to the north and relatively busy during peak hours. Therefore, all living areas face south
House Design
Who designed it:
- Do-it-yourself
What do you particularly like? Why?
- Large, bright rooms with unobstructed views of greenery
What do you not like? Why?
- Overall it fits, but where/how does the living room door open onto the terrace ... we still don’t know where our main terrace will be.
- When I wasn’t sure how much space I needed, I preferred to have "a bit more" ... maybe it’s too big? ... honestly, I don’t know where to cut significantly ... okay, I could reduce 1 m (3 ft) in the south, but I don’t want the dining table and sofa directly at the glass wall. Upstairs this would be easier, but that one meter???
- I originally wanted the wardrobe directly between the front door and the door to the garage (on the exterior wall, where the guest WC is now). But a guest WC without daylight is probably not desirable.
Cost estimate from architect/designer:
Personal price limit for the house, including fittings:
- none yet ... but I’m relatively flexible
Preferred heating technology:
- waiting for the heating demand calculation ... ideally, at least 80% would be covered by controlled residential ventilation. For extremely cold days (if they still happen), more baking in the oven or other heating methods will be used ;-)
If you had to give up on any details or additions
- basically nothing ... we are only building once in life, and then it should fit.
Why was the design made this way?
Own design based on “gut feeling” about what we would like ... it has been in my mind for years.
PS: This is my second attempt here; the first one (under https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/unser-efh-aufm-land-4-personen.49842/) had too little information.
I have already adjusted the plan a bit here:
- The garage is less deep so that the technical room gets a window, and the supply / air for controlled residential ventilation can go directly outside.
- I have slightly redesigned the kitchen (dining table in the middle instead of at the bottom). This could save some space downstairs, but not much.
... I’m a bit clueless ... but maybe you can give me some suggestions. I will also talk to the planner again and ask a friendly architect for advice.
Okay, now “fire away” 😀
THANK YOU!
Uwe-gss11
Uwe-gss11 schrieb:
but only as storage space for things you rarely need to access ... a pull-down ladder should be sufficient. Somewhere you mentioned money related to the size of the house and that we are just jealous 😉 ... let me tell you, a well-utilized attic is worth the investment.
Uwe-gss11 schrieb:
The office (in a built-in closet under the stairs) The requirement for a "built-in closet under the stairs" only exists because your staircase concept is rather unusual. The actual requirement would be a "built-in closet for files" ... which again shows how fixed you are on your plan.
Uwe-gss11 schrieb:
My wish is that the living and bedrooms face south For a pure bedroom, like the master bedroom for example, I would always prefer to orient it to the north or east, as temperatures tend to be more comfortable there in summer.
And still, nobody here really knows your plot. There’s no photo, no topographic plan ... and the house design must always be adapted to the site.
Everything you haul up a pull-down ladder can basically be thrown away.
An attic like that can be worth its weight in gold. You want to keep your children close for as long as possible. Flexibility is helpful here. With a pitched roof, you can theoretically fit an entire apartment underneath.
You can offer your young adults a separate workspace and bedroom. A chill-out area, a carpet track can be set up, air track mats, etc.
We’ve already had all sorts of things up there or at friends’ houses. There’s more space for whatever you want than some families even have for living.
My bedroom faces north, and that works well. Summers are getting warmer, and you can clearly tell if there’s any direct sunlight.
Don’t treat the staircase too neglectfully. It doesn’t have to be as grand as the one in a fairy-tale castle, but it can be a nice design element that suits your budget and the size of your home.
Accessibility is more than just wide doors, wide hallways, and barrier-free showers.
Consider turning radii, a straight stair wide enough for two handrails, brackets on toilets, assistance with washing, showering, using the toilet, dressing. Take a look at zero barrier concepts; it actually starts before you even enter the front door.
An attic like that can be worth its weight in gold. You want to keep your children close for as long as possible. Flexibility is helpful here. With a pitched roof, you can theoretically fit an entire apartment underneath.
You can offer your young adults a separate workspace and bedroom. A chill-out area, a carpet track can be set up, air track mats, etc.
We’ve already had all sorts of things up there or at friends’ houses. There’s more space for whatever you want than some families even have for living.
My bedroom faces north, and that works well. Summers are getting warmer, and you can clearly tell if there’s any direct sunlight.
Don’t treat the staircase too neglectfully. It doesn’t have to be as grand as the one in a fairy-tale castle, but it can be a nice design element that suits your budget and the size of your home.
Accessibility is more than just wide doors, wide hallways, and barrier-free showers.
Consider turning radii, a straight stair wide enough for two handrails, brackets on toilets, assistance with washing, showering, using the toilet, dressing. Take a look at zero barrier concepts; it actually starts before you even enter the front door.
U
Uwe-gss119 Dec 2025 22:52As mentioned several times:
In the north, there is the street ... I do not want to have a bedroom facing it.
In the north, there is the street ... I do not want to have a bedroom facing it.
U
Uwe-gss119 Dec 2025 23:00Uh ... did someone change the title here?
I don’t mind, but “HANGGRUNDSTÜCK” (sloping plot) isn’t quite accurate; the slope only starts in the middle of the plot, in the outdoor area that isn’t allowed to be built on anyway. So it’s irrelevant for the house.
I don’t mind, but “HANGGRUNDSTÜCK” (sloping plot) isn’t quite accurate; the slope only starts in the middle of the plot, in the outdoor area that isn’t allowed to be built on anyway. So it’s irrelevant for the house.
It really depends on how busy the street is.
Try to free yourself from your fixed ideas and take a few rounds with options that might not exactly match your initial expectations. Our house ended up very different from my first sketches, and then we went through several iterations with the architect. In the end, we were almost back to the original architectural design, but the changes, even if small, made all the difference. Over time, the kitchen shifted throughout the entire ground floor, the turning radius kept pushing walls around, and finally, we adjusted the desired furniture layout to scale.
Try to free yourself from your fixed ideas and take a few rounds with options that might not exactly match your initial expectations. Our house ended up very different from my first sketches, and then we went through several iterations with the architect. In the end, we were almost back to the original architectural design, but the changes, even if small, made all the difference. Over time, the kitchen shifted throughout the entire ground floor, the turning radius kept pushing walls around, and finally, we adjusted the desired furniture layout to scale.
N
nordanney10 Dec 2025 08:20Uwe-gss11 schrieb:
The street is to the north... I don’t want a bedroom there. Uwe-gss11 schrieb:
In the (outdoor) area that is not allowed to be built on anyway. What are the actual frequency and noise levels from the north? Not all streets are the same—the outdoor area sounds like a quiet, remote location. Also, with controlled mechanical ventilation systems, keeping windows open at night is no longer necessary. And if you’re sensitive to noise, installing soundproof windows is a solution, allowing you to reconsider and optimize the entire floor plan.
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