ᐅ Floor Plan Ideas for New Build 2026: Modern House with Single-Slope Roof, South-Facing Terrace & Garage
Created on: 7 Dec 2025 14:01
J
jannick93
Hello everyone,
I have been a silent reader for a long time, but next year we plan to build a new house after looking at numerous old houses and coming to this decision. Hopefully, there will be a KfW EH55 subsidy available again in 2026.
Regarding the questionnaire:
Zoning plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 860m² (0.21 acres)
Slope: Unfortunately yes; within the buildable area, there is a 2m (6.5 ft) drop across a width of 11m (36 ft) from east to west, but this provides a nice southwest view.
Otherwise, no zoning plan or restrictions. The surrounding houses were built in the 1950s.
Homeowners’ Requirements
Style, roof design, building type:
- Modern with variation in the facade depth and integration of the garage with a flat roof. The plan is for a mono-pitched roof with an 8° slope facing south to maximize solar panels.
Basement, stories:
- No basement, ground floor on the east side partly embedded 1-1.5m (3-5 ft) into the ground. Garage at the rear fully underground. Two stories in total.
Number and age of occupants:
- 4 people aged 36, 32, 4 years, and a toddler of 7 months.
Room requirements on ground and upper floors:
- Due to no basement, a large garage is included. 160-180m² (1720-1940 sq ft) would suffice, but I couldn’t manage that size exactly.
Office:
- Home office use.
Guests per year:
- Almost none, but children and godchildren will likely sleep in the children’s rooms.
Open or closed layout:
- Open layout with the option to separate the upper floor and create a separate entrance from the east (future option in 20-25 years; something to plan for, but not a pressing concern).
Conservative or modern construction:
- Modern.
Open kitchen, kitchen island:
- Both yes, definitely. However, given the kitchen width, I don’t think a freestanding island is possible. Most of our daily life happens in the kitchen and dining-living area, so this is designed generously. We cook daily.
Number of dining seats:
- 6-8 seats for a large family (3m (10 ft) long dining table) plus 2-3 seats at the island.
Fireplace:
- No.
Music / stereo wall:
- No.
Balcony, roof terrace:
- Yes, on the south side. Possibly with an outdoor kitchen in the future (preparatory plumbing should be planned).
Garage / carport:
- Yes, double garage with additional storage space for shelves and possibly future technology, where a separate room can be added later. The garage has separate walls (is this advisable?) and is not within the insulated envelope of the house.
Kitchen garden, greenhouse:
- Raised bed.
Other wishes, special features, daily routine, reasons why certain things are included or excluded:
- Short and practical route from the garage to the kitchen for groceries. I’ve drawn a very small pantry, reducing it by 60cm (2 ft) from the former 2.20m (7 ft) wide hallway, and I’d appreciate your advice on whether this makes sense.
Laundry room on the upper floor where laundry is handled; in summer, clothes will be dried outside on the garage roof.
Regarding the technical room, I’m unsure if it is large enough for: heat pump indoor unit, domestic hot water heat pump, inverter, battery storage, meter cabinet, server cabinet, ventilation system. Less sensitive equipment could be placed in a separate room in the garage.
Regarding technical room location: I know the main connection is covered and not located closest to the street, but perhaps it can be argued that the small room between the two masonry walls of house and garage works. Also, neighboring houses have rooftop antennas, and the type of connection I will receive is yet to be clarified.
House design
Who created the design:
- Former head of the building authority, adjusted by me.
What do you particularly like? Why?
- The open kitchen with dining-living area and the layout of the upper floor with the utility room including shelf space and the size of the children’s rooms. Terrace facing south with a nice view.
What do you dislike? Why?
- The very long and large “expensive” hallway on the ground floor. I am still looking for a solution here. The main issue is the location of the staircase. When trying to place it next to the kitchen, I reached my design limits on the upper floor. This is the main reason I am turning to you.
Estimated cost according to architect/planner: about 450,000 with a lot of own labor on the shell work.
Personal budget limit for the house, including fittings: My biggest wish is to build the house mostly myself to reach around 2000€/m² (185 sq ft) . Next year, I have already arranged 78 days off for this.
Preferred heating system: Heat pump with underfloor heating (flow30) and domestic hot water heat pump. I am still looking for a suitable location for the outdoor unit, possibly on the garage roof. Air conditioning will be installed in both floors’ hallways.
If you had to give up certain details or extras, what could you omit
- Could give up: hallway 😉, size of the master bedroom (we only need about 1m (3 ft) space around the bed if we have a separate room for clothes), large bathrooms.
- Cannot give up: kitchen size, preferably even more generous.
Why is the design the way it is?
For example, based on sun orientation of the south-facing terrace and views from the upper floor. The garage location follows from the driveway and the entrance location. I couldn’t find any other combination that makes sense.
I have been a silent reader for a long time, but next year we plan to build a new house after looking at numerous old houses and coming to this decision. Hopefully, there will be a KfW EH55 subsidy available again in 2026.
Regarding the questionnaire:
Zoning plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 860m² (0.21 acres)
Slope: Unfortunately yes; within the buildable area, there is a 2m (6.5 ft) drop across a width of 11m (36 ft) from east to west, but this provides a nice southwest view.
Otherwise, no zoning plan or restrictions. The surrounding houses were built in the 1950s.
Homeowners’ Requirements
Style, roof design, building type:
- Modern with variation in the facade depth and integration of the garage with a flat roof. The plan is for a mono-pitched roof with an 8° slope facing south to maximize solar panels.
Basement, stories:
- No basement, ground floor on the east side partly embedded 1-1.5m (3-5 ft) into the ground. Garage at the rear fully underground. Two stories in total.
Number and age of occupants:
- 4 people aged 36, 32, 4 years, and a toddler of 7 months.
Room requirements on ground and upper floors:
- Due to no basement, a large garage is included. 160-180m² (1720-1940 sq ft) would suffice, but I couldn’t manage that size exactly.
Office:
- Home office use.
Guests per year:
- Almost none, but children and godchildren will likely sleep in the children’s rooms.
Open or closed layout:
- Open layout with the option to separate the upper floor and create a separate entrance from the east (future option in 20-25 years; something to plan for, but not a pressing concern).
Conservative or modern construction:
- Modern.
Open kitchen, kitchen island:
- Both yes, definitely. However, given the kitchen width, I don’t think a freestanding island is possible. Most of our daily life happens in the kitchen and dining-living area, so this is designed generously. We cook daily.
Number of dining seats:
- 6-8 seats for a large family (3m (10 ft) long dining table) plus 2-3 seats at the island.
Fireplace:
- No.
Music / stereo wall:
- No.
Balcony, roof terrace:
- Yes, on the south side. Possibly with an outdoor kitchen in the future (preparatory plumbing should be planned).
Garage / carport:
- Yes, double garage with additional storage space for shelves and possibly future technology, where a separate room can be added later. The garage has separate walls (is this advisable?) and is not within the insulated envelope of the house.
Kitchen garden, greenhouse:
- Raised bed.
Other wishes, special features, daily routine, reasons why certain things are included or excluded:
- Short and practical route from the garage to the kitchen for groceries. I’ve drawn a very small pantry, reducing it by 60cm (2 ft) from the former 2.20m (7 ft) wide hallway, and I’d appreciate your advice on whether this makes sense.
Laundry room on the upper floor where laundry is handled; in summer, clothes will be dried outside on the garage roof.
Regarding the technical room, I’m unsure if it is large enough for: heat pump indoor unit, domestic hot water heat pump, inverter, battery storage, meter cabinet, server cabinet, ventilation system. Less sensitive equipment could be placed in a separate room in the garage.
Regarding technical room location: I know the main connection is covered and not located closest to the street, but perhaps it can be argued that the small room between the two masonry walls of house and garage works. Also, neighboring houses have rooftop antennas, and the type of connection I will receive is yet to be clarified.
House design
Who created the design:
- Former head of the building authority, adjusted by me.
What do you particularly like? Why?
- The open kitchen with dining-living area and the layout of the upper floor with the utility room including shelf space and the size of the children’s rooms. Terrace facing south with a nice view.
What do you dislike? Why?
- The very long and large “expensive” hallway on the ground floor. I am still looking for a solution here. The main issue is the location of the staircase. When trying to place it next to the kitchen, I reached my design limits on the upper floor. This is the main reason I am turning to you.
Estimated cost according to architect/planner: about 450,000 with a lot of own labor on the shell work.
Personal budget limit for the house, including fittings: My biggest wish is to build the house mostly myself to reach around 2000€/m² (185 sq ft) . Next year, I have already arranged 78 days off for this.
Preferred heating system: Heat pump with underfloor heating (flow30) and domestic hot water heat pump. I am still looking for a suitable location for the outdoor unit, possibly on the garage roof. Air conditioning will be installed in both floors’ hallways.
If you had to give up certain details or extras, what could you omit
- Could give up: hallway 😉, size of the master bedroom (we only need about 1m (3 ft) space around the bed if we have a separate room for clothes), large bathrooms.
- Cannot give up: kitchen size, preferably even more generous.
Why is the design the way it is?
For example, based on sun orientation of the south-facing terrace and views from the upper floor. The garage location follows from the driveway and the entrance location. I couldn’t find any other combination that makes sense.
N
neo-sciliar18 Dec 2025 08:11I can handle criticism well, even very direct criticism, but when it becomes personal, that crosses the line. My sincere thanks and the award for the best forum floor plan advisor go to @ypg, even though the feedback was always about what does not work and never constructive criticism.
Of course, you can have a steel beam in a timber-framed house. I have even seen it used as a design element, and I have to say, it looked good.
Of course, you can have a steel beam in a timber-framed house. I have even seen it used as a design element, and I have to say, it looked good.
neo-sciliar schrieb:
and that, even though only what does not work was ever mentioned, and never any constructive criticism. Thank you very much.
I am basically out of the picture when it comes to fans of slanted walls and 16 corners.
However, attentive readers here also know that I am almost the only one here who puts new beginnings and floor plan designs into practice. I believe I originally adopted that approach from you @würfel back then, and it worked quite well. A forum can function very well as a team. You just have to allow it.