ᐅ Single-family house, 190 sqm, with east-facing garden and double garage
Created on: 20 Apr 2026 12:12
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HouseNo22
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size 532 sqm (5,726 sq ft)
Slope No
Floor area ratio 0.4
Gross floor area ratio 0.8
Building envelope, building line, and boundary 22 m (72 ft) wide x 16 m (52 ft) deep
Edge development Garage only
Number of parking spaces 2
Number of stories 2
Roof type Gable roof
Style Modern
Orientation East
Maximum height / limits 10 m (33 ft)
Other requirements Garage and carports only allowed within the building boundary
Client Requirements
Style, roof type, building type Prefabricated house, modern with wooden elements, 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in) knee wall
Basement, floors Ground floor & upper floor
Number of occupants, age 2 adults, 1 toddler (uncertain if a second child will be added)
Room requirements on ground and upper floor
Ground floor: Open living/dining area, WC or shower, small office, pantry, passage to garage
Upper floor: Bedroom, walk-in closet, and 2 children’s rooms. 2 bathrooms (either 1 children’s or parents’ bathroom + 1 large bathroom)
Office: Family use or home office? 1x home office 3 days/week
Overnight guests per year? None, family and friends live nearby
Open or closed architecture? Open
Conservative or modern construction? Modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island? Yes, preferably large with a freestanding kitchen island (lots of cooking and especially baking)
Number of dining seats? 6-8
Fireplace? No
Balcony, roof terrace? No
Garage, carport? Double garage with extension 6.50 m x 8.50 m (21 ft 4 in x 28 ft). Positioned 1 m (3 ft 3 in) forward to the house on the north side with a roof extending from the garage over the main entrance.
House Design
Designed by:
Us together with an architect
What do you especially like? Why?
- We are generally quite satisfied with the overall design. We only wonder if anything could be improved or if we have overlooked something.
- The room sizes and layout are actually quite good.
- The access from the garage through the technical room and then directly into the wardrobe is a good separation of dirty and living areas.
- Large technical room with a separate utility room featuring laundry chutes from the walk-in closet and main bathroom on the upper floor.
- 2 void spaces (we understand the disadvantages but want good doors and stronger walls in the children’s rooms to reduce noise from the living area).
-> Clear advantage: We want to keep the living areas as private as possible. Through the two stacked windows with a void at the entrance, we hope to also get some light from the west into the living space. We love the openness and the high ceiling height.
- Pantry with space for kitchen cupboards to store small appliances like mixer, air fryer, etc., and room for an extra freezer.
What do you not like? Why?
- We are unsure if the living area will get enough light given its orientation. Will there really be light from the west as we expect? We are planning a corner kitchen, with a wide window above the counter on the south side. Is that enough?
- Are the dimensions of the ground floor WC and the parents’ bathroom appropriate? They don’t need to be large but comfortable to use. It was important for us that the children can use the large bathroom with bathtub and we still have a small, private bathroom.
- A windowless WC on the ground floor is not our preference but acceptable as it has no shower. The central ventilation system should provide adequate air exchange, right?
- Are the overall dimensions and sizes of the rooms okay?
- The windows are provisional and will be finalized in a separate meeting with our architect.
Price estimate according to architect/planner: 750,000 including plot & additional costs
Personal price limit for the house including fittings: 750,000
Preferred heating technology: Wolf air-to-water heat pump with outdoor unit, plus Zehnder central ventilation system
If you had to give up, which details/expansions
- cannot be compromised: Garage access, 2 bathrooms on upper floor, large living-dining area, pantry, walk-in closet
Ground floor plan:
Garage still on the left (north) side (6.5 x 8.5 m / 21 ft 4 in x 28 ft), positioned 1 m (3 ft 3 in) forward relative to the house with a roof covering the entrance door.
Ground floor 3D visualization:
Upper floor plan:
Renderings (please don’t take them too literally; it won’t be as white and clean in reality):
Living area
Entrance / wardrobe
-> The staircase looks strange here. In reality, it will be an open oak staircase with a glass railing and a central stringer.
Office
Upper floor hallway
Parents’ bedroom
We are generally quite satisfied with the floor plan. There are still a few questions left (see above in the questionnaire).
Do you have any other suggestions for improvements? Our specific questions are listed above in the questionnaire. Thank you very much in advance 🙂
Plot size 532 sqm (5,726 sq ft)
Slope No
Floor area ratio 0.4
Gross floor area ratio 0.8
Building envelope, building line, and boundary 22 m (72 ft) wide x 16 m (52 ft) deep
Edge development Garage only
Number of parking spaces 2
Number of stories 2
Roof type Gable roof
Style Modern
Orientation East
Maximum height / limits 10 m (33 ft)
Other requirements Garage and carports only allowed within the building boundary
Client Requirements
Style, roof type, building type Prefabricated house, modern with wooden elements, 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in) knee wall
Basement, floors Ground floor & upper floor
Number of occupants, age 2 adults, 1 toddler (uncertain if a second child will be added)
Room requirements on ground and upper floor
Ground floor: Open living/dining area, WC or shower, small office, pantry, passage to garage
Upper floor: Bedroom, walk-in closet, and 2 children’s rooms. 2 bathrooms (either 1 children’s or parents’ bathroom + 1 large bathroom)
Office: Family use or home office? 1x home office 3 days/week
Overnight guests per year? None, family and friends live nearby
Open or closed architecture? Open
Conservative or modern construction? Modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island? Yes, preferably large with a freestanding kitchen island (lots of cooking and especially baking)
Number of dining seats? 6-8
Fireplace? No
Balcony, roof terrace? No
Garage, carport? Double garage with extension 6.50 m x 8.50 m (21 ft 4 in x 28 ft). Positioned 1 m (3 ft 3 in) forward to the house on the north side with a roof extending from the garage over the main entrance.
House Design
Designed by:
Us together with an architect
What do you especially like? Why?
- We are generally quite satisfied with the overall design. We only wonder if anything could be improved or if we have overlooked something.
- The room sizes and layout are actually quite good.
- The access from the garage through the technical room and then directly into the wardrobe is a good separation of dirty and living areas.
- Large technical room with a separate utility room featuring laundry chutes from the walk-in closet and main bathroom on the upper floor.
- 2 void spaces (we understand the disadvantages but want good doors and stronger walls in the children’s rooms to reduce noise from the living area).
-> Clear advantage: We want to keep the living areas as private as possible. Through the two stacked windows with a void at the entrance, we hope to also get some light from the west into the living space. We love the openness and the high ceiling height.
- Pantry with space for kitchen cupboards to store small appliances like mixer, air fryer, etc., and room for an extra freezer.
What do you not like? Why?
- We are unsure if the living area will get enough light given its orientation. Will there really be light from the west as we expect? We are planning a corner kitchen, with a wide window above the counter on the south side. Is that enough?
- Are the dimensions of the ground floor WC and the parents’ bathroom appropriate? They don’t need to be large but comfortable to use. It was important for us that the children can use the large bathroom with bathtub and we still have a small, private bathroom.
- A windowless WC on the ground floor is not our preference but acceptable as it has no shower. The central ventilation system should provide adequate air exchange, right?
- Are the overall dimensions and sizes of the rooms okay?
- The windows are provisional and will be finalized in a separate meeting with our architect.
Price estimate according to architect/planner: 750,000 including plot & additional costs
Personal price limit for the house including fittings: 750,000
Preferred heating technology: Wolf air-to-water heat pump with outdoor unit, plus Zehnder central ventilation system
If you had to give up, which details/expansions
- cannot be compromised: Garage access, 2 bathrooms on upper floor, large living-dining area, pantry, walk-in closet
Ground floor plan:
Garage still on the left (north) side (6.5 x 8.5 m / 21 ft 4 in x 28 ft), positioned 1 m (3 ft 3 in) forward relative to the house with a roof covering the entrance door.
Ground floor 3D visualization:
Upper floor plan:
Renderings (please don’t take them too literally; it won’t be as white and clean in reality):
Living area
Entrance / wardrobe
-> The staircase looks strange here. In reality, it will be an open oak staircase with a glass railing and a central stringer.
Office
Upper floor hallway
Parents’ bedroom
We are generally quite satisfied with the floor plan. There are still a few questions left (see above in the questionnaire).
Do you have any other suggestions for improvements? Our specific questions are listed above in the questionnaire. Thank you very much in advance 🙂
HouseNo22 schrieb:
Oh yes, the construction is taking place in rural southern Germany. We are paying just under €86,000 (€92,000 including additional costs) for a 532 m² (5,724 ft²) plot in a new development area. That leaves €600,000 for the house, excluding landscaping or a garage. With those included, about €540,000 remains for the house. That is enough for a standard house of 170 m² (1,830 ft²).
HouseNo22 schrieb:
or we have overlooked something. That’s exactly what you have overlooked. I would suggest having your architect design a house without showing them your current plan. Then be prepared that your must-have wishes, without which you feel you can’t live, might not be implemented or might not be implemented properly.
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hanghaus202321 Apr 2026 11:07I also find the budget insufficient here. Architects tend to design dream homes for their clients. I am missing a site plan of the property as well as a north arrow. One day, you will hate the air space regulations. But of course, no one wants to hear that. I don’t want to say much about the floor plans, but I did notice the imbalance between the technical room and the office, as well as the windowless toilet on the ground floor. Upstairs, the disproportion between the master bathroom and the children's bathroom is, in my opinion, something that should be reconsidered. The master bathroom should be at least half a meter (about 20 inches) wider.
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Holzhaus2621 Apr 2026 14:32Your considerations are completely understandable, and many of these points frequently come up during house planning. A few thoughts:
Lighting situation:
Whether the living area receives enough light depends largely on actual shading, window size, and room depth. West-facing light usually reaches the living space well – but only if there are no structural obstacles in front. A wide row of windows on the south side is generally a big advantage. If you are unsure, it is worth comparing with similar floor plans that have already been built.
Bathroom on the ground floor & master bathroom:
The dimensions seem practical at first glance, as long as movement areas are maintained. A small master bathroom is perfectly sufficient if the main family bathroom is well equipped. The concept of “children use the large bathroom, parents have a private small bathroom” works very well in many households.
Bathroom without window:
If you plan a central ventilation system, a windowless bathroom is absolutely common and technically unproblematic. The important thing is that the exhaust airflow is correctly set.
Room sizes in general:
Without exact measurements, it is difficult to judge, but your description sounds like a solid size concept. Bottlenecks are often caused more by furniture placement or circulation paths than by the actual square footage.
Window planning:
It is completely normal that you will discuss this in the next appointment with the architect. Windows are one of the last steps because they are based on the final floor plan.
Lighting situation:
Whether the living area receives enough light depends largely on actual shading, window size, and room depth. West-facing light usually reaches the living space well – but only if there are no structural obstacles in front. A wide row of windows on the south side is generally a big advantage. If you are unsure, it is worth comparing with similar floor plans that have already been built.
Bathroom on the ground floor & master bathroom:
The dimensions seem practical at first glance, as long as movement areas are maintained. A small master bathroom is perfectly sufficient if the main family bathroom is well equipped. The concept of “children use the large bathroom, parents have a private small bathroom” works very well in many households.
Bathroom without window:
If you plan a central ventilation system, a windowless bathroom is absolutely common and technically unproblematic. The important thing is that the exhaust airflow is correctly set.
Room sizes in general:
Without exact measurements, it is difficult to judge, but your description sounds like a solid size concept. Bottlenecks are often caused more by furniture placement or circulation paths than by the actual square footage.
Window planning:
It is completely normal that you will discuss this in the next appointment with the architect. Windows are one of the last steps because they are based on the final floor plan.
hanghaus2023 schrieb:
Architects tend to design dream castles for clients. However, this discussion is not about an architect’s design but a DIY floor plan.
Not that these are necessarily worse, but a builder’s drawing tool is naturally much more patient and generous than the budget allows.
hanghaus2023 schrieb:
Architects tend to design dream castles for their clients. You mean "architects" (ignoring the quotation marks is one of the most common and costly mistakes their clients make) or architects as "@Gerddieter warns".
Medium schrieb:
However, this discussion is not about an architect’s design but a DIY floor plan.
Not that these are necessarily worse, but a builder’s drawing tool is much more patient and generous than the budget allows. Above all, builders don’t see their self-drawn wasted square meters. We are talking about regularly twenty percent more floor area without any added living value, or in other words: converted to a more skillful design, practically 3600 EUR/sqm (335 USD/sqft). Regularly, self-planning costs significantly more money than the architect’s fee would have been. This negative saving effect becomes apparent already in the first half and is even topped in the second.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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Siedler3422 Apr 2026 21:48I like the house itself quite a bit, and I also like the concept of the open void spaces. What would bother me, however, is the door to the downstairs toilet, which feels like it’s located in the dining area. It really needs to be properly sealed for sound and odor to prevent uncomfortable situations for everyone during social meals.
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