ᐅ Single-family house, 2 full stories, 170 m² living area, trapezoidal-shaped plot

Hello everyone,

we are a couple in our late 30s planning a single-family house for two adults who will both work permanently from home. A child is planned in the future. We also have a dog. The plot is located in Bavaria, 15km (9 miles) from Ammersee, in a small new development area where the immediate neighboring buildings are not yet decided, as the plots were only recently sold.
The floor plan is mostly finalized. What we are still unsure about:
- the position of the garage due to the trapezoidal shape of the plot
- the increased ceiling height of 2.62m (8 feet 7 inches) – is this “reasonable”?
- tile flooring with wood look throughout the house – advisable? Reasoning: more durable since the dog’s claws quickly leave marks on parquet flooring.
- stairs made of concrete or wood/tiles on steel beams?

We look forward to your feedback and tips! 🙂
Many thanks and best regards
Jenny & Chris

Development plan/restrictions
Plot size: 564 m² (6073 ft²)
Slope: No
Floor area ratio: 0.3
Gross floor area ratio: /
Building envelope, building line, and boundary: /
Edge development: no
Number of parking spaces: 2 (but only 1 car; the second parking space on the plot is not needed since 2 cars would still fit in the driveway)
Number of storeys: 2 full storeys with clear ceiling height of 2.62m (8 feet 7 inches) each
Roof type: gable roof
Orientation: garden faces southwest
Maximum heights/limits: ridge height: 8.75m (28 feet 8 inches), eaves height: 6.2m (20 feet 4 inches)
Other specifications: /

Client requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: gable roof; pitch still unknown (according to development plan: 18-35°)
Basement, floors: 2 full floors
Number of people, age: 2 adults, 1 child (future)
Space requirement on ground floor and upper floor: 80m² (861 ft²) each
Office: family use or home office? Both, 2 home offices (1 on the ground floor, 1 on the upper floor)
Number of overnight guests per year: 3
Open or closed architecture: closed
Conservative or modern construction style: conservative with a touch of modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: closed kitchen
Number of dining seats: 6
Fireplace: no
Music/stereo wall: /
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: garage (prefab) 9m x 3.5m (30 feet x 11.5 feet) (combined bicycle parking and garage in one large garage)
Utility garden, greenhouse: utility garden
Other wishes/features/daily routine, including reasons for preferences: It is still under consideration whether the garage should be attached to the house or stand separately (with separate roofs over the entrance area and the garage) – see attachment? Does raising the ceiling height “make sense”? A photovoltaic system is desired (order together with the construction company or arrange separately with photovoltaic system preparation?)

House design
Planner: planner from a construction company & DIY
What do you particularly like? Why? Large window on the upper floor hallway; master suite on the upper floor (north side)
What do you not like? Why? Children’s room is somewhat small; number and size of the windows in the living area
Price estimate by architect/planner: €520,000-610,000
Personal price limit for the house, including fittings: €600,000
Preferred heating technology: air-to-water heat pump

If you had to give up on certain details/additions
-you can give up: increased ceiling height of 2.62m (instead clear height of 2.5m (8 feet 2 inches))
-you cannot give up: closed kitchen

Why is the design as it is now? E.g.
Standard design from the planner? An architect and some construction companies have partly developed it or reviewed it. The submission plan is still pending.
Were specific wishes implemented by the architect? No, because the architect’s plan was too elaborate and included too many windows.
What do you think makes it particularly good or bad? Straight lines and the highlight of the large square window on the upper floor hallway.

Is there a site plan of the property with dimensions?

Hello Jenny,
I think the design is already very well done. It is simple and functional, and the rooms are appealing.
I have 2-3 comments and suggestions:
1. I find the wardrobe space too small. Ideally, each person should have a 50-60cm (20-24 inches) deep closet, i.e., the depth of a regular wardrobe. What is drawn is enough for the shoe cabinet but not for coats. I would suggest creating a recess near the shower toilet and the storage room to fit, for example, a Pax wardrobe. The shower room could be mirrored.
2. I have to smile about the dog bed’s position: the dog will become a vigilant guardian of the front door.
3. We have a similar storage room under the stairs: I would have the door open outwards and reduce the storage space itself up to the wall inside the hallway. Everything below that height can only be reached by bending over awkwardly. If structurally possible, I would design the stairs open to the hallway there. Then the dog bed could go underneath.
4. I notice the 100cm (39 inches) doors. Upstairs, we only have 90cm (35 inches) doors, and that works perfectly. You would gain more usable space, especially in the dressing room and bathroom. In the dressing room, I would also move the doors about 20-30cm (8-12 inches) toward the top of the plan to allow more flexibility with the wardrobes. For the storage room, change the door swing so that it opens toward the wardrobe area.
5. Update the living/dining area layout again: I would place the dining table more to the left side of the plan, so you could plan a terrace door opposite the main door. The sofa placement with the TV looks quite uncomfortable.
6. The shower and toilet in the bathroom seem very narrow to me. If you stick with no bathtub, make sure to have at least 105cm (41 inches) clear width in the shower cabin.
7. The bathtub is also useful for hobbies, soaking laundry, washing food, and possibly bathing. It will also be needed for children and the dog or later in old age. Worth considering!
8. I would avoid fixed glazing on the upper floor. The west side gets dusty quickly and needs to be cleaned from the inside occasionally.

Regarding your questions:
a) Tile flooring is optimal for the dog. However, it should not be too smooth because otherwise, the dog might slip easily. Ours slides sometimes.
b) The stairs depend on the dog. We have open wooden stairs. The dog came later. Now there are stair rugs on the steps.
c) You can skip a ceiling height increase given the room dimensions. It doesn’t add value, only extra cost. Just my opinion.
d) Carport/garage: I like the orientation on the east side. You can also plan an entrance canopy at the same time. This is already well thought out with the courtyard triangle and may only need some fine-tuning (you can’t see much in the cut-outs).
Maybe you could show the house on the plot again (site plan).

@hanghaus2023 Here is the site plan with dimensions 🙂

ypg schrieb:

Hello Jenny,
I think the design is already very successful. It is simple and functional, and the rooms are appealing.
I have 2-3 comments and suggestions:
1. I find the wardrobe space too small. Ideally, a 50-60cm (20-24 inches) deep closet per person, so also closet depth. What is drawn is enough for a shoe cabinet, but not for coats.
I would create a recess near the shower toilet and pantry to fit, for example, a Pax wardrobe there. The shower room could be mirrored.
2. The position of the dog bed makes me smile: the dog will become a stressful guardian of the front door.
3. We have the same storage room under the stairs: I would have the door open outwards and reduce the storage space to the wall on the guest side. Everything below is difficult to reach without bending much. If structurally possible, I would make the stairs open towards the hallway. Then the dog bed could be placed underneath.
4. I noticed the 100cm (39 inches) wide doors. Upstairs, I think we only have 90cm (35 inches), and that is perfectly sufficient. That gives more wall space, especially in the dressing room and bathroom. In the dressing room, I would shift the doors about 20-30cm (8-12 inches) toward the top of the plan, making the wardrobes more flexible.
In the pantry, I would change the door swing so that you can move more easily toward the cabinet area.
5. I would update the living/dining area layout: I see the dining table a bit more to the left side of the plan, so a terrace door could be planned opposite the main door.
The sofa arrangement with the TV seems very uncomfortable to me.
6. The shower and toilet in the bathroom seem very narrow. If you decide to build without a bathtub, be sure to have at least 105cm (41 inches) shower radius.
7. A bathtub is also useful for hobbies, soaking laundry, washing food, and possibly for bathing. Needed by children and dogs, and later in old age. Worth considering!
8. I would avoid fixed glazing on the upper floor. The west side collects dust quickly and also needs cleaning from the inside.

Regarding your questions:
a) Tiles are optimal with a dog, but the surface should not be too smooth, or the dog might slip. Ours sometimes slips a bit.
b) Stairs: it depends on the dog. We have open wood stairs. Our dog came later. Now there are stair carpets on the steps.
c) You can skip the ceiling height increase given the room dimensions. It adds no value, only extra cost. My opinion.
d) Carport/garage: I like the orientation on the east side. You can also plan a covered entrance at the same time. That is already well thought out with the courtyard triangle and may only need some fine tuning (not much can be seen in the cutouts).
Maybe you could show the house on the lot again (site plan).

ypg schrieb:

Hello Jenny,
I think the design is already very successful. It is simple and functional, and the rooms are appealing.
I have 2-3 comments and suggestions:
1. I find the wardrobe space too small. Ideally, a 50-60cm (20-24 inches) deep closet per person, so also closet depth. What is drawn is enough for a shoe cabinet, but not for coats.
I would create a recess near the shower toilet and pantry to fit, for example, a Pax wardrobe there. The shower room could be mirrored.
2. The position of the dog bed makes me smile: the dog will become a stressful guardian of the front door.
3. We have the same storage room under the stairs: I would have the door open outwards and reduce the storage space to the wall on the guest side. Everything below is difficult to reach without bending much. If structurally possible, I would make the stairs open towards the hallway. Then the dog bed could be placed underneath.
4. I noticed the 100cm (39 inches) wide doors. Upstairs, I think we only have 90cm (35 inches), and that is perfectly sufficient. That gives more wall space, especially in the dressing room and bathroom. In the dressing room, I would shift the doors about 20-30cm (8-12 inches) toward the top of the plan, making the wardrobes more flexible.
In the pantry, I would change the door swing so that you can move more easily toward the cabinet area.
5. I would update the living/dining area layout: I see the dining table a bit more to the left side of the plan, so a terrace door could be planned opposite the main door.
The sofa arrangement with the TV seems very uncomfortable to me.
6. The shower and toilet in the bathroom seem very narrow. If you decide to build without a bathtub, be sure to have at least 105cm (41 inches) shower radius.
7. A bathtub is also useful for hobbies, soaking laundry, washing food, and possibly for bathing. Needed by children and dogs, and later in old age. Worth considering!
8. I would avoid fixed glazing on the upper floor. The west side collects dust quickly and also needs cleaning from the inside.

Regarding your questions:
a) Tiles are optimal with a dog, but the surface should not be too smooth, or the dog might slip. Ours sometimes slips a bit.
b) Stairs: it depends on the dog. We have open wood stairs. Our dog came later. Now there are stair carpets on the steps.
c) You can skip the ceiling height increase given the room dimensions. It adds no value, only extra cost. My opinion.
d) Carport/garage: I like the orientation on the east side. You can also plan a covered entrance at the same time. That is already well thought out with the courtyard triangle and may only need some fine tuning (not much can be seen in the cutouts).
Maybe you could show the house on the lot again (site plan).

Thank you very much for your helpful comments! Here is the site plan with the integrated floor plan.

My suggestion with a carport.