Hello everyone,
After searching for several years, we finally managed to secure a nice building plot! Soon we can get started. I am currently working on the floor plans so that our architect can submit the building permit / planning permission application.
I have a few questions and hope someone might have some experience to help me out
- We would like to install a small bathroom in the basement (habitable basement). Our home builder advised against it due to high additional costs caused by a lifting station and a backflow valve. For the washing machine and two sinks (kitchen area and laundry room), a small floor-level lifting unit would apparently be sufficient, but not for a toilet and shower. However, our basement specialist (whom we chose separately) believes that a small unit would also work in this case. Can anyone share some insight on this?
- Then, I need to plan an installation shaft on the ground floor, said our architect. Now I wonder, does the heating system (air heat pump with ventilation) have to be located in the basement directly under this shaft, or can it be placed somewhere else entirely?
- And one more thing, quite different Our plot is surrounded by other houses on three sides, and the street runs along the fourth side. The building envelope and the house are situated quite far (about 6-7 meters (20-23 feet)) from the street. We can easily install a 1.80 m (6 feet) high privacy fence on the three sides adjoining neighbors, as long as we keep a certain distance from the property boundary. But does anyone know how it works on the street side, well outside the building envelope? Does the building envelope have any influence on fences at all?
Kind regards
After searching for several years, we finally managed to secure a nice building plot! Soon we can get started. I am currently working on the floor plans so that our architect can submit the building permit / planning permission application.
I have a few questions and hope someone might have some experience to help me out
- We would like to install a small bathroom in the basement (habitable basement). Our home builder advised against it due to high additional costs caused by a lifting station and a backflow valve. For the washing machine and two sinks (kitchen area and laundry room), a small floor-level lifting unit would apparently be sufficient, but not for a toilet and shower. However, our basement specialist (whom we chose separately) believes that a small unit would also work in this case. Can anyone share some insight on this?
- Then, I need to plan an installation shaft on the ground floor, said our architect. Now I wonder, does the heating system (air heat pump with ventilation) have to be located in the basement directly under this shaft, or can it be placed somewhere else entirely?
- And one more thing, quite different Our plot is surrounded by other houses on three sides, and the street runs along the fourth side. The building envelope and the house are situated quite far (about 6-7 meters (20-23 feet)) from the street. We can easily install a 1.80 m (6 feet) high privacy fence on the three sides adjoining neighbors, as long as we keep a certain distance from the property boundary. But does anyone know how it works on the street side, well outside the building envelope? Does the building envelope have any influence on fences at all?
Kind regards
S
Silent0106 Apr 2017 10:56Curly schrieb:
That doesn’t sound crazy to me at all. I don’t open the door for anyone unless I know who they are. I’d rather be cautious than risk being robbed later.
Best regards,
Sabine@Curly, @Schnuckline
One might think you live in the Bronx, New York.
I often advise distant and reserved people to avoid residential areas and instead look for a plot of land in an outer zone where a) the lots are larger, b) the floor area ratio allows for plenty of open space, and c) natural vegetation limits unwanted views.
Some people simply do not fit into the small private infrastructure of a residential neighborhood – this should be kept in mind when searching for a building plot.
Best regards
Some people simply do not fit into the small private infrastructure of a residential neighborhood – this should be kept in mind when searching for a building plot.
Best regards
S
Schnuckline6 Apr 2017 11:13@Escroda The issue with the garden shed is settled for now, thanks. According to the architect (who has been in contact with the building authority), it probably won’t be a problem, but we will include it in the building permit / planning application. Our neighborhood regulations don’t specify exact dimensions but rather the volume that the building may have. In our case, I quote:
“Regarding § 50 Projects Not Requiring Approval (Appendix)
1. Buildings and building parts
a) Buildings without living spaces, toilets, or heating appliances, provided the buildings are not used for sales or exhibition purposes, up to 40 m³ (1,412 cubic feet) gross volume within built-up areas, up to 20 m³ (706 cubic feet) outside of built-up areas,
…
f) Garden sheds in garden shed zones,
g) Garden arbors in allotment gardens according to § 1 paragraph 1 of the Federal Allotment Garden Act…”
And regarding the setback areas for the garden shed:
(1) Within the setback areas for structures, and where there are no separate setback areas, the following are permitted:
2. Garages, greenhouses and buildings without living spaces with a wall height of up to 3 m (10 feet) and a wall area up to 25 m² (270 square feet),
The same applies to fences. According to the architect, we don’t even have to include them in the building permit / planning application. As for visibility obstructions etc., sightlines are mapped out in our development plan, but they do not apply to us.
Regarding rotating the roof: we are not allowed to rotate it at all. The city says no.
However, we did receive an exemption for the knee wall and the dormer.
@Silent010
@Curly
HAHA I’m less worried about being attacked. It’s just that if there isn’t a camera installed, I don’t know if there’s someone at the door that I actually want to talk to. So I prefer not to open. The important people will always announce themselves beforehand.
“Regarding § 50 Projects Not Requiring Approval (Appendix)
1. Buildings and building parts
a) Buildings without living spaces, toilets, or heating appliances, provided the buildings are not used for sales or exhibition purposes, up to 40 m³ (1,412 cubic feet) gross volume within built-up areas, up to 20 m³ (706 cubic feet) outside of built-up areas,
…
f) Garden sheds in garden shed zones,
g) Garden arbors in allotment gardens according to § 1 paragraph 1 of the Federal Allotment Garden Act…”
And regarding the setback areas for the garden shed:
(1) Within the setback areas for structures, and where there are no separate setback areas, the following are permitted:
2. Garages, greenhouses and buildings without living spaces with a wall height of up to 3 m (10 feet) and a wall area up to 25 m² (270 square feet),
The same applies to fences. According to the architect, we don’t even have to include them in the building permit / planning application. As for visibility obstructions etc., sightlines are mapped out in our development plan, but they do not apply to us.
Regarding rotating the roof: we are not allowed to rotate it at all. The city says no.
However, we did receive an exemption for the knee wall and the dormer.
@Silent010
@Curly
HAHA I’m less worried about being attacked. It’s just that if there isn’t a camera installed, I don’t know if there’s someone at the door that I actually want to talk to. So I prefer not to open. The important people will always announce themselves beforehand.
S
Schnuckline6 Apr 2017 11:20@ypg Yes, absolutely. As I said, we would have given anything to get a free plot of land in a natural setting. Unfortunately, that simply doesn’t exist here. In general, there is almost nothing available at all. The fact that we even found something is like winning the lottery. Recently, a new development with 80 plots was opened in the wider area. As of today, there are around 350 to 400 applicants for those. And that’s with a price per square meter of just under 400 euros. Couples without children were not even considered. Our chances on municipal land were basically zero, and private plots are simply not sold. One or two become available per year, often with various restrictions.
We’re really glad, after such a long search, to finally be able to build and now have to make the best of what we’ve been given.
We’re really glad, after such a long search, to finally be able to build and now have to make the best of what we’ve been given.
S
Silent0106 Apr 2017 12:16@Schnuckline: I respect your viewpoint, but I can't fully understand it.
Keeping the garden out of sight might be one thing, but deliberately avoiding contact with neighbors and isolating yourself is quite another.
You engage actively in discussions here on the forum and seek advice online from “strangers,” yet you don’t want to know anything about your neighbors. I can understand why you wouldn’t open the door without an appointment—after all, if you don’t know your own neighborhood, anyone at the door might as well be a “stranger.” However, such long-term isolation is unlikely to be good for your well-being.
The following thought is not directed at you personally, but rather at the general situation:
This reminds me, in a broader sense, of people who want the immediate return of all refugees but have never spoken to or engaged with refugees themselves. What you don’t know, you fear, and fear often goes hand in hand with rejection.
You may, of course, have your reasons for choosing this approach—for example, bad experiences in the past, breaches of trust, or similar. Nevertheless, in my opinion, this means you miss out on a certain quality of life.
Keeping the garden out of sight might be one thing, but deliberately avoiding contact with neighbors and isolating yourself is quite another.
You engage actively in discussions here on the forum and seek advice online from “strangers,” yet you don’t want to know anything about your neighbors. I can understand why you wouldn’t open the door without an appointment—after all, if you don’t know your own neighborhood, anyone at the door might as well be a “stranger.” However, such long-term isolation is unlikely to be good for your well-being.
The following thought is not directed at you personally, but rather at the general situation:
This reminds me, in a broader sense, of people who want the immediate return of all refugees but have never spoken to or engaged with refugees themselves. What you don’t know, you fear, and fear often goes hand in hand with rejection.
You may, of course, have your reasons for choosing this approach—for example, bad experiences in the past, breaches of trust, or similar. Nevertheless, in my opinion, this means you miss out on a certain quality of life.
Schnuckline schrieb:
We are super happy to finally be able to build after such a long search and now we have to make the best of what we have been givenThe result is: adapting to the given conditions
The journey is the destination – and that can also mean the path to compromise.
However, this path can be very challenging for some and may lead elsewhere ops:
Similar topics