ᐅ Floor Plan of Residential Area in Swiss Farmhouse – Room Layout / Usage / Area

Hello everyone,
we are planning to replace the residential part of an unused farmhouse in Switzerland with a new building. This means we would demolish the existing living area (plus a bit more of the barn) and construct the new residential part there. The rest of the farmhouse will remain as it is.
Since the current house is very close to the road, we intend to move the building away from the street where feasible and sensible.
The plan for our family of five (3 children, 2 adults) includes 4 rooms on the upper floor, while the ground floor has an office and a guest room, which is used about 90 days/year (hopefully more in the future). The attic will be used as a play area.
In a second phase, the attic can be converted (kitchen/bathroom), so that by separating the stairwell:
- the ground floor becomes a single-story apartment with 2 bedrooms,
- and the upper floor/attic becomes an apartment with 4 bedrooms.
The version with the attic conversion is already drawn, as we need to plan and submit this from the start.
The plans were created by an architect.

In Switzerland, the following rules apply to us: The residential part must fit within the existing floor plan/volume of the entire farmhouse. The floor plan may be reduced but not enlarged; the entire floor plan of the existing/old farmhouse may be used (including the barn, etc.). In the attached plans, the parts marked in yellow show the sections planned for demolition.
The total living area is also limited (living area includes rooms, hallways, dining, kitchen, living room, laundry/utility room, and storage; balconies are not counted). As planned in the ground floor, upper floor, and attic (second phase), the available floor space is fully utilized (so a larger area is basically not possible).

Questions:
- Ground floor space usage: In general, we feel there is too much hallway and “unused” space (e.g., the wall with cabinets next to the kitchen, which is needed for structural reasons, plus there must be access to the rooms). Given the available area on the ground floor, I feel there might still be room for a third bedroom on the ground floor, but I could be mistaken.
- Ground floor kitchen: The kitchen island is relatively small. Would it be possible to place the kitchen where the wall currently is? If yes, what would be the pros and cons?
- Upper floor: Also too much hallway/unused space; if possible, we would like to integrate a walk-in closet in the master bedroom.
- Upper floor: If possible, we would like a walk-in shower in the upstairs bathroom.

Thank you in advance for your suggestions and ideas.

Zoning and Restrictions
Plot size: Located in an agricultural zone in Switzerland, so the plot size is not relevant to the house size, >1500m² (16146 sq ft)
Slope: Slight incline but not a steep hillside
Plot ratio (Grundflächenzahl): Not known / not relevant for construction in the agricultural zone in Switzerland
Floor space index (Geschossflächenzahl): Not known / not relevant for construction in the agricultural zone in Switzerland
Building envelope, building line, and boundaries: The residential part must be within the existing/old floor plan of the entire farmhouse. The floor plan may be reduced but not enlarged; the entire floor plan of the existing/old farmhouse may be used (including the barn, etc.). The parts marked in yellow on the attached plans show the old sections planned for demolition.
Neighboring development: ???
Number of parking spaces: 4
Number of floors: Ground floor, upper floor, attic
Roof type: Half-hipped roof (Dutch hip)
Architectural style: Farmhouse
Orientation: No specific requirements
Maximum height/limits: As described above, the existing floor plan must not be exceeded; height is defined by the existing roof and must not be exceeded either
Other requirements

Owner’s Requirements
Architectural style, roof type, building type: Half-hipped roof; basically maintaining the farmhouse style
Basement, floors: No basement; ground floor, upper floor, attic (attic prepared for later conversion, initially only a play area)
Number of occupants, ages: 3 children (4, 4, 9 years old), 2 adults (both about 40 years old)
Room needs ground floor, upper floor: Minimum: Ground floor: open kitchen with living room, 1 guest room and office; Upper floor: 4 rooms (3 children, 1 parents)
Office use: Family use or home office? Home office
Guests per year: approx. 90 days
Open or closed architecture: Open
Conservative or modern style: Modern but still fitting the farmhouse style
Open kitchen, kitchen island: Open kitchen with island
Number of dining seats: at least 6
Fireplace: None
Music/speaker wall: no requirements
Balcony, roof terrace: Open seating area on ground floor
Garage, carport: Sufficient parking spaces already available
Utility garden, greenhouse: ??
Additional wishes/special features/daily routine, including reasons why some things should or should not be included

House Design
Who designed the plan: Architect

What do you particularly like and why?
The possibility to use the ground and upper floor first as a family apartment, with the option to convert the attic later and turn the ground floor into a smaller, single-story apartment. Large dining/living area provides plenty of space for the children to play. Additionally, the attic can be used as a playroom.

What do you dislike and why?
- Ground floor space usage: Generally feels like there is too much hallway and “unused” space (e.g., the wall with cabinets next to the kitchen, I of course understand that something structural is needed there, plus there must be access to the rooms). Given the available space, I feel there might still be room for a third bedroom on the ground floor, but I might be mistaken.
- Ground floor kitchen: Kitchen island relatively small
- Upper floor: Also too much hallway/unused space; would like to integrate a walk-in closet if possible
- Upper floor: Walk-in shower

If you had to give up on anything, which details/conversions?
We can accept the design as drawn, but it would be great to better utilize the space for a larger kitchen island, possibly an additional room on the ground floor, a walk-in closet in the master bedroom upstairs, and a walk-in shower in the upstairs bathroom.

Why is the design the way it is?
Discussion with architect, based on zoning regulations in Switzerland.