ᐅ Floor Plan Revision: Tips and Experiences for Improvement?

Created on: 29 Aug 2025 22:16
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Philip St
Hello,

we had a local construction company prepare a design for our future building project, which we have already revised several times. We would be very grateful for tips or alternative design ideas for the current plan.
We would like an exposed roof truss and would prefer to do without the otherwise very small attic space.
We accepted the steep driveway in order to achieve a better view.
The terrace at the back is currently only accessible through the garden.

Construction is planned for about 8 months from now for various reasons. Two adults, two children (who will then be 13 and 11 years old).
Slightly sloped plot, 670sqm (7,215 sqft).

Development Plan / Restrictions

No development plan / zoning restrictions

Plot size
670sqm (7,215 sqft)

Slope
Yes, visible in the plan

Floor Area Ratio
2 (The builder said otherwise it would look too bulky and we only want two floors)

Number of parking spaces
We need at least two car spaces
Garage large enough for easy entry and exit. Parking in front of the garage must also be possible.

Roof style
Gable roof, staggered shed roof, flexible at this point, preferably with exposed roof truss because the current attic space is very limited

Architectural style
Modern, with lots of wood

Orientation
South

Maximum height / limits
Unknown to me. Neighbor does not accept any setback easement, so we have added greenery on the east side of the patio towards them.

Owners’ Requirements
Number of occupants
Two adults, 40 years old, two children, 11 and 13 years old

Office: Family use or home office?
Office to be usable as a guest room, no home office needed. Still requires a desk and cabinets
Possibly later on the upper floor as the parents’ bedroom, so one child can use the ground floor granny flat. So two separate living units.

Guest bedrooms per year
Very rare visitors

Open or closed architecture
Open, but with retreat options

Conservative or modern construction style
Modern

Open kitchen with cooking island
Seating for 8
Fireplace yes
Balcony currently planned, slightly overhangs the terrace below

Roof terrace on garage

Garage as a large multi-purpose garage with some storage space

Utility garden for ornamental plants, many shrubs, and a hedge at the front for privacy. We would prefer to avoid a shed.

Additional wishes / special features / daily routine, also reasons why certain things should or shouldn’t be

We want to take advantage of the view since the plot was expensive.
We are not fully satisfied with the current design, as I explained in the post.

Steep driveway, path from garage to kitchen, after the stairs you face a wall upstairs and don’t have a direct view out of the windows, roof terrace is isolated, no quick garden access from the upper floor to the north terrace

House Design
Who created the plan:
Construction company from our area, one architect prepared the plan

What do you particularly like? Why?
Good use of space inside and outdoors for a small plot
Enough garden area remains
Bright rooms, sleeping downstairs, living upstairs, large dining area, fireplace in living area, possible two living units later, half-landing stairs

Price estimate according to architect/planner:
680k including exterior works

Personal price limit for the house including fittings: 700k excluding land
Preferred heating technology: Air heat pump

If you had to give up something, which details or features

We are completely flexible

Why is the design like it is?
Standard design from the planner? No, it was individually planned, but largely without us and with little discussion about details, no advice

Attached are images and the site plan.
Architectural drawing east and south elevations of a house with rising terrain

Detailed upper floor plan with living, kitchen, office areas, terrace, and balcony.

Detailed floor plan of a house with garden, terrace, and garage

Architectural drawing showing north and west views of a house with terrain.

View from south of a two-story house with garage and balcony

Street view of a house with garden, fence, and trees

Front garden with metal fence, gate, flower beds, and adjoining house in the background

Residential house with red tiled roof, garden, hedges, and wire fence along street

Green plot with house, trees, and hedges under blue sky

Well-maintained garden with lawn, hedges, and houses in the background under blue sky

Site plan of a plot with parcel numbers and buildings
P
Philip St
3 Sep 2025 12:00
The house is now positioned with the short side facing the slope? Am I understanding that correctly? So not as in our original plan, but rotated by 90 degrees?

The partial basement then covers about half of the house, is that correct? On the lower level, there is a garage with technical equipment and a stairwell, possibly a storage room?
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hanghaus2023
3 Sep 2025 12:54
Terrace and ground floor with living area below. If you really want to implement the second residential unit in the future, that is also possible. In that case, you should add a balcony or roof terrace upstairs. My floor plan from the upper floor can then be transferred downstairs.

Yes, the house is rotated by 90 degrees. It’s easiest if you call me.
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hanghaus2023
3 Sep 2025 13:02
hanghaus2023 schrieb:

That works out well. I live 1 hour northeast of Regensburg.

Sorry, I need to correct myself. It’s not northeast but west.
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Noxmortana
3 Sep 2025 13:12
Philip St schrieb:

House Design
Who created the plans:
A local construction company, with an architect from that company who drew up the design
Philip St schrieb:

We plan to build in the Upper Palatinate region, about an hour away from Regensburg.

Could you share the name of the construction company? We are currently looking for someone in the area for a similar project...
P
Philip St
3 Sep 2025 13:48
It was Heimerl Bau from Schönthal.
11ant3 Sep 2025 15:27
Philip St schrieb:

We just want to get an outside perspective on this idea to see if we would like it.
People planning a house would do well to avoid overly detailed, photorealistic visualizations—like spinning around in a new outfit in front of a mirror—and instead focus on the essentials: "Where does each plane intersect the original terrain, and how are the proportions of the main building volume cleverly shaped?" This is best done using a wireframe model. Whether the bricks are yellow and the windows purple is merely "opium for the people."
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/