ᐅ Floor Plan Revision: Tips and Experiences for Improvement?
Created on: 29 Aug 2025 22:16
P
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.
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.
I don’t understand the idea of positioning the house with the ridge running perpendicular to the slope at all.
I’m not saying it’s not an option, but the standard approach for building on a slope is definitely to align the ridge parallel to the contour lines. This not only makes the earthworks for the house significantly cheaper, but also creates a large wall surface inside the house that practically invites you to highlight the slope with generous glazing.
Another important point, in my opinion, concerns the garden. I see it with my brother-in-law, who has a fairly large but long, narrow garden with a steep incline behind his house. He has spent summers creating two terraces, each raised by two meters (6.5 feet), dividing his garden into three sections. This means a lot of effort and/or very high costs. Whether having steps around every corner in the garden is ultimately what you want is something you need to decide for yourself. It wouldn’t be my choice.
I’m not saying it’s not an option, but the standard approach for building on a slope is definitely to align the ridge parallel to the contour lines. This not only makes the earthworks for the house significantly cheaper, but also creates a large wall surface inside the house that practically invites you to highlight the slope with generous glazing.
Another important point, in my opinion, concerns the garden. I see it with my brother-in-law, who has a fairly large but long, narrow garden with a steep incline behind his house. He has spent summers creating two terraces, each raised by two meters (6.5 feet), dividing his garden into three sections. This means a lot of effort and/or very high costs. Whether having steps around every corner in the garden is ultimately what you want is something you need to decide for yourself. It wouldn’t be my choice.
H
hanghaus20233 Sep 2025 18:50Here is some further progress. As mentioned, the original terrain will be adjusted at the end.
Basement floor plan
Basement floor plan
roteweste schrieb:
I absolutely don’t understand the idea of positioning the house with the ridge perpendicular to the slope. As I said, it makes sense to me—provided that in the specific case it serves a purpose (for example, to place a terrace exit— which doesn’t necessarily have to be on a gable side—at an ideal height relative to the original terrain).
hanghaus2023 schrieb:
Here is some further progress. As mentioned, the original terrain will only be adjusted at the end. Regarding the visualization, that’s clear—but for planning, the opposite principle must apply: the house should ideally be integrated into the original terrain, because on a slope this is the key factor for cost control (taking the top priority position that, on a flat slab foundation lot, would correspond to the living area).
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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hanghaus20235 Sep 2025 18:12@11ant I have already looked at it closely. The terrain only needs to be adjusted in front of the house. Otherwise, it’s also feasible with little effort on the north side. Let’s wait for the geological survey. I heard something about granite.
Here is the visualization of my proposal.
Here is the visualization of my proposal.
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Philip St7 Sep 2025 08:20Would you place the house so that the lower floor is fully embedded at the back, requiring us to change our floor plan, but allowing access to the north terrace from the upper floor? Or would you set the house a bit higher to bring more light into the rooms at the back, reduce issues with a granny flat (accessory dwelling unit), but have to reach the garden on the north side via the stairs from the roof terrace?
Philip St schrieb:
North terrace Philip St schrieb:
Granny flat / secondary apartment Philip St schrieb:
Roof terrace These are the kind of features that should be placed at the very bottom of the priority list. Just focus on what the interior layout offers. The roof terrace can be included in the planning anyway. By the way: what about the view, which is the main cause of all the doubts? I would mentally move the granny flat to the second basement level (which probably won’t be built anyway), and I consider the north terrace in the original plan to be pointless.
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