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.
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.
P
Philip St31 Aug 2025 18:33And we still like the idea of sleeping on the lower floor and living on the upper floor, but it’s not a strict requirement. We already like the sensible room sizes in our design. Where savings can be made, some space should of course be reduced, at least down to 170m² (1,828 sq ft). It’s also good that a separate apartment could later be created in the basement for a child, keeping the house flexible to live in. Having the kitchen closer to the stairs is convenient, as the pantry can then be reached quickly.
Is it possible to simply lower our house as it is, so that you can step out from the upper living floor onto the north terrace? And then have the garage built crosswise at the front. I will resend, among other things, the picture with the blue garage, which really convinced us. The house directly behind it, so that garage and house are connected. Perhaps this can be integrated into the already great sketch above.
It would be important for us to eliminate the steep driveway and also have parking spaces for two cars in front of the house.
Is it possible to simply lower our house as it is, so that you can step out from the upper living floor onto the north terrace? And then have the garage built crosswise at the front. I will resend, among other things, the picture with the blue garage, which really convinced us. The house directly behind it, so that garage and house are connected. Perhaps this can be integrated into the already great sketch above.
It would be important for us to eliminate the steep driveway and also have parking spaces for two cars in front of the house.
Philip St schrieb:
We happened to be out and saw the following. Could this be an option, with some kind of access from the garage to the house above? Philip St schrieb:
Is it possible to simply lower our house as it is so that you can exit from the upper floor where you live onto the north-facing terrace? These are questions you should ask your planner or architect.
P
Philip St31 Aug 2025 20:29Okay. We now have many ideas in mind and have a much clearer vision. Thank you!
The photos you have shared here all show three-story houses. You are planning a two-story house.
While it is not prohibited to photograph, use, and publish images of other people’s houses, please make sure to pixelate license plates on cars next time. Viola and Jörg probably won’t find that amusing.
While it is not prohibited to photograph, use, and publish images of other people’s houses, please make sure to pixelate license plates on cars next time. Viola and Jörg probably won’t find that amusing.
Philip St schrieb:
Some very practical solutions that help us. However, we would prefer not to have to go up and down many stairs to get to the house. [...] Would it be an option to have some kind of access from the garage directly into the house above? [ / ] It is important for us to eliminate the steep driveway and also to have parking spaces for two cars in front of the house. I was referring to a path that follows the natural terrain, not stairs. As I outlined, there is no steep driveway, and there is also a generous parking area in front of the garage.
A stable role within the pack, which is not the leader, is crucial for a relaxed dog. It is impossible to assign a dominant role to the garage or the door between the garage and the house without negatively affecting the house itself. You mentioned the children are eleven and thirteen years old. In that case, the older child no longer needs a car seat, and the younger one can manage fastening and unfastening their own car seat independently. This means it is not a strenuous task for the parents, so there is no real need to “argue” for an entrance and exit ritual through a carport or garage. A kind greeting to your dear wife: the obsession with a garage passage door is curable.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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wiltshire1 Sep 2025 12:25Philip St schrieb:
It is important for us to eliminate the steep driveway and also have parking spaces for two cars in front of the house.It’s unclear what you consider “steep.” For example, if you build the garage beneath the house and the driveway slopes down 50cm (20 inches) below street level, over an 8m (26 feet) driveway, that results in a 6.25% gradient. Objectively, this is not a problem for driving, safe parking, or getting in and out of the car—you just need to remember to use the handbrake. The driveway is a functional requirement for the architect to address. There is certainly a solution.Similar topics