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.
Papierturm1 Sep 2025 14:29wiltshire schrieb:
It’s unclear what you mean by “steep.”The original plan had a raw value of 20% slope.Regarding the rest of the long discussion: you’re away for just a day and a half, and then there are so many pages!
I don’t fully grasp the current status. From what I last skimmed, it seemed like the situation was back to square one.
By that I mean:
Define the must-haves.
Look at what the plot dictates.
Define possible nice-to-haves.
Determine space requirements.
Then, always with the principle of “what does the plot dictate,” try to create the best possible combination.
The last time I wrote, hardly anything was known yet (just the 5.5 m (18 feet) slope alone is quite significant).
From my impression: despite—or maybe even because of—the slope, the plot sounds great, and now the goal is to find a house that suits it.
(Ideally without a 20% driveway.)
PS: As others have already mentioned, I fear it will be necessary to adapt the wishes to the plot. A passage from garage to house on such a slope will come at a high cost. I would seriously consider whether that is a real “must-have.”
Ingoköth schrieb:
I’m attaching the floor plans for the ground floor and basement in their current state. Also, some of my thoughts. We are still at the very beginning, but sometimes you just need feedback from a different perspective. Uh, no, I haven’t seen the basement in either thread yet. Also, I must have missed any mention of a timber frame panel house here in this thread from @LisaBau — is the exclusion of adding an additional storey possibly because the building’s structural details are not known? (An extension on a timber frame panel house is definitely not any easier than on a masonry house!) When were you (@Ingoköth / @LisaBau) planning to tell us that these two threads are actually about the same house?
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
H
hanghaus20231 Sep 2025 17:24It might be better to plan the garage 2m (6.6 feet) away from the boundary. Otherwise, a retaining structure will be needed for the neighbor’s driveway.
11ant schrieb:
Uh, no, I haven’t seen the building permit / planning permission mentioned in either thread yet. Also, I must have missed any reference to a timber frame panel house in this thread by @LisaBau – could the exclusion of adding another floor be based on the fact that the structural engineering of the house is unknown? (An extension to a timber frame panel house is definitely not any easier or cheaper than to a masonry house!). When were you (@Ingoköth / @LisaBau) planning to tell us that both threads are actually about the same house???? You must be confusing the threads.H
hanghaus20231 Sep 2025 18:12ypg schrieb:
??? I think you are mixing up the threads. That’s what I thought too.
We also have more than a 5m (16ft) height difference over a length of about 22m (72ft) or so.
I already described how our structure is built, where a passage from the garage to the house would also be possible.
I’m attaching a picture for you... it’s from before our time and doesn’t show the entire house, but I don’t have anything better at short notice. To the left of the house is the small staircase leading to the front door.
What is a basement for us would, of course, need to be higher for living spaces. And naturally, there would be cellar rooms at the back and living spaces only at the front facing the street on the lower ground floor.
I already described how our structure is built, where a passage from the garage to the house would also be possible.
I’m attaching a picture for you... it’s from before our time and doesn’t show the entire house, but I don’t have anything better at short notice. To the left of the house is the small staircase leading to the front door.
What is a basement for us would, of course, need to be higher for living spaces. And naturally, there would be cellar rooms at the back and living spaces only at the front facing the street on the lower ground floor.
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