ᐅ Floor plan of a single-family house with two full stories, 195 square meters, gable roof, located in Bavaria

Hello everyone,

the forum has already given us many helpful tips and critiques that we have now incorporated into our floor plan. We would like to sincerely thank you for that. Attached is the draft from our architect, which we already like very much. We look forward to your suggestions and feedback.

Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 853 m² (0.21 acres)
Slope: none
Site coverage ratio: max 200 m² (2,150 sq ft)
Floor area ratio: 2 full floors
Building envelope, building line and boundary: see pictures
Boundary development: none
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 2 full floors
Roof type: gable roof, 28° pitch
Architectural style: classic modern
Orientation: NE/SW
Maximum heights / limits: ridge height 9 m (29.5 ft)
Additional requirements

Homeowners’ Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: simple, classic, gable roof, 2 full floors
Basement, floors: no basement, 2 full floors
Number of occupants, ages: 5 people, 2 adults and 3 children aged 3, 5, and 7
Space requirements on ground floor: utility room + technical room, guest WC, pantry, office, kitchen, dining room, living room – upper floor: bathroom, master bedroom, 3 children’s rooms
Office: family use or home office? Home office (possibly master bedroom replacement in the future)
Overnight guests per year: none
Open or closed architecture: open
Traditional or modern construction style: classic modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open kitchen
Number of dining seats: 8
Fireplace: no
Music / stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: covered terrace planned
Garage, carport: double garage with storage room
Vegetable garden, greenhouse: none
Additional wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons why some options are preferred or rejected: unsure whether utility room should be on the ground floor or upper floor (both possible)

House Design
Planning by: architect
What do you particularly like? Why? Access from garage into technical room | many built-in wardrobes | open layout | pantry
What do you dislike? Why? Window arrangement | floor-to-ceiling windows on upper floor | TV position in living room | possibly too low staircase height in attic to ceiling | no windows in attic (wall or roof windows) | possibly too dark near stairs on ground floor
Price estimate according to architect/planner: 680,000 EUR
Personal price limit for the house, including equipment: 750,000 EUR
Preferred heating system: infrared heating or heat pump

If you have to give up on which details/extensions
-you could give up: large technical room
-you cannot give up:

Why did the design turn out as it is? For example:
Mix of an internet template and our own influences/wishes

SliPkNoT1848 schrieb:

open layout

I don’t really see it that way. Yes, the open-plan living area is open. But to get there, you have to go through a path from the entrance that doesn’t feel welcoming. I would probably move the staircase toward the top of the plan so that the hallway at the bottom of the plan can open up immediately.

ypg schrieb:

I don’t really see it that way. Yes, the open-plan living space is open. But getting there involves a path from the entrance that doesn’t feel very inviting. I would probably move the staircase upward on the plan so that you can open up the hallway downward on the plan right from the entrance.

Do you mean moving it upward on the plan into the area currently occupied by the restroom and pantry, and then moving the restroom and pantry downward accordingly?

2.47 m (8 ft 1 in) finished height on the ground floor?!
I would reconsider that as soon as possible.

SliPkNoT1848 schrieb:

Do you mean shifting upwards on the plan into the area of the WC and pantry and then moving the WC and pantry downwards accordingly?

Well, I wouldn’t swap them directly one-to-one. And the staircase is generally best placed on the front side anyway.
In general, any relocation always means redesigning.
Personally, I just wouldn’t be comfortable with it as it is now. The entrance and the utility room are separated from the house by the connecting structure, and for me, the whole hallway situation feels too divided and long, which reduces the openness and attractiveness of the living area where people spend time. However, for everyday flow, the hallway can also be disruptive.

SliPkNoT1848 schrieb:

Possibly too dark in the staircase area on the ground floor

I would probably avoid planning the living area (open-plan space) as a long room and instead opt for an L-shape, since the southwest side is the garden side and actually the better orientation for garden use. In my opinion, the ideal terrace location concerning sun exposure would currently be where the chill-out area/TV and office are.
Also, you have to consider that five people live in the open living area, who can’t avoid being visually on top of each other. An L-shape always gives you a corner where different activities can be separated: kitchen tasks in one part and children watching TV more undisturbed around the corner. When guests are present, other household members can still use the space with some privacy. I see this with our children, who spend time in the open living area with their kids and nieces/nephews, yet we don’t disturb each other acoustically or visually.
When the kids are a bit older, they could make pizza with friends while the parents watch TV without feeling observed.
The house design otherwise flows well. The southwest-facing windows on the upper floor can be made smaller, for example, with a window sill. However, I would reconsider the extension with the entrance combined with the open living area again.

200sqm (2,150 sq ft) plus a covered double garage plus extensive earthworks on a significant slope (as far as the lines can be seen)... The budget is getting tight.