Hello,
we have been following this forum for some time now and have finally received our first draft from the architect. We are not entirely satisfied and wanted to ask for advice here before our next meeting with the architect.
We were unsure whether we are allowed to post the architect’s plan here directly, so we redrafted it ourselves, but the most important details should still be visible.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 350m2 (3,767 sq ft)
Slope: no
Site coverage ratio (floor area ratio for ground area): 0.4
Floor area ratio (total floor area in relation to plot size): 1.2
Building envelope, building line and boundary line
Edge development: yes
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 2 + attic
Roof type: gable roof with 46° pitch
Architectural style: ?
Orientation
Maximum heights / limits: wall height up to 7.5m (25 ft) above street level, house length directly affects roof height due to fixed roof pitch and thus influences setback distances.
Other requirements: terraced development pattern (house/garage/house/garage…), fire separation wall without windows on the west side
Homeowners’ Requirements
Architectural style, roof type: gable roof mandatory
Basement, number of floors: without basement (due to cost)
Number of occupants, age: 4 people (ages 34, 33, 4, 2)
Space requirements on ground floor: utility/technical room, kitchen, living room, dining area, guest WC
Space requirements on upper floor: bedroom, walk-in closet, bathroom, office, laundry room
Space requirements in attic floor: children’s rooms 1 and 2, bathroom
Office use: both family use and home office, currently 95% home office
Guests per year: not relevant
Open or closed layout: open, but living room and kitchen separated by dining area
Conservative or modern style:
Open kitchen with island; kitchen island desired but not at any cost
Number of dining seats: 6-8
Fireplace: no
Music/stereo wall: TV in living room
Balcony, roof terrace: no balcony
Garage, carport: double carport + extension for bicycles and small workbench (two parking spaces must be provided, tandem parking is not allowed)
Utility garden, greenhouse: only a small vegetable and herb bed
Other wishes/particulars/daily routine, including reasons why some things should or should not be included:
KNX system (brother-in-law is a master electrician but has no own company), controlled residential ventilation, photovoltaic system, window seat on the ground floor, bathtub not necessary; my wife has always liked the idea of a straight staircase—if it fits well here, we are open to suggestions.
House Design
Who created the design: architect, first draft
What do you particularly like? Why?
What do you not like? Why?
Window arrangement (exterior view)
Ground floor: living room is too small, guest WC too narrow
Upper floor: access to laundry room through the bathroom, too many doors in the bedroom (doors to bedroom and walk-in closet to be removed)
Attic floor: children’s room 1 has only one window, knee wall only 0.75m (2.5 ft); we will increase it to 1.1m (3.6 ft), cross gable not symmetrical, cross gable might be omitted to save space for more photovoltaic panels
The attic floor will be completely redesigned. Children’s rooms on the east side, bathroom in the northwest, and storage in the southwest.
Cost estimate according to architect/planner: €550,000
Personal budget for the house including fittings: €450,000 (including owner contributions)
Preferred heating technology: ground-source heat pump + photovoltaic, probably air-to-water heat pump + photovoltaic for cost reasons
If you have to give up something, on which details/additional features
-can you give up: kitchen island, bathtub
-can you not give up:
Why is the design the way it is now? For example:
Which wishes were implemented by the architect? The architect’s room program was implemented.
What makes it particularly good or bad in your opinion?
We initially only considered a rectangular house; with the cube shape we gain some space on the ground floor and a double carport is possible. Also, with the current height (12.25m / 40 ft), the house must be at least 4.9m (16 ft) away from the neighboring property (12.25 * 0.4) according to regulations.
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
How can we best arrange the ground floor so that especially the living room doesn’t feel cramped?
We are also considering extending the house by 11m (36 ft).



we have been following this forum for some time now and have finally received our first draft from the architect. We are not entirely satisfied and wanted to ask for advice here before our next meeting with the architect.
We were unsure whether we are allowed to post the architect’s plan here directly, so we redrafted it ourselves, but the most important details should still be visible.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 350m2 (3,767 sq ft)
Slope: no
Site coverage ratio (floor area ratio for ground area): 0.4
Floor area ratio (total floor area in relation to plot size): 1.2
Building envelope, building line and boundary line
Edge development: yes
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 2 + attic
Roof type: gable roof with 46° pitch
Architectural style: ?
Orientation
Maximum heights / limits: wall height up to 7.5m (25 ft) above street level, house length directly affects roof height due to fixed roof pitch and thus influences setback distances.
Other requirements: terraced development pattern (house/garage/house/garage…), fire separation wall without windows on the west side
Homeowners’ Requirements
Architectural style, roof type: gable roof mandatory
Basement, number of floors: without basement (due to cost)
Number of occupants, age: 4 people (ages 34, 33, 4, 2)
Space requirements on ground floor: utility/technical room, kitchen, living room, dining area, guest WC
Space requirements on upper floor: bedroom, walk-in closet, bathroom, office, laundry room
Space requirements in attic floor: children’s rooms 1 and 2, bathroom
Office use: both family use and home office, currently 95% home office
Guests per year: not relevant
Open or closed layout: open, but living room and kitchen separated by dining area
Conservative or modern style:
Open kitchen with island; kitchen island desired but not at any cost
Number of dining seats: 6-8
Fireplace: no
Music/stereo wall: TV in living room
Balcony, roof terrace: no balcony
Garage, carport: double carport + extension for bicycles and small workbench (two parking spaces must be provided, tandem parking is not allowed)
Utility garden, greenhouse: only a small vegetable and herb bed
Other wishes/particulars/daily routine, including reasons why some things should or should not be included:
KNX system (brother-in-law is a master electrician but has no own company), controlled residential ventilation, photovoltaic system, window seat on the ground floor, bathtub not necessary; my wife has always liked the idea of a straight staircase—if it fits well here, we are open to suggestions.
House Design
Who created the design: architect, first draft
What do you particularly like? Why?
What do you not like? Why?
Window arrangement (exterior view)
Ground floor: living room is too small, guest WC too narrow
Upper floor: access to laundry room through the bathroom, too many doors in the bedroom (doors to bedroom and walk-in closet to be removed)
Attic floor: children’s room 1 has only one window, knee wall only 0.75m (2.5 ft); we will increase it to 1.1m (3.6 ft), cross gable not symmetrical, cross gable might be omitted to save space for more photovoltaic panels
The attic floor will be completely redesigned. Children’s rooms on the east side, bathroom in the northwest, and storage in the southwest.
Cost estimate according to architect/planner: €550,000
Personal budget for the house including fittings: €450,000 (including owner contributions)
Preferred heating technology: ground-source heat pump + photovoltaic, probably air-to-water heat pump + photovoltaic for cost reasons
If you have to give up something, on which details/additional features
-can you give up: kitchen island, bathtub
-can you not give up:
Why is the design the way it is now? For example:
Which wishes were implemented by the architect? The architect’s room program was implemented.
What makes it particularly good or bad in your opinion?
We initially only considered a rectangular house; with the cube shape we gain some space on the ground floor and a double carport is possible. Also, with the current height (12.25m / 40 ft), the house must be at least 4.9m (16 ft) away from the neighboring property (12.25 * 0.4) according to regulations.
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
How can we best arrange the ground floor so that especially the living room doesn’t feel cramped?
We are also considering extending the house by 11m (36 ft).
Myrna_Loy schrieb:
It is possible to install windows in fire protection walls, but they must comply with specific regulations.We have already received a verbal rejection from the district authority because it is not only a fire protection wall but also a boundary wall. I’m not sure if we might be able to negotiate something based on the neighbor’s consent. However, the requirements for windows in a fire protection wall are quite strict, so we are initially looking for an alternative solution.I don’t necessarily see the scope of work for a “turnkey minus” general contractor as mutually exclusive. I would size the carport at 6m (20 feet) wide and choose a flat roof for it. Thanks to the boundary line with neighbor 62, uncovered parking spaces would also be possible on your side. I don’t see the outdoor unit necessarily having to be ground-mounted — if I remember correctly, it is attached to the facade on the first floor in the Goalkeeper thread.
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haydee schrieb:
Draw the 2 m (6.5 ft) line in the attic.
Actually, the house is too large for your budget I have now added the 2 m (6.5 ft) line. With a knee wall height of 1.1 m (3.6 ft). Although the attic will be rearranged anyway.
I also considered planning the carport for only one car, then 3.5–4 m (11.5–13 ft) would be enough, but I still have to maintain the distance to the neighboring property because of the house height (see attached table).
@11ant If we make the carport 6 m (19.5 ft) wide, the house will become even narrower.
One could consider an exemption for a clipped hip roof on the east side, and there are worse things than uncovered parking spaces.
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Here, I have tried to position the floor plan on the plot. The location of the heat pump (heat pump size not to scale) was suggested by the architect in front of the house.
There is still space for a parking spot in front of the house, so we could also move the house further back. However, we naturally want to keep as much garden space as possible.

There is still space for a parking spot in front of the house, so we could also move the house further back. However, we naturally want to keep as much garden space as possible.
11ant schrieb:
One could consider requesting an exemption for a clipped gable roof on the east side, and uncovered parking spaces are not the worst thing.I have already received feedback from the local authority that no deviations from the development plan will be allowed. We wanted to move away from the 46° roof pitch but were rejected. We also considered a flat roof (although that was when planning with a basement), but that was also not an option.
We are also unsure whether we need the covered parking spaces. However, without the roofing, nothing changes since we still have to maintain the required setback, and we do need the two parking spaces.
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