ᐅ Initial Floor Plan Draft – Backyard Development – 1.5 Stories
Created on: 15 Oct 2025 14:31
S
Steiger
Hello everyone,
we would like to present our first floor plan draft and kindly ask for your honest feedback.
The house is designed for 2 adults plus potentially 2 children in the future and will be built on a rural plot of land. We are currently in the design phase and welcome all constructive comments and suggestions for improvement.
The plot is a backyard development, which means there are some restrictions. For example, we are not allowed to exceed a length of 7.0 m (23 feet) and an eave height of 3.7 m (12 feet). In addition, the assigned plots are not yet developed, so we will need to build a road access here.
On the site plan we were allocated plot number 4.
More details are included in the notes..
Building Plan / Restrictions
Homeowner Requirements
House Design
Why the design looks like this
We wanted a home that is family-friendly, functional, and suitable for aging in place, while complying with the building plan.
The basic idea: parents live fully on the ground floor, children live upstairs.
We are still optimizing and would appreciate feedback on:
We look forward to your honest feedback!
What would you improve or arrange differently?
Thank you very much in advance for your time and suggestions.
we would like to present our first floor plan draft and kindly ask for your honest feedback.
The house is designed for 2 adults plus potentially 2 children in the future and will be built on a rural plot of land. We are currently in the design phase and welcome all constructive comments and suggestions for improvement.
The plot is a backyard development, which means there are some restrictions. For example, we are not allowed to exceed a length of 7.0 m (23 feet) and an eave height of 3.7 m (12 feet). In addition, the assigned plots are not yet developed, so we will need to build a road access here.
On the site plan we were allocated plot number 4.
More details are included in the notes..
Building Plan / Restrictions
- Plot size: approximately 27.5 m (90 feet) wide × 41 m (135 feet) deep (~1,100 m² (12,000 sq ft))
- Terrain: flat, no slope
- Site coverage ratio (floor area ratio): 0.4
- Floor space index (floor area ratio): 0.4
- Building envelope / setbacks: 3 m (10 feet) boundary setback, house positioned on the right side, garage may be built on the boundary
- Number of floors: 1.5 stories (maximum ridge height 7 m (23 feet), eave height approx. 3.7 m (12 feet))
- Roof type: gable roof, minimum 25° pitch
- Architectural style: modern country house style
- Orientation: south is at the top of the plan
- Maximum heights: 7 m (23 feet) ridge, 3.7 m (12 feet) eave
- Additional requirements: the plot must be accessed via a new road. The style must blend with the neighborhood.
Homeowner Requirements
- Building type: single-family home, 1.5 stories, no basement
- Occupants: 2 adults, later 2 children
- Ground floor needs: parents’ area fully on the ground floor (bedroom, dressing room, bathroom), living/dining/kitchen area (living area preferably separate), utility room with access to the garage, guest toilet
- Upper floor needs: 2 children’s bedrooms, 1 office, 1 bathroom, storage room
- Office: for home office and flexible use
- Guest accommodation: rare (max. 2–3 times per year)
- Architecture: open, welcoming, with clear sightlines
- Construction method: rather conservative-modern (no flat roof, but light materials, clean lines)
- Kitchen: open kitchen with island
- Dining area: spacious, table for 6–8 people
- Fireplace: optional, mainly for design/coziness, probably no
- Music/stereo: no specific plans yet
- Balcony/roof terrace: no
- Garage/carport: double garage, direct access to utility room, cars might be parked under a covered entrance to keep the garage space free since there will be no attic
- Garden: usable garden area, south-facing terrace → I would like to plan a conservatory here for the future or optionally build it right away. Since we will have a south-facing garden with farmland behind, a conservatory is desired as a separated area to be used all year round.
- Special features:
- Smart home planned
- Parents’ area deliberately on the ground floor
- Conservatory desired either in the future or built-in from the start
House Design
- Designed by: architect
- What we particularly like:
- South orientation with bright rooms
- Functional floor plan and parents’ area
- What we don’t like (yet):
- Children’s bathroom upstairs might be too large
- Bedroom too small
- Pantry/storage room has a door to the utility room; maybe reduce utility room size to enlarge pantry
- Children’s bedroom closets block windows and might reduce lighting
- Driveway to garage is not ideal. The garage may need to be moved further back
- Price estimate from architect: not available yet
- Personal price limit (house + fittings): around 500,000 € (approximately), completely self-built, land already purchased
- Heating system: ground source heat pump with borehole, underfloor heating, technical room probably in the garage equipment room
Why the design looks like this
We wanted a home that is family-friendly, functional, and suitable for aging in place, while complying with the building plan.
The basic idea: parents live fully on the ground floor, children live upstairs.
We are still optimizing and would appreciate feedback on:
- Room layout on the ground floor (hallway, sleeping area)
- Living/dining/kitchen area: solution with an adjacent conservatory. Living area preferably separate, so children or adults can use different paths when guests visit.
- Garage size
- Children’s bathroom: size and whether the storage room could be bigger and the bathroom smaller. Possibly separate the toilet from the children’s bathroom?
We look forward to your honest feedback!
What would you improve or arrange differently?
Thank you very much in advance for your time and suggestions.
The location of the technical equipment is still unclear. I need to discuss with the plumber whether it can be placed in the shed or if it needs to be in the utility room. I would prefer it to be in the shed. If so, I would consider making the shed 1 meter (3 feet) larger and reduce the carport by the same amount, as the carport is sufficiently large.
If the equipment ends up in the utility room, I will follow your suggestion.
If the equipment ends up in the utility room, I will follow your suggestion.
Steiger schrieb:
If the technical equipment is going into the utility room, I'll adopt your idea.. Having technical installations INSIDE the house always makes sense, especially when it comes to independently monitoring the equipment. It is also more cost-effective. Otherwise, you would have to go from the carport frost-free into the house and plan a connection there as well.
Steiger schrieb:
To what extent do you think insulation is being neglected? How could this be improved? Sorry, I’m not familiar with this at all. [...] The timeframe is set. Construction begins in January. We want to pour the foundation slab in autumn. We need to act now.. The dormer windows are cold around the eaves, so ear flaps are needed. January was two months ago, and the next one will arrive in ten months. Look at the fuel price boards at gas stations—does the house need to be smaller by then?
Steiger schrieb:
The technical equipment placement is still unclear. I need to discuss with the plumber whether it can go in the shed or must be in the utility room. There is still space in the storage area behind the bathroom. Moving the testicles to the scrotum makes sense for us, but not for the house.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Yes, you might be right regarding the technical aspects.
Installing continuous and well-insulated eaves is noted. Thank you.
The house size will remain the same.
Prices will become interesting (I work in oil extraction/production… the consequences that the war will bring, also regarding supply chains of other materials—not just energy—our European society cannot yet fully estimate, and this is speculative. The topic and its impacts seem to be widely overlooked in society. This could get quite challenging). However, I would prefer to keep this topic out of this discussion.
Installing technical equipment in the bathroom could be an option.
What do you think about A.R. upstairs? Is the space taken up by the dormer too valuable? Do you see a better solution here? Also, I wonder if we could design the walk-in closet more efficiently, since the space next to the wardrobes appears somewhat too large to me.
Do you think the current design with the carport, where you drive in straight ahead, is better, or should the carport be placed at the front?
The current design has a lot of paved area, and visually, when looking at the house, I found the previous designs somewhat better.
On the other hand, I now prefer the floor plan of the third/latest design.
I am leaning toward improving the last design…
Installing continuous and well-insulated eaves is noted. Thank you.
The house size will remain the same.
Prices will become interesting (I work in oil extraction/production… the consequences that the war will bring, also regarding supply chains of other materials—not just energy—our European society cannot yet fully estimate, and this is speculative. The topic and its impacts seem to be widely overlooked in society. This could get quite challenging). However, I would prefer to keep this topic out of this discussion.
Installing technical equipment in the bathroom could be an option.
What do you think about A.R. upstairs? Is the space taken up by the dormer too valuable? Do you see a better solution here? Also, I wonder if we could design the walk-in closet more efficiently, since the space next to the wardrobes appears somewhat too large to me.
Do you think the current design with the carport, where you drive in straight ahead, is better, or should the carport be placed at the front?
The current design has a lot of paved area, and visually, when looking at the house, I found the previous designs somewhat better.
On the other hand, I now prefer the floor plan of the third/latest design.
I am leaning toward improving the last design…
Steiger schrieb:
The current design includes a lot of paved area, and visually, when looking at the house, I found the previous designs a bit better. You could also position the shed sideways and/or arrange the vehicles in front or staggered. Try moving away from the purely structural approach. That way, planting can make a big difference. I seem to remember that I once visualized this. Right?
Steiger schrieb:
Including technical installations in the bathroom might be an option.
What do you think about A.R. on top? Is the space for the dormer too valuable? [...] Do you prefer the current design with the carport, where you drive straight in, or should we prioritize the other design first?
In the current design, there is a lot of paved area, and visually, when looking at the house, I found the previous designs a bit better. On the other hand, I now prefer the floor plan of the third/last design. I tend to want to improve the last design.. I wasn’t referring to technical installations "in the bathroom," but rather in the storage space behind it. Who or what is A.R., and why would the space for the dormer be considered too valuable? – I only know J.R., the firstborn son of Jock and older brother of Bobby. Should we go back and count the designs again? – It would be better if you refer to the designs by their post date or number.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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