Hello everyone,
After a long wait, we finally secured our dream plot in our community.
We have now started with the planning and would like to hear your opinions.
Please note: this is the first draft.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 591 sqm (about 6360 sq ft)
Slope: South-facing slope, access from the north, slope drops about 2.5 m (8 ft) to the south in the area of the house.
Floor area ratio: 0.35
Building envelope, building line and boundary: see development plan (Trauberg II)
Number of parking spaces: 2 per residential unit
Number of floors: 2 full stories
Roof shape
See development plan
Client Requirements
Style, roof type, building type:
Jurahaus style (traditional on the street side/north, modern on the south side), gable roof
Basement, stories: basement with garden access on the south side + 2 full stories
Number of occupants, age: 3-4 (36, 34, 5) + possibly one more child
Space requirements in basement (BSMT), ground floor (GF), upper floor (UF): bedroom, dressing room, family bathroom, guest bathroom, living room, kitchen/dining, pantry, office/guest room, office/hobby room, storage room, utility room, mechanical/technical room (bathroom)
Office: family use or home office? Both, with two separate workspaces in two rooms required
Guest stays per year: about 10 visits with two guests each
Open or closed layout: open
Conservative or modern design: mixed
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open kitchen-dining area as the family hub, kitchen island desired but not mandatory
Number of dining seats: 6 permanent, extendable to 12
Fireplace: no
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: terrace adjoining the kitchen is a must
Garage, carport: double garage required
Kitchen garden, greenhouse: -
Additional wishes / special features / daily routine, also reasons why certain things should or should not be included:
- Large hobby room with space for a sewing machine and another space-consuming hobby
- Cloakroom not visible when opening the front door
- Guest bathroom not next to the front door
- Spacious pantry/storage room with extended countertop
- Utility room not in the sleeping area; I have horses and don’t want to carry dirt into the sleeping area. Utility room near the offices, since laundry is mostly done during home office hours.
House Design
Who created the plan:
- Planner from a construction company + DIY
What do you like most? Why?
- The room layout is very well implemented.
- No complex structural engineering, installations can be done easily.
- A separate apartment could be realized in the basement.
What do you not like? Why?
- Windows: exterior view is not symmetrical or harmonious. In the kitchen, we would prefer the window/door at the island to have more natural light there. The patio doors are too narrow. I deliberately have not published the elevations because we are still undecided whether to choose shutters or sliding shutters, or to have sunshades/roller shutters on the south side.
- The desired Jurahaus character is not yet fully reflected as hoped. For now, we developed the floor plan to get, for example, feedback from the energy consultant.
Cost estimate according to architect/planner: siehe unten.
Personal budget limit for the house including fixtures and fittings: 600k, we are building with the family and subcontract only the plumbing and heating trades. The construction company says we can comfortably manage this.
Preferred heating technology: heat pump
If you had to compromise, on which details/expansions
- Could you compromise on: straight staircase, knee wall height (it could be somewhat lower), bathroom in the basement.
- Cannot compromise on: pantry, dressing room, offices, hobby room
Why is the design as it is now?
We have visited many show homes and existing houses, and this type of floor plan repeatedly appealed to us.
After a long wait, we finally secured our dream plot in our community.
We have now started with the planning and would like to hear your opinions.
Please note: this is the first draft.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 591 sqm (about 6360 sq ft)
Slope: South-facing slope, access from the north, slope drops about 2.5 m (8 ft) to the south in the area of the house.
Floor area ratio: 0.35
Building envelope, building line and boundary: see development plan (Trauberg II)
Number of parking spaces: 2 per residential unit
Number of floors: 2 full stories
Roof shape
See development plan
Client Requirements
Style, roof type, building type:
Jurahaus style (traditional on the street side/north, modern on the south side), gable roof
Basement, stories: basement with garden access on the south side + 2 full stories
Number of occupants, age: 3-4 (36, 34, 5) + possibly one more child
Space requirements in basement (BSMT), ground floor (GF), upper floor (UF): bedroom, dressing room, family bathroom, guest bathroom, living room, kitchen/dining, pantry, office/guest room, office/hobby room, storage room, utility room, mechanical/technical room (bathroom)
Office: family use or home office? Both, with two separate workspaces in two rooms required
Guest stays per year: about 10 visits with two guests each
Open or closed layout: open
Conservative or modern design: mixed
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open kitchen-dining area as the family hub, kitchen island desired but not mandatory
Number of dining seats: 6 permanent, extendable to 12
Fireplace: no
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: terrace adjoining the kitchen is a must
Garage, carport: double garage required
Kitchen garden, greenhouse: -
Additional wishes / special features / daily routine, also reasons why certain things should or should not be included:
- Large hobby room with space for a sewing machine and another space-consuming hobby
- Cloakroom not visible when opening the front door
- Guest bathroom not next to the front door
- Spacious pantry/storage room with extended countertop
- Utility room not in the sleeping area; I have horses and don’t want to carry dirt into the sleeping area. Utility room near the offices, since laundry is mostly done during home office hours.
House Design
Who created the plan:
- Planner from a construction company + DIY
What do you like most? Why?
- The room layout is very well implemented.
- No complex structural engineering, installations can be done easily.
- A separate apartment could be realized in the basement.
What do you not like? Why?
- Windows: exterior view is not symmetrical or harmonious. In the kitchen, we would prefer the window/door at the island to have more natural light there. The patio doors are too narrow. I deliberately have not published the elevations because we are still undecided whether to choose shutters or sliding shutters, or to have sunshades/roller shutters on the south side.
- The desired Jurahaus character is not yet fully reflected as hoped. For now, we developed the floor plan to get, for example, feedback from the energy consultant.
Cost estimate according to architect/planner: siehe unten.
Personal budget limit for the house including fixtures and fittings: 600k, we are building with the family and subcontract only the plumbing and heating trades. The construction company says we can comfortably manage this.
Preferred heating technology: heat pump
If you had to compromise, on which details/expansions
- Could you compromise on: straight staircase, knee wall height (it could be somewhat lower), bathroom in the basement.
- Cannot compromise on: pantry, dressing room, offices, hobby room
Why is the design as it is now?
We have visited many show homes and existing houses, and this type of floor plan repeatedly appealed to us.
WilderSueden schrieb:
Let’s be honest... a basement living area is basically the same as a ground floor living area without a slope. And no one argues that it would generally be too dark or that the neighbor could plant a 4-meter (13 feet) hedge (which actually isn’t that easy in Baden-Württemberg). Dark rooms can be solved with large windows.
I don’t understand why you would run upstairs for every bottle of water. The house access is from the north, and the living areas would logically face the valley, so to the south. Therefore, you would only carry things down, never up. In the worst case, you could even install a kind of dumbwaiter to bring groceries downstairs. Or – more economical and sensible anyway – you plan a path to the lower level that can also be used with a hand truck.You don’t have to understand it. Some people just don’t like it, even if it is promoted as the ultimate solution here in the forum. I also don’t think it’s the same, and I tried to explain that above. And if you enjoy carrying boxes, then all good. I wouldn’t be keen on a hand truck either; I’ve often had to push it, bikes, and kids up and down hills. A 4-meter (13 feet) Thuja hedge is probably not allowed anywhere. Troublesome neighbors, who you don’t want to confront because eventually everything goes to lawyers, are also found in Bavaria.
Your statements are very contradictory and do not reflect the plot described by the original poster.
Valley side, hollow — none of that applies.
Just because you don’t want to carry anything up or down doesn’t mean that suggestions or criticism are wrong.
That is basically what should be done and what most people recommend: in the basement (in your terms the cellar), the open-plan room (your summer kitchen) together with the utility room on the same level.
The days of a formal living room and a second kitchen in a basement within the thermal envelope are probably over due to costs and renewable energy regulations.
Oktopus schrieb:
Actually, all those who had the enclosure on the valley side,
Oktopus schrieb:
if the house is situated in a hollow on the slope
Valley side, hollow — none of that applies.
Just because you don’t want to carry anything up or down doesn’t mean that suggestions or criticism are wrong.
Oktopus schrieb:
In contrast, houses with garden access from the basement had a summer kitchen or a utility room with a garden exit.
That is basically what should be done and what most people recommend: in the basement (in your terms the cellar), the open-plan room (your summer kitchen) together with the utility room on the same level.
The days of a formal living room and a second kitchen in a basement within the thermal envelope are probably over due to costs and renewable energy regulations.
Oktopus schrieb:
It doesn’t have to make sense to you. Some simply don’t like it, even if it’s promoted here in the forum as the ultimate standard. I also don’t think that
ypg schrieb:
Your statements are very contradictory and don’t reflect the original poster’s property.
Valley side, hollow, none of that exists.
Just because you don’t want to carry anything up or down doesn’t mean suggestions or criticism are wrong.
That’s basically what should be done and what most suggest: place the living area in the basement (cellar in your case) with the utility room on the same level.
The days of a nice Sunday living room and a second kitchen in a basement inside the thermal envelope are probably over due to cost and renewable energy regulations. The going up and down argument was already brought up against me.
My main concern is the generalization here. A living area in the basement is often a dark, gloomy space. I have seen quite a few dark basements on slopes, even with floor-to-ceiling windows. It is often not comparable to a ground floor on flat land. Most homebuilders know why they don’t want their living area there.
Maybe you all have looked at photos of the surroundings and therefore know that in this case a bright basement can be assumed. That there is no protected oak tree blocking the light, no neighbor’s thuja stealing light from the side windows. That’s all well and good. Just don’t generalize it so much.
Oktopus schrieb:
The main issue here is generalization. The basement open space is often a dark hole. But we do have a well-submitted site plan here. South is at the bottom of the plan.
And the basement becomes a dark unit when I build a terrace that is practically usable on the ground floor level. I consider terraces useful if they are at least 3.5 to 4 m deep (11.5 to 13 feet).
Oktopus schrieb:
Just don’t generalize it that much. Those who contribute here have a well-developed ability to visualize 2D plans in 3D. They do this by evaluating the site plan of the property. In my experience, this is always considered on an individual basis and not generalized. However, you are generalizing by including the basements you know and imposing your assumptions on the suggestions. For even more individualization, it is highly encouraged that the original poster (OP) provides relevant drawings and photos. So if you want to address individuality in the discussion, it would be fairer to ask the OP for detailed information rather than criticize those who are responding and advising.
kbt09 schrieb:
But we do have a well-submitted site plan here. South is at the bottom of the plan.
And the basement will be a dark space if I build a terrace on the ground floor level that is actually usable. I consider terraces practical if they are at least 3.5 to 4 meters deep (11.5 to 13 feet).Can you tell from the excerpt if there is a slope on the opposite side and how tall the trees shown are?
As I said, even if it is not a major issue in this case, I find the discussion very one-sided. Comments like “Who wants to go downstairs just to get to the garden,” “you have to go up and down for every glass,” or “if you want that, it will end in disaster,” seem overly simplified to me.
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