ᐅ New Construction of a Single-Family Home on a Sloping Lot
Created on: 30 Jan 2020 19:44
B
BauherrFranken
Dear forum members,
After purchasing the plot, we thankfully received today the initial draft from the architect of the general contractor.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: approx. 735 sqm (21 meters wide, 35 meters deep) (22,700 sq ft (69 ft) wide, 115 ft deep)
Slope: yes
Site coverage ratio: ?
Floor area ratio: ?
Building envelope, building line and boundary: basically at the rear part of the plot
Edge development: no
Number of parking spaces: 2 (double garage)
Number of stories: 2
Roof style: gable roof
Architectural style: modern
Orientation: south/north
Maximum heights/limits: 1.125 m knee wall at top
Other requirements: roof pitch 38 degrees
Homeowners’ Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: modern gable roof
Basement, stories: basement, 2 floors
Number of occupants, ages: 3 persons, 2 adults, 1 child (0.5), possibly one more
Space requirement: total 160-180 sqm (1,720-1,940 sq ft)
Office: family use or home office? Home office in basement
Guest bedrooms per year: none
Open or closed architecture
Traditional or modern construction
Open kitchen, cooking island: yes
Number of dining seats: 8
Fireplace: yes
Music/stereo wall: TV wall, possibly as divider between living and dining areas
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: double garage with direct house access
Utility garden, greenhouse: flower beds and lawn
Other wishes/particulars/daily routine, also reasons why some things should or should not be included
-
House Design
Who created the plan: architect of the general contractor
What do you particularly like? Why? – Entrance located in the basement because otherwise a steep entrance staircase around the house would be necessary; home office with window in the basement; terrace on the garage; upper floor with separate bathroom for children.
What do you dislike? We don’t like the orientation. We would prefer the gable sides to face north/south (mainly for the view; as currently planned, from the upper floor the southern or city view is only visible through roof windows). On the ground floor, a laundry room is planned facing the sunny south, which we find less practical. With the office in the basement, the usable living area is now 212 sqm (2,280 sq ft). We think we can manage well with 180 sqm (1,940 sq ft) overall. Perhaps the children’s rooms are each 2 sqm (22 sq ft) too small. Also, we are not comfortable with the many small, irregularly arranged windows.
Price estimate according to architect/planner: approx. 550,000 EUR turnkey plus 20,000 EUR landscaping plus 10,000 EUR landscaping = 580,000 EUR
Personal price limit for the house, including fittings: 550,000 EUR
Preferred heating technology: ?
If you had to give up, which details/finishings
- Utility room on the ground floor
- Cannot do without: separate bathroom for children
Why is the design like it is now? For example,
We gave some initial verbal ideas but allowed the planner considerable freedom.
What is the most important/basic question regarding the floor plan in 130 characters?
The planner sees only this orientation as sensible; however, we do not like it. How could the ground floor be better designed despite the staircase at the south side, which takes space from more practical rooms (possibly the kitchen)? Any ideas on the exterior design?





After purchasing the plot, we thankfully received today the initial draft from the architect of the general contractor.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: approx. 735 sqm (21 meters wide, 35 meters deep) (22,700 sq ft (69 ft) wide, 115 ft deep)
Slope: yes
Site coverage ratio: ?
Floor area ratio: ?
Building envelope, building line and boundary: basically at the rear part of the plot
Edge development: no
Number of parking spaces: 2 (double garage)
Number of stories: 2
Roof style: gable roof
Architectural style: modern
Orientation: south/north
Maximum heights/limits: 1.125 m knee wall at top
Other requirements: roof pitch 38 degrees
Homeowners’ Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: modern gable roof
Basement, stories: basement, 2 floors
Number of occupants, ages: 3 persons, 2 adults, 1 child (0.5), possibly one more
Space requirement: total 160-180 sqm (1,720-1,940 sq ft)
Office: family use or home office? Home office in basement
Guest bedrooms per year: none
Open or closed architecture
Traditional or modern construction
Open kitchen, cooking island: yes
Number of dining seats: 8
Fireplace: yes
Music/stereo wall: TV wall, possibly as divider between living and dining areas
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: double garage with direct house access
Utility garden, greenhouse: flower beds and lawn
Other wishes/particulars/daily routine, also reasons why some things should or should not be included
-
House Design
Who created the plan: architect of the general contractor
What do you particularly like? Why? – Entrance located in the basement because otherwise a steep entrance staircase around the house would be necessary; home office with window in the basement; terrace on the garage; upper floor with separate bathroom for children.
What do you dislike? We don’t like the orientation. We would prefer the gable sides to face north/south (mainly for the view; as currently planned, from the upper floor the southern or city view is only visible through roof windows). On the ground floor, a laundry room is planned facing the sunny south, which we find less practical. With the office in the basement, the usable living area is now 212 sqm (2,280 sq ft). We think we can manage well with 180 sqm (1,940 sq ft) overall. Perhaps the children’s rooms are each 2 sqm (22 sq ft) too small. Also, we are not comfortable with the many small, irregularly arranged windows.
Price estimate according to architect/planner: approx. 550,000 EUR turnkey plus 20,000 EUR landscaping plus 10,000 EUR landscaping = 580,000 EUR
Personal price limit for the house, including fittings: 550,000 EUR
Preferred heating technology: ?
If you had to give up, which details/finishings
- Utility room on the ground floor
- Cannot do without: separate bathroom for children
Why is the design like it is now? For example,
We gave some initial verbal ideas but allowed the planner considerable freedom.
What is the most important/basic question regarding the floor plan in 130 characters?
The planner sees only this orientation as sensible; however, we do not like it. How could the ground floor be better designed despite the staircase at the south side, which takes space from more practical rooms (possibly the kitchen)? Any ideas on the exterior design?
L
ludwig88sta31 Jan 2020 09:46A quick question about excavation: there are usually farmers or forest owners, or similar, who would be happy to receive soil to level a slope or something like that. That way, you wouldn’t have to pay disposal fees for the soil, only the labor costs. Or am I missing something here?
ludwig88sta schrieb:
A quick question about excavation: there are usually farmers or forest owners who would be happy to take soil to level out a slope or something like that. That way, you wouldn’t have to pay disposal fees for the soil, only labor costs. Or am I missing something here? I’ve tried that around my area, both with known farmers and complete strangers.
They all said no, even when offered money.
I think these days it only happens unofficially within family circles. The potential fines are too high. Basically, it’s illegal disposal within the scope of house building.
S
Stefan2.8431 Jan 2020 10:43We are currently building a similar design with a basement built into a slope, but with a slightly smaller footprint. The soil was very rocky with quite large boulders. These had to be broken down with a hydraulic hammer before removal. In total, 1,300 tons of material were excavated and transported to a landfill. Before that, about 50cm (20 inches) of topsoil was removed and stored on the property for further use. Costs were just under €12,000 for excavation and transportation, plus €5,500 for landfill fees. Depending on the size and soil classification, expenses can quickly add up to €15,000–20,000.
I sketched the initial draft, replaced the stairs, and swapped the kitchen. Exterior dimensions are 11.4 x 9.9 m (37.4 x 32.5 ft) – the entire layout has been rotated. I prefer an outside staircase with a second entrance for the mail carrier and visitors, but this can also be omitted. The depth of the open-plan living area lets sunlight into the house.






We are building on a very similar slope. Your basement (UG) could be perfectly used for bedrooms. Lighting is not an issue. Maybe you could also excavate on the side to let light into the basement from two directions. That’s why I’m asking, why does it have to be three floors? I would increase the building footprint and eliminate the attic floor. Then make better use of the basement and move the children's rooms down there. Take the garage out of the thermal envelope and place it next to the house. You can still have the roof terrace on the garage as planned. Since the footprint is larger, you could add another room on the living floor, which could become a dining room. That way, you could live on one level as you get older. The wardrobe, of course, belongs in the basement. Overall, this layout could definitely reduce the total square meters.
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BauherrFranken31 Jan 2020 13:58@kaho674
Many, many thanks in advance for your sketches! Your design is definitely far from bad!
Many, many thanks in advance for your sketches! Your design is definitely far from bad!
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