ᐅ Opinion on Floor Plan and Window Layout for a Single-Family House 9x12

Good morning and hello everyone,

I would like to share our nearly finished design here. Please feel free to share your thoughts on it—what you like or don’t like.

Primarily, I want to discuss the window arrangement. I have slightly adjusted the drawing and added some furniture. Specifically, I’m concerned about the arrangement of the front windows facing the street and the southeast, as well as the placement on the first floor. I would especially appreciate feedback on these points.

A few notes:
The house is planned as a 1-2 family house (if we add two internal walls, it becomes a 2-family house).
North is indicated – there is a forest adjacent to the southwest. The house is located at the beginning of a dead-end street.

1_Location:
- The neighbor to the west is 3m (10 feet) away from the boundary
- There is a small forest path to the southeast
- The only direct neighbor is to the northeast
- The street is a dead-end
- Driveway (3 x 8m (10 x 26 feet))

Basement: no changes planned
K1 = Work, party/hobby/fitness
K2 = Storage
HA = House connections, controlled residential ventilation/heat recovery, washing machine & dryer

3_Ground floor: no possible changes – facts:
- Side entrance door
- Window by the sofa is to be a fixed panel, 2.50m (8 feet) wide
- Next to it, a sliding door / PSKT, 2.50m (8 feet) wide
- To the east at the dining table, we want a fixed window panel also 2.50m (8 feet) wide, but we are unsure about the exact placement
- The dining table is roughly drawn in – we are unsure about the optimal placement

4_First floor: no changes planned
- Special feature: no separate children’s bathroom

5_Section – no comments

6_Front and rear views: windows revised
Front view: windows for storage room and guest WC adjusted
Rear view: window areas on the ground floor enlarged (2.50m (8 feet)) compared to the first floor (2.00m (6.5 feet))

7_Side views: windows revised
Left side: floor-to-ceiling elements, which are still a concern for us; also floor-to-ceiling kitchen window
Right side: no comments

These are the main issues we are considering. Finally, here is the list of information:

Development plan/restrictions
Plot size: 400 sqm (4,300 sq ft)
Floor area ratio: 0.4
Gross floor area ratio: 0.5
Building envelope: minimum 3m (10 feet) distance to the street at the front mandatory, plus the usual 3m (10 feet) to neighboring parcels
Edge development: no
Number of parking spaces: 1 in front of garage
Number of stories: 2
Roof type: hipped roof, 25°
Architectural style: ?
Orientation: ?
Maximum heights/limits: none
Other requirements: no shiny roofing materials allowed

Homeowner requirements
Architectural style, roof type, building type: classic, hipped roof, detached single-family house
Basement, floors: yes, ground floor, full upper floor
Number of occupants, ages: 2 adults (39 and 30 years); 2 children (6 and 8 years)
Space requirements on ground and upper floor: as shown in the drawings
Office: basement – no home office
Overnight guests per year: 6
Open or closed architecture: open
Conservative or modern building style: white plaster facade, dark roofing, windows, doors, gates
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open kitchen with island
Number of dining seats: 4–6
Fireplace: yes
Music/stereo wall: combined with TV
Balcony, roof terrace: no, no
Garage, carport: yes, no (carport possibly later on the east side)
Utility garden, greenhouse: none
Other wishes/special features/daily routine: none

House design
Who designed it: family member with relevant professional background
What do you particularly like? Open ground floor; minimal hallway area in the upper floor
What do you not like? Nothing comes to mind
Price estimate according to architect/designer: €350,000 (without exterior work, painting, flooring, tiling)
Personal price limit for the house, including equipment: not firmly defined
Preferred heating system: air-to-water – KfW55 standard

If you had to give up, which details/extras
- Could you give up: nothing
- Can you not give up: everything

Thank you very much in advance!!

- Home office for the wife? ... okay.
- Wardrobe is omitted?
- What is happening top right on the plan? DJ booth?
- I would possibly plan an additional door to the living room.
- Kitchen might have a bit too little workspace, 4 + 2 m (13 + 7 feet)?
- Toilet on the upper floor is a bit tight, isn’t it?

Thank you!
- Well… mine is in the BASEMENT. That was a compromise, and the architect reacted similarly.
- The cloakroom is planned to be partly inside the storage room (from the hallway side)
- A small closet is planned – or alternatively a desk (depending on the hobby)
- Living room OK, thanks!
- Kitchen space is difficult – my better half really wants a kitchen island and floor-to-ceiling window...
- Bathroom planning ongoing.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for the initial feedback on my first post...!!