ᐅ Planning the Optimal Layout of House, Garage, and Driveway

I would like to get your opinions on the optimal layout for our construction project. I will upload two variants as attachments, between which I am undecided.

Plot approximately 33x21 meters (108x69 feet)
House 8x11 meters (26x36 feet)
Double garage 6x8 meters (20x26 feet)
Building area (blue) 18x12 meters (59x39 feet) with 3 meters (10 feet) required to be built beyond the property boundary.

Variant 1:
- a narrow passage of about 1 meter (3 feet) between the garage and the house
- a nice wide driveway, but relatively short (9 meters / 30 feet)
- a 4-meter-long (13 feet) space behind the garage that I am not sure how to use optimally
- about 1.5 meters (5 feet) less garden space on the left side

Variant 2:
- a passage more than 2 meters (7 feet) wide between the garage and the house
- about 1.5 meters (5 feet) more garden space on the left side
- narrower but longer driveway (parking two cars side by side may be difficult)
- more privacy when washing or working on the car in the garage due to greater distance from the street
- no “dirt corner” behind the garage thanks to flush boundary construction on two sides

Which option would you prefer? I am open to tips and advice.

How many meters (feet) are left behind the garage in version 1? You usually always need space for a trash bin, possibly firewood, a garden shed, children’s vehicles, etc. Maybe you could push the garage a little further back in version 1.

Or you could combine versions 1 and 2. House like in version 1, garage like in version 2. Your plot is definitely large enough for that.

Garage outside the building envelope?
Is that allowed?

There is still over 4 meters (13 feet) of space behind the garage...

Outside the building envelope, it is allowed. It would be a standard boundary development up to 9 meters (30 feet) and 50 square meters (540 square feet) according to Saxon building regulations.

I would tend to prefer option 2. Otherwise, the passage between the house and garage becomes quite narrow. I would position the house so that there is enough space to comfortably drive through with a car and still have room for a doormat or some minimal planting along the wall, while also ensuring the car doesn’t scrape the garage wall.

Partially setting the garage forward is a matter of allowable regulations; in many regional building codes, it must be either on the boundary or fully set back from the required setback area. This approach has the advantage that behind the garage there could be a designated utility corner for compost, potting soil, etc., as well as a rear access to the garage. However, this then creates an issue with the passage to the garden.

I would lean towards option 1.. Snow removal is also an important factor. And behind the garage, there would be a perfect spot for a compost pile.