ᐅ Sloped plot, mountain located behind the house, and lack of evening sunlight

Hello everyone,

we are planning our first house. We have a floor plan from the architect provided by a builder (House of Craftsmen). It is very close to their standard design and was originally planned for a childless couple. The architect will still make some adjustments. For example, the children's rooms should be on the east side and larger than the bedroom. It is important for us to have as much view as possible, which is why we are considering a bay window or alternatively just pushing the house forward. My father-in-law keeps insisting that we place the terrace on the south side. However, there is no nice view there; at best, we can see the neighbor’s propane tank. The utility room will be in the partially finished basement.

I would appreciate advice on how to create a rough draft myself or to be able to bring some concrete ideas to the architect. He only has a flat-rate contract with HdH and probably won’t put in too much effort for us 🙂

Thanks in advance!


Here are the facts:

Development plan/restrictions
Plot size: 475 m2 (5112 ft2)
Slope location: Yes
Floor area ratio: 0.4
Site occupancy index: 0.5
Border development: Southwest is a house. The plots to the north are currently sheep pasture and likely won’t be sold soon. However, development would be possible in principle.
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: maximum 1.5 (on the opposite side of the street there are 2... we don’t know why it’s different here)
Roof type: Gable roof 35°, but the architect plans with 36°, since a 1° tolerance is allowed
Style: Modern and practical
Orientation: Still flexible?
Maximum heights/limits: 3.5 / 6.5
Additional requirements: Garage must have 3 m (10 ft) distance from the street, and the distance to the drains (northern border of the plot) must be observed. I don’t know the exact distance yet.

Owners’ requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: Gable roof is mandatory. Style is rather modern and practical.
Basement, floors: Partial development of the basement is planned. This is where the heating system will go, as well as storage, a fitness room, and a toilet.
Number of occupants, age: 2 adults and 1 child + another child planned, plus a dog.
Room requirements on ground/upper floor: On the ground floor: living and kitchen area, as well as laundry room. Heating will be in the basement. Upstairs should contain the bedrooms and a large bathroom, possibly with a separate toilet.
Office: Home office, possibly also used as a guest room.
Overnight guests per year: Primarily parents-in-law, about 5-6 times? Hopefully no more... Maybe friends 3-4 times a year. That is why it will be more an office/guest room.
Open or closed architecture: Flexible
Conservative or modern construction: Modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: Open kitchen not mandatory but preferred, although a slight separation from the living area would be good.
Number of dining seats: Our table is 2.40 m (7 ft 10 in) long...
Fireplace: No
Music/stereo wall: Will be connected to the TV.
Balcony, roof terrace: Balcony on a bay window to make use of the view.
Garage, carport: Garage at basement/street level.
Garden for vegetables, greenhouse: Rather no.
Other wishes/special features/daily routines, reasons for preferences: Children’s rooms should be the largest and brightest rooms.

House design
Who created the plan:
- Planner from a construction company: <-
What do you particularly like? Why?: Large kitchen and the possibility to have the dining table near the kitchen. Attic dormer.
What do you not like? Why?: Wasted space. The feeling of a lot of useless area without it being particularly pleasant. The view is not sufficiently integrated into the architecture.
Price estimate by architect/planner: 462,000 Euro
Personal maximum budget for the house including equipment: 490,000 Euro

Always build the terrace where you get the most sun during the day, especially in the evening.

On weekends, it might not matter as much, but during the week it’s important to have plenty of sunlight.

Our neighbors built a nice rooftop terrace that they never use, and now they just hang out in front of the house on 4 m² (43 sq ft) with beer garden benches.

Show the south view. Is it really so bad that all the large windows are planned to face north?

Is there a building permit / planning permission? Or a §34 procedure?

Please also show the text version of the building plan and the site plan excerpt.

hanghaus2000 schrieb:

Can you show the view to the south? Is it so bad that all the large windows are planned facing north?

Is there a building plan / zoning plan? Or a 34a permit?

Please also show the text version of the building plan and the plan excerpt.

Thanks for the feedback.

There is a building plan, but I still need to order and pay for it. The current information I obtained by phone. Unfortunately, we are only allowed to build 1.5 stories, while on the opposite side of the street they are allowed to build 2 stories :/
Which plan excerpt do you mean?

I would prefer not to build too close to the neighbor because they have a liquefied petroleum gas tank there and because they have their party room in the small garden shed where they do quite a bit of smoking.

HilfeHilfe schrieb:

Always build the terrace where you get the most sun during the day, especially in the evening.

It might not matter that much on weekends, but during the week it’s important to have plenty of sunshine.

Our neighbors built a nice roof terrace they never actually use, and now they just hang out on 4 square meters in front of the house on beer garden benches.

The hill is somewhat limiting there, and the neighbors on the other side would be very close. Maybe it makes sense to have a conservatory on one side and the terrace on the other?

One more note. Our property would be located where the many small trees are and the grass is not mowed.

Rogsagr schrieb:

Thanks for the feedback.

There is a development plan, but I still need to order and pay for it. So far, I obtained the data by phone. Unfortunately, we are only allowed to build 1.5 floors, while on the opposite side of the street they can have 2 floors :/
Which part of the plan do you mean?

Your planner should at least have the development plan. That is part of the basic site analysis. Is your planner charging you for the development plan? Nowadays, development plans are usually available online.

Just try using Google Maps and outline your property in the surrounding area. It’s easier to do this on the Geoportal of Baden-Württemberg (BW). You will probably find the development plan there as well.

If you provide the location and the name of the building area here, @11ant will surely be happy to help you. You already have the plot, right?

A plan excerpt showing your plot and the surrounding buildings.