Dear Forum,
after allowing a bit more “rest time” for our plans, we are now considering the optimal positioning of our house on the plot, especially taking into account the orientation of the neighboring properties.
We have plot number 9 (parcel 929).
Parcel 949 is a waste container area (quite oversized at 30m² (320 ft²)) serving plots 3, 4, 5, and 6. This is a dead-end street (planned street B), which is why the waste container area is located next to us.
Plot number 6 will be a 9.30 m (30.5 ft) high gable-roofed semi-detached house with the ridge running west-east. This means three floor-to-ceiling windows will face directly onto our property. In front of this house is a garage situated 2 meters (6.5 ft) away from our plot (officially supposed to be 3 meters (9.8 ft), but apparently only 2 meters was approved). So the house wall starts at about ~5.50 meters (18 ft).
Plot number 10 to the south will be a bungalow with a garage directly adjoining our plot (fairly central, as there is a five-meter (16 ft) long driveway leading up to it).
We are wondering how best to position our house to avoid a feeling of excessive tightness.
Should it be as narrow as possible to maximize the west-facing garden and distance from the neighboring house to the west? Or rather positioned to have a south-facing garden, even if that means looking towards the neighbor’s garage wall?
after allowing a bit more “rest time” for our plans, we are now considering the optimal positioning of our house on the plot, especially taking into account the orientation of the neighboring properties.
We have plot number 9 (parcel 929).
Parcel 949 is a waste container area (quite oversized at 30m² (320 ft²)) serving plots 3, 4, 5, and 6. This is a dead-end street (planned street B), which is why the waste container area is located next to us.
Plot number 6 will be a 9.30 m (30.5 ft) high gable-roofed semi-detached house with the ridge running west-east. This means three floor-to-ceiling windows will face directly onto our property. In front of this house is a garage situated 2 meters (6.5 ft) away from our plot (officially supposed to be 3 meters (9.8 ft), but apparently only 2 meters was approved). So the house wall starts at about ~5.50 meters (18 ft).
Plot number 10 to the south will be a bungalow with a garage directly adjoining our plot (fairly central, as there is a five-meter (16 ft) long driveway leading up to it).
We are wondering how best to position our house to avoid a feeling of excessive tightness.
Should it be as narrow as possible to maximize the west-facing garden and distance from the neighboring house to the west? Or rather positioned to have a south-facing garden, even if that means looking towards the neighbor’s garage wall?
Mangolicious schrieb:
and with the garbage bin storage area located even further north, you’d lose a lot of garden space to the north and would only have narrow garden strips or green areas around the house, right?Mangolicious schrieb:
At least the remaining small patch looks nicer than an empty paved area.Isn’t there a contradiction in your thinking?Mangolicious schrieb:
I wonder if giving up a carport or a parking space in the front yard area (a certain percentage is allowed to be paved)I consider it the worst choice to give up essentials.Mangolicious schrieb:
just to have at least a small sense of garden.You should focus more on your property than on the garbage area.Mangolicious schrieb:
Or alternatively, orient the house towards the west-south garden.As you prefer.Here are your possible sight lines for a house oriented to the south.
M
Marvinius20161 Jun 2025 21:06Mangolicious schrieb:
I’m not too worried about that. It’s just 3 neighbors who occasionally haul their trash bins back and forth. That causes only manageable noise, won’t attract significant pests, and there won’t be any noticeable odor (source: former cul-de-sac resident).
If there wasn’t enough space, they would just leave the bins at the roadside, as happens in almost every cul-de-sac.
If it were 8 households or a shared collection point for the entire neighborhood, I might be more concerned. But as it stands?
My only issue is that at least 25 square meters (270 square feet) of that area is completely unused, and I could use that space more efficiently. On small lots, 25 to 30 square meters (270 to 320 square feet) can make quite a difference. The real problem is the garbage truck that picks up all the neighborhood’s trash right in front of your house. Especially when it comes as early as 6:00 a.m.
Marvinius2016 schrieb:
The problem is the garbage truck that comes right in front of your house and collects all the neighborhood’s trash. Especially when it arrives as early as 6:00 AM Funny. The original poster is complaining about a waste collection point for 2–3 neighbors (by the way, we pruned a tree today and ended up with 4 bags of green waste… wait until autumn to see what kind of pile that creates),
and Mr. Marvinius mentions the common practice that waste collectors regularly drive past houses. Don’t you have air conditioning for your “heated” tempers?
M
Marvinius20161 Jun 2025 21:29ypg schrieb:
Funny. The original poster is complaining about a small waste collection point shared by 2-3 neighbors (by the way, today we pruned a tree and ended up with 4 bags of green waste… just wait until autumn, when the amount really adds up),
and Mr. Marvinius mentions a common process where waste collectors regularly pass by houses. Don’t you have air conditioning for your “heated” tempers? Oh, for green waste we have a trailer with a suitable towing vehicle. So we can quietly take it to the recycling center. And the air conditioning will probably be installed next year along with photovoltaics and battery storage.
ypg schrieb:
Funny. The original poster is complaining about a small waste collection point shared by 2-3 neighbors (by the way, today we pruned a tree and ended up with 4 bags of green waste… just wait until autumn, when the amount really adds up),
and Mr. Marvinius mentions a common process where waste collectors regularly pass by houses. Don’t you have air conditioning for your “heated” tempers? At least I wouldn’t orient the bedroom towards the waste collection point. It could get noisy.
Marvinius2016 schrieb:
Oh, for the green waste we have a trailer with a suitable towing vehicle. So we can quietly take it to the recycling center. And the air conditioning will probably be retrofitted next year together with photovoltaic panels and a battery storage system.It seems you didn’t understand my post. You will have to deal with the garbage collection whether it stops at your house or not. I wouldn’t judge such everyday matters negatively or make someone afraid of something that’s really not worth mentioning. When the garbage truck drives down the street, you’re usually working from home, having coffee on the terrace, or even sitting in your car, waving to them.
I don’t know anyone who talks about garbage collection, just like people don’t discuss the length of a toilet visit.
N
nordanney2 Jun 2025 01:03Marvinius2016 schrieb:
I wouldn’t recommend locating the bedroom facing the garbage collection area. It could get noisy. Have you ever lived in one of the millions of houses in Germany? Or do you only know Germany from stories? In every federal state, in every district and city, waste collection happens. Sometimes once a week, sometimes 2-3 times a week, or occasionally every two weeks.
And imagine this: the garbage truck stops in front of every house or at a designated bin area by the house.
Are you now suggesting that in the nearly 20 million houses in Germany nobody should have their bedroom facing the street because it could be “noisy”? Every city resident would laugh at you with hundreds or thousands of cars passing the house daily, parking, honking, and so on.
In a detached single-family home neighborhood, the garbage truck is actually the noise problem way down the list, maybe around number 147—after barking dogs from the neighbor behind the house, screaming kids in front, barbecue parties on the left side, loud music on the right side, the neighbor with the Audi RS revving his engine sharply every morning at 6:45 a.m., and many other sources of noise.
Now calm down—cheers with two clinking beer mugs.
Similar topics