ᐅ Single-family home, approximately 160 m², Bauhaus style; first design draft based on our requirements

Created on: 23 Aug 2019 22:03
N
Notstrom
Hello everyone,

we've been looking forward to this for a long time, and now we can finally share our first draft floor plan/design for discussion. We’re very curious to hear your feedback.
Those of you who have seen my thread before (https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/efh-Bauhausstil-Wohnfläche-180m-mit-Doppelgarage.31853/) know what to expect, and here comes the gem.

Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 530m² (about 5,700 sq ft)
Slope: No
Site coverage ratio (Grundflächenzahl): see screenshot
Floor area ratio (Geschossflächenzahl): see screenshot
Building envelope, building line, and boundaries: see screenshot
Edge development: see screenshot
Number of parking spaces: double garage
Number of floors: 2
Roof style: flat roof
Architectural style: Bauhaus
Orientation
Maximum height/limitations
Other requirements

The green highlighted area represents our plot => Parcel 8479

Cadastral map with pink parcels LP II, blue outlines, green line with marker.


Schematic representation of building use, site coverage ratio, WA and BauNVO references.


Schematic floor plan of a house with room layout and labels WA 1 2 WE


Homeowner Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: Bauhaus style, flat roof
Basement, floors: Basement yes, ground floor, upper floor
Number of residents, ages: 3 people, potentially 4: 33, 30, 2 years old
Space requirements on ground and upper floors: Initially planned 180 m² (about 1,940 sq ft) on two stories, now reduced to 160 m² (about 1,720 sq ft) after feedback, with the ground floor slightly larger than the upper floor, around 75–85 m² (810–915 sq ft)
Office: Family use or home office? Yes, in the basement (guest room <-> office)
Overnight guests per year: Hard to say, probably about 10 times per year with 2–5 guests each time
Open or closed architecture: Rather open
Conservative or modern construction: Rather modern
Open kitchen, cooking island: Island
Number of dining spaces: 1
Fireplace: Yes
Music/sound system wall: Our soundbar is sufficient
Balcony, roof terrace: Maybe, undecided (Architect’s comment: How often do you really go out for a beer on the balcony/roof terrace instead of the nice terrace on the ground floor?)
Garage, carport: Double garage, possibly single garage with carport
Kitchen garden, greenhouse: Small but nice (a few tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis…)

House Design
Planning by: Architect

What do you particularly like? Why? We like the architecture with the two offset rectangles, though we wonder if the extra cost (no price estimate yet) justifies this. We believe it is structurally more challenging than a simple "cube."
What don’t you like? Why? The size of the bedroom/walk-in closet/children’s room. It feels like the bedroom is missing 2–5 m² (about 20–55 sq ft), as is the second children’s room.
Price estimate according to architect/planner: The initial draft was around 550,000 EUR
Personal price limit for the house, including fixtures: 620,000 EUR
Preferred heating technology: Indifferent, but tendency toward heat pump.

If you had to give up something, which details/finishes
- You can give up: the current shape (nice but a cube would also do)
- You cannot give up: space

Why is the design the way it is now? For example:
Standard design from the planner? This is the second design resulting from last week’s discussion with us, and we find it very successful.
Which wishes were implemented by the architect? Absolutely, plus the idea he had to move the kitchen during development. The guest room has now moved to the basement, allowing more space on the ground floor (beforehand, it felt quite cramped and “squeezed”).
What makes it especially good or bad in your opinion? The architecture

...and now I’ll leave you alone with our house

Ground floor plan of a house with terrace, garden with trees and garage


Floor plan of a residential house with double garage, open living/kitchen area, terrace, and staircase.


Floor plan of a house: terrace, living-dining area with kitchen, hallway, vestibule, wardrobe, WC/shower.


Upper floor plan:

Floor plan of an upper floor: hallway, bathroom, bedroom, child 1, child 2, walk-in closet


Basement:

Basement floor plan: hallway, technical room, storage room, cellar space, central stairs.


Site plan of a plot with parcels, building areas and road layout


East view of a modern house with garage, two people and terrain profile.
Y
Ysop***
11 Sep 2019 17:20
Hmm, I’m not entirely familiar with this, but there are also verbal agreements without a written contract. At least that applies in employment law. In construction, the relevant building regulations simply apply to such agreements. The main question is probably what was agreed upon. A single consultation is different from having already had five appointments.
Y
ypg
11 Sep 2019 18:27
Notstrom schrieb:

a) there was no written offer,
That is not required.
Notstrom schrieb:

b) no signature to accept the contract
That is not required.
Notstrom schrieb:

c) all drafts were not as we wanted,
That is also not necessary.

I understood that you have to pay. That is why I expressed my concerns.
N
Notstrom
11 Sep 2019 18:38
ypg schrieb:

not necessary.

not necessary

also not required.

I was aware that you have to pay. That’s why I raised my concerns.
Are you sure? Because then any architect could create designs that don’t meet the client’s wishes or requirements and simply present such an invoice.

I just spoke with legal protection and received the following advice from a lawyer who apparently specializes in architectural law.

I quote:
- Invoice: without legal basis, no contract, I reject the invoice as legally unfounded
- Without an approved design, no contract for work, therefore no claim to a fee
- If the design is approvable, then there is a fee, otherwise not, based on the gross construction cost (which does not exist yet…)
- The only thing he can claim: material expenses (printer, paper, postage…)
M
Muc1985
11 Sep 2019 18:43
Well, I’m curious to see how this will turn out...
N
Notstrom
11 Sep 2019 18:45
Muc1985 schrieb:

Well, I’m curious to see...

I’m reading that this does not seem to be a realistic project?!
M
Muc1985
11 Sep 2019 18:55
I haven’t followed the entire discussion here. How did you choose your architect? Was a fixed price agreed upon (is there any basis for this)? How is the invoice itemized?