ᐅ Single-Family Home Optimization and Planning (180 sqm + Attic, No Basement)

Created on: 22 May 2020 21:23
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phil12345
Hello everyone,

I was directed to this interesting sub-forum through other threads, and of course, I would like to share our idea pool in the form of Draft 2.0.

First, a few facts about us:

Both 32 years old, no children, working full time. Two children are planned, but only after the house is built and before 40. So, relatively mid-term.

We plan to build in the front yard (650 m² (7,000 sq ft)) of the builder’s parents. The plot is signed, and the partnership agreement is in place. We envision a single-family house of about 180 m² (1,940 sq ft) with a double garage. We do not want a basement.
The house should preferably meet the KfW55 energy efficiency standard despite having a gas heating system. As a guy, I obviously find KNX great, but maybe Somfy Smart Home would also work. However, I would really regret it in the future if I squander that investment.

The cube shown in the drawing, originally made of exposed concrete, has now been clad with Trespa panels. The window shutters should be external Venetian blinds (Raffstores) in the basement and regular shutters on the upper floor. A large covered terrace (not visible here) is also very important to us since we really want to sit in the garden sheltered from the weather.

Additionally, we face the challenge that the driveway is from the southwest side, so we need to combine garden and driveway.

A wood-burning fireplace is very important to the builder. The airlock/transition zone between garage and house, connecting both, is also essential. We like the idea of a shared but “separate” bathroom; a bathtub is not necessary. An additional third, basic bathroom in the garage for garden parties is also planned (we live in a rural area of Lower Saxony, where corn and beer are enjoyed every other day…) but should be kept very simple.

I will actively participate in the thread and look forward to an engaging discussion.

Best regards,
Phil12345

Modern two-story brick villa with red brickwork, glass annex, and garage.


Modern red brick house with gray annex cube and large windows.


Floor plan of a house: garage for two cars, entrance area, kitchen, living/dining room, utility room.


Floor plan of a house: hallway, office/utility room, bathroom, shower, two kids’ rooms and parents’ dressing room.
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Escroda
26 May 2020 09:05
phil12345 schrieb:

So basically, we can focus on the floor plan.
Then I want to remind you of two crucial questions:
Escroda schrieb:

Is it clarified with the building authority that you are planning beyond the zoning plan boundary? ...
You don’t need the private road, but you are adjacent property owners. Are the costs for that resolved?
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phil12345
26 May 2020 14:20
Indeed, 1.5 stories will be tight. Perhaps with a knee wall height of 2m (6.6 ft)?

This is now the homework for our architect. All the design elements from the initial plan have been removed. Only one study room remains. We want to include a master bathroom. The kids’ bathroom will be treated like a guest bathroom. The garage will be 6 x 5 meters (20 x 16.5 ft).

With the given plan (I mirrored the plan by hand; the original is an already realized building), the architect should now focus purely on the service aspect.

I already like the basement. The large windows and so on have also been removed. We need to review the upstairs. If it’s not possible otherwise, it will be smaller up there.

Can anyone help me understand how the construction costs compare between 1.5 and 2 stories (we want to build the house solely on the development plan where this is allowed)? The floor area basically remains the same.
kaho67426 May 2020 18:01
Danwood Point 181.1 is also worth considering. The base price is 236,000. For that, you get this:


Split floor plan of a house showing ground floor and upper floor layouts



Modern, two-story white single-family house with gray roof, driveway, and garden.


Of course, you always have to make compromises with a standard design. The children's rooms facing north—well, at least they have two windows. The walk-in closet and bed in the master bedroom can probably be swapped if you want. I really think it’s worth considering. I don’t believe an architect could compete with this.

Do you think a total budget of 350,000 would be sufficient here? The foundation slab is still needed, but otherwise quite a lot is included, even if the specifications are basic. That would leave around 110,000 for upgrades. Or is this unrealistic? Has anyone here built with Danwood before?
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phil12345
26 May 2020 20:56
Prefabricated wooden house from Poland. Naturally, it’s good for the budget, but we see many “buts” here – starting from the “prefab” aspect up to the wood quality.

Of course, being able to order caviar but only afford McDonald's is one thing, so I don’t want to sound insensitive. For that reason, we increased our budget significantly to build a solid, masonry house.

However, the floor plan seems to me a good base to build brick by brick with self-managed individual trades, doesn’t it?
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saralina87
26 May 2020 21:22
You’re not quite aware that both prefabricated houses and timber-frame houses are generally more expensive than solid masonry houses made of stone, right? I don’t know the Danwood prices, but in general, your statement is basically inaccurate.
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haydee
26 May 2020 21:43
I am not familiar with Danwood. However, it is often the case that a similar house, with the same quality and features, usually costs about the same. No one is giving anything away.

I would build something a bit smaller and look for a local general contractor. It doesn't matter whether it’s a carpenter building two houses a year or a local masonry builder.