ᐅ Single-family home with 135 sqm of living space plus basement including integrated garage and office

Hello everyone,

we are currently in the planning phase and would like to share our floor plan with you:

Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 557 sqm (6,000 sq ft approx.)
Slope: Yes (north-south gradient approx. 3.20 m (10.5 ft))
Floor space index: 0.4
Plot ratio: 0.5
Building setback, building line and boundary: 3 meters (10 ft) to neighboring property
Edge development:
Number of parking spaces: 1 garage, 1 parking space in driveway
Number of floors: 1.5 floors
Roof type: gable, hip, half-hip roof
Style: rather modern
Orientation: southwest
Maximum heights / limits: total height 6.20 m (20.3 ft), ridge height 11 m (36 ft)
Other requirements: urban villa not permitted

Homeowners’ Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: gable roof
Basement, floors: 1.5 floors plus basement
Number of people, ages: currently 2 adults (37+35 years), 1 child (3 years), and soon another child
Space requirement on ground floor and upper floor: almost 135 sqm (1,450 sq ft) in total
Office: family use or home office? home office
Annual number of overnight guests: few
Open or closed architecture: open
Conservative or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open kitchen, kitchen island not mandatory
Number of dining seats: 6-8
Fireplace: no
Music / stereo wall:
Balcony, roof terrace: balcony above the garage extension
Garage, carport: garage integrated in basement
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Other wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons why some things should or should not be included

House Design
Who designed the plan: a friend who is an interior designer
- Planner from a construction company: no
- Architect: no
- Do-it-Yourself: no
What do you particularly like? Why?: the open living-dining area facing south and the window seating in the dining area as well as the office with natural daylight

What do you dislike? Why?: we had the staircase changed because it did not fit (too small) ... I marked the new design with green lines as it is not yet available
Cost estimate according to architect/planner: according to planning firm: approx. €386,000 (without land (€78,000), landscaping, and kitchen – I could share the cost breakdown if allowed?)
Personal price limit for house including fittings: excluding additional costs and land: €400,000
Preferred heating system: geothermal (required by the municipality), photovoltaic system is desirable

If You Have to Give Up Something, which details/extras
- you can do without: balcony above the garage, garage in basement
- you cannot do without: office

Why does the design look like it does? For example:
We want to build as space-efficiently as possible and have tried to minimize hallway space. Due to the south-facing sloping site with a 3.20 m (10.5 ft) drop, we decided on a basement with integrated garage and office, as my wife is self-employed and works from home.

What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?

How would you handle the slope? Garage in the basement or a carport next to the house? And what do you think of the layout?

Unfortunately, I was unable to upload the existing pdf files! So these lower quality screenshots for now!! I would appreciate if someone could tell me how to insert pdf files!

A few more measurements would be helpful.

Remove the garage and make use of the basement. Are you seriously planning a bedroom where one of you always has to climb? That alone would be a reason to reconsider the design.

The kitchen belongs next to the terrace. It’s more practical. There’s also a good reason why dining areas are planned close to the kitchen inside.

haydee schrieb:

A few more measurements would be helpful.

Remove the garage and use the basement. Are you seriously planning a bedroom where one of you always has to climb over the other? That alone would be a reason to redesign.

The kitchen should open to the terrace. It’s more practical. There’s a reason dining areas are usually planned close to the kitchen.

The bedroom is a disaster. Absolutely unacceptable! My 8-year-old would love it as a nightmare bedroom.
€386,000 (approx. $410,000)? What does that include? Please share the detailed cost breakdown.

To be honest, I’m not really sure about the green lines. Did you plan doors on both sides for the bathroom at the top? I would avoid that and instead install a small washbasin. Otherwise, I think the separate bathroom here is well designed.

I also don’t like the bedroom layout. Additionally, I would skip the walk-in closet. The less space you have, the more complicated these small extra rooms become. You might also consider removing the storage room upstairs, especially if you already have a basement.

Ah, I would take another look at the windows; I think there might be too few.

And one more thing... at this point, I would definitely part ways with the interior designer. None of the interior walls are load-bearing. Because of that, the kitchen layout with the sink and drainage won’t work. Everything will become even smaller and tighter if you try to adjust it. Many things aren’t feasible. The sink is too small, installation levels haven’t been considered. There is no chimney and no space for the ductwork of a controlled ventilation system, if desired. If you try to fix these issues, the rooms and door clearances will no longer function properly. This problem repeats itself: you fix one thing, and another stops working.