Another hipped roof city villa (240 sqm)

Thanks for the rough calculation. We have included a bit of buffer in the 750k (at least I have; my wife draws the line there) because building always ends up being more expensive than planned. But the million is definitely too much!

Gladly, the steps you are currently taking are done by almost everyone because the cost lever is so abstract that you can't imagine what impact a decision has in euros. Driveway around the outside +20k, additional bathroom in the basement 10k, lift station +5k, etc.

I repeat my recommendation: go to the architect. I also recommend not naming the entire budget and see what comes out. Then you can still have your wish list.

Somehow I would rotate the house by 90 degrees and shift it a bit more to the south.

The steep entrance from the street provides natural privacy and you have a nice shady garden spot in summer.
The driveway becomes cheaper.
Just a south-facing garden is not very enjoyable either.

As far as the budget is concerned, you should have already calculated everything with the architect that does not directly belong to the house. Just so that everyone is really talking about the same thing.

I have had the experience that when someone says "amount x for everything except the land," one person also means kitchen, furniture, fees, development costs, garden, etc. — basically everything that makes a finished house. And the other person only considers the pure construction costs for the house, without garden or furniture. Such a thing can easily make a difference of 100,000 or more. :-(

Somehow I would rotate the house by 90 degrees and shift it a bit more to the south.

The steep slope from the street provides natural privacy and you have a nice shady garden spot in the summer.
The driveway will be cheaper.
Having only a south-facing garden isn't very enjoyable.

Very interesting idea! This way I can immediately imagine completely new layouts! What somehow doesn't work with the old orientation...

since the plot to the north belongs to the parents and a border development is therefore possible. The garage could also be on the parents' property, since we will still inherit a part of the parents' property testamentarily (so in total half of both plots. But only the lower plot will be gifted now for development).

It's not that simple. The land register plays a role, and each plot has its own. Whatever... The design is not suitable for Tetris, unfortunately it is already fixed. The house was basically cobbled together around an aquarium, without knowing that every sqm costs a lot of money.

Very interesting idea! This way I can immediately imagine completely new arrangements! What somehow doesn't work with the old orientation...

And I thought you were going to stone me