Architectural design - planning crisis!

So, it is a two-family house with a half basement. But since that is a bit small (for 2 households), you have to attractively expand upwards or backwards. Both would generally be possible, §34.

Well, the planned extension to your house looks like I would slap a Guggenheim Museum addition onto the 80s concrete employment office (those who don't know what that looks like should google both).

I expect such an extension with all that glass and the overhang at spectacular building sites – directly on a cliff over the sea or similar. Visually a 5- (financially definitely demanding too).

lively exterior facade

Phew, I think it looks more dead than alive. I agree with you about the town villas: they are dead too - a sin of our society, at least those built without love. Yesterday I read a poster: Architecture connects people and nature. That’s how it should be!

Basically, I find the draft quite cool, but maybe it should be approached a bit more conservatively. Which does not mean that it is run-of-the-mill.

The "shadow place" is under the house, I would also have the feeling of being in a garage there. Maybe it should be on ground floor level to minimize the feeling of sitting in front of a huge wall.

If you want to completely renovate the original house (170m²) + the extension as designed by the architect, your budget IMHO will not be enough.

If I were you, I would contact the architect and explain the situation, that you are very impressed with his work but that it is not the right thing for you. He should professionally deal with your decision and understand your objection. Take a short break and then start again.

What did you give the architect for the planning? Or how did you imagine the result? Are there any references?

I don’t like the extension at all. The building looks like a lift station. Regardless, I would set the extension higher or lower. What is the air space for? Too low for sitting. It will probably be an ugly corner in the garden.

I like the cultivation, but somehow my voice of reason speaks against it.

The other residential unit does not require that much space, it is intended for our youngest child who has just completed her studies. We were thinking of 3.5 rooms there.

What happens if the youngest child starts her own family? Here, 3.5 rooms could quickly become too small. And for just two people, the house is already very large.

Something completely different:
How about a complete core renovation for, let's say, €250,000 or more, and everything beyond that is given to the youngest child as start-up capital for a nice condominium?

What happens when the youngest child starts their own family?

What happens if the youngest child still leaves the nest?