Barn house design on south slope

Good morning,

we intend to build on the south slope. The plot offers an unrestricted distant view. Here is a design with the architect, which is however too large/too expensive (600 k€) and therefore needs to be reduced. I would generally like to hear from you what you think about it. Note: In the upstairs bedroom there is space to also place a toddler bed/baby cot, which will probably be necessary at first.

Size of the plot: 850 sqm on a slope
Number of floors: basement, ground floor, attic
Roof type: gable roof
Style: modern, simply "Barn House"
Orientation: south (the plans are oriented north)

Number of people, age: 2 x 30 years, two children in toddler age
Space requirements on ground floor, upper floor
Office: home office
Overnight guests per year: on average 1 night per month
Open or closed architecture: very open and modern desired
Number of dining seats: 8 with cooking island, as we like to cook and sit with friends
Fireplace, small loggia upstairs at the bedroom and carport desired

Who designed it: architectural firm
What do you particularly like? Cozy seating area and the openness through the high ceiling on the ground floor, the solution in the bedroom to have a phenomenal view and to separate dressing room/bedroom, the seating window in the living room
What do you not like? We are not so sure about the exterior view, somehow we are still undecided here. It should be plastered, but possibly completely gray or partly worked with wooden cladding.
Price estimate according to architect/planner: 600 k€ with everything (except the plot, which is ours)
Personal price limit for the house, including equipment: 500 k€
Preferred heating technology: geothermal heat pump or simply gas

The house is still to be reduced in size by removing the corridor upstairs in the living room and thus the house will be about 1.5 m narrower. In the basement, the vestibule will be cut off and the terrace will then no longer be on the basement but directly on the ground.

My question to you:
Do you have any further ideas for savings regarding the floor plan?
Ideas in general about the type of floor plan, what would you change?
The picture shows the distant view at the neighbor’s.

Is this also possible as a JPEG?

Sure, from bottom to top

Simply opening a pressure relief valve and reducing construction costs until they fit within the budget is not something I see.

Omitting the windbreak: where do you enter then – through the study or where the toilet is drawn?; omitting the hallway: which one (?)

Children in toddler age miles away from the parents' bedroom, when they are older they might also enjoy sharing the loggia, the bathroom on the level where neither the parents nor the children sleep, HAR / utility room in my opinion located exactly "the wrong way around": in my eyes, this is a stylish livable distant view, but not a (also) practical house (except that the long distances keep you fit).

With the mentioned changes, the floor plans are more of an aid to understanding the elevation drawing, but less suitable for imagining the room arrangement.

We are not so sure about the exterior view, somehow we are still undecided here.

That is bad: with such a constructivist design, this is a central point, and therefore unsuitable to be decided secondarily. Does the three-meter thirty-five rhythm have any reference?

Furthermore: the difference between plastered and gray wood cladding is probably more significant than omitting the windbreak (and a hallway upstairs) or not.

Hello everyone,

here is an update of the house plans. In the attic, there is now only a gallery for playing/lounging for the children and us with a view. The room program has been reduced, we end up at 920m3 including the double carport, but also due to the high open ceilings.

Ideas, suggestions, comments are welcome!!

Aha. It still wouldn't be mine, but it now looks significantly better designed.