Basement height 1m vs. 60cm - Cost perspective

Yes, that would theoretically be possible, but I believe if we want to plan such fundamental changes again now, the architects will demand more money since we are already on the 4th draft. Besides, living spaces in the attic with windows are nicer than in the basement, right?

Yes, that would theoretically be possible, but I think if we want to plan such fundamental changes again now, the architects will demand more money since we are already at the 4th draft. Besides, living spaces in the attic with windows are nicer than in the basement, right?

Depends. If you have sloping roofs, in my opinion not. You can also have windows in the basement if you set it back by 1 m. And the basement is always better tempered than an attic.

but I think if we want to plan such fundamental changes again now, the architects will demand more money, since we are already at the 4th draft.

That doesn't sound good at all, more precisely: like sloppy preliminary design planning. As actually already the enlargement of the ground floor in the first place.

A basement that is half underground definitely provides nice rooms for a study, guest room, etc. I had my domain in such a basement for years.

Silke, yes, that makes sense, we have a dormer and skylights in the attic, so I think it's also nice, but I still agree with you, we had considered what you said for a while, but then decided on the living spaces in the attic.

That doesn't sound good at all, more precisely: like sloppy preliminary design planning.
As actually already the expansion of the ground floor.

What do you mean by the preliminary design planning?
To be fair: The expansion of the ground floor is more our fault or our wish.

I think it would be better for the discussion if I post our project more completely in a separate thread, right?

How do you mean with the preliminary design planning? For the sake of fairness: the inflation of the ground floor is more our fault or rather our wish. I think it would be better for the discussion if I post our project more completely in its own thread, right?

I'll start from the end: yes – preferably with the completed questionnaire that is pinned at the top of the floor plan section, and with cross-linking between this thread and that one in both directions. By preliminary design planning I mean the classic planning method with the creation of a preliminary design to visualize the concept, how the room program is translated into the building structure and distributed over the floors. This important step is often skipped nowadays, even though it is key, and any concept changes at a later stage cost much more time and money. The clients like to start in third gear (and not infrequently even bring their own plans), and lazy or young architects often don’t knock that out of them anymore. If clients then additionally pay extra to catch up on missed basics, all the better for the architect’s cash register. Such smurfs get filtered out by me in advance. The height positioning clearly belongs in the preliminary design phase (service phase 2)! and must definitely not be addressed only "as the last glass standing" before submitting the approval planning.