Building with an architect - your experiences?

Thank you also for your reply. We are already living together as a family and of course know what bothers us about the current living situation (if everything were great, we wouldn’t want to build and move) and what we like/need. The described sliding door we had in our old apartment and it was worth its weight in gold, even though it was 100 years old and only somewhat soundproof, not completely. The dining area could be generously opened to the living area but also closed off when more quiet was needed. It was simply great! Now what bothers us is the tiny entrance area without storage, the missing office and children’s room, that the kitchen is completely separated from the dining area, that there is no small shower bathroom in addition to the full bathroom, and a small utility room on the ground floor. What we clearly do not need, we also know: for example a walk-in closet in the master bedroom, a large master bedroom (12 sqm is enough), a huge main bathroom (10 sqm is completely sufficient), floor-to-ceiling windows on the first floor (we once had those, found them unnecessary), staircase to the first floor from the living area (far too busy). Children’s rooms sufficiently large (all at least 14 sqm, preferably larger) and on the same level as the master bedroom would also be important, as well as the basement with interior and exterior access (we use the workshop as a hobby room almost daily). Daylight in the upstairs hallway would be great.

Because we are “only” doing an extension and it is a semi-detached house, the buildability is already limited, i.e. certain things are fixed (for example, no windows on one side of the house, entrance only making sense in one place, terrace at the back, and the living area must be planned in front of that because the living area should border the terrace).

We have already made considerations and drawings for the floor plan, which we are very happy with. I wouldn’t want to change anything stylistically now. If something has to be changed because the structural engineering doesn’t allow it or there are other construction-related problems, then of course it can’t be helped and the plan must be changed, that is clear. But just because the architect personally finds a different solution prettier or more practical, I don’t want to change a design for my house that I really like.

In that respect, we might really be difficult clients because we don’t need the architect to create x designs for us or to indulge creatively/planning-wise in that regard.

But just because the architect personally finds another solution nicer or more practical, I do not want to change a design for my house that I think is great. In this respect, we may really be difficult clients because we do not need the architect to prepare x designs for us or to indulge themselves in planning/designing in that regard.

That will be great with your architect GD

We already live together as a family and of course know what bothers us about the current living situation … … …

So again: for your question, all of this is irrelevant to us. You don’t need to explain to us how a house or sliding door works, you can explain that to the architect.

But just because the architect personally finds a different solution more beautiful or practical, I don’t want to change a design for my house that I think is great.

It’s getting boring to read how great (stubborn?) you are.

Well, if you obviously do not need the architect for the design phase, then take your floor plan or your preliminary considerations to various GCs and have them provide you with offers.

The described sliding door was in our old apartment and it was worth its weight in gold, although 100 years old and only somewhat soundproof, not completely. The dining area could be generously opened to the living area but also slid closed when more quiet was needed.

Remember that you don’t just rebuild the old apartment at a different scale. With 190 sqm you can plan differently than in an apartment with 100 sqm. If you now have large children’s rooms and an office, then no one has to do their home office (which, by the way, is also very bad for the back) or homework in the living room. Besides the fact that for data protection reasons a separate office with a lockable door is usually required. If the living/dining/cooking area only serves for that purpose, it can be more open. Unless you don’t like watching the wife cook.

Well, if you obviously don’t need the architect for the design phase, then take your floor plan or your preliminary considerations to various GCs and have them submit offers.

Good goddess, anything but that! – you don’t go to a GC at all, but only allow them to participate in the tender. This applies especially in cases where an existing building – here even an old building – has to be incorporated. Without detailed planning and tendering, you constantly have to open new big packages of money envelopes.

Unless one doesn’t like watching the lady cook

According to the new fines catalog, that’s already 55 euros for the chauvinist fund.