Design of the outdoor area, ongoing construction project

Hello dear participants,

first of all, we wish everyone a Happy New Year 2017!

In the past few days, we have been intensively engaged in planning the outdoor area of our ongoing house construction and still see significant possibilities for improvement. Attached are further information and our specific questions.

Many thanks in advance for your contributions!

Development plan/restrictions
Plot size: 527m2
Slope: Yes

Floor area ratio 0.35
Gross floor area ratio 0.7

Building window, building line and boundary:
Drawn in, each 3m to all neighbors and the street

Edge development: No
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 1.5
Roof type: Gable roof
Style: Modern
Orientation: North slope
Maximum heights/limits: TH: 4.5m, FH 10.5m

Plans:
Do it yourself mix from various solid house catalogs, now executed by a general contractor (GU), final planning drawings (also current outdoor area) were done by the GU

Current status:
Construction started, base slab for basement poured. Backfilling of basement and restoration of terrain from the end of January 2017

What is my problem: Open questions about the design of the outdoor area and restoration of the terrain & backfilling of the basement

Note:
The transverse parking space is forced by the building window.

a) Is the course of the house entrance stairs sensible, what could be changed? How should we deal with the height difference to the street (214.22m to 216.60m at the house with a distance of 6m between street and entrance platform)

b) Suggestions for the restoration of the slope in the southwestern part of the plot

c) General suggestions for the design of the terrain, e.g., terrace, dealing with the further height difference to the neighbor behind the terrace? What does a sensible drainage of the terrace look like; what are your experiences with cisterns?


Views from our execution drawings



View before construction started


Current view:

The slope in the southwest corner has been completely removed, how do we restore it?

Preferably as cost-effective as possible, of course. A later addition to improve the appearance should naturally be possible.

mhh, why don't you leave the southwest corner of the building free, with a ground-level door and a proper window? Towards the terrace, then a retaining wall (either DIY using planting stones to be backfilled or gabions or something like that, or just a concrete wall). That way you would have a ground-level parking space and ground-level house access – which is practical for maintenance work in the technical room as well as replacing boilers, washing machines, etc.; as well as a room with daylight that could be well used as a workshop, fitness room, or playroom.

At the upper edge of the property, I would terrace the terrain – and lay it out slightly rounded; stabilize the slope either as a natural slope with plants and mats or steeply also with planting stones / gabions etc., depending on taste.