Difficult Plot and Monument - §34

In the end, we were at 42k including disposal of everything. One point for cost savings was that we had time.

Thanks for the tips! Demolition really takes a lot of time. We are actually just waiting for the statement from the building authority about what is allowed on the property. Not that we are dependent on existing rights, but the building is already gone...

We also have a slope. Everyone agreed not to touch the slope.

What is legally permissible is up to your architect. I don't think his proposal is bad.

Yes, that seems to be the unanimous opinion here. At the moment, I find it too dark behind the building. The slope goes steeply up right behind the house. I was hoping to move some material so that there is initially a level surface, which also lets in more light... Then maybe a bridge to the garden?

That will come up eventually anyway

It would only be a hobby property for me, if there is money left over. You don’t want to live in it anyway, if I understood that correctly. Depending on demand, others probably feel the same. So how do you use it to justify a loan? Of course, it’s something different if the money is just lying around and you enjoy it. That’s why the question about the budget and how it is composed is fundamental.

I was hoping to move some material so that there would first be a flat ground-level area, which also lets in more light...

A slope remains a slope. The more earth you move back and forth, the more you have to retain. I also wouldn't know how that should make it brighter. But I also see light as one of the main problems. Am I correct in assuming that in the architect’s design there would be no windows on the south side (= boundary development)?

I can write off monument restoration at 90 percent.

Over what period and are there no caps? You first have to pay so much tax to be able to write off these amounts. Unfortunately, the construct is not entirely clear to me.

I find it too dark behind the building at the moment.

I agree, unfortunately, although the section with the contour lines is really a bit stingy. It would also be nice to know how far the entire property now extends including the garden. Therefore, the question remains: where to put the terrace? In the east, it is quite dark. That can be pleasant in the high summer. But generally not the most inviting corner (although that's a matter of taste). I could imagine the terrace in the west as a quaint courtyard with a front garden, etc. But in my opinion, that depends crucially on traffic. If many cars pass by there, it becomes annoying quickly. South and north are probably too close to the fence. If it were mine, I would probably place the terrace in the east (because I am very sensitive to traffic noise)—depending on height, on the upper floor or split level. To avoid it being too dark for me, I would probably design the dining area as a conservatory extension. My aunt built it that way and it’s very cool (but was also expensive). The interesting question will be the south side of the house. The idea that there would be no windows there would be out of the question for me. Therefore, the architect’s proposal would be discarded (if it were indeed like that). Unfortunately, the information is too vague for alternatives. I somehow can’t imagine that you would be allowed to build directly on the northern boundary. So it would rather be as in your proposal.

I would not build a bridge into the garden. Such a structure was proposed by the planner of a house supplier. Retaining wall, 1 m gap and then the house. The windows bring no light and the whole thing will be a dump. We go right up to the slope and the slope-side wall on the ground floor is a retaining wall.

If you build without direct connection to the monument, there are other possibilities and maybe windows facing south after all.

Great! Now the discussion is exactly where I wanted it to be. And now things are much clearer to me!

I also wouldn’t know how it should get brighter because of that.

Once there is a deep ditch behind the house and the slope rises steeply, it is darker than if you fill up the slope behind the house to the first floor, then have a flat surface there and the terrace a few meters away from the house.

But I also see light as one of the main problems. Am I right in assuming that in the architect’s design there would be no windows on the south side (=boundary development)?

Thank you for pointing that out so explicitly here. I overlooked this problem and the architect probably first considered the wish to connect the monument.

Over what period and are there no limits?

You can depreciate 9 percent of the renovation costs annually over 10 years. If I invest 200 thousand in the monument, that's 18 thousand depreciation per year, a huge advantage. After that, I can still depreciate 7 percent if I rent it out.

Where to put the terrace

The whole slope faces south. So, if the terrace is above the house, you have sun all day. You just have to walk a few meters. The terrace on the west side, i.e. towards the street, would only be the second choice. I would like to set up a second seating area there, but I find the privacy in the garden more pleasant.

I somehow still can’t imagine that you’re allowed to build directly on the northern boundary. So it would rather be like in your suggestion.

The architect and we are equally uncertain because there are only building pre-inquiries here for such information. That takes a terrible amount of time for such a simple question and to get ideas. In "my idea" from the first post, we would have mostly free boundaries, I could build windows to the south and further up the slope there is no house to the south anymore. Then a dining area with lots of windows to the southeast, maybe a conservatory as you say. In any case, it has to be the upper floor, preferably with ground-level access.

We are right up to the slope and the slope-side wall on the ground floor is a retaining wall.

That’s exactly how I would like to do it as well. Then I would also need soil that I take from the slope for the ground floor and fill the ground behind the retaining wall. Is that really so much more expensive that it explains the general skepticism here? You also have such earthworks with a simple basement.

If you build without a direct connection to the monument there are other possibilities and maybe windows to the south after all

By now it feels really good here to think things through together. Meanwhile I am also convinced that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. Maybe I will be allowed to build next to the northern neighbor. I don’t want a window there anyway and can then make the terrace to the southeast. Parking space for the car then in front of the house.

It would also be nice to know how far the entire property now extends, including the garden.

I am currently just on my phone and trying to get a rough impression of the property in the 3D view. I hope it is not too confusing.