Dissatisfied with the architect's plan

To me, it comes across as if the OP likes the appearance of a townhouse, but doesn’t really like the interior or the "normal" layout. Because to me, the layout gives a relatively simple impression. However, I am not very familiar with the subject. So it’s possible that I am completely wrong. However, the approximately 7.10 townhouses I looked at back then were laid out exactly like that. I’m just wondering why you would even need an architect when building a townhouse?! (Provided they charge according to the list). In my opinion, the layout looks relatively standard, except for the staircase, so quite good.

Thank you very much for your answers!

By intricate rooms, I mean precisely the many recesses. There isn’t just a simple rectangular room. In the kitchen/dining room, it is taken to the extreme.

I think the architect started the entire plan with the hallway (since he says exactly this shape is necessary for the statics) and then placed the rooms around it even though it doesn’t really fit...

I am currently stumbling over the question of whether you need an architect for this. What would be the alternative if you don’t want a [Fertighaus]?

One more question: what do you think about the split level solution for the slope? So from the front door, 5 steps up to the ground floor level.

So, I probably won’t be much help to you now, but I don’t like the floor plan either. These projections and recesses in all the rooms would bother me a lot too. You can do that ONCE if everything else fits and there is no other way. But with you, it runs through the whole floor plan. I wouldn’t like that either. I like simple, rectangular rooms.

The projections certainly don’t have to be there. Structural engineering or not, you don’t have a complicated floor plan with huge open spaces. For us, it was not a structural problem at all and we don’t have these projections (except one in a children’s room, like you do in the bathroom by the door, which wasn’t due to structural reasons!), but our house is just smaller.

Unfortunately, I don’t have any suggestions for improvement because I’m not really familiar with such things. But I have one tip: if you’re unhappy with your architect, not making progress and he’s not doing what you want, then consider pulling the emergency brake and look for another architect. We had the same experience. We didn’t get anywhere with our first architect because all our wishes and suggestions for improvements were dismissed with “not possible.” We fought for a long time, tried it, but it didn’t help. We didn’t make progress for months. We then ended the work with him, which was not nice and we also wasted some money. But better that than living in a house you don’t like for a lifetime. Our new architect was all the better for it. The first draft was practically a direct hit, with only minor changes (windows). The rest fit.

Have you told your architect that you don’t like it this way? Doesn’t he have any tips for how it could be improved?

One more question: what do you think about the split level solution for the slope? So from the front door 5 steps up to the ground floor level.

Well, that was exactly my first thought when I saw the stairs.

I have actually already considered pulling the emergency brake and looking for a new architect. However, we are of course reluctant to bear the double costs that we would then have to pay. Our compromise now is that we simply come up with a solution ourselves. It also seems not uncommon that one gives the architect a fully developed design. I had actually understood his task to be that he helps us with that but ok....

It is at least nice that everyone here agrees that this fixed hallway shape is not absolutely necessary. So in principle, I can just mentally throw everything over...