DIY floor plan design for 2 people

After our discussion somewhat turned towards Architect Yes/No/Maybe, which was not our intention at all, we spontaneously decided today, with the nice weather, to get out our motorcycle gear and take a look at the new development areas nearby. Honestly, we don’t see much innovation there – it’s either catalog houses or standard gable roofs. Here and there you can also see a so-called city villa. Unfortunately, we hardly found any truly custom-designed houses with that certain something extra. There are special forms as well, but we believe that we don’t have to hide with our design.

As an example, there was a thread here the other day where I really have to doubt – does it really come from an architect?

https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/Grundriss-efh-Hanggrundstück-mit-Terrasse-dachterrasse.44274/unread

We have now decided to work on two tracks. As recommended here several times, we will create a list of our requirements/wishes and contact an architect with it. Without house plans from us, only the plot. At the same time, we will continue working on our design, gladly including all the suggestions received here and trying to implement them. So far we have noted: roof shape, angled entrance area, better integration of the outdoor area into the overall concept, design of the basement so that it doesn’t become a full storey – even though two full storeys would be allowable.

We would be happy to receive constructive feedback from you on the actual floor plans (without roof shape), do you see any problems with drainage, do the room sizes fit, are the basement rooms and the guest apartment functional, etc. If anyone wants to contribute here, thank you in advance.

Actually, it is the case that we like to take a sauna session at home from time to time and then chill out on the terrace or on the couch :) The separate area from the private rooms is because we are a group of friends who like to go to the sauna together, and we would like to offer that at home as well, but the private area should remain private...

until planned start of construction 2024

I find that very optimistic.

I also have a plot of land (grassland) directly adjacent to residential buildings. Even supply lines already reach almost up to the plot, and there is also a finished road. Two years ago, I was at the municipality with my neighbor (who might also want to build). At the end of last year, there was a surprising approval from the district, but since then the wheels have been turning very slowly again. I do not expect an excavator to start rolling on my site before 2025.

Honestly, we don’t see much innovation there – it’s either catalog houses or standard gable roofs. Here and there you can also see so-called city villas.
We have hardly found any truly custom-designed houses with that certain something.

Of course, they are there. They are also affordable. ;)
In new development areas, the vast majority of builders are young couples and families, for whom budget plays a very big role.
Their primary goal is to own property first, which has become quite difficult in recent years. The proven catalog floor plan is not without reason reliable, and is therefore used to build cost-effectively.

We have now decided for ourselves that we want to continue working on two tracks.

You are welcome to try that. Normally, however, you realize already after the first meeting with the (right) architect that it’s better to quickly hide your design and secretly throw it in the trash. The real challenge, in my opinion, is finding the right architect. For this, I would plan much more time and effort than on your own ideas. Look through the websites with the references or visit the completed projects. After a while, you develop an eye for the one who is most likely on your wavelength. With great luck, he will also have time and desire to work for you. :)

So really freely planned houses with that certain something, unfortunately we found hardly any.

Because it costs a lot of money! A standard house for 4 people without sauna and guest wing already costs close to your budget limit. And "special," the future builder usually imagines that himself during planning when he plans in a complicated way. I remember a labyrinth planned by the OP, where the OP was offended after criticism and said hurtfully that he just wasn’t as boring as we were. The same applies to an OP who planned a freezer/laundry room of 3! sqm and said we just don't grant her the big open space and she is simply different. Special! ;) Special doesn’t necessarily mean great. Most of the time it is a misguided thought… if you know what I mean (crooked twin roofs)… By the way, most people rather invested the remaining money in fancy tiles or other higher quality equipment than in special roof shapes or other external highlights.

We are lucky to be able to afford building the house without any problems,

So if you talk to an architect, you should pay attention to your choice of words. Because every architect will then plan a 1 million euro house for you with your wishes like guest apartment, lots of photovoltaics and wellness area, which you don’t necessarily have to see from the outside. Your advantage is the plot. However, that doesn’t make you a tycoon either, as you yourself realize. If you subtract 200,000€ flat rate for ancillary building costs, outdoor facilities and kitchen from 800,000€, you have 600,000€ left for the house. With some mentioned nice-to-haves, that results in a normal house on a slope.

We are assuming construction costs of about 700-800 k€, but this should not be the topic here, financing is secured

You see: construction costs are always a topic. Dream houses are rarely discussed, why would they be?!

I can understand that many things cause irritation or rejection, it is simply not run-of-the-mill but "special".

..

Garden access from all rooms etc. is also not affordable for us, our budget is limited too.

By the way, the additional costs are hardly significant.

The separate area from the private rooms comes from the fact that we are a group of friends who like to go to the sauna together, we also want to offer that at home, but the private area should remain private...

You can’t plan single rooms for every special hobby or interest or occasion. The intelligent floor plan has multifunctional rooms and also works for many needs. An office, home office during the day, serves as a gym in the late afternoon, a relaxation room in the evening and a guest room at night. Ok, because of the slope and large plot you have more possibilities. But I don’t know any sauna group (in the 80s that was really popular) that would have taken offense at family bath use. Conversely, one probably wouldn’t mind if someone you sweat naked with uses the family shower. I would, if your toilet is occupied, take the route via the fridge and snacks to your private bathroom and then sit down on the sofa to relax… sorry :) … so please review your thoughts and the real processes ;) P.S. Does anyone still really do that these days? Meet privately for sauna?

A small tip on the side: We got our universal floor plan through a construction company. They offered to redesign their catalog houses to our wishes for free, or alternatively a "custom design," where we had to contribute €1500 IF we did not build with the company. In the end, we paid that as well – we had two preferred companies, but in the end, it was the other one. However, that was still a very good price for an individual design. Maybe there are construction companies in your area you have already been in contact with that also design beyond the catalog pages? We are very satisfied with the deal; with a freelance architect, we certainly would have spent more money.

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Feedback on your own floor plans, which you requested:

Ground floor:
- Bathroom with 10 m² is rather small in relation to the size of the house
- Passage to the shower / next to the bathtub: how many cm is that? Looks tight
- What is the small staircase doing in the bedroom?
- What are these two "wall stubs" next to the window in the dining room?

Basement:
- Space for TV at the seating area in the common room?
- Should the basement also serve for storage (kitchen supplies)? It is very far from your kitchen

General: Winding, offers a lot of space to get lost, but that has been said several times already.