Driveway slope / height difference

Yes, so first of all, the extra step is definitely the easiest solution.

I think I expressed myself poorly before. Alternatively, the garage could be set higher and a wall built in the red area to compensate for the height difference, with a slope from the green area down to the street. A slope can be a smooth transition and doesn't have to have right angles in 2D terms. But of course, this would sacrifice space in the red area and would probably be an expensive solution. So it's a pity that the general contractor didn't think it through, but the step at the house is definitely the lesser evil.

I completely understand what you mean – we also considered that, but we actually prefer the extra step to have a smaller height difference, which can definitely be realized more cost-effectively.

Yes... it annoys us too... no idea why the height was planned that way. Tonight we have an appointment at the construction site to discuss the whole dilemma – we will ask why such nonsense was planned at all :(

Ultimately, though, it's all still within the realm of possibility and not a big deal for us.

and just heap it all up with soil?

and just pile earth on top of it?

The driveway was completely filled with gravel, there is no earth in it.

Therefore, the rest around everything will also be filled with gravel to level it relatively evenly. The strip next to the garage, or the slope that is being retained, can definitely also be filled with earth, we still have a whole lot left in the garden :D

It would be 22cm from street level to garage height. However, the garage is currently not sitting at curb/street level but on the lower edge of the 2nd step.
If I set the garage at curb height, then I would need to plan for significantly more steps.

For whatever reason the garage is not at its planned height, I don’t see any steps there. From my point of view, the driveway (see my drawing) starting from the two pink points can run as an arbitrarily tilted/twisted plane toward the garage entrance.

For whatever reason the garage is not at its planned height, I don't see any steps there at all. From my point of view, the driveway (see my drawing) starting from the two pink points can run as an arbitrarily tilted/rotated plane towards the gate entrance.

Of course! But that was never the point... The point was the slope at the garage with nearly 40cm (which we at least thought :D)

Yesterday it became clear again that we had taken the reference point from the right corner of the house instead of the point from the left corner. But no one in our private circle noticed this, nor did the general contractor at first glance. We are relieved now!

We now have an 18cm slope at the garage corner as the highest point (which is definitely manageable accordingly) and the "driveway" then slopes accordingly at about 5% over approximately 7 meters.

Quite a mess – but now thankfully clarified and without any restrictions :)

Thanks also to you for the help / arguments / ideas!!

If there is still a need… Maybe one could place another step outside the entrance platform?