Finally building and still have a few questions

That doesn't sound crazy to me at all. I also don't open the door for anyone, unless of course I know who it is. I'd rather be cautious than get robbed later.

Best regards
Sabine

, One might think you live in the New York Bronx.

I like to advise distant and aloof people to stay away from residential areas and to look for a natural plot of land within an [Aussenbereich], where a) the plots are designated as larger, b) the floor area ratio regulates a lot of open space, and c) natural growth reduces foreign views.
There are people who do not fit into the small private infrastructure of a residential area – one should be aware of this when looking for a building plot.

Best regards in brief

The matter with the garden house is settled for now, thanks. According to the architect (she has contacted the building authority), it will probably not be a problem, but we will include it in the building application. Although our neighborhood law does not specify exact dimensions, it states the volume the house may have. In our case, I quote:

„according to § 50 exempt projects (appendix)
1. Buildings and building parts
a) Buildings without habitable rooms, toilets, or fireplaces, if the buildings are neither for sales nor exhibition purposes, up to 40 m³ gross volume in inner areas, up to 20 m³ in outer areas,
…
f) Garden houses in garden house areas,
g) Garden arbors in allotment gardens within the meaning of § 1 para. 1 of the Federal Allotment Garden Act…“

And regarding the setback areas of the garden house:

(1) In the setback areas of structural facilities as well as without their own setback areas, the following are permitted:
2. Garages, greenhouses, and buildings without habitable rooms with a wall height of up to 3 m and a wall area of up to 25 m²,

The same applies to the fences. According to the architect, we do not even need to include them in the building application. Regarding visual obstructions, etc., sight fields are marked in our development plan, but these do not concern us.

Regarding turning the roof: we are not even allowed to turn it a tiny bit. The city says no.

However, we have received an exemption for the knee wall and the dormer.



HAHA, I am less concerned about being attacked. It's just that if there isn’t a camera installed, I don’t know if someone is standing in front of the door with whom I want to talk. So I’d rather not open. The important people will always announce themselves in advance.

Yes, absolutely. As I said, we would have really given everything for a free natural plot of land. But unfortunately, that simply doesn't exist here. In general, there is almost nothing available here. The fact that we found anything at all is like winning the lottery. Recently, a new development with 80 plots was opened in the larger area. As of today, there are about 350-400 applicants for it. And that's with a price per square meter of nearly 400 euros. Couples without children weren't considered at all. Our chances with municipal plots were zero, and private plots simply aren't sold. One or two were offered per year, with various restrictions. We are super happy after such a long search to finally be able to build and now have to make the best of what we have been given.

: I accept your attitude, but I cannot fully comprehend it.

Keeping the garden out of view may be one thing – but deliberately wanting nothing to do with the neighbors and isolating oneself is another.

You engage in lively discussions here in the forum and seek advice online from "strangers," yet you want nothing to do with your neighbors. I can understand if you don’t open the door without an appointment, because they can basically only be "strangers" if you don’t know your own neighborhood. Such long-term isolation cannot be good for inner well-being.

The following thought is not directed at you, but at the general situation: It reminds me, in a broader sense, of people who want the immediate repatriation of all refugees, yet have never spoken to or dealt with refugees. What one does not know, one fears, and that goes hand in hand with rejection.

However, you may have reasons why you choose this. For example, bad experiences from the past, breaches of trust, or similar. Nevertheless, in my opinion, you miss out on quality of life because of this.

We are super happy to finally be able to build after such a long search and now have to make the best of what has been given to us

The consequence is: adaptation to what is given

The journey is the goal - this can also be the path to willingness to compromise.

However, this path can be very rocky for some and lead somewhere completely different ops: