Floor plan design for a two-family house on a slope

Hello everyone,

I would be happy if you could share your opinion on the floor plans.

Development plan / restrictions:
· Size of the plot: 1,200 m² (18m wide)
· Slope: south-facing slope, street to the north
· Site coverage index: 0.3
· Floor area ratio: 0.6
· Building window, building line and boundary: see "enlargement of building window" 12*14m
· Edge development: garages
· Number of parking spaces: 3 required according to building authority
· Construction method: open construction
· Building setback: 3m
· Roof style: ridge roofs 15-30°, hipped roofs are to be avoided, etc. see statute
· Orientation: ridge direction: buildings parallel to each other
· Exterior design: see 6. of the statute

Requirements of the builders

Preliminary: The builders (1982m, 1988f and two children 2014f, 2016m) are to live on two floors (basement and ground floor). A third children's room should also be planned. The third floor (attic) should be accessible without barriers.

· Style: Bauhaus (optional exposed concrete)
· Roof form: with a large south side (solar, photovoltaic)
· Building type: two-family house
· Basement, floors: basement, ground floor, attic
· Number of persons, age see above: (2+3 in basement, ground floor, 2+1 in attic)

o Space requirements attic: 2 bedrooms, 1 basic floor plan. bathroom, living/dining/kitchen area, utility room
o Space requirements ground floor: 1 master bedroom, dressing room, master bathroom, large living/dining/kitchen area, wardrobe, storage room
o Space requirements basement: 3 children's rooms, children's bathroom, optional play corridor, utility room, cellar, laundry room

· open or closed architecture: open
· conservative or modern construction: modern
· Kitchen: open kitchen, cooking island (at least on the ground floor)
· Balcony, roof terrace: definitely sensible on all three floors considering the view
· Parking spaces: if possible carports that can later be converted into garages (temporary cost savings)
· Heating / heating technology: air-to-water heat pump (underfloor heating), optional photovoltaic
· Windows: large window areas facing south, optionally wide, flat windows above the kitchen countertop on the ground floor
· Energy efficiency: KFW 55
· High soundproofing (especially to the attic ceiling, separate residential unit)

Interesting plot!

Who will live on the upper floor?

If I look at the basement, the exterior doors probably won't work - because the top is north, right?

I would also swap the ground floor and basement functions so that you can access the garden from the kitchen/living area. The roof terrace is ideal for the children.

I would omit the bay window; it doesn't fit the desired house.

Do you have an architect who will plan for you?

Regards, Yvonne

Hello Yvonne,

thank you very much for your suggestions and very good tips!

The parents-in-law will move into the attic.

Exactly above is north (at least almost). The doors in the basement will indeed be tight. There will probably be a retaining wall. Almost as an extension of the north wall of the basement towards the west. We still need to plan this in more detail .

We also discussed switching basement/ground floor several times at the beginning. When making a pro-con list, the result was very close . Ultimately, a lot of gut feeling and individuality play a role, and we both agreed on this arrangement.

The bay window is also a matter of its own, and you hit a sore spot . In my opinion, a gain for the floor, a loss for the overall house package. For me, it also does not fit the "angular" stepped design of the house, which is kind of the highlight for me. However, the bay window is a very big wish of my wife. The cost calculation is currently running with the bay window, maybe we will change our minds before the building application.

An architect is / will be involved. The hillside location alone scares off "prefabricated house manufacturers" including architects.

What ceiling height would you recommend?

Thanks and best regards

Regarding the floor plan:
Should there be a wall between the staircase and dining area on the ground floor?
How do you plan to furnish the bedroom? This and also the dressing room seem very tight with the available space.
The dressing room leaves hardly 80 cm as a walkway between the wardrobes.
In the basement: the bathroom is unfortunately located poorly. Bathrooms should be planned one above the other.
If desired, I would not place the bay window in the middle. The kitchen could use a bit more width, even if high cabinets for oven and refrigerator are planned on the side.
I would not plan the ceiling below 2.70/2.60 m. Maybe the ceiling can then be dropped again in the remaining rooms like bathroom and bedroom for lighting and cozier atmosphere?!

Best regards in brief

On the ground floor, a wall is indeed to be built between the staircase and the dining area. The same applies between the staircase and the hallway. In both cases, however, only 1.0 m high. I tried to visualize it.
The dressing room is only a "pass-through," meaning you get up, go into the dressing room, take out clothes, bring them into the bathroom, shower, get dressed, done.
We tried to plan the bathrooms stacked on top of each other. Only the attic and basement are stacked. In the basement, the bathroom in the east is suitable since access Mudroom/basement attic is from the west. On the ground floor, I wanted the bedroom in the east for romantic waking up by the first rays of sunshine in the morning. But also the separation from the entrance area was important to us. Furthermore, the separation from the bedrooms in the attic, which are both located in the west.
I have planned two tall cabinets.
We initially had 2.75 m clear height. We will probably go with 2.65 m to save a bit of money.

In the ground floor, there is indeed supposed to be a wall between the stairs and the dining area. The same applies between the stairs and the hallway. However, in both cases only 1.0 m high.

I would not call that a wall, but rather a balustrade.
I think you will then have a problem with the statics – somehow the ceiling has to be supported (especially if you are already talking about costs).
I would also not find it very appealing if you look from the dining area to the cloakroom – that can become very uncomfortable. Also, from the kitchen or dining area, meaning the guest area, you have a full view into the bedroom if the door is open there.

The dressing room is only meant as a "pass-through," so you get up, go into the dressing room, take clothes out and bring them into the bathroom, shower, get dressed, done.

Try it out, also your wife, how your distance to the wardrobe is when you choose clothes. Especially your wife might be interested that you do not have such a good overview from close up. For men: comparable to a flat screen TV in gigantic (wardrobe) size, and you sit directly DIRECTLY in front of it... you see nothing. 120 cm distance between the wardrobes would probably be okay.

On the ground floor, I wanted the bedroom in the east, thus a romantic awakening through the first sun rays in the morning.

At 4:30 in the morning? I can imagine better things than being woken up by the sun. I would prefer roller shutters.
I personally do not like the bed position. Door at the head end has unsettling effects on the mind, bed between door and window is a no-go according to Feng Shui.

I would go to an architect without a plan who is experienced with sloping plots. Usually, more creative results come out, which do not necessarily have to be more expensive.