Floor plan design of a single-family house on a large plot

I also spent my puberty living in 9 sqm and it was enough. My husband's eldest moves the furniture around the bed so that he doesn't have to take one step too many. He practically lives on 5 sqm.

But I have to say, I find 20 sqm too large (personal taste). 16 sqm and a fairly square room I find perfect.

Just keep in mind that every sqm costs money. Does it have to be the 100 sqm living room? We have 80 sqm and that is really large without seeming uncomfortable.

The whole planning seems very unrealistic to me ;)

But before you continue on your own, a tip: building law, state building regulations, fire protection, structural engineering... read into these a bit from different angles before tackling something yourself that is a professional field requiring a degree.
Regarding living quality: size does not equal quality. This living hall is more like a loft – if it is carried through consistently, fine, but then everything should have good spatial proportions [emoji2]
Regarding the question about relatives: draw up a notarized contract and become the owner of the property, then later it won’t matter who the previous owner was in case of disputes.

Yes, habitable is true, but it does not necessarily have to be living space according to the law. Hobby and basement rooms should also get heating and windows in a reasonable amount.

What I mean is that the square meter in the basement then costs more than if you just built a storage cellar.

The staircase is more of a placeholder here for a double-bent staircase. The program doesn’t have anything else.

Then the placeholder was planned too small. You should count on about 3m x 2m here. Something you should also consider: an open staircase in the living room has its advantages, but the noise penetrates much more strongly upstairs. If the little ones have to sleep upstairs, the parents downstairs also have to adjust the volume accordingly.

As a child, I even lived in 9m². That didn’t harm me either. And a - let’s say - 12m² children’s room would also not be a deal-breaker for a house. But if you plan freely, then the child may well have decent space, after all it doesn’t only sleep in the room, but spends a large part of its life there - at the desk, playing, meeting friends, later with girlfriend...

I also had about 9-10 sqm back then. However, I did not meet up with buddies there, it was simply too small with bed, wardrobe, desk, and dresser. When friends were over, we mostly stayed in the living room or the garden. I was glad when I moved to the basement at 15, where I then had a small own apartment with living space and could really invite friends over.[/QUOTE]

Oh yes, forgot: Is it even allowed to build three stories there?

You are allowed to build two stories. The attic floor is not a full story.

Also keep in mind that every sqm costs money. Does it have to be the 100 sqm living room? We have 80 sqm and that is really large without feeling uncomfortable.

I would be interested in that. Could you possibly post a floor plan with drawn-in furniture and also photos of the reality? By the way, I am rather thinking of 60-70 sqm, so even smaller than your version.

What I mean is that the sqm in the basement then costs more than if you only built a storage cellar.

Ok, understood. Yes, that’s true of course. But the sqm is still cheaper than on the ground floor or upper floor. With more square meters, the price per square meter also decreases; some providers even explicitly recommend the second full story because it is comparatively cheaper.

Then the placeholder is planned too small. You should calculate about 3m x 2m here. What you should also consider: an open staircase in the living room has its benefits, but the noise travels much more strongly upstairs. If the little ones have to sleep upstairs, the parents must accordingly adjust the noise downstairs.

I have looked that up, will be considered in the next design.

Back then I also had about 9-10 sqm. However, I didn’t meet up with buddies there, it was simply too small with bed, wardrobe, desk and dresser. When friends were over, we mostly stayed in the living room or the garden. I was happy when I moved to the basement at 15, where I then had my own small apartment with living space and could really invite friends over.

That’s what I mean. A reasonable children’s room size is definitely worth something.

It is allowed to build two stories. The attic is not a full storey.

I wouldn’t be so sure about that. North Rhine-Westphalia State Building Code:

(5) Full storeys are storeys whose ceiling upper edge on average extends more than 1.60 m above the ground surface and have a height of at least 2.30 m. A top storey (setback storey) recessed compared to the external walls of the building is only a full storey if it has this height over more than two thirds of the floor area of the storey below. A storey with pitched roof surfaces is a full storey if it has this height over more than three quarters of its floor area. The height of the storeys is measured from the upper edge of the floor to the upper edge of the floor of the storey above, in storeys with roof surfaces up to the upper edge of the roof covering.

You will probably just miss the "two-thirds rule" with the shown design, but that could be corrected - it is after all just a sketch.
I find the setback from the external walls more interesting, which is only given in one direction. To my knowledge, exceptions to this are staircases, which do not have to be recessed. Maybe someone else knows more about this. (Also a job for the architect ;))

By the way, I’m rather assuming 60-70 m², so even smaller than your version.

However, rooms cannot simply be downsized individually. You have four floors in the plan; if you do something on one, you do something on all (unless you want to create an abstract artwork :))

My comment about the elevator was meant seriously. Four floors are no fun in everyday life.

But the square meter will still be cheaper than on the ground floor or first floor.

If it were purely a utility basement, yes. You are talking about a raised basement and heated rooms. These are as expensive as above-ground living space plus a surcharge for the deep construction.

That’s what I mean. A reasonable children's room size is definitely worth something.

Let this insight be bestowed upon Children’s Room 1 ;)


What continues to confuse me is that this sketch shows over 400 sqm of space, but the expected spaciousness will only be noticeable in the living room. All other living areas, except for Children’s Room 2 – which is nice – are either "normal" sized or awkwardly shaped (e.g., guest room, parents' bathroom). Rooms like the office (are you self-employed and/or working from home?!) are downright ridiculously small, as are all the bathrooms. Spaciousness can only be found in secondary rooms in the basement or upstairs in the studio (specific purpose? Consider the stairs!).
Something is fundamentally wrong with the layout.