Floor Plan Discussion - Single-Family House "Constraint Point Dilemma"

I am against the garage. It can't fit 2 cars, takes the nice south side, and creates steps upstairs. The children's rooms upstairs are too small - especially for teenagers. Not even friends can come to visit. Where should the school books go? The CD collection? The jewelry? Small children stumble over the steps - parents too. Children's rooms don't have to be big, but usable. The plan shows 12 sqm, but only 10 sqm are usable. Office smaller. Air space gone. Possibly wardrobe gone. Children's bathroom gone or use as a laundry room for clothes until there are children, then remodel later. The living area, especially the dining table, is very dark and always depends on light.

Tell me: is it allowed to build over the technical lines at your place? That would not be allowed here!!!

No, the plan is to drive in here at the front right in the garage (shortest way/costs) and then run along the ceiling towards the back.

Could it be that half of the questionnaire is missing and/or not filled out at all????

Correct, I have initially only filled out the parts where I saw relevance for the object, I will catch up and add the second post.

Is that a plan by an architect?

Sort of, I have to confess. I myself am a structural engineer and have put it on paper so far, but the planning has already involved two architect friends, a few evenings, and quite a few beers. Getting other opinions and eventually becoming "operationally blind" is not just a saying.

Regarding the whole tricky topic, here is an example about the lighting situation.
Opening to the west would be good, but unfortunately, the neighbor’s garage is there (not particularly nice to look at) and rooms like the office and kitchen etc. have windows with sills, and his finished floor level of the ground floor is about 1 meter higher. He and also people from the street (not heavily trafficked or many pedestrians, but still the main street of the village) would have a nice (elevated) view into the house (me in underwear at the dining table :cool. Therefore, orientation is south/driveway, the elongated windows that were possible due to the different level conditions still provide light into the stairwell and bathroom, and to the north with the living rooms.

Costs are of course also an issue, that was always a consideration here. It certainly does not come down to every single euro, but professionally I am aware of what some constructions generally cost… I already understand why some floor plans from developers or prefab house companies look the way they do and not otherwise.

Maybe you should orient yourself a little less towards the neighboring buildings when planning and instead focus more on your own land. Ugly house walls or terraces next door, I'll quickly green them up with [Blauregen] and co - then they're gone. Therefore, giving up windows for that reason is a bit crazy, even for a structural engineer.

Maybe you should orient yourself a little less around the neighboring buildings in your planning and instead focus more on your own land.

Exactly what I thought while reading. What makes you so interesting that they all want to look into your house? Chris, you use mirrored glass or window bands or satin film everywhere or just the blinds. Whatever. Living rooms need natural daylight -> windows! Window size: 1/8 of the room size. It's by law. Personal tip: adjusted to orientation, whether south or north, adapted to room length, possibly larger, not smaller! But: it’s not my house, it will be yours... I see no added value of this house compared to a semi-detached house without window adjustments, without adaptation of the children's rooms, and without a niche solution (unwanted add-on to a couple’s house).

No, the plan is to drive into the garage at the front right (shortest way/costs) and then along the ceiling to the back.

??? I mean the utility lines. They lie in the ground, 80 cm frost-free, and no floor slab may be placed above!

Unfortunately, the thread title with the constraint point is not without reason.

I believe the constraint here is to make it more complicated than it is. A plot with some defects (like almost every one) and an inner fear from you of being watched. In the rarest cases does someone stand on a street or their own roof terrace and stare, so it can actually be perceived as disturbing. Usually, everyone is busy with themselves. Since you are allowed to build 2-3 floors, there are other options to build because of the height (neighbors) as well, but that would be the job of an architect *laugh – so someone who can design and not only has experience in structural matters. Especially with your “fears” you should have a specialist plan it and consider every possibility he has at hand. Otherwise I advise: sell the plot and look for a forest plot.

Ouch. I agree that the shell residual value of the former extension aka future garage in no way justifies ruining the entire development because of it. On the incompletely cleared plot, unnecessary planning freedoms are taken.

... And since I would open the living and common rooms to the west anyway with such a house type (this is a semi-detached house facing west), and the ancillary rooms, if necessary, without windows to the closed east side, the location of the children's room or a small living unit with usable rooms would also be feasible for me.
I would cleverly place many windows on the west side, especially the staircase, which roughly divides everything into 2/3 and 1/3, keeping everything open on the west side throughout, possibly also where the living room is now.... you just have to see how long it will be and whether there can still be a passage near the dining and living room, etc....

I was also thinking along those lines. Maybe something like this:




I have to admit, however, that I don’t know exactly if the WC can be simply placed under the carport roof like that. But I would like to put in a window and attach a bicycle shed to it.
Optionally, one could consider swapping the kitchen and dining area. The balcony is, of course, optional as well.