Floor plan holiday home Tuscany - 175 sqm on a moderate slope

Do you already have a house or will it be your first one?

This is a covered area in front of the front door and at the same time enlarges the space of the room above.

The area is completely bricked in. It is totally dark. I wouldn't like it this way.

A holiday home is always "Just for Fun," right? It's like the "Porsche" Just for Fun. Anyone who can afford to build a holiday home in Tuscany alongside their property of whatever kind in Germany certainly does not belong to the low-income group. The background doesn’t matter – the money is there.

So what? More than 50% here are Just for Fun, the only question is whether someone sets a map stake for it. Any possible wealth doesn't need to be discussed here and has no significance anyway as to how a person deals with such a project; that’s too black-and-white for me.
I actually find it great that someone presents their unusual project so open-endedly; unfortunately, this openness has rather declined here, as I have read. In older posts, special projects were much more often described in detail and openly.

Apparently, it’s not only difficult for me to address your project or the floor plan specifically. Usually, houses are built where a couple/family with/without various little people intends to live soon and also long-term; the pure residential purpose is initially in the foreground. You can usually imagine that well, and usual procedures such as school visits, shopping, storage, commutes, home office, aging children and their needs, and much more lead to certain necessities and thus have a considerable influence on the individual floor plan and design.
However, here is a completely different background that only you truly know in detail. What are preferences, who maintains/cares for the property in absence, are large family events to take place more often, will you travel each time with just your suitcase or is everything duplicated, is it a pure vacation/holiday home.
Without knowing your very specific wishes and ideas, you probably can’t be helped well, and that’s how the floor plan turned out, which I don’t like at all.
We cannot foresee your needs/habits in 15 years and plan accordingly; logically, you don’t know them yourselves yet.

Do you already have a house, or will this be your first?

A good question

That looks better without DT.



The architect is asking for 100k for the planning of 500 - 550k. That seems quite expensive to me.

Has the architect not shown you any other designs as well?

who plans his house as if he doesn’t know it, that people stay on his property, but only stick to a windowpane – from the inside, of course.

There is some truth in that. However, I must emphasize that a beautiful view at any time (inside or outside the house) has always been something wonderful for me, which I can really enjoy and appreciate.

Just take a look at floor plans of houses from 1800-1900 in the south, they were built without air conditioning, the houses were simply livable without huge windows.

I agree. They are beautiful houses with a lot of charm. For me, however, it is difficult to combine it. And if I have to choose a style, then the open one, which gives a lot of space to breathe.

Do you already have a house or will it be your first?

We live in an apartment without a garden.

The area is completely bricked in. That is totally dark. I wouldn’t like it that way.

I had the same thought. Thank you for saying it.

But here there is a completely different background, which only you know in the real detail. What are the preferences, who maintains/care for the property in absence, should there be often large family events, do you want to travel only with suitcases or is everything double present, is it a pure vacation/holiday home.

A basic equipment will also be there. The problem is of course that we won’t know our requirements in 15 years either. Life sometimes plays strange tricks and holds the unexpected ready. But on this basis I don’t think about the project. I want memories with family and friends to be created there. But also that my wife and I alone can spend a relaxing time there. I can hardly be more concrete. The house should provide a shell for that.

The architect charges 100k for the planning of 500 - 550 k. That seems quite expensive to me.

I also swallowed at first. When I think about it, it relativizes somewhat (although it still remains an incredible amount of money). And that is because I think that he has to take over everything, and I mean really everything in my name. It is as if he is building his own house. I don’t have to tell you how complex and time-consuming that is. Would you still say the amount is not justified? As I said elsewhere, soil surveys, structural engineer and everything related to engineering are included in this amount.

Didn’t the architect also show you other designs?

No. We only dealt with this one in slightly modified versions.

I was also taken aback at first. When I think about it, it relativizes a bit (although it still remains an incredible amount of money). And that's because I think he has to take over everything, and I mean really everything in my name. It's like he's building his own house. I don't need to tell you how complex and time-consuming that is. Would you still say the amount is not justified? As I said elsewhere, soil surveys, structural engineer, and everything related to engineering are included in this amount.

You can use the HOAI calculator for comparison to Germany. Then you will see that the architect in Germany charges a comparable price. In that respect, it fits the comparison. However, I don't know if the general price level in Italy might be completely different (in Italy there is also a cost regulation comparable to the HOAI system).