Floor plan improvement suggestions during renovation

Hello dear community,

this year 2024 we will be renovating a house in the Waldviertel and we are still not quite sure how to plan the terrace. Therefore, I would be grateful for any input on the plan or on the questions I have listed below.
First, I will introduce the house to you.



The house will be completely renovated and a terrace with a connection to the street is to be built on the south side. We already have several plan variants for this:
1)


2)


3)



4)



Inside, we are already certain except for the kitchen/living area (see point 3), but ideas are still welcome. The main question is how we should design the terrace so that on the one hand we have bright living spaces and can use solar gains from autumn to spring to save on heating costs, and on the other hand it does not become too hot in summer. In point 3, we fear that the terrace roof with 3.2 m on the south and west side will block a lot of light and make the living room dark.
In point 4 this was somewhat mitigated by reducing the size of the terrace and the roof area.
Here is a diagram from me showing solar radiation:



Does anyone have experience with this or would we be glad to have an engaging discussion and suggestions. Many thanks in advance.

Additional questions:
- Does anyone here have experience with straw bale insulation in the exterior? Thickness of walls, shooting slit effect of windows, etc.?

- Should 20-30 year old triple-glazed windows be replaced?

- Is there experience with ceiling or wall heating? Are you satisfied with it? Is the floor then cold?

- Does anyone have experience with surface heating systems according to Tichelmann as offered by Egger or Beka in comparison to conventional installation?

Thanks, best regards

Image 2)

unfortunately remains more or less just a thumbnail, you can hardly see anything.

The main question is how we should design the terrace so that on the one hand we have bright living spaces and can use solar gains from autumn to spring

You mean rather from spring to autumn.

Regarding point 3, we fear that the terrace roof with 3.2 m in the south or west will take a lot of light and it will become dark in the living room.

Yes, roofs take light. Many accept that. Percentage-wise, more people tend to block sunlight from entering the house than they like to let it in. Many also react negatively quickly if the sun briefly blinds them, others are more relaxed. You have to see for yourselves which type of person you are.

Regarding point 4, this was somewhat mitigated by reducing the size of the terrace and the roof area.

Well, I don’t know if you also want contact with the garden or think that it’s always hot when the sun shines. And that you’re always at home and want to be on the terrace then. Or do you absolutely want to always sit outside when it rains? A closed roof can be well done in front of a wall or a subordinate window. Your terrace: is it like this now? Is that especially great? I find it very restless. I don’t like it. Are those curtains? Louvers? What are they good for besides being a visual barrier? They don’t block high sun but only the low winter sun, right? Are these sliding elements? They would probably bother me from the inside too, and especially in winter block a lot (view and light). From the photo, it’s already too dark for me. Apart from the fact that I don’t like it: you have a beautiful covered area under the terrace: I would put my deck chair there. Put another tree in front as a natural shade provider… Think about what you want on the terrace? How often is it used and how often are you outside? Some only go outside on Sundays, others gladly forget the housework and relax from 10 to 10 on the sun chair throughout the day. Others go straight to the lawn. Nothing can be said about the floor plan because much is unknown. Screenshots are too small, plans too large… that would have to be photographed separately and posted.

So much house presentation… and such a beautiful house project… but then nothing more comes… ?