Floor plan of a semi-detached house 7x16m on 390sqm in a settlement

I agree with you. Setting up is the hands-on part ;) But here it was proposed to give the children the floor plan drawing – and not for the furnishing ;) I have to smile a bit, I myself have a granddaughter of that age :)

My eldest does the same with the furnishing. She places all desired objects in their spot in her room on the tablet. And as long as the girls want, they will sleep together in one room and use the other room as a playroom. That’s the plan, but we’ll see how it goes when we live there and they get older.

Would it actually bring more light if I swap the couch and TV and place a window behind the couch as well? My concern is that a house will be built on the left at some point (which certainly will happen) and I won’t get anything from the north-facing windows.. Slowly but surely, I’m starting to doubt the property.

What does your architect suggest? You have more than 100 sqm of floor space, so there is no reason to despair. But you need a GOOD architect, who can do more than just run-of-the-mill developer boredom.
Look at it this way, the north side has the advantage that you don’t have to worry about shading and won’t have problems with overheated living spaces. You just need to let go of your fixed ideas about the kitchen and street side.
I see a big problem with your current plan: low ceilings in extremely long rooms.
So once again my question: How does the neighbor build? Would a staggered floor or, for example, a shed roof be possible? What exemption have you been granted?
I would really consider building something shorter and immediately finishing the attic floor. Otherwise, you will later have all sorts of oddly shaped rooms. The attic can initially be a playroom and the children can have one room. The rest can be divided into a utility room and bathroom. And I would seriously reconsider the 2.30 m ceiling height. That is less than what is usually required for living spaces. That could be a price killer when selling later.
Even the 2.50 m ceiling height can destroy the open, spacious impression you want due to the floor area, so that the large room looks smaller than, for example, a room 2 meters shorter with a 2.70 m ceiling height.
I would, for example, see if it’s possible to move the stairs further forward and make them single-flight, maybe quarter-turn. Otherwise, noise from the living area—and such large, low rooms are loud—goes directly upstairs. So design a technical room, bathroom, utility room, and stair area with wardrobe in the front quarter, maybe shielded with a glass wall, and then start the living area with kitchen etc.

I have to smile a bit, I myself have a granddaughter of that age

Yeah. The "old ones" can't get it right, so the "little ones" have to bring their input. :D

Yeah. The "old ones" can't get it done, so the "little ones" have to bring their input. :D

If mine were planning, everything would look like Hundertwasser instead of Bauhaus. :eek:

What does your architect suggest? You have more than 100 sqm of floor space, so there is no reason to despair. But you need a GOOD architect who can do more than just boring standard developer stuff.
Look at it this way: the north side has the advantage that you don’t need to worry about shading and won’t have problems with overheated living spaces. You just have to let go of your fixed ideas about the kitchen and the street side.
I see a big problem with your current plan: low ceilings with extremely long rooms.
So once again my question: how is the neighbor building? Would a staggered floor or, for example, a shed roof be possible? What kind of exemption have you received?
I would really consider building somewhat shorter and instead directly finishing the attic. Otherwise, later you will have many awkwardly shaped rooms. The attic can first be a playroom, and the children can have one room. The rest is divided into a utility room and bathroom. And I would seriously reconsider the 2.30 m ceiling height. That is less than what is usually required for living spaces. This can be a price killer when selling later.
Also, the 2.50 m room height can, given the floor area, destroy the open, spacious impression you want, so the large room appears smaller than, for example, a room 2 m shorter with 2.70 m ceiling height.

It must be a gable roof. The neighbor is building exactly like us. I will also ask about the 2.30 m ceiling height, discussed.

What does your architect suggest? You have more than 100 sqm of floor space, so there is no reason to despair. But you need a GOOD architect who can do more than just boring standard developer stuff.
Look at it this way: the north side has the advantage that you don’t need to worry about shading and won’t have problems with overheated living spaces. You just have to let go of your fixed ideas about the kitchen and the street side.
I see a big problem with your current plan: low ceilings with extremely long rooms.
So once again my question: how is the neighbor building? Would a staggered floor or, for example, a shed roof be possible? What kind of exemption have you received?
I would really consider building somewhat shorter and instead directly finishing the attic. Otherwise, later you will have many awkwardly shaped rooms. The attic can first be a playroom, and the children can have one room. The rest is divided into a utility room and bathroom. And I would seriously reconsider the 2.30 m ceiling height. That is less than what is usually required for living spaces. This can be a price killer when selling later.
Also, the 2.50 m room height can, given the floor area, destroy the open, spacious impression you want, so the large room appears smaller than, for example, a room 2 m shorter with 2.70 m ceiling height.

I would, for example, look into whether the staircase could be moved further forward and then made straight, maybe with a quarter turn. Otherwise, noise from the living area — and such large, low rooms are loud — goes directly upstairs. So, in the front quarter, design a technical room, bathroom, utility, and stair area with wardrobe, maybe shielded with a glass wall, and then start the living area with kitchen etc.

Unfortunately, we cannot make the ceiling higher; I have not been able to reach my architect today. More info will follow.
I want to keep the option open to still create a children’s room in the upper floor. To be honest, I like the upper floor as it is, only with the well-known light problem.

And on the ground floor, he said it is good, but I should be aware that it will be somewhat narrow. He didn’t like the idea of a side entrance because when you enter the room, you should be able to look all the way to the terrace. That apparently makes it appear larger. Ah yes, and in response to my question whether it might get tight between the staircase and the dining table, he said that once finished it will feel like standing in a ballroom. The idea (see attachment, entrance only in the west) is wonderfully beautiful, but the upper floor just doesn’t fit and the attic especially not because of the staircase.

I found the ground floor up to entering the forum also nice
:D I just needed more light.
But I understand all the objections.

If mine were planning, everything would look like Hundertwasser instead of Bauhaus. :eek:

With us it's the other way around: she’s not so good with corners yet, but according to the doctor she should be able to handle pencils well :D

For example, I would see if the stairs could be moved further forward and made single-flight,

I already did that, which the OP also likes. However, the stairs must also come out in the middle because of the load-bearing wall.

So once again my question: How does the neighbor build?

I don't think he has a serious problem with his south-facing location. Besides, I bet that if this is planned for a family, another room will be planned downstairs, so that the room heights at “normal” open space size don’t matter.

My concern is that a house will eventually be built on the left (which will certainly happen) and I won’t have anything from the north windows..

I think your windows on the ground floor will be sufficient. The standard is 1/10 of the room size. The windows on the east and 4-6 sqm or 8 sqm additionally on the north, so that the middle of the room is illuminated, will be enough. That you might have to turn on light at the workplace in the middle of the room from 3 p.m. or so, I have that too with 4 sqm south-facing window at the kitchen island.

Slowly but surely I doubt the plot

You don’t need to. But maybe plan a bit more according to the plot than stubbornly trying to implement your old ideas. This applies here to the living room!!!