@ypg .. thanks for the "staircase resolution" ... I somehow had a mental block.
Yes, the tool is a bit peculiar with stairs. The display is unsatisfactory.
If there is a view to fall in love with, include it.
But that doesn’t mean excluding everything except distant views. If I may elaborate on yesterday’s point: In summer you can do without a view. This mistake is made by apartment dwellers. Many do not have the habit at all that on very good weather days you actually don’t stay in the house. Many only go inside to put the kids to bed or to get the barbecue meat. Netflix could be abolished. In winter it’s dark already after work anyway. Then people might like that on weekends the sun shines onto the sofa from outside at noon. Or do you stand all day at the panorama window in the north instead of watching a Netflix series?! Probably less. In everyday life in winter you get little benefit from a view. I would mostly not place a study facing south, since you don’t benefit from the sun while working, whereas a north window with a view offers something.
One argument from the architect was also to turn the terrace away from the neighbor. If it were directly facing the hedge, you would be sitting very close already, since the neighbor’s terrace also borders the hedge.
It is hardly believable that the neighbors actually spend the summer permanently at the 3 or 4 meter distance from the property boundary, when they have a very nice property to stay on. You can talk yourself into a lot.
Garden design plays a crucial role here @ypg if you accept this idea.
Terraces are often planted so that they are protected. What was done before with lots of greenery, i.e. shrubs, is nowadays done with artificial protection walls. East wind is cold, west wind is frequent, and one wants to protect oneself from that. Scented plants are more appreciated near the terrace than farther away. We deliberately have our (evergreen) hedge in front of the living room window grown over height because the view is very calming. We once had a statue there that was visible from the dining table. Now it is a lovely maple that stands out against the hedge. Personally, I would equate both (greenery and distant view) in priority, but of course then take the other priority, how to get sun into the living room in winter. Personally, I don’t know any children who stand at the window and enjoy the view, no matter which. But I don’t see that in adults either. No one has the time anymore to just “stand around and look.” There are always some in the forum who think they are being watched by neighbors from their upper windows. No, very few have the time. And don’t forget the front garden. It is the business card of the house, and here too you look outside from the house - especially if it lies to the south. A terrace doesn’t necessarily fit here, but at old houses and farms you can observe that a bench gets the sunny spot to recharge vitamin D protected by the wall in winter.
The difficulty of the floor plan is that you have to open yourself practically in three directions...
As long as you define house and lot in only one direction, this creates a difficulty, yes.
I am actually still looking for the mythical all-rounder...
Because you have the limited point of view?
What would be your advice for the further procedure considering the wishes and the situation?
Take the time to look at gardens, not just houses. My passion is houses and floor plan designs and living spaces, but you can also overrate everything. Drive to areas that really have gardens. Also buy a book. Digital media often only show current mainstream.
Continue working on the architect’s draft and adapt it (especially the upper floor)
I couldn’t really give you advice now, because I find the orientation rather boring myself (contrary to ) I would probably let everything sink in at your place, including what is said here. If you still think towards the north then ask the architect for a new upper floor. However, you don’t like the exterior view anymore now. Not much is left to like.