Floor plan optimization, single-family house, city villa 12x12m

There is nothing like a cozy kitchen. The kitchen is usually the room that is used the most. By all family members. Therefore, enough space should be planned here. I am not a fan of these open kitchens. I want to cook and the corresponding steam and smells then just spread throughout the house. Well, today people don’t cook that much anymore.

A double-flue chimney should be installed both in the kitchen and in the living room. That way you can install a fireplace or a cooking stove. When you are young, it is clear that you want to build spaciously and brightly. In old age, you prefer it cozier and warmer. Maybe warmer in winter than the 22 degrees of the heat pump.

From today’s perspective, one has to say that many of those who built 20 or 25 years ago now have houses that are way too big. The children have moved out, the open houses where everything from the ground floor to the visible roof truss is open are uncomfortable and cold. Drafts come in from all corners. I believe very few have become happy with that.

I would put the technology in the garage. What is it doing in the middle of the 'house? When there are any jobs or repairs, the craftsmen are inside the house. Plus, you also have extra space.

I would also design the guest room with bathroom downstairs differently. Too many corners.

I can never understand how anyone can claim that a house is suitable for a lifetime. Especially with children and family, that is simply not the case. Today I need more rooms, space, storage with children. Possibly I still have two home offices. What am I supposed to do with them in retirement and when the children have moved out? Then you just have to downsize. The argument that you can later turn two children's rooms into a guest room and a hobby room is nice. But it means: as long as I live in the house as a family, I don't have the space, and for me that would be too cramped! There are enough complaints that the old widowed ladies do not give up their large houses in favor of younger families and indirectly force them to build new homes themselves. Why should we be the same in old age? has mentioned it often enough. The trend is towards building new near retirement, smaller, single-story. Although we are creating the precondition to separate part of the house as a separate apartment, I do not see a later sale and new construction as unrealistic!

I can never understand how someone can claim that a house is suitable for a lifetime. Especially with children and family, that is simply not the case.
Today I need more rooms, space, storage with children. Maybe I still have two home offices. What am I supposed to do with them in retirement and when the children have moved out?
Then you just have to downsize.
The argument that you can later convert two children's rooms into a guest room and a hobby room is nice. But it means: as long as I live in the house as a family, I don't have the space and that would be too cramped for me!
There are plenty of complaints that the old widowed ladies do not give up their large houses in favor of younger families and thereby indirectly force them to build new ones themselves. Why should we be the same in old age?
has mentioned it often enough. The trend is to build new near retirement, smaller, on one level. Although we create the option to separate part of the house as a separate apartment, I don’t see a later sale and new build as unrealistic!

I find this way of arguing difficult... Of course, there is a lot of emotional attachment to the house. Besides, in my opinion, it will still be even more difficult in the future to find a suitable plot in the desired location. You only want to move away to a limited extent... So it is quite plausible to plan the house for life - why not?

I don't know if it is so bad to live in a "too big" house in "old age". I rather believe (as I also see it in my family circle) that you never want to leave that house again under any circumstances :D

Otherwise, I agree with most here:

The house will be significantly more expensive. The air space is indeed very "tricky". I would also try to accommodate the technical room in the garage.

At some point, the stairs from the basement to the bedroom become too much. That is the point where the work becomes too much and the house increasingly becomes a burden. I see it with parents and parents-in-law. The list of small tasks to be done keeps getting longer, as does the list of service providers. My parents and parents-in-law are considering selling their houses and moving into a residential complex. Small handicapped-accessible bungalows, caretaker service, transportation service, meal service, cleaning service, nursing service, doctor. Unfortunately, the bungalows are traded at an insane price. [Er Münchner Preise als Kuhdorfpreise.]

Our parents live in houses that are far too large (both about 240 sqm of living space each plus plenty of utility space) and that is a problem. Not at 60 but from 70 onwards. And then you feel too old for something new. It starts with the usual renovation costs - which have to be paid from pensions and retirement benefits - and does not end with age-appropriate modifications or the cleaning effort. It’s still manageable as a couple, but many of the parents' friends are now widowed and then a 200 sqm house is very big and very, very quiet. And if you’re not wealthy enough to afford window cleaners, housekeeping help, gardeners, etc., then it really gets tricky.

Depends also on the type of "person".

Our parents live in houses that are far too big (each about 240 sqm of living space plus tons of utility space) and that is a problem. Not at 60 but from 70 onwards. And then you feel too old for something new. It starts with the normal renovation costs - which have to be paid from pensions - and does not end with age-appropriate conversions or the cleaning effort. It still works for two people, but many of the parents' friends are now widowed and then a 200 sqm house is very big and very, very quiet. And if you are not wealthy enough to afford window cleaners, household help, gardeners, etc., then it really gets tricky.

Yes well, that's true - 240 sqm is definitely a lot of space. But with the "normal" single-family house in the 140-170 sqm range, I really also see a need to live in it well into old age.