Floor plan - Please give your opinions!

Hello dear forum members,

as a silent reader, I have now also registered since our planning is slowly starting. We have now received the first preliminary draft of the planner and I would like to ask for suggestions and criticism.

Development plan/restrictions
Size of the plot: 632 m² (approx. 21 meters wide, approx. 30 meters long)
Slope: Yes, from north to south along the street, approx. 1.40 m height difference over 21 m (plot will be leveled/filled)
Floor area ratio: 0.3
Floor space index: n.a.
Building window, building line, and boundary: 3 meters distance to the street as well as to the north side (whether the garage can be built on the boundary here is currently under clarification), otherwise almost everything is possible
Edge development: see above
Number of parking spaces: n.a.
Number of floors: 2
Roof shape: completely open
Style: completely open
Orientation: n.a.
Maximum heights/limits: FH 9.50 m
Further specifications: n.a.

It should also be mentioned: to the east there is the street, to the north a small footpath (3 m wide) and behind that the next neighbor. To the south, there is a 12 meter long garage 1 meter away from the property boundary, so not many large windows to the south, but enough for proper lighting. To the west, there are only fields and meadows behind us (edge of town location), so the large windows are located here. The garden is in the west.

Requirements of the builders
Style, roof shape, building type: Type "city villa", modern, hip roof
Basement, floors: 2-story construction without roof slopes, no basement
Number of persons, age: 2 persons (26 and 28 years), no children (one child planned in the future)
Space requirements on ground floor, upper floor: basically just as shown in the floor plan
Office: family use, location for PC and various documents
Overnight guests per year: very rare, max. 2
Open or closed architecture: open
Conservative or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, cooking island: open kitchen, possibly with peninsula
Number of dining seats: 6
Fireplace: no
Music/stereo wall: ???
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: single or double garage, possibly deviation to carport depending on costs
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Further wishes/special features/daily routine: ---

House design
Who planned it: planner/civil engineer, single contract
What is particularly liked:
- On the ground floor: entrance area, straight staircase, open living-dining area but the kitchen is still slightly hidden
- On the upper floor: basically everything is perfect (except maybe the windows, which may still be changed)
What is not liked: long way to the kitchen on the ground floor, exterior view of the south side (in my opinion the small window in the kitchen ruins the view), window arrangement and size generally need to be reconsidered throughout the entire design
Price estimate according to architect/planner: ---
Personal price limit for the house including equipment: ---
Preferred heating technology: air-water heat pump

If you have to do without, which details/extensions
- can you do without: study/living room/children’s room could be smaller, door from HAR to garage will probably be removed
- can you not do without: wardrobe, dressing room, "T-solution" in the bathroom, small utility room upstairs for washing machine/dryer

A few words briefly:
I know that the measurements, etc. are still missing here. This is the first preliminary draft from our planner, which will be further refined if we like the principle. So we first have to decide whether we want to build on this or whether the design will be completely discarded or heavily altered. So everything is still open. Basically, we find the design great and we have already fallen a little in love with it. However, what worries me on the ground floor is the long way to the kitchen. I have been silently reading here for a while and I know that a short way to the kitchen is preferred, which is definitely not the case here. But I can hardly judge whether it is still okay for us. Sure, groceries, etc. would have to be carried a bit further, but I wonder whether this is really so tragic to discard the whole design that otherwise really appeals to us. My husband says it doesn’t bother him, and honestly, I can't say whether it bothers me... it just immediately caught my attention because, through silent reading in the forum, I pay attention to such things. But would it really bother me in everyday life? It is just difficult, I am currently torn back and forth and therefore mainly hope for opinions on the distance entrance - kitchen from you. Further suggestions and criticism are of course also warmly welcome!

And regarding the views: front view and north view currently do not exist, as changes have already been made here and I currently do not have a current drawing.

After measuring myself, here are some approximate(!) square meter measurements:
- Kitchen: 8.50 m² (without pantry under the stairs) --> is that too small?
- HAR: 8.30 m²
- Office: 10.50 m²
- Bathroom: 10.90 m²
- Children’s room: 15.40 m²
- Dressing room dimensions should be sufficient (approx. 2.15 m wide, approx. 3.40 m long)

#Attachments deleted at the request of the original poster; building expert

Many heartfelt thanks in advance to all who respond!

I know that the measurements and similar details are still missing here.

After measuring myself, here are some approximate(!) square meter indications:
- Kitchen: 8.50 m² (without pantry under the stairs) --> is that too small?
- Utility room: 8.30 m²
- Study: 10.50 m²
- Bathroom: 10.90 m²
- Children's room: 15.40 m²
- The dressing room should be sufficient in size (approx. 2.15 m width, approx. 3.40 m length)

Many heartfelt thanks in advance to all who respond!

First of all, a warm welcome to the forum. Of course, I hope for plenty of information exchange and well-being.

Overall, I see the whole thing very critically. Starting with the fact that neither the planner nor you know what this fun is supposed to cost and may cost. You should already be clear about that, meaning having a budget in mind.

There are certainly some who would radically throw the draft in the trash. I’m not quite sure whether this helps or if it should really only serve as a draft and the second draft should be started completely anew.

Without measurements, the whole thing is very difficult. From the square meter indications above, I would say:

Kitchen too small, study depends on the furniture (1 workstation is okay, 2 workstations too cramped), utility room should fit, bathroom okay, children’s room okay, dressing room tight but should work.

Without really going into all the details, just a few notes or questions:

[*]For heaven’s sake, why a gallery? Because it’s fashionable like every mainstream city villa that calls itself a square bunker?
[*]Many doors (especially in the middle of the room) would absolutely not be my thing. You always risk obstructing someone in the room; furthermore, doors can only be left open if they are fully open, which means you lose a lot of usable space.
[*]Long distances were mentioned, among other things, if guests are in the house and you yourselves want/need to go to your bathroom, the whole thing is already half a journey.

I know many don’t like to hear it or push it away. Think early on about whether your plans are somewhat barrier-free. Wide doors, space on the main traffic routes, level-access provisions in the bathroom, etc.

Continued happy planning and thinking and of course questions, questions.

Best regards, Marcus

Here are my comments, some of which have already been mentioned...

[*]The path from the garage/shopping to the kitchen is too long. Every box has to be carried through three doors and the living room. In my opinion, a passage by the utility room is also not necessary; the garage is not that far from the main entrance. The utility room loses considerable space by being misused as a hallway, which you will definitely need without a basement.

[*]Without measurements, it is hard to say whether the size of the kitchen is sufficient. However, this also depends on your requirements (desired kitchen island?). Take a look at kitchen layouts in real life.

[*]The gallery is superfluous and, in my opinion, only makes sense in really large houses; otherwise, this space is missing.

[*]Likewise the dressing room. In my opinion, it is purely a fashion trend and "stylish." Better a spacious bedroom with a closet.

[*]By the way, why do you have two children's rooms if only one child is planned?

[*]I don't like the views. It looks a bit like a mix between a clown and a UFO. But, as with everything, it's a matter of taste....

You should definitely get a cost estimate at some point. At the beginning, you always want a lot; in the end, you get what the budget allows.

Much has already been said. I quickly mirrored the staircase and moved it a bit further towards the top of the plan.

The kitchen then as a row plus half island, living room rearranged a bit. This way, a terrace door can also be planned between the kitchen rows. It's great anyway if you can quickly go outside there.

Parents' area .. first the closet room, then the bedroom. It's better if one can stay lying down, they are then less disturbed.

I like the small utility room on the upper floor and what is referred to as a gallery there is actually a hallway, since you have not planned an open space above the ground floor.

Too much symmetry is overrated

I completely agree with When I saw the floor plan on the go, I also spontaneously thought about swapping the kitchen and the living room - so that the living room becomes the trapped room, the kitchen becomes the logical passage, and benefits from the traffic area. I would make one window out of the two at the top, the same as the children's room window.