Floor plan single-family house approx. 170m² - ideas wanted

Hello everyone,

Until now, I have only been reading here, but now that our construction project is becoming more concrete, this is my first post. I am looking for ideas, especially for the floor plan of the upper floor of our house. So far, neither we nor the architect are 100% satisfied with our ideas. That’s why I’m now counting on you.

The plot on which we are building was inherited and divided among the heirs. We now want to demolish the old building on 771/1 and build new. According to the development plan, unfortunately only 25% of the area may be built on. No construction is currently planned for 771/2.

We are still in the design phase of planning, so wall thicknesses and window positions are not yet final.

Development plan/restrictions
Plot size: 401m²
Slope: no
Floor area ratio: 0.25
Floor space index: —
Building window, building line and boundary: 6m from the street
Edge development: garages with a length of 6.5m and a height of 2.5m are permitted within the buildable plot areas or in the setback areas
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 2 full floors
Roof type: no specification by the development plan
Style: no specification by the development plan
Orientation: see site plan
Maximum heights/limits: —
Other requirements: no dormer windows and cross gables allowed

Client requirements
Demolition of existing building
Style, roof shape, building type: modern, flat roof
Basement, floors: basement and two full floors
Number of persons, ages: 3 (34, 31, 3 y/o) +1 planned
Space requirements on ground and upper floors: see floor plan
Office: 1x 100% home office, 1x after parental leave 25-50% home office
Guest sleepers per year: none
Open or closed architecture: open
Conservative or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, cooking island: yes
Number of dining seats: 6 (expandable to 10-12)
Fireplace: no
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: garage
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Further wishes/particularities/daily routine, also reasons why this or that should or should not be:

[*]We do not place much value on large bathrooms; the minimum space is enough for us
[*]We spend a lot of time in the kitchen and have a lot of equipment, so we need plenty of storage space for it
[*]Living/dining area can be “extended” outdoors in summer
[*]Home office in a quiet area
[*]If possible, parents’ bathroom ensuite

House design
Who designed the plan: architect
What do you particularly like? Why?

[*]Open living/dining area, from the kitchen you have a view of everything (in front of the house and into the garden)
[*]From our point of view, good use of the limited space (only 0.25 floor area ratio)

What do you not like? Why?

[*]Access to children’s bathroom / master bedroom and bathroom

Price estimate according to architect/planner: tbd
Personal price limit for the house, including equipment: €800,000
Preferred heating technology: ground-source heat pump

If you have to give up, which details/extensions
-you can do without: -
-you cannot do without: -

Why did the design become what it is now?
Implementation of our room program combined with our ideas by the architect

What is the most important/fundamental question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
How can the master bedroom and bathroom be best designed? The architect’s idea is a corridor between bathrooms and bedroom. If all doors are open there would be a light axis through the house. That’s not important to us. We could also imagine having the doors opposite the children’s room entrances. However, it would then be difficult to find a place for the wardrobe.

We could also imagine having the doors opposite the entrances of the children's rooms. However, it would then be difficult to find a place for the wardrobe.

That would be a worse option.

If all doors are open, there would be a light axis through the house. That wouldn't be so important to us.

But hello?! The house is splendidly planned. And what makes the house so amazing? The sightlines. Everything feels spacious, every glance and every action in the house will be enjoyable. But you are right that not everything can be aligned to sightlines. Since the sleeping area and the bathrooms are very compact, I would suggest including the porch in the upper floor planning and enlarging the upper floor there. Then re-divide the bathrooms. In the bedroom, I would rotate the bed 90 degrees and place it against the wall. Then position the windows forward, congruently offset from the kitchen window. You could do without the last corridor section and give one bathroom a bathtub. I see a problem with the TV unit in front of the window on the ground floor; I would forgo the long window unit there. What will all go into the basement? You don't have a storage room on the upper floor. That can also lead to cluttered corners...

I am looking for ideas, especially for the floor plan of the upper floor of our house. So far, neither we nor the architect are 100% satisfied with our ideas.

Even with an architect, one should start the floor plan planning on the upper floor. Have you trapped yourself in wanting to recreate a horseshoe "Fachwerkhaus 2000," or could you also emancipate yourself from the support grid?

Since the sleeping area and the bathrooms are very compact, I would suggest including the porch roof in the upper floor planning and enlarging the upper floor there.

Unfortunately, that is not possible. As it is now, we are at the limit of the floor area ratio. We count the porch roofs towards floor area ratio II and hope that the building authority will accept it that way.

In the bedroom, I would turn the bed 90 degrees and place it against the wall. Then shift the window forward congruently to the kitchen window.

We had that idea as well. For a symmetrical facade, we would probably also remove the window on the long side in the children's room. However, that should not be too bad since it already has a large window facing the garden.

I see a problem with the TV unit in front of the window on the ground floor.

Yes, that's true. We had the idea of possibly building a wall in the middle with windows on the left and right, so that you can still look out into the garden from the couch.

What all goes into the basement? You don't have a storage room on the upper floor. That can also lead to cluttered corners...

In "utility/storage" there will be a washing machine, dryer, vacuum cleaner, cleaning supplies, Christmas decorations, and such items. The room "hobby/work/guest" is supposed to be flexibly usable. Ideally, it should not become a second storage room.

Even with an architect, one should start the floor plan planning on the upper floor first. Have you caught yourselves trying to replicate a Huf "Fachwerkhaus 2000," or could you emancipate yourself from the post grid?

Until your comment, I did not know the "Fachwerkhaus 2000." It was not our idea to replicate an existing house. Therefore, we are open to anything.

Until your comment, I didn’t know the "Fachwerkhaus 2000". It was also not the idea to recreate an existing house.

But it looks very much as if at least the architect must be conceptually in love with it.

therefore we are open to everything.

The floor plans show intersecting walls as if they were heading for common supports. The rooms all take place in the intermediate spaces of a support grid. I see a need for clarification with the architect.

For a symmetrical facade, we would probably also remove the window on the long side in the children's room.

Facade symmetry is a gimmick devoid of any moral value.

The canopies count towards the floor area ratio II and we hope that the building authority will accept it that way.

oops! The canopy does not seem to be a small subordinate little canopy here after all, but is considered like a roof overhang with more than 50 cm, so fully counted. But maybe the building authority sees it differently. Good luck.

For a symmetrical facade, we would probably also remove the window on the long side in the children's room.

? You don’t have symmetry below either... so why subordinate yourself to it?

In "Hauswirtschaft/Abstellen" come washing machine, dryer, vacuum cleaner, cleaning supplies, Christmas decorations and such things. The room "Hobby/Working/Guest" should be flexibly usable. Ideally, however, not become a second storage room.

Just upload the basement floor plan?! Hehe, I didn’t even see the basement... what if you move guest or office to the upper floor and instead put bedroom and shower bathroom in the basement?