Floor plan single-family house OWL approx. 150 sqm with east garden

OG ... I notice that the windows are mainly placed because of the exterior view.

I had already pointed out that the architect seems to proceed too much design-oriented. Unfortunately, beauty is paradoxical: if you try to force it, it flees. If you want to lure it, you must not stand in the way of the merging of the intended and the grown. But in this "everyone is the smith of his own misfortune," architect and client pull together as a perfect team. Just as here there are collateral damages regarding the doors and shutters, I wouldn't be surprised if some nonchalant people cause dry construction pimples (when enclosing the exhaust technology, etc.) in the execution planning phase.

Nope, no chance! Brick slips are so decided!

They say when two people quarrel, the third rejoices. It seems to me you can also reverse that: when two agree on the wrong priorities, the result goes down the drain. And they also say a lovestruck cook would over-salt the soup. Here, due to the infatuation with aesthetics, the awareness to dose brick slips like a spice has been lost.

I would swap the WC and the cloakroom, every meter less with dirty shoes in the house is a meter gained

But there is a bay window perfectly integrated. If you swap the rooms, you lose floor space.

Maybe. However, in the guest bathroom I wouldn't need much space, so the wardrobe further forward would be worth it to me... but the builder has to know and decide that for themselves.

So, yesterday it just didn’t work out anymore. Now it’s finally the weekend, we were able to sleep on the draft for 2 nights and now we will go through it again.

3. Why do you absolutely want to separate the basement with a door? Because that’s how you know it from grandma’s house? That’s sentimental nonsense. Your basement will not be wet, musty, and cold, so that it’s best to hide it, because that’s no longer how houses are built today. If you actually use the basement properly - and that is certainly the plan, then it’s nice if the staircase down doesn’t disappear into a dark and scary hallway.
4. For me, the bedroom in the south instead of the children’s rooms remains problematic. Considering the many options, that would be a dealbreaker for me.

Regarding 3:
I believe that at the moment it is still planned to build the basement outside the thermal envelope. GU1 wanted that with the finished basement and light well. These are drafts from GU2 - to which we only have rough cost estimates (in the budget). Before I start insulating the basement, I first need GU2’s offer on what that should actually cost. Therefore, the door to the basement is included in the current planning and as an insulated (???) door.

However, I would only want to build it that way in an absolute emergency. The goal must be to insulate the basement as well.

But at this point, one question about the basement and the heating demand: Yesterday I briefly visited a colleague’s construction site who insulated his basement properly. He plans to install only panel radiators on the walls in the "living areas" of the basement. His planning showed that the floor heating of the ground floor, combined with the insulation, should heat the basement enough so that, if at all, only panel radiators are needed. So you can do without floor heating in the basement. He is now only having the pipes for the heating laid in the wall.

Is this realistic? How warm/cold is an unheated but insulated basement in practice or for us in the OWL lowland? The last harsh winter with -20°C was here over 10 years ago.

Regarding 4:
That’s a valid point. Hm. Both my parental home and my wife’s had the master bedroom facing south. I have never noticed complaints from their side. However, both are houses from the late 90s. Optimal would be different, I agree with you on that. I will bring up the topic again.

I almost forgot this one: kitchen access only through the living room. That means with children – everyone is constantly running past the chill area for every soda – also the children’s friends. That’s not a drama but can be annoying.

That’s true. I see it as a passive control function – especially when it later comes to alcoholic sodas.

And here would also be my main criticism… from the L layout I would swap living/cooking and try to open up the west side.
I would also want the wardrobe closer to the entrance… again windows/closet here… won’t work.

Upstairs… I notice that the windows are mainly placed because of the outside view. In both children’s rooms there is basically no reasonable closet position… or the closet always stands in the incoming light from the window.

Also, the room doors are all nicely centered on the wall (see the dressing room), then it gets tight behind the door with the usual wardrobe.

We are only starting the kitchen planning now. We are currently scheduling an appointment. Then we will see how we can align our kitchen ideas with the floor plan.

We have looked into swapping kitchen and living. It definitely has its advantages. However, in this form, our living room would not be visible at all. The neighbor to the south places his carport/garage so that he can only see into our kitchen/dining room from the upper floor. Therefore, due to the angle, he cannot see into the living room. Also, from the street we will not be visible there. We want to keep that advantage. With the swap, that would no longer be possible.

Regarding the windows:
Yes, the windows were mainly positioned for the outside view and we really like it. The window width is set by the dressing room and extends from top to bottom.

Room doors:
We already discussed this during the floor plan review with the architect. I think he simply drag&dropped the doors there and positioned them centered without further thought. We already moved them back and forth during the talk with him.

Children’s rooms:
Today I’m still cutting out Pax from millimeter paper and will simulate it. Thanks for the hint!

In general, I am surprised that the floor plan is being criticized so little. I have read quite different discussions here. So we seem to be on the right track.

If it makes you happy .. then I would say, I would NOT build like that.

If it makes you happy .. then I'll say, I would NOT build like that.

OK, that was clear. That's what happens when you stick your neck out too far....