Floor plan single-family house with separate apartment as a 3-unit house

I already wrote: We are also not 100% happy with the kitchen yet. We gladly welcome any improvement suggestions from all sides – so bring them on :)

The technical room is, after consultation with the architect, large enough for the technology. He favors a compact air-water heat pump with integrated ventilation and hot water storage. The original size is already drawn on the plan. Then there will be the house connection, a control cabinet, and a water softening system – that would fill the room. Doesn’t fit?

We really like criticism when it is justified. We are neither trying to forcibly impose anything here nor do we want to regret later that we couldn’t divide the house into 2 residential units due to, for example, a staircase placed in the middle of the living area. Children also grow up. And the fact that they do not necessarily have to move out of the house to have their own apartment is, as we see it, a positive thing. TLDR: Criticism? Gladly! But then please with reasons and/or suggestions for improvements.

I thought my criticism was already well justified...

Where exactly is the utility room? Did I miss it somewhere? How long is the whole thing theoretically supposed to be used for three residential units? I really would not want to move into the mini unit for the grandparents. Stove, sink, washing machine, and sofa (!) all squashed onto one wall right next to each other? But maybe I’m too demanding... If the child later takes over the upper floor, is a <5m² bathroom on the ground floor enough for the parents? Then the child moves out for university, the parents either don’t come or only for a few years, and you end up two people in 3 messed-up residential units instead of a nice single-family house...

The granny flat now has the charm of a holiday apartment. And yes, my mother also told for years that she definitely wanted to downsize in old age - they still live on 220 sqm at over 80 because after half a century you couldn't imagine living in less than 100 sqm. My parents-in-law have a house that was built for four residential units as a multi-generational house. The attic is now storage space for my mother-in-law, the basement storage space for my father-in-law, and we use the granny flat on the ground floor as storage space. For 10 years they have been talking about finally dividing the house. Absurd. I would plan for now and today. Not for 10-15 years from now. Not for 20 years. Of course, it's tempting to have 230 sqm of living space if it's simply financed - but then I would also plan for NOW. Not for all eventualities.

In such constructions, my focus is always somewhat one-sided on the personal aspect, the technology, the details down to the color of the light switches, while the living area for the parents is "somehow" made possible. Apart from a future financial arrangement regarding this granny flat, I don't read anything about what the parents would like or absolutely need to have. Often parents hold back too much for their children and, in my opinion, are somewhat forgotten. This does not have to be meant badly, but I would much more put the interests and needs of the parents in the foreground. - Are they definitely moving in? When? Clear agreement! - How do they want to live, what do they want/need so that they feel really great there?

I had a similar situation 30 years ago and our parents then lived generously in the attic with a view of the river, roof terrace, etc. With all due understanding for the consideration of future ailments.........I am older than your parents and I would definitely not move in there. Why should two adults (not you two young boys & girls) torture themselves in 50 sqm and a 1B location? Do you lose the desire or the right to a stylish life after 60? That is just beginning! They have a house that they can sell, so why don't they put themselves in a great apartment with you, possibly one that an interior designer tailored 100% to them? Later division for use by grandchildren in 30 years is not excluded......but first the parents come and then a long pause! If the parents are not even 60 and the first grandchild is already here, then the grandchildren will have long moved out, as long as grandma & grandpa hopefully still live.

My parents say the size is completely sufficient for their age. Reduced to the essentials, but still not too cramped so that one feels uncomfortable.

My parents said the same back then, and yet we built them a nice 90 sqm apartment. You will also inherit the sale of their house, so where is the problem? Of course, they say it is enough.......this is probably generational, but I would not have wanted to live stylishly and luxuriously in the same house while my parents live in the micro-apartment. That would have felt very uncomfortable and unfair to us. My parents would have moved into 30 sqm as well, but when it really became stylish and special, they beamed; that is how we wanted it! Please do not take this as harsh criticism, but rather as a timely prompt. You think about your unborn children when they turn 18 and older......and the living parents, in my opinion, are far too neglected.....just because they are not so self-confident or rather put themselves last.

With such constructions, my focus always lies somewhat one-sidedly on one's own interests, the technology, the details right down to the color of the light switches, while the living area for the parents is just "somehow" made possible.
Apart from a future financial arrangement regarding this granny flat, I don’t read anything about what the parents would like or absolutely need to have. Often parents hold back too much for their children and, in my opinion, are somewhat forgotten. That need not be meant maliciously, but I would much more put the interests and needs of the parents in the foreground.
- Are they sure to move in? When? Clear agreement!
- How do they want to live, what do they want/need to feel really great there?

I had a similar situation 30 years ago and our parents then lived generously in the attic with a view of the river, roof terrace, etc. With all due understanding for the view of future ailments... I am older than your parents and I definitely wouldn’t move in there. Why should two adults (not you two young boys & girls) torment themselves in 50 sqm and a B-location? Does one lose the desire or the right to a fancy life after 60? It’s just starting! They have a house they can sell, so why don’t they put a great apartment with you that perhaps an interior designer has tailored 100% to them? Later division for use by grandchildren in 30 years not excluded ... but first come the parents and then for a long time nothing!
If the parents are not even 60 and the first grandchild is already here, then the grandchildren will long be gone as long as grandma & grandpa hopefully still live.

My parents said that back then too and yet we built them a fancy 90 sqm apartment.
You also inherit the sale of their house, so where is the problem? Of course they say that this is enough... that is probably generational, but I would not have wanted to live stylishly and lavishly in the same house while my parents live in a micro-apartment. That would have felt very uncomfortable and unfair to us. My parents would have moved into 30 sqm too, but when it became really chic and special they shone; that’s how we wanted it!
Please do not take this as harsh criticism but rather as a timely food for thought. You think of your unborn children when they are 18 and older... and in my opinion the living parents come up far too short ... just because they are not so self-confident or rather take a back seat.

We do not take constructive criticism as mean or harsh. We are grateful that you bring this up. We will reflect again and sit down with my parents and our architect. Thank you!

Also consider that your current apartment, which served as a sponsor for you, fits you well - now and as a young couple. Whether it matches the conscious or unconscious needs of the parents is another matter.

Regarding the kitchen I would design the island as an aircraft carrier and not square, but elongated. You would have to see if you can rotate it to face the window front, or place the side quite close to it.

We do not take constructive criticism as mean or harsh. We are grateful that you bring this up. We will reflect again and sit down with my parents and our architect. Thank you!

Thank you, that was intended, based on my own experience. Of course, people are different, but for example, I would rather feel taken advantage of by my children and then say stop myself than have things "nickel-and-dimed" from the start. I think you especially have to work out among yourselves what importance you assign to the parent or what they want. Relying solely on what they demand can eventually feel bad for one or even both sides. My mother was bursting with pride and liked to show her apartment; I also enjoyed being there and could even live there today. Unfortunately.....due to the situation......part of the house had to be rented out or even sold, and just like that the whole project was over. Therefore, I would not plan for renting to outsiders, at most as a vacation rental if you enjoy it to get to know other people. I rented out my house/apartment very well as a vacation rental for years to be able to keep it, but many people do not want that. However, these things can be figured out by yourself beforehand.