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

We don’t really need that. A shared office is completely sufficient. We totally agree with you. But of course we don’t want to leave the granny flat empty for so long and would initially use it as an office. That’s why we theoretically wouldn’t need the actual office on the ground floor (which is currently labeled as "Sleeping"). It occurred to me whether we shouldn’t just leave out the wall towards the living area for now and significantly enlarge the living space. If (after the parents move in) the area is needed as an office again, a drywall partition could be installed.

As mentioned, you’re planning for the absolute maximum case. A bit like people traveling for a last-minute weekend with three suitcases, but not even knowing whether it’s going to Italy or Spitsbergen. I think you need to completely rethink the design and rather aim for two sensible units. Maybe because of my age I’ve been very confronted with the reality that many people just don’t live to 60. Or 65. Or that it stays with one child. But planning a 50 sqm office space for 10 or 15 years when I still have quite a bit of vacancy—that is very foreign to me. Everyone is different, but even if money didn’t matter, so much unused space would feel too unlivable for me.

As written, you are planning for the absolute worst-case scenario. A bit like people who travel on a last-minute weekend trip with three suitcases, but don’t even know if they are going to Italy or Spitzbergen. I think you need to completely rethink the draft and move more towards two sensible units. Maybe because of my age, I have been very confronted with the reality that many people simply do not reach 60. Or 65. Or that they remain with just one child. But planning 10, 15 years for a 50 sqm office space when I still have some vacant space is very foreign to me. Everyone is different, but even if money didn’t matter, that much unused space would feel too uncomfortable to me.

I am aware that there is no magic solution. We would simply like to have considered certain eventualities. This includes, for example, placing the staircase so that we could divide the house into 2 residential units with a ground floor and an upper floor if we wanted to. Will we ever do that? No idea! But setting the staircase that way doesn’t bring us any significant disadvantages. At the end of the day, it’s all just a cost-benefit consideration anyway. Without a crystal ball, I can’t say if both of my parents will move in. Maybe in the end, only one person remains and moves in. Then the just over 50 sqm in the granny flat would be more than enough.

Maybe we are also getting carried away with the idea of planning for every eventuality? I don’t know. Three children’s rooms are definitely relevant for our future plans. An office for working from home or as a teacher is also essential. Not building the granny flat right away and instead adding it later would be reckless if you look at the development of construction prices. Of course, _at the beginning_ we initially have clearly too much living space. We are aware of that already.

Sorry that I’m having to chip in again:

Maybe in the end there’s only one left who moves in. Then the just over 50 sqm in the granny flat are more than enough.

Maybe, but why are “50sqm” “more than enough”?? You currently have a child, so 60sqm are definitely enough. And in my environment there’s a family of 5 and even a 90sqm apartment is “more than enough” for them. At first I thought it happened rather randomly out of euphoria, but reading this makes clear to me that there’s no awareness of it, only for your own show kitchen etc. A lot of things are “enough,” but nowadays for younger people often not. I don’t find that bad, but nice if you can afford it. What I read sounds like the old people can just live out their remaining time, that’s “more than enough,” as long as I and even my unborn ones live in the dream home. Sorry, as someone from the older generation I react to this because I read it more and more often... the parents get put somewhere, they don’t have any (more) dreams anyway (to have). From that point of view I’m probably a bad discussion partner, I also lack the understanding how some young kid is supposed to know how I, as an older person, can/should be satisfied. If your parents say your house should be 50% smaller and you don’t need anything expensive otherwise, what do you say??? Right, Mom & Dad, that’s more than enough??? And for the inheritance you take 50% less because that’s also more than enough??? Certainly not, it doesn’t work like that! Some strange developments are spreading, sorry, had to get that off my chest—have fun! In my opinion you neglect an important principle of coexistence, namely that you prefer your parents and put yourself more in the background... but maybe I dream too much there... In their place I would sell my house and enjoy a nice time with my money and live alone, however I like... sorry, but the saying “50 sqm are more than enough” is, in my opinion, completely off and reveals a lot or causes shaking of the head. I have witnessed too many such developments myself... unfortunately most parents lack self-confidence and let themselves get muddled or cheaply fobbed off somewhere. By the way... this criticism was harsh and also meant like that even though we don’t know each other! Just so you know: I’m currently on YOUR parents’ side, where you should actually be!!!

So, first of all, for me this design, this house style, is a little feast for the eyes... and/but I haven’t scanned everything with my eyes yet. So some things may still come up.
I really like the design of the house so far, the idea of the projection, clever parking arrangement, common house hallway, etc. There is quite a bit of planning behind it. No unnecessary frills like corners, niches, etc. clear edges and walls.

Not much to say about the upper floor: I would give one children’s room a west-facing window, or honestly rather the facade ;) Personally, I would provide dormer windows in the bedrooms because living there feels cozier, and the south orientation is actually quite unfavorable for sleeping.

I have already written: We are also not 100% happy with the kitchen yet. We gladly accept all improvement suggestions from all sides – so bring them on

Quite simply: if I count the left cupboard row in the pantry as part of the kitchen, then I would take a long island, but rotated 90 degrees. Facing the dining table, when cooking or washing dishes.
The passage would be above the island (where the less deep shelves are), toward the floor-to-ceiling window I would optically go for 50 cm. Unfortunately, I can’t read the numbers on the PC for how wide the room is...
Or:
The pantry room inside, kitchen access where the pantry currently is, super long kitchen island looking toward the window...
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I notice a rather small wardrobe. I assume the main hallway is generally used as the family hallway.
Then I look for the utility room, where one does the laundry... and I see a square in the guest WC, which is the washing machine??? o_O Despite all dislike for doing laundry: especially with such a beautiful and spacious house, a 6 sqm laundry room should be planned, where you can also hang hand-washed clothes?! I call it a typical architect’s mistake, not to plan that in :)
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Regarding the granny flat:
Is it correct that your parents receive the funding? Or if they finance it and you calculate... couldn’t that cause a problem?

Well, I also find the all-purpose room too small. You can hardly spread out or get out of each other’s way there. But I would want to move in there, even with a partner, if I as a senior often and extensively travel and only need an anchor where I’m allowed to do laundry. That would be a special case. If I were alone, I would be very active with hobbies, and I would miss the storage room, etc. But I also need 80 plus for myself ;) that would probably be the case if I had the advanced age of my parents. But that is also a special case. My parents, in their late 70s, still have their 160 sqm house and enjoy just under 110 sqm all on one level. When only one remains, they have an 85 sqm city apartment. I think that can be well considered as an average quality of life for old age.
I see the apartment more for a frail single person who does not do much anymore.
I don’t know if your parents realize what 50 sqm are, or how they live now. By the way, I am 53 ;)

By the way: the hallway would have much more storage space if the door were shifted slightly to the right on the plan, the sliding door as well, and then a wall closet installed on the left side of the plan. But the architect had a reason for this, namely the space for the TV, which then would no longer be possible. But that is a bit too far away for older people.
I took another look at the kitchen row: that really is just for a sandwich.

But planning a 50 sqm office space for 10, 15 years, when I still have quite a bit of vacancy, that is very foreign to me.
Every joker is different, but even if money didn’t matter, so much unused space would be too uncomfortable for me.

I see it the same way: then you add your idea of enlarging and remodeling the living room, and suddenly one could say that you might as well just plan and build differently from the start.

There is no adequate laundry place for either unit. The granny flat must fundamentally be thought through whether it is really wanted from the senior side (I mean, they are certainly younger than I am—I just finished building, our housing estate consists of 1/3 couples who built at over 55... well then...)
It is actually not adapted to the needs. How many children have been born again now?
I like the approach... yes... but are you sure that your needs are met with this planning?

So I am curious what you will do now with the info and even more so what else the architect has up his sleeve :)

Sorry, as a member of the older generation, I react to this because I read it more and more often.....the parents are put somewhere, ...

By the way...this criticism was harsh and meant that way even though unknown! Just for your information: I am currently on YOUR parents' side, where you yourself should actually be!!!

I wouldn't have phrased it quite so harshly, but the term "Altenteil" keeps going through my mind. When I look at the window arrangement and orientation, it’s nothing loving or of good living quality. I would really reconsider the whole house from scratch. More in the direction of a "duplex" - it doesn't have to look like that! - and then share the upper floor of the parents' half. But in the ground floor, plan a proper 80 sqm. Then later, the duplex half could also be used separately. There are certainly good solutions if you really want to build a multigenerational house. The design is not bad, and I can imagine the architect can plan something better.

And if I understood correctly, your parents have a courtyard? So lots of space and plenty to do to avoid each other. If my parents were locked up in 50 sqm, they would file for divorce after 3 months at the latest - :). My mother with her tinkling kitchen radio, my father’s too loud TV, who of course STILL HEARS PERFECTLY!!!! - That’s how their marriage has lasted despite many age-related difficulties for 50 years. But I think you already understand that the living part won’t work like that.

I didn't mean to hurt with it, but rather to give it a good shake