Houses without basements: Storage space, hobby basement?

Children's rooms with 18-20 sqm are already a luxury. For us, there was "only" enough space for three rooms of 12 sqm each. But we also wanted to sleep on one level with our three little girls. So, the bedroom with dressing room, the play corridor, and the two bathrooms were added. That way, the floor was almost entirely used up with just under 100 sqm of living space. However, for us, life takes place either in the garden (summer) or in the large living/dining area, including the play corner for the children. So, we actually only have three bedrooms with a desk and wardrobe for the children - but as a retreat, that is also completely sufficient.

When I think of my old childhood room...

...I remember the storage space in the knee wall. What are these side spaces called again that form between the rafters and the knee wall?

As an only child, I had half of the attic space available: 24 sqm with sloped ceilings (40 degrees), a bathroom, and a hallway. I didn't like the room because it was way too big and voluntarily moved into the storage room on the upper floor of about 8 sqm. My 140 cm wide bed had room for my friends and me, homework was done in the dining room, but the wardrobe was still in the old big room.
And as already mentioned: from around 12/13 years old, I was constantly in town with my group of friends, out and about or elsewhere... that’s probably no different nowadays (30 years later), right?

Since the topic has now somewhat drifted anyway, I will also add my two cents:

As @Welmy already wrote, the size of children's rooms is a matter of opinion, and I also think you can't narrow it down to a specific necessary size. A well-designed 12 sqm room can definitely appear and feel much larger than a poorly designed 18 sqm room. And with 5 children and a limited budget, there simply comes a point when you've reached the limit. Nevertheless, I always find it amusing to compare today’s conditions with back then. I also had a children's room that wasn't even 10 sqm – and yes, it worked. Of course it worked because there simply was no other option. But more than a bed, a desk, and a wardrobe wouldn't fit in there. After that, I had a passageway that was not even a meter wide. Everything that was called a hobby was outsourced. I have always enjoyed making music. Larger musical instruments in the room – no chance. A seating area to quietly chat with friends – no chance. Sure, it worked somehow – but it was far from ideal.

What I find simply terrible with some builders is that sometimes the proportions just don’t match: huge bedrooms are planned for a room that most actually only use for sleeping, but the children have to live in cramped spaces. But from a certain age, children do live in their rooms. They want to invite friends, they may have hobbies that require some space, and they spend a large part of their time in their room (no one wants to tell me that 13, 15, or 17-year-old kids spend the majority of their time with their parents in the living room). And they should do so. Not everyone is always out and about. The argument that the children will eventually move out only applies to a limited extent for me, since they don’t live with you for just 1, 2, or 3 years but around 20 years (+/-).

What I like is a solution like in [Nordanney]: If you plan a play corridor or an extra communal room for the children or other retreat options, then the pure children’s rooms can certainly be a bit smaller.

Our children each have a 20 sqm room in total, which certainly wouldn’t necessarily be necessary and is actually a luxury. But rather than wasting the space (which we have on the upper floor due to the ground floor) on a large hallway, a large bedroom, or a dressing room that wouldn’t be used anyway, I prefer to give it to the children.

Hello Simone,
is there a possibility for you to put up an oversized garage? Alternatively, some manufacturers of precast concrete garages also offer quite clever standalone or attached storage rooms.
Regards,
Dirk

Hello

an extra wide and extra long garage is already planned. We also have a 9m garage now, but it is already well used with bikes, lawnmower, and other garden stuff. Originally, a house in Bauhaus style was planned for us as well, but we are not sure if we will stick with it because I miss the storage space in the attic room. The architect planned a utility room 3 m x 7 m, but I don’t know if I should like that... now he is planning a modern house with a gable roof. Let’s see if I like that better.

Since the topic has somewhat drifted anyway, I will also add my two cents:

Nevertheless, I always find it amusing to compare today's living conditions with back then. I also had a children's room not even 10 sqm in size – and yes, it worked. Of course it worked because there simply was no other option. But no more than a bed, a desk, and a wardrobe fit in there. After that, I had a hallway that was less than a meter wide. A seating area to chat quietly with friends – no chance. Surely it worked somehow – but nice is something else.

Our children each have a 20 sqm room in total, which certainly is not absolutely necessary and in fact a luxury. But rather than wasting the space (that we have upstairs, due to the ground floor) on a large hallway, a large bedroom, or a walk-in closet that wouldn’t be used anyway, I’d rather give it to the kids.

I see it exactly the same way; my daughter has squeezed a couch with a TV into the tiny room—for chatting when one or two friends come over. But more visitors are not possible... and she imagines a nicer furnishing.

I also think a master bedroom does not have to be big. Since we are planning a walk-in closet, only our bed and the TV need to fit there. It will be planned only as large as necessary, and the rest added to our children’s rooms. And when my daughter eventually moves out, that will be my sewing room!

Hello,

Apart from the fact that I wasn’t allowed to

I am very sorry for you ...!

Rhine greetings

@Bauexperte: By now, I've gotten over it!