Jurahaus floor plan - early project phase

Exactly for this reason, we approached two architects, of course without bringing our own designs, but we are not happy with the result. [...]
We would allow other possibilities, which is why we were with two architects, but unfortunately nothing better came out of it. [...]
That was actually not even our consideration, but the builder’s.

We asked the architect for an alternative design. We made an effort not to subconsciously incorporate our floor plan into the specification sheet. [...] Regarding the basement, we only mentioned that the technical room should be near the supply line and that the builder advised us to cellar the garage because that would hardly cause any additional costs.
We provided the architect with the room program, the desired style, our daily routine, and some details. We also visited the plot together with her.

I already read much too early about construction companies here. Do you really have two architects, or one architect and an "architect," or even two "architects" (= permit preparers chartered by or employed by the construction company, aka drafting clerks)?
The urgent recommendation to go to architects without bringing your own designs does not mean to withhold your own designs entirely. The important thing is simply not to "prime" the architect with them. After they have presented their draft ideas, you can safely lay your own sketches on the table (and should even expressly do so to illustrate examples of varying satisfaction with the results). From the discussion “why different and not like that” and “we were more satisfied with our amateur idea because,” all involved parties can only learn (and the clients see how competently the architect responds).

What builders propose is often regarded by their potential clients as the best-tested ideas from the box of experienced practitioners, optimized for the clients’ efficiency; in reality, it is mostly a solution that they have in their own drawer and can implement with the lowest subcontractor demand, and primarily it’s about quickly clearing obstacles on the way to signature. Execution can be well discussed with contractors, but planning is wiser with planners!

The builder constructs in solid construction or, in cooperation with a carpentry, also timber frame.

Who is in charge there, does he then mediate the carpenter essentially as a general contractor-subcontractor for shell construction?

Area: Ingolstadt

We have had Ingolstadt here in as well as and – to my recollection, there were also several mentions of suitable builders.

Unfortunately, I did not mean that one.
The one I meant really has the living/dining area downstairs. Recently posted some pictures of the almost finished house.

Did you then perhaps mean: ?

We actually mentioned a terrace, but not necessarily an elevated one.

Then be very specific: why don’t you want to build into the slope, but rather hovering above the plot?

Well, Siemens air hooks have persistent delivery difficulties. And I can only join the question.

Check whether and which trees are supposed to be planted there. Some of them could take away your view in 15 years.

I would go back once more. You don’t like something, you just don’t know exactly what.

What did you like so much about the Jura house that you said you wanted it?
The street view from the architect’s design hit the mark except for the garage.
The hillside side not at all – it reminds me more of the houses from the 60s/70s that were built so that grandparents and children could still live there with their own apartment.

Would you also have 3 levels on a flat plot? Would you have the same room layout or are there fillers in the basement? I’m more concerned about the budget here. Every square meter costs.

Write down all your must-haves again. Especially regarding the furniture or your daily routine – what might differ from the usual. Draw your desired furniture to scale. Go through the processes on the current floor plan. Imagine the life there. Not just the sundowner on the terrace, but grilling, fire bowl, pool, children playing outside, laundry; shopping, working, cooking, Tupperware evening, football evening, whatever.
Always check if the shoe collection fits in the wardrobe, if the sports bag that’s always in the way really has a fixed place. Is your guest WC really bigger than at friends’ where it always annoys you that no proper sink fits in.

By the way, I would find the study rooms too dark with the terrace above. When I work from home once in a blue moon, I like to be on the terrace. So maybe plan a wind-protected outdoor workspace.

I am reading about construction companies way too early here. Do you really have two architects, or one architect and one "architect," or even two "architects" (= building permit preparers chartered by or employed at the construction company, aka draughtsmen)? The urgent recommendation to go to architects without bringing your own designs does not mean to keep your own designs completely to yourself. The important thing is just not to "prime" the architect with them. After their design idea has been presented, you can safely put your own sketches on the table (and you should even do so explicitly to illustrate examples of differing satisfaction with the results). Everyone involved can only learn from the discussion "why differently and not like that" and "we were more satisfied with our amateur idea because" (and the clients see how competently the architect handles it).

My answer was unfortunately deleted without comment. So here again briefly. Thank you very much, the construction company is set. The planner from #1 is a planner from the construction company. Architect No. 1 is a relative; we did not know the second architect before.

Check whether and which trees are supposed to be planted there. Some of them could take away your view in 15 years.

Good idea, we will do that.

I would go back again. You don’t like something, you just don’t know exactly what.
What did you like so much about the Jura house that you said you want that?
The street view of the architect’s design hits the mark except for the garage.
The hillside side not at all – it reminds me more of the houses from the 60s/70s that were built so that grandparents and children could still live there with their own apartment.

We actually like our design. What we like about the Jura house: the roof shape, shutters and/or distinctive casings, small additional windows, slate shingles,...
The architect’s design views are neither here nor there.

Would you also have 3 levels on a flat plot? Would you have the same room program or are there fillers in the basement? I’m more concerned about the budget here. Every sqm costs.

Yes, definitely. The room program is set. The builder says we shouldn’t let ourselves be convinced by this "every sqm costs" because it’s not true. At least there’s no direct proportionality. Connections, windows, corners etc. cost more. That’s why the builder also likes our design, because statics and installations are simply executed here. According to the builder, the budget also fits.

Write down all your must-haves again. Especially regarding the furniture or your daily routine – what might deviate from the usual. Draw your desired furniture to scale. Go through the processes on the current floor plan. Imagine life. Not just the sundowner on the terrace, but grilling, fire bowl, pool, kids playing outside, laundry; shopping, working, cooking, Tupperware evening, football evening, whatever.
Always check whether the shoe collection fits in the wardrobe, whether the sports bag that is always in the way really has a fixed place. Is your guest toilet really bigger than at friends where it always annoys you that there is no proper washbasin in it?

That’s exactly how we approached it.
Here, for example, an excerpt:
- I like to sew. Mostly projects that aren’t finished in a day or, e.g., surprises for the child. Therefore, I would like a table in a hobby room where something can be left standing.
- We partly work from home. Those are usually the days when laundry is done. Therefore, a laundry room near the office would be good.
- When guests are here, usually one of us is in the kitchen, the other sits with the guests at the dining table. Even though our kitchen has no door, the cook is still not involved in the action. We have experienced this differently at friends who have a combined dining-cooking area, which we like.
- In our rental apartment, when opening the front door, you look directly at the wardrobe and at a pile of clothes. This should be different. Also, it really annoys me that our toilet is directly at the front door. It should get a place with a bit more privacy.

By the way, the work rooms would be too dark for me with the terrace above. If I work in the home office once every few years, I like to be on the terrace. So maybe plan a wind-protected outdoor workspace.

Crazy, we feel differently about that. Without a child, we had our desks in the south room with big windows. The child got that room, and the desks moved into the bedroom in the north and a dark corner between kitchen and dining room. That is by far more pleasant for working on the screen. Previously, the blinds were always half-closed.

My answer was unfortunately deleted without comment. So here it is again in short.
Thank you, the BU is set.
The planner from #1 is a planner of the BUs. Architect No. 1 is a relative, we did not know the second architect before.

What sin did you commit in the long version of your answer?
So, in total three, one "architect" and then an architect from the family and the "second architect" (with the sketches from last week)? - so we don’t know one architect’s design yet?

Think of a large sturdy table for cutting.

Well, whether you reduce from 160 sqm to 154 sqm does not affect the costs. If you reduce 3 rooms and thereby manage to save one entire floor, you will notice that massively. You have a huge hobby room - which is a bit large for sewing - and an office with laundry downstairs. You have already mentally pushed the home technology under the garage, and the rest? The pantry was pushed upstairs by the architect. You have back problems and carry the full laundry baskets from the basement through the ground floor to the attic.

Watch out for all additional costs. Especially on a slope, quite a bit of unplanned expenses can arise. When I think about it at our place and the structural engineer finally grasped what kind of slope we have, the slope-side wall and the floor slab had to be made thicker, much more reinforcement was needed, and the ceiling floor also had to be executed more massively. Yay, 20k more before the first shovel. Or friends forgot that the excavation needs to be removed - the general contractor also includes this in the additional costs - something trivial like spreading it out in the garden when refilling. Sounds good, the basement disappeared behind an earthen embankment: 15k gone.