Mark airspace – build closed directly (approx. 6–7 m²)?

Sorry, an upper floor which does not count as a full floor

Sorry, an upper floor that does not count as a full floor

So a full floor, which it is, but is counted down. A city villa where none is desired. What the architect suggests to you is fraud. Whether it is tolerated? Whether a forum gives you the go-ahead? Whether you tolerate the fraud yourself? Ultimately, you have to build exactly as one actually does not want to.

Presumably, this is about calculating the upper floor 25% smaller than the ground floor so that it qualifies as a recessed floor and does not count as a full floor. I just wonder how your architect plans to manage that with 7 sqm of air space. Probably the ground floor is larger than the upper floor and it is still not quite enough? Your architect is right that nothing is checked inside. Another trick to build larger cheaply is to report the shell construction as complete to the building authority before the exterior insulation and facade are installed. Then the house is measured that way and the external dimensions fit the authority's requirements. Insulation and facade are then added on afterward. The world belongs to the brave! Unfortunately, there are far too many naysayers and cowards in Germany.

Many also run red lights.

The comparison inspires me: running a red light results in points on your driving record in Flensburg. Perhaps architects who incite illegal constructions should have their authorization to submit plans revoked for a few months, just like a driver's license is taken away for drunk driving.

You have to decide for yourself. I wouldn’t ask that in a forum. That would be like if our Chancellor had asked in a forum whether it is okay to break his central election promise two days after the election with the help of old majorities.

You know it is against the rules and that you most likely won’t face any consequences for breaking the rules. You have to decide for yourself.

There are unfortunately far too many worrywarts and scaredy-cats in Germany.

Well, the meaning of "courage" certainly lies elsewhere than in circumventing applicable law (which was created for our community). Calling someone who adheres to regulations a worrywart and scaredy-cat seems to me rather odd. Where one should really be courageous and where it benefits society, unfortunately you find that much less, so the comparison is quite off. Moreover, it occurs to me that an architect who is not able to plan a suitable and beautiful house within the applicable regulations and without violating rules, for which he would then be responsible, should rather deal with his own inadequacy than look for every possible illegal loophole for his lack of imagination. In this respect, that would not be my...