Modern single-family house with architect in southern Germany

Development Plan/Restrictions
Size of the plot: 701 m²
Slope: No
Floor area ratio: 0.4
Building window: Drawn in the current plan as "brackets"; rotation of the building window was promised by the building authority
Number of parking spaces: Garage in the garage building window (already exists and will be preserved, 1980. 6.48m x 4.48m)
Number of floors: 2.5
Roof shape: Gable roof 45°-55°
Style:
Orientation:
Maximum heights/limitations: TH= 6.3m; FH 12.0m
Further requirements:

Client Requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: Modern single-family house.
Basement=Yes. Floors=
Number of persons, age: 2 adults in their thirties and 2 small children (3 years & 0.5 years)
Space requirements on ground floor, upper floor:
Office: Home office – currently 5 days a week – Post-Corona presumably 4 days a week
Overnight guests per year: So far, no one stays regularly with us.
Open architecture, modern construction, open kitchen, preferably a cooking island
Number of dining seats: When the whole family is present there are 12 adults and 4 children
Fireplace: No
Music/stereo wall: Only Hi-Fi – TV to take place in the attic
Roof terrace: Yes.
Technology: Controlled residential ventilation, KNX
Garage, carport: Garage already exists
Utility garden, greenhouse: Vegetable garden planned, but manageable in size with two children and one full-time earner

House Design
Designed by: Architect
What do you particularly like? Spacious entrance area despite small building window. Large living/kitchen area
What do you not like? The plans for ground and upper floor have already been changed once, so this version 2 now meets our expectations. The layout in the attic is, I think, still improvable. It shall be used as guest room & TV room.

My architect is also an advocate of building as much as possible according to the Energy Saving Ordinance. The requested energy consultant currently thinks KFW 55 is just achievable – I want to avoid stronger insulation because otherwise, due to the very small building window, the living space would decrease too much. I would like to have KfW 55 in principle, but due to the planned photovoltaics, I think I will compensate for the additional consumption.

The floor height on the ground floor I have increased after consultation with heating engineers because of the ventilation system (+1 stair step -> I think 30 cm - plans will be adjusted). I am quite alone here as my architect has never built with controlled residential ventilation before.

Price estimate according to architect: €690,000
Personal price limit for the house, including equipment: see architect’s cost estimate

Preferred heating technology: Air-to-water heat pump or ground source heat pump (mainly because of noise concerns in the garden and slightly better cooling performance (via underfloor heating). The amortization of the ground source heat pump probably won’t happen in my lifetime.

If you have to do without, which details/extensions
-you can do without: sun deck or complete attic if necessary.
-you cannot do without: stair landing even though it is not space-saving.

What is the most important/fundamental question about the floor plan in 130 characters?

I think we have created a nice floor plan with the architect. I hope you will look at the plans with fresh eyes and protect me from potential tunnel vision. Furthermore, I hope for ideas regarding bathroom and kitchen layout.

So herewith I now dare to step into the lion’s den after quietly reading so far. I will provide the plans with dimensions after receipt, if desired.

[QUOTE="Martial.white, post: 426885, member: 51944"] Music/Stereo wall: Only HiFi – TV should take place in the attic [QUOTE] I generally don’t give my opinion on floor plans, but having to always go to the attic for TV – especially with two kids – is a no-go! However, that has nothing to do with the floor plan.

The thing with television is still working well at the moment. We actually don't have one right now. But managing that is probably rather unrealistic as the children grow older. Just to be safe, I will plan a TV socket and LAN connection at a potential TV position in the living room.

The attic is just luxury, and the unit can be separated as a "granny flat" from the main building. In the living area, I would provide a TV socket on the wall section facing south. A TV can also be mounted on the wall there. Nowadays, you don't need huge TV cabinets anymore.

For me personally, the living area is too "visible" from the driveway. I would try to swap the living and kitchen areas. Why not actually place the entrance on the east side (near the wardrobe window)? It would save a lot of sealed surface area and create a larger garden.

Why are you squeezing yourselves into 10 x 9 m? Not that it is little or small. But without having read the details, I think with the BRI, the plot size, and the floor area ratio, I would rather make the floors larger than stretch upwards. I don’t like the views at all. But that is a matter of taste.

For me, the living area would be too "visible" at the driveway. I would try to swap the living room and kitchen. Why not actually place the entrance on the east side (by the wardrobe window), it would save a lot of sealed surface and result in a larger garden.

I like the idea of the entrance at the east window, but I don’t want to narrow the driveway to the garage too much; 3.60 meters simply isn’t enough room.

Regarding visibility, I understand the objection. But there are actually only gardens all around because it is a rear property that already existed before the surrounding residential area was developed in 1906. That’s also where the annoying issue with the building boundary comes from.

Why are you squeezing yourselves into 10 x 9 m? Not that it’s little or small. But without having read the details, I think with the gross floor volume, the lot size, and the floor area ratio, I would rather make the floors bigger than stretch upward. I really don’t like the elevations. But that’s a matter of taste.

We (the grandparents) had to argue with the city 20 years ago because they had completely canceled the building boundary on the entire plot and only after much back and forth allowed the existing or a new house to be rebuilt exactly on the external walls as before.

That’s also why construction is upwards instead of wider/longer.