On which of these floor plans can we continue to build?

In principle, we find it good. Only there were also (justified) concerns here and elsewhere that make us think.

Which concerns specifically? Please put them into sentences.

Some things are not included but are also not simple. For example, number of windows vs. usable space. Everyone talks about letting light into the house. At the same time, with every window you install, you limit the possibility of placing a taller cabinet. Another example would be the placement of the TV. In principle, we have received 2 examples for a living room from the architect.

Ok, new tip for you: point evaluation method aka utility analysis. No joke, I want you to take this seriously and approach the matter now methodically and structured!

1. --> you choose the 20 most important criteria of a floor plan and assign the criteria a weighting from 1 to 10 (10 is most important, 1 is least important):

Example:

TV situation - weighting: 7
Number of windows - weighting: 9
Storage room - weighting: 3
Criterion 4 - weighting x
Criterion 5 - weighting x
and so on...

2. --> then you take ALL floor plans currently available to you and rate each according to the 20 criteria from 1 to 10 (10 you like best, 1 worst)

Example:

Floor plan A:
TV situation - rating: 5
Number of windows - rating: 9
Storage room - rating: 4
... and so on
Floor plan B:
TV situation - rating: 3
Number of windows - rating: 2
Storage room - rating: 10
... and so on

3. --> now you calculate a utility value for each floor plan by multiplying the weighting by the rating for each criterion and summing up

Example:

Floor plan A:
TV situation = 7 x 5 = 35
Number of windows = 9 x 9 = 81
Storage room = 3 x 4 = 12
... and so on
Utility value A = sum = 35 + 81 + 12 + … = ...

Floor plan B:
TV situation = 7 x 3 = 21
Number of windows = 9 x 2 = 18
Storage room = 3 x 10 = 30
... and so on
Utility value B = sum = 21 + 18 + 30 + … = …

4. --> the floor plan with the highest result in the utility value represents the best compromise for your requirements based on uniform weighting but individual rating. In my mini example with only 3 criteria, A = 128 and B = 69, i.e. option A would be significantly better than B.

As for the weighting, you and your wife agree on the same one, you can each rate individually, so you will each get different utility values and learn about each other’s perspective on the different floor plans. If all that still doesn’t help, the next method comes... I have quite a few more tricks up my sleeve. In the end, we will program a nonlinear model that we optimize room by room.^^

Point rating procedure aka utility value analysis

The method is the right one when the requirements are clear. For my part, I still see the deficit here that must be addressed first.

- In the kitchen, it would be nice if you could look out into the garden from the main work surface or sink.
- In the living room, it would be nice if you could see the garden from the couch.

Does nice mean must or can? If must, then both or where can you do without? Do you spend more time looking at the garden from the couch or rather at the TV? Must the dining table also face the garden?

The area between the living room and the hallway/stairs should be closed off by a door if possible.

Is this about noise, separation from the entrance, draft, etc.? Maybe there are more suitable solutions?

A window in the hallway (upper floor) would be nice.

And what if the floor plan turns out really cool and this is not fulfilled, what do we do then? Perfect example why an evaluation (see above) in the second step is necessary.

With that, we have made a decision!

What concerns exactly? Please put them into sentences.

Please answer this question thoroughly and without references to the initial post. For example, I read nothing of that there. Also what prompted you to draw your own floor plans. Above all, what you have improved in your own floor plans compared to the BT floor plan. You deliberately chose 10x9, ok. What exactly makes you doubt? Or is not so wrong after all and the biggest doubt comes from the fact that it bothers you not to be able to accommodate all wishes 100% in 10x9?

Why don't you take the first one now, but mirrored? What reasons are there for you not taking it?

What specific concerns? Please put them into sentences.

I'm slowly starting to wonder too why it is harder to name these few things than to post new floor plans.

What specific concerns? Please put them into sentences.

The creation of "corridors".

Point rating procedure aka utility value analysis

Thanks for this approach .

then you take ALL floor plans

Then the question arises: which ALL? All from the architect, since these are more thought through than the ones drawn yourself? Also the 8.5 meter deep floor plans? We spent quite a while with that size and then thought that 9 meters deep would be easier . We actually only have the 9 meter deep floor plans from the original post, in 2 different versions of the stairs. Then there is the one from the exposé, which, however, does not meet the requirement of the south-facing children's rooms. Well, and then the one from yesterday. That one is also interesting, but not really complete yet.

Does nice mean must or can? If must, then both or where can you do without? Do you spend more time looking from the couch into the garden or rather at the TV? Does the dining table also have to face the garden?

That is our problem . Basically, we are flexible there. We certainly have wishes, but we know that these can hardly all be fulfilled. Then it depends on the overall package. We have always had the wish that the kitchen faces the garden. A kitchen at the front facing the street also has something (short way to bring groceries into the house, the children do not constantly go through the living room to get something from the kitchen). You certainly sit on the couch primarily to watch TV.

Is it about the noise level, separation from the entrance, drafts, etc.? Maybe there are more suitable solutions?

Yes, it is about noise, drafts, and indirectly about heating.

Also what motivated you to draw your own floor plans.

The idea was not to have to ask the architect for a floor plan every time, but to provide a basic idea. I am bad at drawing in the details, since I do not know exactly what size a staircase will have, etc.

Because of heating, you don't have to build airtight. You cannot compare houses according to the Energy Saving Ordinance with the older houses. Your stairwell will never be as cold unheated as it used to be.

You know ours. It is open and a passive house.

Regarding the noise level, that is very individual. Some build galleries, others their own stairwell.