Optimize functional ground floor layout within limited space

Hello everyone,

I wanted to get in touch again....in case anyone is interested in my further course of action. Also, I have a question at the end.

I have now received the notification that the building permit will arrive in the next few days. Once this has happened, I will discuss with the architect and start the execution and detailed planning. I will also take the following points from the forum with me and discuss them with him:

The layout of living/dining/cooking in the attic is not liked by everyone here. Despite the counterarguments and counterproposals, which I have very carefully read, considered, and taken into account and for which I am also very grateful, I want to stick to this variant. I also want to emphasize that this does not represent a last resort or similar for us, but we can very well imagine the layout in everyday life and are still convinced of it. Since a small goods lift is also planned in the stairwell in this variant, we are currently also reviewing offers from homelifts. Possibly a small homelift could be installed here, which would mainly be used as a small goods lift but could also transport a person in an emergency. However, the first Google searches were not particularly convincing or suitable. If nothing sensible comes up, we would gladly stick to the pure small goods lift.

I would discuss the following room heights with the architect: ground floor 2.4 m, first floor 2.5 m, attic (under the gallery) 2.5 m. Although I am most uncertain about the 2.5 m under the gallery. Possibly 2.4 m would also be sufficient here. The attic is otherwise quite tall and airy under the slopes.

I would like to reduce the step in front of the house from 16 cm to 5 cm and compensate with a slope, without a step.

This results in a knee wall increase in the attic of 25 cm.

Regarding the stairs, I understood that I should enlarge the stairwell on the long side by 7 cm and on the short side by 3 cm. This then results in the following rise/run ratio: ground floor 17.4/26 and first floor/attic 18/26.

So far so good. But now we are somehow reconsidering whether we should mirror the entire floor plan across all floors. So stairs on the left side and garage on the right side. Our thoughts were that then fewer living rooms would be on the exterior wall. It might also be advantageous regarding the sun path. In addition, we think that we would drive forwards into the garage rather. Then it would also be easier to get out and enter the house and you wouldn’t even have to walk around the car in the relatively small garage.

What do you think?

Best regards Martin

What is the street situation like right outside your door? What annoys me about our step-free entrance is that every bit of dirt, every leaf ends up in the hallway as soon as you open the door. We have also had water in the hallway during extreme heavy rain before.

As long as no windows are planned on the exterior wall, I think mirroring makes little sense regarding the light. But if you prefer to drive forward into the garage, that is of course reasonable, as you say it is easier to get out. However, I would recommend parking backwards, as otherwise you might quickly hit a pedestrian on the sidewalk when driving out if you don't have a rearview camera.

There is a sidewalk about 5 meters wide in front of the house up to the curb. Then there is a street (30 km/h zone). Without a step, there will probably be a bit more dirt. However, since we will also have bicycles, etc. on the ground floor, I would prefer a slight slope rather than a step.

We have basically always had a reversing camera, but I fear what will be the most practical will probably only become apparent once it has been built. The practical experience will probably only show then.

Plan from the start to reverse park, otherwise sooner or later you will either run over one of the "I'll just quickly slip behind the car" crowd or a smartphone zombie. Camera or no camera.