Orientation of single-family house + garage on west-east plot with street on the west

Thank you for the challenge. [...] Is there an easy way to find out how far the western sun in summer versus winter still "comes over the house"?

Which "challenge"? You can "help the sun over the house" (by using a hip roof instead of a gable roof). The descriptions are not enough for me to assess the condition of the existing house. As far as it is suitable or can be upgraded with economic effort, I would compare its actual state and potential with the target in planning terms. I already count 1964 among the solid years of construction.

Hello everyone,

we have now made a decision and the preliminary design is almost finished. The orientation is now towards the west.
A new question has come up about how to position the garages. We are planning 1 garage + 1 carport. In the northeast there is a walnut tree that we would like to keep. Therefore, there are basically 2 variants, which I have tried to sketch:

Variant A:
- Carport in the east
- Garage in the northwest at the house
Advantage:
- House entrance visible from the street, so a bit nicer.
- Additionally, in the future it is optionally possible to park a motorhome in the northwest and still be able to drive to the garage in the back (the radius just fits)
Disadvantage:
- Very long driveway
- The bicycles might be a bit tight to get past the car
Note: Garage cannot be moved further west toward the house entrance because there is a bathroom window there and not further east because of the walnut tree

Variant B:
- Carport AND garage in the west
Advantage:
- Short driveway
- Better shielded
- Easier regarding bicycles
Disadvantage:
- Garage overlaps with the house, so the entrance is no longer visible from the street
- Access path around the corner (you have to leave 1.5m (or 1.2m) space)
- No space for a motorhome AND use of garage and carport

Do you have any recommendations here on what makes more sense functionally and aesthetically?

Thanks a lot in advance!!

Hello everyone, we have now made a decision and the draft planning is almost complete. The orientation is now towards the west.
Now a new question has arisen about how we position the garages.

Find the mistake! Here is a little tip from Yvonne on this:

I would plan everything entirely including the floor plan...

Such half-hearted requests without the completed questionnaire, without the now developed floor plan, without the drawn-in terrace, without the drawn-in walnut tree, without paths and other basics – you shouldn’t expect much help there.

Sorry, I can’t share the floor plans and I can only adjust the garage now – everything else is fixed. For me, the only question left is basically: Do I want to reverse 31m every day and gain flexibility for a potential motorhome in the future as well as a nicer view of the house? Or do I prefer to have the garage more practical at the front and forego the rest.

Ultimately, it’s an individual decision, I just thought maybe someone has experience with long driveways without a turning option. If so, please let me know if you would do it the same way again. Otherwise, this thread can be closed.

Thanks again for your thoughts anyway.

Alignment is now towards the west.

So to where the cars are supposed to go now? Let me guess, the carport will then stand right next to the terrace and the kitchen now has one less window facing west because of that?

Both solutions are rubbish because the floor plan doesn't fit. I don't even need to see it for that.

I have now discovered the tree. I missed it at first, sorry.

I also wouldn't recommend the long driveway for that reason, because you always have to pass very close to the front door. There is certainly a house entrance platform there which you would have to drive around. That would be bad neither for the car nor for the people stepping out the door and being run over in the process.

If I had to choose between A and B, my gut feeling would be A. Driving backwards 10 meters further straight ahead is no rocket science either. You need pavement up to the house entrance anyway. And, sorry , how fast are you driving down the driveway to run someone over there? By the way, the carport can also be detached from the house and (if carports are allowed) placed directly on the street. That saves a few more square meters of pavement.