Plot with southwest access - how to build?

Dear forum,
we are still quite at the beginning of planning a single-family house with about 160m² of living space. So far, we only have very rough ideas about the house itself; we first want to find a suitable plot of land. Generally, we have been thinking more in the direction of a prefabricated house.

Now we are in the tendering process for a plot (red-bordered). In general, we like its size and location (edge to the field). However, there are several special features and restrictions, so we wonder how the plot could be sensibly developed.
- To the north, there is an adjacent retention area fenced off.
- To the west, there is a bike path. A 3m "front yard" is required here (only low fence/hedge, no carport or driveway).
- To the south-southwest, the driveway is from the street.
- To the east, the field borders the plot.
- To the south, there is a direct neighboring property.

Our first idea would be to place the carport directly in the south by the street, separated from the house. The house would then be located to the north or northeast (with a footpath to the entrance on the gable side to the west).
Then one could plan the terrace and garden towards the south/southeast.

What do you think about this? Does it make sense?
What about the utility room? I have read that in many cases it must be planned towards the access/road? Of course, we would prefer it in the north.

Or what would be your suggestions and ideas?

Thank you very much and best regards
Micha

Development plan/restrictions
Plot size: 620m²
Slope: no
Floor area ratio: 0.4
Plot ratio: 0.8
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 2
: pitched
Style: open
Orientation: free
Maximum heights/limits: TH 4.5–6.5 FH 10.5

Homeowners’ requirements
Single-family house EH40, probably gable roof, possibly hip roof
Cellar: no, floors: 2
Number of people, age: 2+2 (2 years, 0 years)
Room requirements on the ground floor: utility room, living/dining area, guest room (later office), and WC with shower
Upper floor: bedroom, children’s room, office (later children’s room)
Office: home office
Open kitchen
Number of dining seats approx. 6
Fireplace: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Carport: yes

Separate yourselves from the idea that gardens are only nice in the south, and preferably with the carport right away as a privacy shield.

In general, we have so far thought more in the direction of a prefab house.

Because of which of the prefab house myths specifically, and why EH40 (or is EH40 the reason for the preference for a prefab house)?

What about the utility room, I have read that in many cases it has to be planned facing the access road / street?

With plenty of money you can generally afford long cables, they just shouldn’t be built over. House entry and technology can be separate, for example the connection room on the ground floor and the "boiler," "fuse box," & Co. on the upper floor.

Hi 11ant, thanks for the feedback.

Separate yourselves from the idea that a garden is only beautiful in the south, and preferably with the carport right there as a sight protection barrier.

So you would rather plan the garden facing north and place the house in the south? It is to be expected that the neighbor in the south will build the house in the north and then directly adjacent.

Because of which of the prefabricated house myths specifically, and why EH40 (or is EH40 the reason for the inclination towards prefabricated houses)?

Maybe partly because of the myth that it will be cheaper for us. EH40, because we are planning with KfW 300 and NRW Sustainable Living. We can also imagine QNG if it does not become significantly more expensive. And by then, prefabricated houses, as far as I have also read here, are at an advantage. But in general, we are still completely open.

Maybe partly because of the myth that it will be cheaper for us. EH40, since we are planning with KfW 300 and NRW Sustainable Housing. We can also imagine QNG if it is not significantly more expensive. And at the latest there, prefab houses are, as I have also read here, at an advantage. But in general, we are still completely open.

Completely open is very good. The construction methods are equivalent in the sense that none has fundamentally cheaper or more precisely predictable final prices. Only in the finer efficiency house fat levels can the timber frame panel builders more easily meet the requirements. But those are not needed. I always advise my clients to take a look at their tax returns to see how they rank compared to other Meiermüllerschulzes. Trying to be avant-garde in the standards hardly "pays off" and is therefore a domain of the "better earners." If both earn in the progressive tax bracket, they better leave the "world saving through insulation boom and laboratory heating technology" to others. Users of my house-building roadmap always make the construction method decision only during the resting phase of the dough.

So you would rather plan with the garden facing north and place the house to the south? It is to be expected that the neighbor in the south will build the house in the north and then directly adjacent.

As a Rhinelander of Cologne influence, I never waste any thoughts on begrudging my neighbor. Why should I care if the neighbor also has a nice place? Park-like plots with kilometers of unobstructed solar exposure are unaffordable for normal mortals (like me), and at least in the summer vacation months rather disadvantageous and require elaborate shading. Possibly I would even live upstairs and enjoy that the sun never blinds me from the north-facing unobstructed view over the retention basin. Out of the box thinking is quite underdeveloped among the average builder. My house would probably stand with its eaves parallel and close to the edge of the building plot facing the bike path.

It is to be expected that the neighbor to the south will build the house in the north and then directly adjacent.

…and that’s exactly why I wouldn’t want my garden there.
Your neighbor will build something similar (I assume garages may be placed beyond the building boundary).

So if you orient your garden or terrace there, you will be confronted with car doors slamming, coming home, plaintive separations, etc. from the neighbor. We hear everything from 10 meters… but they are loud as well.

However, I don’t like it either. Also, the access from the house should welcome someone.
But you get praise from me for the option not to connect the house and parking space.

Then you could plan the terrace and garden facing south/southeast.

I once marked how you could get light into the house. Of course, it depends on the floor plan.
You could also build a dormer with a large window facing south and a small open space at the stairs that brings the captured light into the ground floor. Openness is not everyone’s wish, especially if you want to consider children.

The terrace gets enough outdoor light. The garden gets sun, of course, also in the north.
Since you usually can only enjoy the terrace in the evenings during summer, here’s the highlight: the sun sets in the northwest! In summer.
It is important to get enough light into the house from east to east.
And terraces, you can place a few on the property. Those are called outdoor seating areas.

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P.S. Pictures need to be swapped.

- In the west there is a bike path. Here 3m is specified as a "front garden" (only low fence / hedge, no or driveway)

So, on nice weather days x people cycle past and some of them look curiously into your place. Does that bother you? If yes, you have to structurally ensure that not everyone can see the terrace. In that case, also consider the modern window fronts. Regarding positioning...a carport close to the street is likely set in all cases. The next question would be where you want the front door. Classically from the north (longer way), gable side in the west (gable-side front door is often difficult for the floor plan) or the shortest way in the south (rather unconventional). I would leave the utility room out of considerations for now. But yes, every meter costs and from a certain threshold (usually 15-20m) you get a handover shaft from the supplier and are responsible for everything behind the shaft. Anyway, it is not so easy to realize floor plans with a utility room and an additional work/guest room on the ground floor. It simply requires a lot of space on the ground floor. You shouldn’t start immediately with the goal to place the utility room in the shortest corner.