Renovation of old building floor plan division - kitchen solution sought

The architect lost our trust when he hit our budget spot on with the first cost estimate and also met it exactly after the budget increase. Unfortunately, his cost estimates were massively incomplete regarding the necessary work. "Oh yes, that's right, I forgot that... That too... That too..."

If there were original plans of our house, I would gladly share them. Unfortunately, in our region, all pre-World War buildings are without plans. The building authority confirmed to us that there are no documents for houses built before the war.

Regarding Black / Red / Gold: Thanks, good hint! I will gladly come back to the offer regarding architect search if needed, as there seems to be a shortage of (good) architects with availability in our region.

Unfortunately, all pre-World War buildings in our region are without plans. The building authority confirmed to us that there are no documents of houses built before the war.

Hopefully that applies only to the drawings – or is there, for the sake of the burden of proof, a "general amnesty" assuming legality of buildings from that time in case of doubt?

If original plans existed for our house, I would gladly share them.

On what basis did the architect even "work" then?

I will gladly come back to the offer regarding architect search if needed, since there seems to be a shortage of (good) non-busy architects in our region.

You don’t just need a "good, not fully booked" architect, but specifically a specialist in old building renovations. Unfortunately, my old master is long gone. Many builders – and unfortunately inexperienced architects – imagine a renovation (especially if it’s “only” about the kitchen and bathroom) as a breeze that can be taken lightly. The opposite is true, starting with the forensic investigation of the existing structure. By the way: I haven’t heard anything from here for a long time; although he wouldn’t be exactly around the corner from you in the Eifel either, he would at least be in the league of professionally qualified candidates. Even if your house is probably even older: have you already read a bit with in ?

Yes, I've gone through the thread, thanks.
I won't say anything more about the architect; he was a mistake in every respect. I'm just glad we broke off with the good man...

The general amnesty actually exists here.
Back then, before the purchase, I went to the authorities sweating nervously, and the building office initially assumes that everything old that is standing is approved.
Nevertheless, it doesn't get easier due to the missing plans.

Maybe it actually makes sense if I post our entire project here again. So our current status and requirements.
But I still have to prepare quite a bit for that, so I need a little lead time :)

Maybe it actually makes sense if I post our complete project here once again. So our current status and requirements. But I still have to prepare quite a bit for that, I need a bit of lead time :)

... me too, by the way. Neither could I just pull an architect out of my Rolodex like that, nor could I manage to squeeze a basic construction forensics coaching on site in the NDR broadcast area into the calendar last minute. So don't take too long. How far away are you from Osnabrück?

If there were original plans of our house, I would gladly share them. Unfortunately, in our region, all pre-World War buildings have no plans.

I don't know what this is called in Germany, my daughter in the UK always has her old houses surveyed, inside and outside. She then receives millimeter-accurate plans in DWG, which can be measured and edited oneself (with the DWG viewer). These are the templates for the architect when renovations are planned. The last house was 120 years old, the new one 100. It costs money, of course. Without these plans, you can't plan properly.

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I looked it up, this is called "A Measured Building Survey".

I don't know what they call it in Germany, my daughter in the UK always has her old buildings measured, inside and outside. She then gets millimeter-precise plans in DWG, which you can measure and edit yourself (with the DWG viewer).

Dimensions without materials are only "half the battle," but they still help a great deal. Who offers something like that there, and do they just walk through the house with an R2D2?