Semi-detached house on sloping land by the forest

Good evening everyone,

after following this forum with interest for now two years, it is now gradually getting concrete for us as well.
A plot of land has been purchased and together with the architect we trust, we are planning the construction of a semi-detached house for us and my parents with a view of the forest.

Development plan/restrictions
§34 Building Code
Size of the plot
1003 sqm
Slope
yes, southeast slope – overall 7 meters along the length of the plot
street in the northwest
Floor area ratio
-
Plot ratio
-
Building window, building line and boundary
Plot dimensions approx. 24m x 41m.
Edge development
no
Number of parking spaces per semi-detached house half
-
Number of storeys
In the neighborhood, single storey (basement, ground floor, recessed storey)
Roof type
in the neighborhood both gable and hipped roofs
Style
solid house, modern
Orientation
-
Maximum heights/limits
-
Further requirements
-

Requirements of the builders
Style, roof type, building type
modern, shed roof, semi-detached house
Basement, storeys
basement, ground floor, recessed storey
Number of persons, age
semi-detached house left side on plan: 1955m, 1957f
semi-detached house right side on plan: 1988m, 1987f, 2 children planned
Space requirements on GF, UF
semi-detached house left side on plan:
GF: guest WC, cloakroom, living room, dining room, kitchen, storage room
UF: master bedroom, guest room, bathroom
BSMT: apartment (for e.g. caregiver), technology, cellar
semi-detached house right side on plan:
GF: guest WC, cloakroom, living room, dining room, kitchen, storage room
UF: 2 children's rooms, 1 study / master bedroom (when children are small), children's bathroom
Office: family use or home office?
home office
Guests per year
6 per semi-detached house half
Open or closed architecture
open
Conservative or modern construction
modern
Open kitchen, cooking island
not mandatory
Number of dining seats
6-8 per semi-detached house half
Fireplace
no
Music/stereo wall
no
Balcony, roof terrace
planned both on the recessed storey and on the ground floor
Garage, carport
carport
Utility garden, greenhouse
no
Other wishes/special features/daily routine, gladly also reasons why this or that should or should not be
semi-detached house left side on plan:
- Straight staircase to make it easy to install a stairlift in the future
- Large bathroom with T-solution
- Separate dressing room
semi-detached house right side on plan:
- In the basement there is a master bedroom with access to the garden planned. If children come, the way from the basement to the upper floor is too far, so the parents should also temporarily sleep on the upper floor.
- Possibility for the children to move to the basement during their teenage years.
House design
Who created the design:
architect
What do you particularly like? Why?
We like the plan very much so far. However, we are no construction professionals
What do you not like? Why?
-
Estimated price according to architect/planner:
-
Personal price limit for the house, including equipment:
700,000 euros
Preferred heating technology:
geothermal energy
If you have to do without, which details/extensions
-you can do without:
living space
-you cannot do without:
large living/dining room
Relevant/which wishes were implemented by the architect?
The architect considered our wishes. Problematic were the parking spaces, which would exceed a mean height of 3 meters due to the slope and therefore ruled out border development. This is how the current solution with the carports came about.
What is the most important/fundamental question about the floor plan summarized in 130 characters?
I would like to hear your opinion about the design. Any suggestions for improvement, tips, saving options or other advice?
Since this is our first house construction, we look forward to criticism, suggestions, and ideas!

To the parents' side

You are planning a straight staircase because of the stairlift and the granny flat for the caregiver

The area in front of the staircase from the ground floor to the upper floor might be a bit too small, for example to walk to the lift with a walker.
I would redesign the bathrooms on the ground floor and upper floor. Parking backwards with a walker onto the toilet is not easy.
Possibly help is also necessary, for example pulling up pants or in the morning the nursing service comes and supports.

On the ground floor I would remove the shower and on the upper floor the toilet.
Plan WC, shower, and washbasin so that a walker can be used or spouse/caregiver can assist. Possibly design the bathtub so that a bathtub lift can be used and still enough legroom is available.

Between healthy and nursing home there are many gradations and possibilities to make life easier.

How wide are the doors planned?
Install sockets at light switch height so that one does not have to bend down.

I would simply use the barrier-free website on the internet.
It gives tips for turning circles, barrier-free living, etc.

Our bathroom on the ground floor is wheelchair accessible and also on the upper floor, although not as comfortable. It does not look like a hospital.

I like it except for 2 things: 1. The path from the entrance to the kitchen at the parents' place is too long. 2. I can't imagine that 700 grand is enough. The basement at the parents' place seems too expensive and unnecessary to me.

I am also against the T in the bathroom in the parent area (around 60/65). For 6 guests per year, I usually don’t get a guest room, but for separate bedrooms for later, the second room is good. The access on the ground floor to the kitchen leads through the chill area. I would change that. I also don’t see a 4-person bar for a 2-person household... I also don’t see the terrace with stairs for both units, rather attached to the kitchens. Should the granny flat be only for care or already for tenants? If also already for further tenants, then storage space is missing there as well as a washing machine connection. If it is only to be for the caregiver later, I would reserve it now for guests and divide the upper floor into equivalent rooms or put the closet space externally in a separate room. On your side: ask yourselves if you all, including the children, always want to go through a storage room to get to the kitchen. You, the parents, are watching a Saturday evening crime show, the 8-year-old has to go through the storage room to get a glass of milk. Or past the gory TV... and in the morning you get annoyed about these two doors because they are open. Regarding your hike from basement to upper floor: I don’t think you can pull that off satisfactorily with the wardrobes.

Thank you very much for the previous answers.

I believe we have made it very difficult for the architect: to accommodate 4 completely different demands, wishes, and life stages under one roof.

Would you mirror the ground plan of the left semi-detached house on the ground floor? Do you have suggestions to create a shorter path with the groceries to the storage room?

Regarding accessibility, these are very good hints! I will take a closer look into the topic and speak with the architect.

The “Appartement” in the parental semi-detached house is not to be rented out. It is really only intended for a caregiver, if one should ever be needed, or possibly for garden parties or similar events.
Due to the slope, we have to build with a basement, so basement rooms with garden and terrace access would be “given away” there.

I also don't see the terrace with stairs in either unit, rather attached to the kitchens.

What do you mean by that?