Single-family city villa with tent roof - visual single-story appearance

I find it impossible that an official decides whether something fits into the surroundings or not, our house is located right on the edge of the forest and there is a house on the street that looks exactly like what we want. I am already considering collecting signatures from the neighboring residents or something like that.

Well, if it has to be a gable roof, then with the highest possible knee wall, can the space upstairs still be used to at least store a few boxes?

My biggest concerns are that it will be more expensive than before, that would be a disaster, we simply can’t do anymore, neither financially nor in terms of re-planning.

As wrote, the official did not act arbitrarily. With Par. 34, you just go to the building authority beforehand and ask what is possible. Ok, not possible. Take your exterior dimensions and draw a gable roof on it with a knee wall of 120 or 180 cm. Did he say anything about how steep the roof should be? With that depth, you get more than enough storage space under the roof. Look for pictures with dormers, 3rd or 4th gable. High knee wall, clarify what is possible. It costs time and money to enforce a town villa with doubtful success. Roof slopes are not bad, you can avoid skylights.

Someone just has to make the decision and that is the colleague in the building authority. Otherwise, the houses would stand all over the place and possibly have the most impossible shapes. By the way, the official can also be an employee.

I find it impossible that an official decides whether something fits into the surroundings or not

Ah, so that’s where the wind is blowing from. Go there and tell him that. Then even the 20cm building envelope exceedance will be a problem.

because there are only single-story houses with gable roofs there.

and on the street there is a house that looks exactly like the one we want.

Well, what now? Does the man at the office know that? Does that emerge from the building application?

I am already considering collecting signatures from the surrounding residents or something like that.

Yes, our village is supposed to become more beautiful. Better document the immediate and also the wider surroundings with photos. And if you find more than just that one two-story house, then submit a site plan with the photo references to the office and arrange a meeting with the caseworker and office manager.

can the space upstairs still be used to at least store a few boxes?

Sure, I already wrote that, it will even be more than with the tent roof.

Trying to enforce a house design against building authority employees is unpragmatic. The person at the building authority is doing their job when they decide what looks appropriate and what does not. They have given you a hint about leeway – so there is room for maneuver. Just don’t show an attitude of "I want it that way" or "everyone else is an idiot." Negotiating means valuing the other person and also giving them something. Sometimes one is surprised at what one can get in return. The suggestion from to present a few pictures to explore the leeway is very practical and effective. Possibly also a site visit, where you show your counterpart the other townhouse in the neighborhood.

This is starting to get a bit unpleasant and somewhat subjective pessimism.

I think it's impossible that a civil servant decides whether something fits into the surroundings

Everyone else is not only to blame, you’re also denying someone competence.

Well, if it has to be a gable roof then with the highest possible knee wall, can you still use the space upstairs to at least store a few boxes?

More than you can accommodate under a tent roof.

My biggest concerns are that it will be more expensive than before, that would be the absolute disaster, we just can’t handle any more, neither financially nor in terms of redesigning.

... how big is the hut again? Apart from the fact that a gable roof is not the most expensive roof, often even cheaper than a tent roof, but if necessary, it just has to be built a little smaller.

It is what it is... gave good tips... Nevertheless, it was your responsibility.
If then a three-story building is built next to you because the builders want it that way and the building authority only has deskbound officials who rubber-stamp everything, that certainly wouldn’t be alright with you.