Single-family house, 1.5 stories, 155 sqm

Here is a preliminary draft that is comparable in size (Note: Unfortunately, my software cannot correctly calculate the square meters in the sloping roof - NRF is correct, WF is not. It is actually more). Dislikes: - Living room layout difficult (only exemplary on the plan, to be honest, I find it bad like this) - Shower bathroom oddly angled - Storage/work-guest room on the ground floor is a long corridor, but that would be a compromise. - Technical room very small - maybe expandable with a bay window at the back? But again, increased cost Likes: - Pantry under the stairs - Covered part of the terrace Also, the draft simply does not seem so spacious to us. The ground floor also has a lot of hallway again. But maybe here the living room could be extended further to the right on the plan?

Here is a preliminary draft, which is comparable in size

Is this the one announced yesterday? - why aren’t the washing machine and dryer simply placed in the utility room, which is also large enough, without twisting the wall? I would prefer the draft from post #16 by Katja here. Feel free to get in touch, see the attached second to last paragraph of the original from post #18:

I think you should know quite precisely what technical equipment is going into this room. A large one can be too small and a small one too big. Once you know the devices, this can be clarified quite easily. I like the design by but also basically find your last one here interesting as well. The question is whether you wouldn’t have to bend the entire design again when sanding the mentioned edges. I also see the washer/dryer rather opposite the entrance in the corner; moreover, it needs to be clarified where the drain would come out at the bottom. On the ground floor, I see slightly shifted walls anyway, which might be load-bearing walls and therefore cannot be moved arbitrarily.

The very first and thus most important decision would be the placement of the house. Now you have a so-called north-facing plot and somehow I have the impression that you are not so happy with it. It’s like on a tour bus where all 50 guests want to sit in the front row and fear other seats would be inherently bad; but that’s not the case! I like the idea that came up here to move the house all the way forward because at the back you have the field, so peace and privacy. If the house stands far forward, a second (wooden) terrace could be reachable over a jetty or a nice path at the rear end of the property, as you often see in Sweden, for example. Although we have pretty much a south side here, we still built such a second terrace from which you can nicely look at the house. But we sit 95% of the time under the terrace roof, so in the shade. Our neighbors with north- and northeast-facing terraces also have their covered terrace at the back and don’t find that bad. Now in winter you miss the sun, but by May/June at the latest you often flee from it, get blinded by it, and look for shade.

If it were summer now, I would recommend you go and see it there in person and spend a longer time for a picnic to really get your own feeling for it. You can write, read or measure a lot but in the end your own perception decides what you find pleasant. If it is possible to raise the house 2-3 steps then you won’t have to dig away too much at the back. If you then sit a little away from the house, you have the sun again and also your south side.

The question is whether you then have to bend the entire design again while sanding the mentioned edges. I also see the WM/dryer rather opposite the entrance in the corner; moreover, it also has to be clarified where the drain will come out at the bottom. On the ground floor, I see slightly shifted walls anyway, which might be load-bearing walls and therefore cannot be moved arbitrarily.

That is why my mantra is "The upper floor has priority."

I think you should know quite precisely what technology should go into this room. One large can be too small and one small too large. As soon as you know the appliances, this can be clarified quite easily. I like @K a t j a’s design but I basically also find your last one here interesting.

At the TE’s place, I wouldn’t hesitate long and would ask the providers known to you my classic double question with Katja’s design in post #16 (which offers a utility room above and a connection room below): (1) how expensive is it to build this house for us / (2) which already tested model from your portfolio would come closest to this? By the way, I remind you of my request to name the "completely unsuitable" houses with their model names and the respective reasons for disapproval. This way, things can definitely be clarified well and soon. My personal time horizon at the TE’s place would be to have reached decision maturity as soon as the completed formation of government has found its reflection in the structure of the funding programs. So when the new Bundestag goes into the summer break.

Now in winter you miss the sun, but at the latest from May/June onwards you often flee from it, get blinded by it, and look for shade.

One must not forget that one sits outside 90% of the time in summer. In winter, one tends to be indoors. So with a north-facing terrace, it is mainly about bringing the light into the house anyway. However, the terrace can certainly be in the shade. Moreover, a second seating area is always an option.

If I were in the OP's place, I wouldn't hesitate long and would ask the classic double question to the providers she already knows with Katja's design in post #16 (which offers a utility room on top and an adjoining room below): 1. how much would you charge to build us this house / 2. which already tested model from your portfolio comes closest to this?

I definitely wouldn't do that, because in my opinion it is not even certain yet where the house will be placed. By the way, I also find the design from #20 quite interesting. I can hardly understand your objections, but be that as it may.

but in the bedroom it would be good if the wardrobes could go behind the door so that the room is easier to arrange. That is of course only possible if the utility room is correspondingly shortened, or does anyone see other possibilities?

Such details can be solved in a non-standard way, but it makes it more expensive if you give up the hinged door or right angles.

It is of course worth considering, we have always been very focused on the south garden so far. We will think it over again.

That is smart. I am happy to give you a few impulses: 1. You don’t just need the one big terrace. Think of a place in the garden that invites you to settle down or a second terrace on another side of the house. Be creative. We find it really useful that we have enough places to settle outside – not only because of the weather, but also because of the different places we create and sometimes also use simultaneously – for example, when I chat with a visitor and my wife also wants a retreat outside. You plan children’s rooms. When they are teenagers (and that comes quickly) everyone in your family will love having the option of using different outdoor places. 2. Privacy – that is a valid issue. My wife loves being able to see everything and not be seen. That will be a bit hard to realize for you. Look where you can see a beech hedge. It is quite sparse in winter but really you cannot see through it – unless you want to and stand still for a few minutes. Two small staggered hedges, for example, make a great passage with privacy. 3. Cardinal directions – Consider what really matters to you – do you want a lot of direct sunlight or just a pleasantly bright room? Direct sunlight also generates heat. Think about where you like it in summer and where it might get too warm. A bright living room without a south orientation – why not? A kitchen from which I can look out the front door – is that more important than orientation? Orienting every room to the sun is possible but will be an expensive building form that not every development plan allows.

I realized that thanks to your criticism – no idea why we had such a “board in front of our heads.” I had always only identified the first platform as a problem, not the entire head clearance.

That is normal, which is why good building partners are so important – and conversations about “how do I want to live” instead of just about the seemingly obvious “what should the house look like and what does which detail cost.”