Single-family house on 480 m² (approx. 8x9m external dimensions) feedback

To take the side of Birdie84 for once, the replies were indeed somewhat rough here in the thread. The street names probably tipped the balance. The internet is often less anonymous than many would like.

- The window arrangement. I have been thinking about why I, for example, do not want a floor-to-ceiling window in the living room on the south side.
I want to avoid having a couch, which is supposed to stand against this wall, in front of a floor-to-ceiling window.
From the outside, having the windows arranged equally on the south side looks very good, but in my opinion, it is not practical.

- The missing door from the hallway to the kitchen. This is essential for me. I don't want to have to walk through the living room every time I bring groceries to get to the kitchen. Or when my girlfriend visits, she doesn't have to walk through my living room every time. Or when I want to quickly go to the kitchen, I shouldn't have to walk through the living room every time. ;)

We had the same consideration with the floor-to-ceiling window and the couch in front of it, and we also decided against the floor-to-ceiling window for those reasons (and because we wanted a windowsill somewhere for flowers), and I have to say: it was wrong. On the one hand, it looks totally old-fashioned, and on the other hand, the view is very limited because of it. How much I would love to turn around on my couch and look nicely over the backrest, instead, I look at a windowsill and window frame. It really makes so much more of a difference when you have a floor-to-ceiling window, and from the outside I can't judge, but I think you get used to it.

The missing door wouldn’t bother me. We also always have to go through the living room to get to the kitchen, and that is not a problem at all. You hardly ever go "quickly" from somewhere to the kitchen; mostly, you do so from the living area anyway.

How much I would love to turn around on my couch and have a nice view over the back of it, instead I look at a windowsill and window frame.

Finally, someone says it out loud! <3 ...especially since the architect here applied the rules of technology (or whatever it's called), the DIN standards for window openings, meaning the minimum dimensions for room sizes.

If you can look out nicely, then anyone can look in as well. So be careful about how much insight neighbors or pedestrians have. I can understand that there are no windows planned on the neighbor's side. (That also calls for semi-detached houses ;) )

Regardless of the window height, the original design already lacks window area. The living room is very dark and probably uncomfortable because of the lack of windows.

When I look at the drawn-in sofa, I wonder what is supposed to happen with the large free area in the living room. That is the only area in the living room with light and still free at the moment.

Regardless of the window height, there is already a lack of window area in the original design. The living room is very dark and probably uncomfortable because of this, with no windows. When I look at the drawn-in sofa, I wonder what is supposed to happen with the large free space in the living room. That is the only area in the living room with light and is currently still free.

I agree with you, the architect did that better. Although I can also understand if you don't want to place the sofa directly in front of a window, having it in front of a closed wall has its appeal. Of course, that doesn’t have to be in a dark corner as in the original design, but it can also be placed opposite the window on the other wall side or something similar. As long as you don’t have restricting things like the position of the fireplace or so, there is certainly still a lot possible. Even on the south side, I now find a sofa in front of a window somewhat critical; in summer we always have to lower the blinds, otherwise it’s too hot or too bright, and we don’t even have floor-to-ceiling windows.