With whom to plan/build a single-family house?

Is monolithic masonry with insulated bricks qualitatively different from ETICS?

Definitely yes: first technically, because the insulating materials in the bricks (except for rare exceptions) are different from those that are "tacked on" ;-) on the outside in ETICS. And secondly, religiously, because there are some builders for whom, "as a matter of principle" (to avoid putting it even more drastically), only either monolithic or ETICS is acceptable and the other is out of the question.

How would one typically build such a garden-/basement floor – concrete and masonry?

If wood/stone are mixed, I would at least look for ways not to lay ceiling panels mixed on both materials. Even with concrete/stone mixed, I would try to create a quasi-homogeneity structurally with a skeletal structure or the like. In general, problems can be minimized by choosing compressive strengths as similar as possible. Personally – expertise doesn’t protect against subjectivity – I would prefer a stone or concrete basement, but on the other hand, I also believe that the perennial shrub carpenter and also one or another other carpenter know what they’re doing. Not everything I haven't done yet is truly impossible ;-)

What makes you convinced wood enthusiasts and how long have you been living in your house?

hm, I find the living atmosphere in a wooden house very pleasant. You never get the feeling of cold or chilly walls. I like the smell of wood, but not that of concrete. Also for ecological reasons, we decided on a wooden house and then very consciously looked for a wooden house builder who aligns with us here, for example by using timber from local cultivation and not from Ukraine or somewhere like that. Otherwise, there are also differences from wooden house to wooden house in the wall construction. We did not want any plastic there, etc.

The construction site was always very clean for us. At most, you had to sweep away a few wood shavings. To put it bluntly, our house could simply be dismantled again and burned without hard-to-dispose residues. Recently, I heard a report that explained how much CO2 emissions are caused by concrete production – I was very satisfied with our decision again.

When only the exterior walls stood, it was already cozy and pleasant in our house and everywhere this smell of wood – love it :cool:

Furthermore, I have been interested in house construction for a long time and was repeatedly fascinated by the old houses in Scandinavia – almost all wooden houses and often over 100 years old. There are also amazingly beautiful churches there. So it seems to have proven itself. After a vacation in an old wooden farmhouse in Sweden, the decision was basically made: if ever a house, then a wooden house. This house was only occasionally inhabited and otherwise unheated. We went inside and although it was cold, it was not damp, but simply cool. When the stove was running, it was immediately pleasant.

So for me, both because of the feeling of living and the ecological aspect, it is clear how I would build a house: wood.

We used concrete very sparingly in the house (the ventilation pipes in the floor were fixed with concrete) and otherwise only in the garden. So as I said: if the house is ever demolished, the house itself is certainly no problem both in terms of dismantling and disposal. But the garden will be an issue *laughs*. Due to the sloping site, quite a bit of concrete ended up there.

We have now lived in the house for 1 1/4 years.

But that means you don't live in it yet and you can't share any experience, right?

That's correct, for us it starts at the beginning of 2021, so I can only hope so far that our ideas about how to use the upper/lower/garden areas will prove true. As is often the case in life, both have their pros and cons and a decision had to be made. However, the neighboring houses have stood for decades, and 2 of the 3 neighbors also have a balcony/terrace with stairs on the ground floor. One of them pushed the basement forward and has about 30 sqm terrace with side stairs. Honestly, he hardly uses his garden and you can see that... The other one with about 12 sqm balcony and spiral staircase, however, does use it; he built himself a great outdoor seating area with a fire pit.

Yes, I was also very surprised and certainly asked three times. But it was always said that it was not a problem.

We have been in the house for 15 months. Foundation and base slab made of concrete, no basement, only a technical room accessible from the outside on level -1. Why build a staircase inside... Inside we have clay plaster. In the corners / transitions we made a cut, as it was clear that there would be some movement in the house, but no settlement cracks. We will close the cuts next year. It doesn't bother us.

First of all, he has no problem with "taking over" the cellar started with concrete and continuing to build it

This is also how our construction was done: earth and concrete work including the base slab by a civil engineer, wooden house on top. The precision fit was in the millimeter range and exceeded all expectations, including those of the carpenter, who did not have to touch the concrete anywhere to set the walls - except in one spot, where we moved the kitchen door by another 20 cm.

When only the outer walls were standing, our house was already cozy and pleasant and everywhere this smell of wood - love it

We had this very satisfying feeling too.

Wooden house on concrete foundation works according to our experience. The companies involved were excellent in communication with each other.

Thanks again for your great contributions!
I will get back to this later; I just uploaded the preliminary floor plan draft for Holz 1.
We look forward to comments, thanks! :)

Very good. As many have already written, wood vs. stone is a matter of taste and in the end, many people usually decide on the provider rather than the construction method!

By the way, you are looking for a general contractor (GU) and not a property developer, since you are buying/building the land and house yourselves and do not want to purchase everything in one package.

You have created a floor plan contribution, you could still create a financing contribution. And then, ideally, get offers from your two favorites with the floor plan that fits you 90-95%! And then carefully compare the construction service descriptions and offers in terms of content, classic Excel table who includes what for which price. For example, achieving the KfW standards is not always the same by default in wood vs. solid construction – what do you want? Repayment subsidies are attractive, include that if desired.

And then clarify with the bank what is possible.
You don’t save 50k on construction “just like that”! Definitely not. Not even with different equipment, moving two walls a bit, or own work. And on ALL offers there is always a large additional share on top or additional costs, kitchen, equipment, garden!

Therefore, get comparable offers, contact the bank, and then make a choice or plan the house differently.

Good luck!

You don’t just “save” 50k on construction! Definitely not.

On the other hand, “just like that” 50k is quickly spent more.