Floor plan design for a semi-detached house 17x10m - Best space utilization?

If you plan the offset with top and bottom, it will probably be 2 small roofs rather than 1 large one. I estimate that is more expensive. Plus basement, expansion reserve... 700K?!?!?!?!?

Stairs not in the living area and entrance in the north (on the right side of the plan):



OT: I wonder if, as the client, I could now also build 9.5 x 10 on one side and 7.5 x 10 on the other? The building authority shouldn't really care as long as there are 2 residential units and the building plot is not exceeded, right? If that were the case, one could treat oneself to a slightly bigger piece of the cake and squeeze the tenant into a standard floor plan with a width of 7.5.

I would have spontaneously combined eating/cooking and created a quiet sofa/TV area in the space intended for the kitchen.

Unfortunately, that won’t work because you’d end up with the living area on the street corner. Parking spaces, garbage bin enclosure, heat pump, no view of the garden... I’d rather walk 5 meters more from the kitchen to the terrace. You have to accept some compromise.

I’m not really sure what exactly puts you off about the common floor plans. Here’s an example with a landing. Try to describe what you want differently. (...) With a basement and expansion reserve, you probably won’t get around the landing.

Oh, I can’t really tell you exactly, it’s more of a gut feeling. I find it boring and uninspired because it feels like 90% of all semi-detached houses are designed that way. My gut also tells me that the standard is standard because it makes sense somewhere and has been proven, but that doesn’t mean you can’t look for an equally sensible alternative. I’m not that rigid. If a straight staircase takes too many square meters of living space, it’s out, period. But I would like a landing. I think it’s an okay compromise. Anything as long as I don’t have to step on narrow, tapering steps. What we absolutely don’t want are open stairways in the living area. The idea of my daughter having to walk past me on the couch in her “Schlumpi” outfit with her pimply boyfriend in 14 years... brrr. No. The basement staircase should be closed anyway since it won’t be a living basement, see below.

I would integrate guest/office room in the basement instead. There’s enough space there.

Theoretically yes, but we have to grudgingly sweat the basement out of the budget. It probably won’t become a living basement...

Staircase not in the living room and entrance in the north (right side of plan):

Cool! I didn’t get around to it last night, but I’d already vaguely thought about trying something like that. mm paper and pencil are already ready, maybe I’ll manage it today. Unfortunately, I often have home office in the evening when the child finally sleeps. I really like the windows at the “stairwell”! Entrance in the north or south is important to us. Or one in the north/south and one on the east or street side. Then you would also have a certain separation.

OT: I’m wondering if, as a builder, I could now build 9.5 x 10 on one side and 7.5 x 10 on the other? The building authority shouldn’t really care as long as there are 2 residential units and the building plot isn’t exceeded, right? If that’s the case, you could treat yourself to a slightly bigger piece of the cake and squeeze the tenant into a standard floor plan with a width of 7.5.

Man, you’re right. Of course, that would be possible! Sometimes you’re so deep in the topic that you don’t see the forest for the trees. You could also consider 9m vs. 8m, then it wouldn’t be quite as extreme. That might already help...

I think you should reconsider the individual dimensions of your house carefully. The living room is 7m long and on your plan the drafter has nicely drawn a 3-seater sofa with a huge amount of space to the lower window and a lot of space to the dining area. In reality, there is not that much space, the dining table is already 1m deep and you need at least 1m on both sides of the table and that is already very tight. In the upper floor bathtubs are drawn, but they will not be able to be larger than 1.75m. In the lower semi-detached house I wonder what kind of double bed you want to put in the bedroom and you can only walk along the dressing room with your back to the wall. In the upper floor the hallway is bigger than the bedroom, I think for such a small house this straight staircase takes up too much space.

Best regards
Sabine

You can also consider 9m vs. 8m, then it wouldn't be quite so extreme.

I'd rather go for extreme. After all, it's your hut.

If a straight staircase steals too many square meters of living space from me, it’s out, period.

I see the problem with the straight one much more in that the basement access often ends right in front of the sofa. And without a basement, it would be quite cramped.