Floor plan planning semi-detached house, ground floor assessment

Before the appointment with the general contractor, we had already created a floor plan for our semi-detached house. The basic floor plan comes from a model house. We only made minimal adjustments to the floor plan. [...] Currently, we have only sketched the ground floor. Basement, upper and attic floors [...]

I already see, I should better let a professional do the work :). We will proceed by taking the basic floor plan of the model house to the general contractor and discuss our ideas/changes there. He is then supposed to design something.

Didn’t you want to let a professional do the work? — the general contractor’s draftsman is not that. The strategy of only adjusting a proven floor plan taken out of a drawer (“if it has to be done”) works better with one from the executing general contractor than with one from another general contractor’s drawer. But back to the beginning: 1. You want to build a semi-detached house. My urgent recommendation is to at least approach the planning together with the builder of the other half. 2. You want to build with a basement. Are you aware that there are three variants? (A: both halves with basement; B: your half first; C: if the other half is without, but first: then with complications, i.e. especially additional underpinning effort).

… and if they present you a finished/final one, then we’ll gladly take a look :)

Didn’t you want to let a professional handle it? – but that is not the GU’s signature slave. The strategy to just adapt a proven floor plan from the drawer works ("if it must be") better with one from the executing GU than with one from the drawer of another GU. But back to the beginning:
1. You want to build a semi-detached house. My urgent recommendation here is to at least approach the planning together with the builder of the other half.
2. You want to build with a basement. Are you aware that there are three variants of this? (A: both halves with a basement; B: your half first; C: if the other half without, but first: then with complications, i.e. especially additional underpinning effort involved).

The GU has an employed architect.
1. The other builder is not yet present.
2. I am aware of that; as mentioned, the other builder is not yet present. If they are there before construction starts, of course the best solution for both parties will be negotiated together.

We are currently in the phase of obtaining offers from the GUs and selecting a GU. Construction can only start in summer/autumn because the plot is not yet developed.

The general contractor has an employed architect.

I forgot to ask last night: why a general contractor planning at all – don't you have a free choice?

I forgot to ask last night: why a general contractor planning at all - don’t you have a free choice?

Why not? An architect is provided and is already included in the price anyway.

As mentioned before. Start planning on the upper floor. There are plenty of duplex floor plans that work. Trying to adapt from a single-family house usually fails. I'll attach a floor plan just as a sketch. I don't like the parents' room, and unfortunately, I don't know if the fireplace on the upper floor works. I just quickly copied it, but maybe you can use something from it.

I have to chime in here since I don't have the right to send private messages yet. We are planning to build a similar house, so thanks for the example. It is similar to Medley 128sqm or Massiv-Hausidee DH 110 M. Do you have more pictures with windows and room dimensions? Thanks

Why not? The architect is provided and is already included in the price anyway.

Yes, unfortunately, it is usually an employee from whom the employer expects to efficiently and quickly create plans for stamping. Designing mostly falls by the wayside. Nevertheless: you have to know how the general contractor (GU) ticks and what he offers (masonry or timber frame). Then you can improve. Unfortunately, that's how it is. But in the end, it is “only” a semi-detached house, where half is "actually" already predetermined. Because something confuses me about your status, that you don't have a GU yet, but you talk about a show house, etc... So I read your initial post again (there are quite a few discussions going on, which can get a bit confusing)

before the appointment with the GU

One would think that you have one. I don’t see a site plan, so I assumed fixed GU/property dimensions. The word show house also confused me, as I said. And probably not only me. Therefore, if it is an own plot on which an as yet unknown GU will build, you should submit - the site plan - the orientation - the budget - the age (planning is different for 60-year-olds than for 30-year-olds) - neighboring development Nevertheless, it applies: Nevertheless: you have to know how the GU ticks and what he offers (masonry or timber frame) And if I may add: when I drive around, I usually see nice gimmicks on the semi-detached houses, raised bay windows, integrated canopies, projections, i.e., interestingly designed facades that are in harmony with the interior. Neither any of us can fit that into the budget, nor are the few here who can do floor plans able to design something from the full repertoire of a professional themselves. If you submit the missing information mentioned, at least one can take a look at what the plot offers for the house.