Floor plan: Semi-detached house 8x12m. Opinions and creative ideas welcome :-)

Only a frail grandma should have the possibility to get to the bathroom with a walker or caregiver. A bathroom on another floor is unsuitable.

Care at levels 4 and 5 (old level III) in a townhouse is wishful thinking, no matter the level of architectural genius. From a certain degree of worst case, every plan becomes void and fate inevitably reshuffles the real estate cards. However, this also applies to joyful events, when child 1 gets a multiple sibling. No house is suitable for every case.

Due to the size of the house, I would also refrain from trying to build a jack of all trades. Things like the need for care are not predictable (strictly speaking, neither is the number of children's rooms needed). If I have learned one thing from our planning: when space is limited, you sometimes have to choose between "I absolutely need" (for me, storage in the form of a pantry or utility room) and "would be nice" (children's bathroom).

Preparing the house for your own parents is a good idea, but I don’t think it will be feasible in this house. I don’t know how old your children are, but their rooms will probably be free again in about 20 years, so a parent could move in there as well. The stairs can be overcome using a lift.

You can't say. 4 is possible under certain circumstances. I see what works with my father. And many with 3 let the nursing service come, it helps. In several ways, not just with getting dressed.

I have mirrored your OG floor plan so that the children face the garden. The children's rooms are the same size as before. It works quite well; the only drawback is the balcony. However, there would be space for a dryer and a clothesline in the laundry room.

yes, that's true - it's absolutely not about being prepared for every eventuality. It's purely about the possibility to always use the rooms, etc.

The lower guest room could initially be used as an office (and of course it could remain so if nothing else happens).
We could also use the bathroom downstairs if at some point only the lower area is to be lived in. Therefore, I absolutely do not see it as a waste of space. I also find it quite practical to quickly shower the kids downstairs when they come in dirty from the playground.

Nevertheless, one could consider initially omitting the shower downstairs and first building the pantry there (with all connections prepared). If at some point we notice that having the shower would be worthwhile, my pantry could also give way for that. Or one could install no shower but simply a spray and a drain on the floor like in the old times in toilets — then the question of accessibility no longer arises since you can sit on the bowl while showering — but comfort can be different... (just kidding)

And of course, 60+ is far from that. But we want to live there "forever" and therefore don't just plan up to the wall. But you are right - you can't be prepared for everything and we don't want that either. But for some purposes it should fit.

I don't know how old your children are, but their rooms will probably be free again in about 20 years, so a parent could move in there. The stairs can be overcome by a lift after all.

And yes - the stairlift would also be an idea - it should definitely be feasible with a staircase with a landing, or what do you think?