New construction as a semi-detached house (adjacent to existing building) on a small plot with a slope

Splittlevel had something. Why did you discard it?

I would have discarded it as well: the overall small floor area argues against a division – it would be similar to elevating a central stair position to a dogma (even in a classic flat floor plan). On the other hand, a clear pro argument for split level would be the height offset from street to garden side, which is roughly exactly half a story. In this context, I recall my inquiry about how it is solved in the neighboring house (and the hint at the possibly less tiny building window).

A plan that does not seem sensible in broad terms does not need to be discussed in fine tuning.

Whether that now comes across significantly friendlier than my "flowery formulations," I’ll leave that with a question mark.

Hello,

oh great, such detailed feedback! Thank you very much for that, we just read it with great interest.

I’ll first try to provide the still missing information. So:

- the half of the house we are extending onto has existed since the 80s. A second half was always planned but has never been built until now. (By the way, a small expert question on the side here: The neighboring wall on the extension side is clad with asbestos-containing material. Who has to bear the costs of the unfortunately not very cheap removal? Us? The neighbor? Half/half? So far no one could help us with this).

- right, we don’t necessarily have to build flush, but we want to, since this achieves the maximum living space, because the neighboring house is also designed that way with regard to border distances etc. (as mentioned, the plot is tiny with 260sqm).

- the layout itself is already correct in the graphic, only the position of the stairs, for example, is no longer current

- the existing house has the identical arrangement of floors. However, the use is not comparable, as it is a multi-family house.

- the roof terrace will not be used often as a terrace, I agree. Not least because I am totally afraid of heights :-I My husband will do his daily fitness program there, that’s it. But he wishes for it and should get it as his luxury on the house (as long as it is structurally possible).

- We also see the dressing room in the attic more as a storage room/open wardrobe. Planned are a few dressers under the sloping roof and a clothes rack in the standing height area – the term “dressing room” beautifies that a bit, that’s true!

The core discussion arising here is actually the one we had for a very long time: the distribution of the areas across the floors. For us, parents in the attic and children in the upper floor is perfect and fixed. But whether kitchen or living room goes downstairs, we also saw both possibilities with their advantages for a long time – unfortunately only one of the two can be done.
: We also had those considerations, but no one has been able to describe the usage relationship of terrace/living room/kitchen as nicely and clearly as you! That really makes you think again... but no, we want it like that with the result of the long way from the coffee machine to the garden chairs! Even if that meets with incomprehension here (by the way, also from our builder)...

11ant: What do you mean by “incorrect assumptions in the basics”? Do I understand correctly that your advice is not to give the architect too much input in the form of these drawings (on the principle: that hinders creativity if you already had a picture in mind)?
Where do you see difficulties with the dormer so close to the neighbor’s house? Do you mean the approval or the structural aspect?
And many thanks for the reading tip, that was really helpful, as it was very comparable.

We’re already very curious about your comments! Don’t be surprised if a reply doesn’t come immediately, we just can’t manage faster (I am also currently typing one-handed with a baby on my stomach). But we really appreciate your thoughts and efforts!

@11ants, one more question, what do you mean by "distilling it too far" (in relation to working with the architect)? Thanks!

How do you want to keep an eye on your children?
At Tausch Küche Wohnen you can be productive more often doing something in the household

And the sand dunes the breaded children leave behind in summer
Always crossing the living room just because something to eat and drink is needed

The room layout planned by you keeps them fit
It is not practical

Ok, this way the attic makes sense

And many thanks for the reading tip, that was really helpful as it is very comparable.

I am glad that you followed the tip. The user has (I believe in another thread, possibly in the house pictures) meanwhile also described the further progress. The post I linked is extensive, but in my opinion worthwhile not least because it was also a tough (ultimately successful) struggle to hollow out the stone. Especially from such discussions one can learn a lot in my opinion (in the sense of deriving if you have a similar problem).

A second half was always planned, but never built until now. (By the way, a small expert question on the side: The neighboring wall on the extension side is fitted with an asbestos-containing cladding.

That is a complex topic because it raises all kinds of connection questions. The planned second half could mean that the exterior wall on his side was intended as a party wall – statically independent for sure, but it might be advisable for a contemporary insulation between the two houses to tolerate some centimeters of "overbuilding" on your property. And the other – more original – question is whether his wall without cladding actually stands on his boundary (minus altogether 2 cm air gap). Disposing of the cladding is probably his problem.

- the section itself is already correct in the graphic, only the position of the stairs, for example, is no longer current [...] But he wants them and should get them as his luxury in the house (if it is structurally possible).

"Only" the position of the stairs is nicely said – it plays a key role in assessing the "correctness" of this plan. Even if the current section drawing would show that the exterior wall of the roof terrace requires less additional statics than I feared based on this drawing, it will still be a lavish luxury. Just the additional effort for the roof structure, the insulation and moisture sealing of the ceiling of the floor below, and even in the best case the statics effort for this exterior wall shifted to the center of the house will cost as much as the master bathroom or alternatively the kitchen (each fully "furnished" in GTI 16V standard with Dolby Surround and Ambilight). Even at today’s interest rates, that would be enough in the savings account for almost a decade of family vacations. Mind you, just for a bit of morning freshness during the squats (?)

What do you mean by "wrong assumptions in the basics"? Do I understand correctly that your advice is not to give the architect too much input in the form of these drawings?

What do you mean by "distilling it too far" (regarding working with the architect)?

By the wrong basic assumptions I mainly meant the building envelope and the conceptual consequence of the decision for or against split level and a bit also the generous, sophisticated stair arrangement in terms of space requirement, which would all be fundamental changes to the planning. Therefore, I would not want to progress too far past this – albeit graphically refined – sketch stage. But also the aspect of miscast anchors against the creativity of the blank sheet is not to be underestimated.

Where do you see difficulties with the dormer so close to the neighbor's house? Do you mean regarding approval or construction?

Oops – I actually said "dormer" regarding this gable roof window – haha, a special pleasure for my "fans"!
Clearly an approval issue: about one and a half meters distance from the house party wall to this roof opening will probably be required by the neighbor’s fire section, and that is indisputably not maintained here.

Addition

- the existing house has the identical arrangement of the floors. However, the use is not comparable, as it is a multi-family house.

Does it have more floor space, or is it more like a multi-single house?

Quite clearly a permit problem: about one and a half meters distance from the party wall will be required for this roof opening from the neighbor fire section, which is indisputably not observed here.

Oh dear, I probably wrote that a bit hard to digest again: so, flames from your roof window would leap over to the neighboring house or vice versa, therefore your roof covering there is almost to be treated in a fire barrier zone similarly strict as the firewalls between the houses, and to be kept free of openings.