Semi-detached house - Improvements in the floor plan

Hello everyone,

I wanted to get some opinions from you about our floor plan to possibly uncover any "major" mistakes that we are not currently thinking about. We are building a semi-detached house.
Exterior dimensions approx. 10.99m x 9.99m, solid construction
Room layout ground floor: entrance area, utility room, cloakroom, WC, straight staircase, living/dining/kitchen, pantry
Room layout upper floor: 2 children's rooms, 1 master bedroom with walk-in closet, bathroom, storage room
Room layout attic: studio, office, free space
Two full floors, attic with 36°
And here is the completed questionnaire:
Plot size: > 444 m²
Slope: no
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 2 full floors
Roof type: gable roof
Style: classic, simple
Orientation: E
Number of people, age: 2 people, 25+28
Room requirements on ground and upper floor: see above
Overnight guests per year: rare
Open or closed architecture: open
Conservative or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: gladly
Number of dining seats: if possible 8
Fireplace: currently none in the plan
Music/stereo wall: yes
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: yes, see floor plans
Utility garden, greenhouse: no

House design
Who designed it: architect
Estimated price according to architect/planner: 400,000
Preferred heating technology: not yet determined

Why did the design turn out like it is now?:
We wanted to design the ground floor openly and have the living/dining/cooking areas together. The usual utility rooms in prefab houses are much too small for us, so we have made this one a bit larger. The straight staircase certainly takes up a lot of space and causes a large hallway on the upper floor with similar space loss. However, we imagine it looks quite nice with the open concept. It should also be said that we raised the ceiling height on the ground floor to 2.75 m so that the rooms feel a bit bigger. Since we are planning to have children in the coming years, 2 children's rooms are planned on the upper floor. We like the bathroom less because it can only be tubular due to the staircase.
We actually did not want to develop the attic, but since we absolutely need an office and there was no more space within the floor plan, it was placed there. The attic also has enough expansion space for the future if a child wants their own place there.

I would appreciate your feedback.

What is actually up for discussion, i.e. what is actually changeable?

I consider - for explanations please use the search function, otherwise I would have to repeat myself - semi-detached houses generally as a developer product that is rather moderately suitable for self-construction, and even less so for the planning or even the construction of a single half. Twins - even fraternal - simply require more synchronization than detached neighbors. It becomes particularly problematic if the "second-born twin" is to be built with a basement and the first is not.

Such a project is certainly possible, but I clearly do not consider it advisable.

The usual utility rooms in prefabricated houses are much too small for us, so we have made this one a little larger.

From my point of view, with too much of a lead time.

In addition, it should be said that we raised the ceiling height on the ground floor to 2.75 so that the rooms appear a bit larger.

That can certainly have the opposite effect as well.

We like the bathroom less because it can only be so tunnel-like due to the stairs.

You start your day in the bathroom. Here at the double sink with a door at your back.

Since we are planning to have children in the next few years, 2 children's rooms are planned on the upper floor.

In terms of room layouts, I would rather be child 2. I believe the floor plan, especially upstairs, can tolerate a lot of changes.

Am I correct in seeing that the garden is concentrated in the north?

Hello and thank you very much for your response.

What exactly is up for discussion, i.e. what is actually changeable?

Well, what is up for discussion is more or less the potential for improvement. Often you read very good tips that you didn't think of at first glance. I find the solution, just as you did it by quoting my text, already very good.

It becomes problematic especially when the "second-born twin" is to be built with a basement and the first one not.

That will be exactly the case. Our neighbor will build with a basement. Our architect knows that and has already advised us regarding underpinning. Additional costs of about 3000-4000€. Is that about right?

From my point of view with too much run-up.

That means you find it oversized, so too large?

That can definitely have the opposite effect as well.

We saw that with the increased wall construction in a prefabricated house and were actually enthusiastic from the start. Sure, it consumes more heating costs, but I think it really makes an impression. Or what do you mean by that?

In terms of room layouts, I would rather be child 2. I think the floor plan especially in the upper floor can tolerate a lot of changes.

So we calculated about 15 sqm per children's room. I myself had much less and got along just fine. Or why do you come to the statement regarding child 2?

Do I see correctly that the garden is concentrated in the north?

Correct, northwest.

What is up for discussion )
by that I meant: what are we allowed to change - only move interior walls or also the external dimensions of the house or the roof shape or what else?

Neighbor with basement )
I would clearly prefer to let him have priority or to build simultaneously, but not him first and then us. But in general, I recommend planning coordination, preferably even a joint planner appointment with the semi-detached house partner.

House connection/utility room )
it is already significantly more spacious than the kitchen, that would make me think.

Higher rooms )
can also appear narrower as a result.

Children's room )
the one for child 1 is not as narrow and elongated as the bathroom, but is clearly more rectangular than the one for child 2. As child 1, I would want the nicer room, so in terms of the floor plan, better to be child 2.

only move interior walls or also the outer dimensions of the house or the roof shape or or?

Exterior walls are fixed, as is the roof shape.

I hope I am correct now that planoben is south?

Well, the bathroom would be a dealbreaker for me. Planning something like that in a new build is out of the question. *shaking head*

I find the ceiling height of 2.75m good.
Child 1 sleeps with their ear against the bedroom wall – I hope that is then clarified.

Storage room on the ground floor with a mini door – how wide should that be? Can you still get a (cooling) cabinet through the door? How do I open the big cabinet right next to the door there? First go inside, then turn around, take a step back, open the cabinet, close the cabinet. Trying not to fall into the shelf behind you while walking backwards. – Not so great.

I don’t find the utility room too big if you like to have a large utility room. However, it should be on the dark windowless wall and not on the nice garden side, right? Or will it also be an ironing room with a craft room etc.?

The kitchen is rather small – but it would be okay for me. I think it should not be located on the dark wall again.

The large bright windows are nice. However, I miss them in the living room on the south side. How can one leave out the windows there? *shaking head again*

Personally, I find stairs boring, space-wasting, and not beautiful at all. I would slaughter this cow immediately. Curves are simply sexier – but that’s a very personal thing. ;)