Semi-detached house with unequal halves = different floor plans

and Katja replied as follows: "Very interesting. A new thread would probably be better. You can just copy the information from the questionnaire."

And the link to the old thread and a handful of words explaining this new start. Then not even I would complain.

But without a link to the origin, it is unnecessarily tedious to find the way there yourself. And after all, there is all sorts of stuff that has already been said concerning the unchanged task on the unchanged plot.

I can’t judge,

That the thing with the span is nonsense, because you can place a middle purlin not only under a ridge, but just as well under a rafter midpoint, should be generally understandable.

Do you have any other comments on the floor plans?

Few, because you can hardly consider them individually and the building concept doesn’t win my heart anyway. I would find the combination more successful with the shed roofs.

Regarding the floor plans individually, I can only say that the wider house gains nothing from its nearly square floor plan shape (and thus ultimately also from its greater width) if you still divide it like a classic elongated row house.

From my point of view, the thread separation thus makes sense again: as a dead-end chapter that you can exclude in the evolution of the topic if you then continue the latter elsewhere – in my opinion gladly (with a corresponding note) in the old thread.

Hm. I have to say, I find the layout of the smaller half better than the larger one. Probably because it is more standard. But it is indeed quite tiny.

If the space wasn’t maximized, it could be due to the budget or because an "increase" doesn’t actually bring "more" with this arrangement (or both).

I like the staircase solution as an entrance to the living room. Otherwise, you have pretty much listed all the problems yourselves.

I also don’t like the children’s room and bedroom next to each other - well, if it has to be. But the bedroom isn’t nice either. Huge space in front of the bed but you can barely open the wardrobe doors. Children’s room only has a north-facing window? Why? I think the bathroom is pretty cool but small and cramped.

Didn’t you originally want the entrance on the other side?

What does the architect say about your assessment? Would they make improvements again?

I have to deal with this tomorrow. Tell me, you get the north side, the tenants the south side? I’m missing the location on the property. Would you like to send it later? Gladly also in a sketchbook

Exactly, we take the slightly higher north side. The south side is being sold, not rented. I’m attaching a picture with the location on the property!

And the link to the old thread and a handful of words explaining this new start. Then even I wouldn’t complain.

I thought links are not desired here... okay, learned something new. Unfortunately, I can no longer edit post #1 now.

That the span thing is nonsense because you can place a central purlin not only under a ridge but just as well under a rafter midpoint should be obvious to everyone.

Maybe to you, I am still not that far into the subject as a first-time builder for this to immediately become clear to me. Can you never rely on professionals?

Little, because you can hardly consider them individually and the building concept does not win my heart. With the shed roofs, I would find the combination more successful.

As I said, we have extensively checked or had the shed roof variant checked. Problem 1: the offset can only be very small due to the max building height. I seem to remember that you especially harshly criticized the shed roof without the possibility of daylight at the “offset” elsewhere?! Problem 2: on the north half, there would be a—albeit high—knee wall on the upper floor due to the prescribed roof pitch, which we do not like. The attic would not be so usable or would be very narrow along the party wall. Problem 3: we create a huge, blocky-looking building. The models existed; it really doesn’t look outstandingly beautiful. The parallel roofs in our opinion loosen up the ensemble. In the end, this is probably just a matter of taste...

Regarding the individual floor plans, I can only say that the wider house gains nothing from its almost square floor plan shape (and thus ultimately also from its greater width) if you still divide it like a classic elongated row house.

I feel similarly vaguely, hence my question about suggestions for improvement.

From my point of view, the thread split makes sense again: as a dead-end chapter that can be excluded in the evolution of the topic if the latter is then continued elsewhere—IMHO gladly (with appropriate reference) in the old thread.

It’s a pity that you dismiss the “evolution,” as you call it, immediately as a dead end without really discussing the actual topic—the floor plans—here. We are certainly not unteachable, but I had hoped for a bit more constructive criticism than “I don’t like the roofs.” Maybe someone else will still chime in.

If the space hasn't been fully utilized, it could be due to the budget or because "more" doesn't actually bring "more" in this layout (or both).

The budget is of course limited somewhere, we shouldn’t get much bigger now. From my layman’s perspective, I would have rather taken a meter off the back and added a bit lengthwise, instead of emphasizing the narrowness even more... I also find the southern half quite tiny. Let's think about where we can still save something so that we might get another 5 sqm out of it.

I also don’t like the children’s room and bedroom next to each other – well, if it has to be. But the bedroom isn’t nice either. Huge space in front of the bed but the wardrobe doors barely open. Children’s room with only a north window? Why?

Swap the rooms! The children’s room faces west and is the bigger one. The bedroom only got a north window. I also find that a bit questionable, but otherwise it would probably be even narrower if the wardrobe had to be placed on the long side. On the other hand, we (are) only use that room for sleeping... I also don’t find the rooms next to each other optimal, but I assume that our daughter will eventually move upstairs to the studio with her own bathroom. For the next 10 years, having them next to each other might be okay...

Didn't you originally want the entrance on the other side?

What does the architect say about your assessment? Would they revise it?

Yes, I originally wanted that, but we’re not fixed on it. The architect hasn’t seen our assessment yet; I only just got the current status by email yesterday evening with a request for feedback/criticism. They would revise it again, that’s included in the commissioned package. That’s why I am putting this up for discussion here. I thought, instead of just complaining, I better come up with constructive suggestions, otherwise we’ll never get anywhere. It’s already taking forever anyway.

I like houses like that, they are exactly my style. Now, though, I don't want to live there anymore, I'm too old. However, I would have chosen the south side. As a bedroom, I see the north room.

I like such houses, they are exactly my kind. But now I don’t want to live there anymore, I’m too old
However, I would have chosen the south side

I see the north room as the bedroom

Exactly, the bedroom is the north room. The decision for the north half was made for the following reasons: - North half is located higher, significantly better and more beautiful view due to the lines into the landscape, only gardens adjoining the garden - Neighboring buildings on the south half are awful: L-stones with prefabricated garage and metal fence with these woven-in plastic mats in anthracite, behind it a city villa (personally these terrify me) in RAL7016-white plaster finish, below garages / carport. Although there is also a nicer view to the west, it is clearly better in the north half - I hate heat. I don’t want a bedroom and living room in the south or southwest if I have to shade it all day long in summer. Last summer really sealed the deal for me regarding this decision. We have full sun in the west garden from noon in summer, and that’s more than enough.