Semi-detached house with unequal halves = different floor plans

I thought links are not wanted here...

That refers to external links. The forum operator probably wants sole control over those so that external links also all generate money for him. You have to live off something, without taking membership fees from us.

So: Cross-references to your own posts within the forum yes, to cross-postings in other forums (in my opinion unfortunately) no.

As a first-time builder, I am not yet so familiar with the subject,

But you do see that a shed roof is basically a gable roof without a kink and spans the same "gable width," right?

Can you never rely on experts?

You can rely on the fact that in every profession there are also expert impersonators fresh from drama school, yes.

It's a shame that you dismiss the "evolution," as you call it, directly as a dead end without really discussing the actual topic—the floor plans—here.

Assuming you agree with my view that the concept falters at the level of roof shapes—building mass distribution—composition: then it would be of no use at all if I said "if you (behind the seven mountains with the seven dwarfs) stuck with this concept, then turn the stairs or swing the bathroom door differently." Hic Rhodos, hic salta—hypothetical improvements bring nothing. ...

but I had hoped for a touch more constructive criticism than "I don't like the roofs."

... And in that sense, this is actually the most constructive criticism of all, not to whisper anything more to the dead horse, but to move on to the next approach with that energy. The most important tool of the house designer is the wastebasket. Almost crumpling paper is the typical hand movement for Robert Lembke's guessing team

Regarding the roof, you might still be confused or think I simply have a different taste. But if you compare the two halves of the house areas, you see for yourself: the wider one doesn’t really feel bigger—so some good will probably did not ignite there.

Problem 1: the offset can only be very small due to the max FH. I seem to recall that you yourself harshly criticized the VPD without the possibility of daylight at the "offset" at another place?!

Secondly yes, firstly no. I find a blind offset pointless, yes. But that its height would be small here, I see differently: with the same pitch and the same eaves height, a large difference in width automatically results in a correspondingly large offset.

I am too lazy to look back right now: would barrel roofs be allowed?

The parallel roofs loosen up the ensemble in our eyes.

Maybe in a row, in a semi-detached house in my opinion not yet.

I had already written on page 2 that I do not like the draft. The longer I think about it, the more I would want to see the practical implementation. I always think of historical Nordic port cities with their narrow warehouse buildings along the old quay lines. Somehow that has something to it.

I think the project in its current form has the potential, upon completion, to fall into one of two extremes: "WOW that is brilliant" or "oh holy sh…". I am torn as to which outcome is more likely.

Why a shower on the ground floor, if there is the alternative shower in the attic?

True, I had completely forgotten about that.

But regarding this:

Basement, floors: Basement desired, 2 full floors, attic as expansion reserve
Number of people, age: 3 (45/40/2)
Space requirements on ground floor, upper floor:
Ground floor: guest toilet, wardrobe, large open living/dining area, open kitchen
Upper floor: large children's room, bedroom, family bathroom, possibly a small little study for home office
Attic expansion reserve: studio / guest room / hobby room, connections/drywall for shower bath
Office: family use or home office? both
Guests per year: approx. 20 nights, 1-4 persons
Open or closed architecture: mixed: living/dining/cooking open, stairs to basement and attic closed, no access to upper floor from the living area
Conservative or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, cooking island: both
Number of dining seats: 8
Fireplace: yes, if still within budget

Further wishes/special features/daily routine, also reasons why this or that should or should not be:
Attic should be expanded as a DIY project. If the basement is not feasible budget-wise, a utility room must be planned on the ground floor; but we want to invest in the basement due to the slope of the plot. The family bathroom should preferably have a T-layout with a barrier-free shower and the toilet "back to back." Walk-in closet in the bedroom is welcome but not a must. If not, at least 3m, rather 3.50m for a wardrobe is needed.

in my opinion, not much is left of that. Apparently, there was a complete budget miscalculation. The basement was cut. There is no longer any talk of spacious and open due to the utility room on the ground floor, the stairs, and the not-so-small wardrobe. In addition, the house was downsized – presumably because even then the money would not be enough.

Since the basement is not included, I would try to move the technology to the attic to gain space there. If the budget is that tight, one naturally wonders why to build 3 bathrooms for 3 people. Even if the toilet downstairs has no shower, it still has all the connections, tiles, pipes, fittings, and costs money.
I would rather send my guests upstairs to my bathroom’s toilet and separate that a bit. More space gained on the ground floor and money saved.



The large rooms upstairs are nice. But what good is that to me if I don’t know where to put my wardrobes? I also can’t simply identify a workplace. It will probably end up in the bedroom. That’s okay as long as the wardrobe that blocks the west sun is sufficient. But I would personally prefer a window there.

If the attic is actually being expanded now already, I would initially build only a small room for the child upstairs, which can later become my workspace. For that, the bathroom would be larger, possibly a walk-in closet, and the workspace would meanwhile be located in the attic until the princess is old enough to want the room upstairs. Then they switch.

I would completely rethink the whole window situation, but that can also be done later.

To be honest, I haven't read through the wishes here. But I assume that the architect and MadameP sat down together and talked a lot, which is how this design came about. The whole process is understandably omitted in a forum. There are also processes here, through which from the wishes of a TE another, ultimately good design emerges, with which the TE can identify and accept as a living space.

with which the OP can identify and accept as a living environment.

The question is whether this still applies here. Unfortunately, I have the feeling that this project is far beyond the OP's budget. The thing is being drastically downsized so that hardly anything remains of the former wishes.
In the end, you have a huge loan for a house that you actually wouldn't have chosen like this. The new neighbors are also a factor that has not yet been resolved. Once sold, it can quickly become something completely different than you expected. I'd rather set up the - what was it called again? - Flair 113. Costs a third, but at least you have it all to yourself.

But that a shed roof is basically a gable roof without a bend and spans the identical "gable width," you see that, right?

Absolutely. Thanks for bringing that to my attention.

Assuming you agree with my view that the concept falters at the level of roof shapes - building mass distribution - composition:

To what extent would a different roof design affect the floor plan with two full stories, if the footprint remained roughly the same? That would have "only" consequences for the attic, right, or where is my error in thinking?

The house designer’s most important tool is the wastebasket. Basically crumpling paper as a typical hand movement for Robert Lembke’s guessing team

I basically have no problem with that. But only after I have really understood and followed something. And then agree (can) with it. My feeling so far is that this has not been the case here yet. Or as you would say, I am (still?) at a loss.

I find a blind offset pointless, yes. But that its height here would be low, I see differently: from the same pitch and the same eaves height, a large width difference almost automatically results in a correspondingly large offset.

But if the blind offset is "pointless" – why not in our case? Same pitch, same eaves height does not work with the max. ridge height. That was tried! Then it would more likely work with shed roofs that meet at a big gable on the party wall. But that would make the building mass even bigger and blockier overall than with the mono-pitched roofs. It just doesn’t look good.

I’m too lazy to look back right now: would barrel roofs be allowed?

No.

I find that the project in its current version has the potential, once completed, to cater to one of two extremes: "WOW that’s brilliant" or "oh holy sh…".

Haha. I strongly hope for the former in the end. Well, nothing is decided yet anyway.

But of this here:
........
in my opinion not much remains... The basement was removed. Thanks to the HAR in the ground floor, the staircase and the not so small cloakroom, there’s no longer any talk of spaciousness and openness. Additionally, the house was shrunk down…

Katja, you’re quoting from the old thread. I started a new one also because some conditions have changed. The decision against the basement was made after we would have needed a watertight basement (point 1) and simply cannot recoup the basement’s cost in the sale price (point 2), the ground was just too expensive. I’d rather forgo the very – VERY – expensive storage room in the basement and instead still have a bit in the budget for flooring / plaster / kitchen / technology that I really like. The three of us don’t need 170 sqm of living space anyway, especially since “the three of us” will likely be so for only about the next 20 years. So space-wise it’s fine as it is. That the open space in the design is not spacious and open bugs me too. Cloakroom area and WC waste space. We still have to improve that.

The large rooms on the upper floor are pretty. But what use are they to me if I don’t know where to put my cabinets? I can’t simply spot a workspace either. It will presumably end up in the bedroom. That’s okay as long as the cabinet that blocks out the west sun is sufficient. But I’d actually prefer a window there.

If the attic is already being finished now, I would initially build only a small room for the child on the upper floor, which could later become my workspace. The bathroom would be bigger for that, possibly a dressing room, and meanwhile the workspace would be in the attic until the princess is old enough to want the room upstairs. Then a swap would happen.

The workspace developed into the “studio,” which will serve as a home office, guest room, and hobby room. We decided (also a development over the past months) against a separate office. So it’s not lacking on the upper floor. I don’t want to make the child’s room small because a) she currently has a small room and everyone involved thinks that’s dumb, b) we’re building this house also for her and not just for us, and most importantly c) the studio/child’s room areas should be swapped later and a tiny room wouldn’t help then either.

I also prefer a bedroom with a west-facing window and wonder if it wouldn’t be better to shrink the bedroom considerably and make it accessible through a small dressing room. We don’t need much space for sleeping; I find small and cozy more comfortable anyway.

But I assume the architect and MadameP sat down together, talked a lot, so that this design came about. Of course, the whole process is understandably omitted in a forum. There are also processes here from which, out of a TE’s wishes, another, ultimately good design emerges, with which the TE can identify and accept as a living space.

Exactly so. The design is not quite what we want yet, but it’s going in the direction we worked out with the architect. This whole house thing is a process. At the beginning you say, ah, I want this, we’ll do that, this is how it has to be. And the more you deal with it, the more you may be ready to give up formerly fixed things because maybe they’re not as great / meaningful / brilliant / practical as you once thought. (At this point I hear 11ant laughing about the roofs.)