Plot size: 13m (43 feet) wide, 40m (131 feet) deep (neighbor has the same), building allowed up to 2.5 stories, no flat roofs, building envelope: semi-detached house: 10x14m (33x46 feet), detached house: 7m (23 feet) wide x minimum 14m (46 feet) deep. The goal is to achieve 200sqm (2,153 sq ft) of living space plus a basement.
With a 7m (23 feet) wide detached house, can you achieve a good floor plan, or does it feel more like a townhouse? Would you recommend choosing the semi-detached option?
Considering 2.5 stories, space should not be an issue.
Thank you very much for your insights!
With a 7m (23 feet) wide detached house, can you achieve a good floor plan, or does it feel more like a townhouse? Would you recommend choosing the semi-detached option?
Considering 2.5 stories, space should not be an issue.
Thank you very much for your insights!
Contractor-Land Seller)
Your building desire must be blind; your plot just keeps becoming more "appealing" to me.
Developer)
I don’t get that impression here – as I understand it, you can buy the plot even without a building contract (planning permission/building permit)?
Contractor)
For planning the shell and exterior structure, I would use the same contractor. As the term "semi-detached" already suggests, the two buildings only form a whole when combined. Mixing contractors might be possible and allowed, but I certainly wouldn’t recommend it. Semi-detached houses are often marketed as space-saving single-family homes for narrow plots, but basically, you are dealing with a vertical two-family house here. I would therefore reject the idea of having a different contractor for the “whole” half and instead discuss with the contractor about a shell house that can be finished differently later. Of course, other contractors also offer houses that share a party wall with the neighbor and no setback. But let me present you an argument in your mind’s eye for a common contractor (for one house made of two halves): Imagine how smooth your walk would be if each leg had its own brain.
Garage)
Contractors typically do not have shares in prefabricated garage manufacturers. The value added in the garage comes from the labor of their masons—that’s where their interest lies. Also, a masonry garage could partly be built as self-build work—that would be your interest. However, you have another aspect: a precast concrete garage (as a ready-made space) offers more interior width due to thinner walls, which brings joy with every parking and door opening.
Front Door Five Thousand Euros)
Yes, that’s ten thousand German Marks. And yes, back in my school days, you could get a small car for that. But nowadays that (including installation) is a “normal” price for an aluminum front door, so burglars won’t laugh themselves silly. Of course, there are lockable wall access panels for a quarter of that price, but that’s a different category.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Your building desire must be blind; your plot just keeps becoming more "appealing" to me.
Developer)
I don’t get that impression here – as I understand it, you can buy the plot even without a building contract (planning permission/building permit)?
Contractor)
For planning the shell and exterior structure, I would use the same contractor. As the term "semi-detached" already suggests, the two buildings only form a whole when combined. Mixing contractors might be possible and allowed, but I certainly wouldn’t recommend it. Semi-detached houses are often marketed as space-saving single-family homes for narrow plots, but basically, you are dealing with a vertical two-family house here. I would therefore reject the idea of having a different contractor for the “whole” half and instead discuss with the contractor about a shell house that can be finished differently later. Of course, other contractors also offer houses that share a party wall with the neighbor and no setback. But let me present you an argument in your mind’s eye for a common contractor (for one house made of two halves): Imagine how smooth your walk would be if each leg had its own brain.
Garage)
Contractors typically do not have shares in prefabricated garage manufacturers. The value added in the garage comes from the labor of their masons—that’s where their interest lies. Also, a masonry garage could partly be built as self-build work—that would be your interest. However, you have another aspect: a precast concrete garage (as a ready-made space) offers more interior width due to thinner walls, which brings joy with every parking and door opening.
Front Door Five Thousand Euros)
Yes, that’s ten thousand German Marks. And yes, back in my school days, you could get a small car for that. But nowadays that (including installation) is a “normal” price for an aluminum front door, so burglars won’t laugh themselves silly. Of course, there are lockable wall access panels for a quarter of that price, but that’s a different category.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
I don’t think you have to use the same construction company, nor do I believe you should. A semi-detached house is not simply half of a house.
Rather, a semi-detached house is a complete house that is built attached to another house on one side.
For sound insulation reasons alone, having separate foundations and a double party wall is very sensible.
Both semi-detached houses don’t even need to be made from the same materials. You can even mix timber frame and solid construction freely.
Rather, a semi-detached house is a complete house that is built attached to another house on one side.
For sound insulation reasons alone, having separate foundations and a double party wall is very sensible.
Both semi-detached houses don’t even need to be made from the same materials. You can even mix timber frame and solid construction freely.
tempic schrieb:
A semi-detached house is essentially a home that shares one wall with another house. [...]
Both halves of a semi-detached house don’t even have to be built from the same materials. You can mix timber frame and solid construction methods without any problem.From an aesthetic standpoint, attaching half an apple to half a pear might seem uncoordinated; whether the result is seen as "interesting" or "quirky" is a matter of personal taste. After all, when you come home, you don’t just see your own house—you inevitably also have a view of a part of your neighbor’s house. Raspberry ice cream with mustard might be possible, but it’s not to everyone’s liking.
tempic schrieb:
And for reasons of sound insulation alone, having separate foundations and a double party wall makes a lot of sense.I took the liberty of considering that point self-evident.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Whether the two semi-detached houses are mirrored or individually designed has nothing to do with whether both semi-detached houses should be built by the same construction company...
And to continue with the metaphor:
Not every comparison that is flawed is a valid comparison.
And to continue with the metaphor:
Not every comparison that is flawed is a valid comparison.
tempic schrieb:
Whether the two semi-detached houses are mirrored or individually designed has nothing to do with the question of whether both halves should be built by the same construction company...Having the same builder doesn’t necessarily mean mirrored twins. However, coordinating the shared wall (with or without offset) and the façade design is easier when done by a single source, which helps create a harmonious overall appearance.
Of course, one can stubbornly insist on having their own architect take measurements directly from the finished neighboring property before planning. That’s as sensible as texting the classmate sitting next to you on the school bus. I come from a generation that values communication and think quite simply here:
If the neighbor’s architect, as the land seller, didn’t cause major issues, they might also be pleasant enough to work with to consider sharing a planner with your neighbor. That’s something I would at least positively consider if I were the original poster.
You can always try to force your way through later.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
I read that a semi-detached house is clearly the more reasonable option. Unfortunately, my partner is already firmly committed to company xy. Company xy is good, but expensive.
State your interests. Discuss the case with company xy. Be clear and say, let’s find a way so that I don’t have to pay property transfer tax on the entire amount. That is important to me. Be honest and say that I can’t and won’t afford 500,000 (500k). Where can we save on my half? Cheaper doors, Polish windows, concrete garage, and so on. Pull whatever tricks you can and see what’s possible. Then your half will just be the basic version of the neighbor’s house. So what.
If you can’t come to an agreement, also be honest and say, neighbor, it’s fine that you want to go with xy, but I can’t and don’t want to. Are you really that set on them, or can we find a cheaper option?
A third and last option, if xy and the neighbor clash: then there’s no semi-detached house. You and I both keep our three meters (10 feet) distance, maybe put the garages next to each other, and each build a two-story bowling alley. Watch out, that will soften him up! Karsten
State your interests. Discuss the case with company xy. Be clear and say, let’s find a way so that I don’t have to pay property transfer tax on the entire amount. That is important to me. Be honest and say that I can’t and won’t afford 500,000 (500k). Where can we save on my half? Cheaper doors, Polish windows, concrete garage, and so on. Pull whatever tricks you can and see what’s possible. Then your half will just be the basic version of the neighbor’s house. So what.
If you can’t come to an agreement, also be honest and say, neighbor, it’s fine that you want to go with xy, but I can’t and don’t want to. Are you really that set on them, or can we find a cheaper option?
A third and last option, if xy and the neighbor clash: then there’s no semi-detached house. You and I both keep our three meters (10 feet) distance, maybe put the garages next to each other, and each build a two-story bowling alley. Watch out, that will soften him up! Karsten
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