ᐅ Floor Plan: Semi-Detached House 8x12 m – Feedback and Creative Ideas Welcome :)

Hello everyone,

I’ve also been experimenting a bit with floor plans for our plot.
Background: At the moment, we are in contact with a general contractor (GC) and a prefab home builder. It will probably end up being a combination of an independent architect and a GC (thanks for the tip @ant11). However, it is very difficult to find an architect right now – but of course, I couldn’t just sit still and had to try a little myself. I worked with the app MagicPlan. Although we have already received a floor plan from the prefab builder, it really didn’t suit us at all. So, here we go – thank you in advance to everyone who takes a look :-*

I’m also happy to take any tips on how to find an architect who doesn’t only work on projects over 1 million (dollars/pounds). :-P

A quick note on orientation: The balcony on the upper floor and the living room face southwest. It has to be that way. The rear side borders directly onto open fields.

Development plan / restrictions

Plot size: 410m2 (4,410 sq ft)
Slope: no
Building window: 5m (16 ft) from the street, 12m (39 ft) house length, 8.1m (27 ft) width for the house, and 3m (10 ft) width for the garage. Plot dimensions 11.1m (36 ft) × 37m (121 ft)
Number of parking spaces: -
Number of floors: Max. 2 full floors, no knee walls allowed
Roof type: pitched roof with a 25–45 degree slope
Architectural style: any
Orientation: southwest
Maximum height / limits: ridge height 9m (30 ft), wall height max. 4.70m (15 ft)

Owners’ requirements
Style, roof type, building type: nice :-P
Basement, floors: no basement, almost 2 full floors (slight slopes from 1.80m (5 ft 11 in) due to prescribed wall height)
Number of people, age: 3 people, including a toddler (2 years old) – another child planned
Space requirement ground floor, upper floor: 140–160m2 (1,500–1,720 sq ft)
Office: guest room on ground floor used as office
Guests per year: currently rarely – in older age, space for parents/in-laws desired
Open or closed layout: open floor plan
Balcony, roof terrace: balcony for drying laundry
Garage, carport: garage – carport would also be acceptable if advantages prevail

House design
Designed by: me (trained architect through various apps :-P – just kidding)
What do you like most? Why?

• Garage access through utility room
• Few hallway areas but still with a wardrobe
• Open living concept and straight staircase (platform stairs couldn’t be depicted)
• Separate bathroom for kids
• Spacious walk-in closet
• Laundry room on upper floor
• Access through bedroom/bath to walk-in closet

What don’t you like? Why?

• No pantry on the ground floor
• Kids’ rooms on the north side
• Having to enter the parents’ walk-in closet first – would prefer two wall closets like houses in America
• Upper floor hallway very narrow and access to kids’ room 1 hardly feasible – on the other hand, I don’t like wasted space and enlarging the hallway would reduce kids’ room sizes. Any solutions?
• I find the garage quite practical but it takes away window area – will the ground floor be too dark, and should we rather go with a carport?

Why did the design turn out as it is now?

We wanted an open floor plan because we have a lot of visitors, and I always find it a shame to disappear into the kitchen while everything is happening in the living area. It was also important for us to have a separate parents’ area for complete privacy and a balcony for drying laundry in summer. A guest shower on the ground floor was needed, and it is important to me to do laundry on the upper floor (where the laundry is generated).

What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan, summarized in 130 characters?

• General opinion on the floor plan
• See “what I don’t like” – suggestions for improvements welcome

Note:
The windows are just placed approximately. I also don’t know how to view the exterior – of course, we will position the windows accordingly.

How is this supposed to work in the living room with the cables for the TV, game consoles, DVD player, etc., and how does it look from the dining table?

Best regards,
Sabine

A small pantry could theoretically fit under the stairs, which is how we are doing it now. We are building with similar dimensions.
Are you sure there is enough space for the utility room?
What you need to consider: very quickly, many people will be asking for storage space here – have you thought about that?

Curly schrieb:

How is it supposed to work in the living room with the cables for the TV, game consoles, DVD player, etc., and how does it look from the dining table?

Best regards,
Sabine

Thanks for your question.
We were thinking of a wall about 1.80 m (6 feet) wide with a ceiling height that includes a fireplace and the TV—a kind of room divider.
But it’s not a must—we could also place the TV on the opposite wall if necessary. However, we quite like the idea of creating a small separation between the areas that still feels open.

saralina87 schrieb:

A small pantry could theoretically fit under the stairs, that's how we are doing it now. We are building with similar dimensions.
Are you sure the space for the utility room is sufficient?
What you should expect: very soon, many people will be asking for more storage space – have you thought about that?

Yes, there should also be a storage room under the stairs, forgot to mention that. But I would also like to have something exclusively for food supplies.

Do you have your floor plan ready?
Although it probably won’t help us much, as the semi-detached house setup is rather complicated for us. If we were building a detached house, we probably would have chosen a side entrance.
I’d still be interested, maybe I can get some ideas.

And yes, you are definitely right about that – which is why I would prefer the garage, solely for additional storage space.

Regarding the technical room: yes, it should be enough, since it will only house the technical equipment, no storage or laundry area etc.

How much space is left in width for the dining area? That looks very tight.

Best regards,
Sabine