ᐅ Floor Plan – Design of a Semi-Detached House with Nearly 200 sqm of Living Space

Hello everyone,

My wife and I have tried to create a desired floor plan based on our requirements.

However, we noticed that the hallway on the upper floor is really large (therefore wasted space). We would like to get your suggestions for improvements.

Thank you in advance for your ideas!


Development Plan/Restrictions

Plot size – 500 square meters (about 5382 square feet)

Slope – no

Site coverage ratio – 0.3

Floor area ratio – 0.4

Building envelope, building line and boundary – building envelope 7.10 x 14 meters (23.3 x 46 feet)

Number of parking spaces – 2 (carport only)

Number of stories – 2 full floors

Roof type – gable

Architectural style – modern

Maximum height limits – 6.50 meters (21 feet)



Owners’ Requirements

Style, roof type, building type – gable roof

Basement, floors – 2 full floors plus basement

Number of people, ages – 5 people (38, 36, 10, 6, 1 years old)

Room requirements on ground floor and upper floor –
Ground floor: living/dining, closed kitchen, office/guest room, WC/bathroom.
Upper floor: master bedroom with dressing room, 2 children’s rooms, children’s bathroom

Office: family use or home office? – home office (space in basement)

Guest sleepers per year – 1 person for 2-3 months

Open or closed architecture – open

Conservative or modern construction style – modern

Open kitchen, kitchen island – no

Number of dining seats – 6 to 10

Fireplace – no

Music/stereo wall – no

Balcony, roof terrace – no

Garage, carport – carport

Vegetable garden, greenhouse – no


House Design

Who created the plan: ourselves

What do you particularly like? Why?
Ground floor: entrance area/guest room
Upper floor: master bedroom with private WC/bathroom, wide hallway

What do you not like? Why?
Basically: very large hallway on the upper floor

Estimated price according to architect/designer: 500,000 (excluding land and additional construction costs)

Personal price limit for the house, including fixtures: 520,000

Preferred heating technology: KfW 40 standard


If you had to give up certain details/fixtures, which ones could you do without?

-Which ones can you not do without? Closed kitchen, guest room

Why is the design the way it is now?

Standard design from the planner? – no

Which wishes from the architect were implemented?
Very large hallway on the upper floor,

What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan, summarized in 130 characters?
Should we completely rethink the design of the staircase and the upper floor?