ᐅ Townhouse and Detached Double Garage Layout Ideas

Hello everyone,

We are currently in the initial planning phase to build an urban villa with a double garage on the following plot (we will receive 500 sqm (approximately 5,382 sq ft) from the two parcels).

We plan to build the double garage ourselves, and starting next week, we will have first discussions with prefabricated house companies (Streif Haus, Hanse Haus, and Schwabenhaus) as well as solid construction companies (Elbe-Haus, etc.) regarding the villa. At this point, we are very open and looking at where we can contribute our own work. For example, my brother-in-law is a certified electrician.

So far, we have created the following drawing as a first draft. The terrace is naturally planned to receive sun during the day and in the evening. However, this means sitting almost directly next to both roads, which would only be avoidable with privacy screens and hedges. We are, of course, open to other ideas. How would you arrange the house and garage (yes, a double garage, since we do not have a basement and need the space)?

Thanks for your ideas.

Here is a version with less sealed surface area. House 9 x 11 meters (30 x 36 feet), garage 6 x 9 meters (20 x 30 feet).
Driveway and access from Birkenweg.
Terrace on the east side.

Thank you, but in that case, would I practically only have shade on the terrace from the afternoon and evening onwards due to my own house and garage?

sarajevo83 schrieb:
Prefabricated house companies (Streif Haus, Hanse Haus, and Schwabenhaus)

Streif and Schwabenhaus both belong to the same group. They share many similarities but also have a few differences. Important: the service descriptions for Streif / Schwabenhaus versus Hanse Haus differ significantly. (In 2024, I dealt with all three companies while searching for a house provider.)
In connection with this:

sarajevo83 schrieb:
yes double garage, since we don’t have a basement we need the space

• I have never heard of a case where this was relevant. As a rule, garages are not allowed to be used as storage space.
• Hanse Haus uses a rafter roof frame, which corresponds to the roof style and really provides a lot of storage space. Streif and Schwabenhaus have a truss roof frame and (according to the advisor at the time, only “pro forma”) state that access is only allowed for inspection purposes.

sarajevo83 schrieb:
Thanks, but then wouldn’t the terrace be mostly shaded by my own house + garage from the afternoon and evening onward?

Depending on the conditions (which I would expect for a city villa, i.e., height), yes, the east side will likely be the shadiest in the evening.

I always find it unfortunate when cars are given such prominent space. I can’t draft, so I can’t test whether this fits:

• Place the garage closer to the street and shift the house accordingly so that relevant rooms still get east light.
• Put the garage all the way in the back. Driveway only 3m (10 feet) wide (not the 6m I estimated before), and pull the house into the freed-up “corner” (= more west garden area).
• Position the terrace towards the northwest. A north terrace can still get good evening sun depending on the surroundings.

hanghaus2023 schrieb:
Driveway and access from Birkenweg.

I think the driveway must be from In der Leeg since there are already house numbers there. The house in the middle of Birkenweg probably has a special permit. Because Birkenweg is very narrow in that section. But that’s just my assumption.

sarajevo83 schrieb:
The terrace is naturally planned so that it gets sun during the day and also in the evening. However, sitting there would mean being very exposed directly on both streets, which could only be prevented with privacy screens and hedges.

A hedge is always a good option. However, it is often not allowed to be as tall as you might expect. What does the zoning plan say?
I would differentiate between having enough window area to get sufficient sun into the house in winter AND the terrace/garden activities.
Usually, people don’t want sun on the terrace during the day or late afternoon—that’s where a terrace roof can be helpful, blocking the sun over the windows because in summer it gets simply too hot. In the evening, sunlight can also be uncomfortably glaring.
Sun lovers will always find a nice spot on the lawn of the property for lounge chairs.

So I see the terrace more on the northwest side, then a second one on the south side, which could still be used for weekend coffee in spring and autumn.

In the floor plan, I see a lot of potential for improvements: the utility room is relatively small (is there a 7 before the decimal point?), the connecting door to the freezer room takes up space and is also not very practical if you have to walk through the whole house towards the kitchen cabinets and refrigerator. You also need to ensure that utility lines through the garage are not built over. The wardrobe is quite small despite the large hallway area. The pantry with a window on the south side also won’t keep food fresh for long.

sarajevo83 schrieb:
Garage (yes, double garage since we need the space without a basement) – how to arrange it?

By the way: Only vehicle-related items are allowed to be stored in garages. See garage regulations.

I would try to clarify the possibility of an access road via Birkenweg. This doesn’t necessarily mean you can't have the terrace on the southwest side. The garage could be placed entirely in the northeast corner with a narrow (3m (10 feet)) driveway that widens behind the house leading to the garage. For a northern access (meaning the main entrance is on the north side), there are significantly more "standard" floor plans to choose from as a reference. Our initial design follows this orientation exactly, and finding the right floor plan was not easy and is still less than ideal in some areas.