ᐅ Double-story house with a maximum floor area of 53.3 square meters and a maximum depth of approximately 8 meters?
Created on: 16 Aug 2016 19:52
E
edwinhaas
Do you already have the building permit / planning permission for a semi-detached house?
533 m² (5740 ft²) and 106 m² (1141 ft²) of buildable area are, to me, typical single-family house dimensions, which is why I am asking.
533 m² (5740 ft²) and 106 m² (1141 ft²) of buildable area are, to me, typical single-family house dimensions, which is why I am asking.
The entire house would be approximately 15m (49 feet) wide and about 7.1m (23 feet) deep...
I wonder how that is supposed to work?
I assume these are the exterior dimensions. For a semi-detached house, that means each dwelling unit would be 7.5m (25 feet) by 7.1m (23 feet). This does not yet include wall thickness. Assuming a timber frame construction, the exterior walls would be about 36cm (14 inches) thick. I’m not sure about the fire separation wall between the two units, but let’s be generous and estimate the partition wall at 40cm (16 inches) total, so 20cm (8 inches) per unit. That leaves interior dimensions of (7.5m - 36cm - 20cm) = 6.94m (23 feet) and (7.1m - 2 x 36cm) = 6.38m (21 feet).
So 6.94m x 6.38m = 44.28 square meters (477 square feet) of usable living space. Since this is a semi-detached house, both units will also need to include stairs and interior walls. Open-plan living is nice, but at least a WC and bathroom will require walls, and bedrooms benefit from some separation as well. That’s about another 17cm (7 inches) per wall to subtract. Even if you choose a space-saving half-turn staircase, you still need to allow at least 2.5 square meters (27 square feet) for that. So I end up with just about 40 square meters (430 square feet) of usable floor area.
Let me estimate further: the ground floor is probably designed for an entrance area, open living space, and WC. If I allow 5 square meters (54 square feet) for WC and entrance (which is quite tight; I’m just guessing here and not sure this will really work that small), plus 2.5 square meters (27 square feet) for the stairwell, that leaves 32.5 square meters (350 square feet). The overall ground floor layout is more or less square (interior dimensions 6.94m x 6.38m), and we haven’t even accounted for plaster yet, which doesn’t make space planning any easier.
The same problem applies upstairs: just to fit a double bed in the bedroom requires a wall about 4m (13 feet) long. Subtracting this from 6.94m leaves 2.94m (10 feet). If the interior wall takes up part of the 4m length, then there is no room for a 2m (6.5 feet) wide double bed — the occupants might have to settle for something only about 1.80m (6 feet) wide. And so on.
It will get even tighter if a solid masonry construction is used.
I’ve been calculating back and forth and am already feeling a bit claustrophobic just thinking about it...
We currently live in 76 square meters (818 square feet) spread over two floors (open living area, bathroom, storage room upstairs, bedroom, small basement, third room downstairs). I know what I’m talking about. Lots of stairs are healthy, but I wouldn’t build like that. Our floor plan is more rectangular with a longer side, which makes space planning much easier.
Does it necessarily have to be a semi-detached house? With two units stacked vertically, you could save a stairwell. For such tight living space, that might be worth considering.
Do the two units have to be equally sized? Otherwise, a larger main dwelling combined with a smaller in-law apartment (and only one stairwell) is also an option.
I find it difficult to design two such small, almost square units in a way that allows for sensible room layouts (a bedroom also needs a sufficiently large closet, which requires additional space, etc.).
And I think this is exactly why there won’t be an off-the-shelf house plan that fits here.
I would sit down with a good planner (whether you choose an independent designer or one from a house builder) and consider how this very limited space can be used optimally according to your needs.
And, as I said, I would seriously rethink the plan to build such a semi-detached house with these parameters.
I wonder how that is supposed to work?
I assume these are the exterior dimensions. For a semi-detached house, that means each dwelling unit would be 7.5m (25 feet) by 7.1m (23 feet). This does not yet include wall thickness. Assuming a timber frame construction, the exterior walls would be about 36cm (14 inches) thick. I’m not sure about the fire separation wall between the two units, but let’s be generous and estimate the partition wall at 40cm (16 inches) total, so 20cm (8 inches) per unit. That leaves interior dimensions of (7.5m - 36cm - 20cm) = 6.94m (23 feet) and (7.1m - 2 x 36cm) = 6.38m (21 feet).
So 6.94m x 6.38m = 44.28 square meters (477 square feet) of usable living space. Since this is a semi-detached house, both units will also need to include stairs and interior walls. Open-plan living is nice, but at least a WC and bathroom will require walls, and bedrooms benefit from some separation as well. That’s about another 17cm (7 inches) per wall to subtract. Even if you choose a space-saving half-turn staircase, you still need to allow at least 2.5 square meters (27 square feet) for that. So I end up with just about 40 square meters (430 square feet) of usable floor area.
Let me estimate further: the ground floor is probably designed for an entrance area, open living space, and WC. If I allow 5 square meters (54 square feet) for WC and entrance (which is quite tight; I’m just guessing here and not sure this will really work that small), plus 2.5 square meters (27 square feet) for the stairwell, that leaves 32.5 square meters (350 square feet). The overall ground floor layout is more or less square (interior dimensions 6.94m x 6.38m), and we haven’t even accounted for plaster yet, which doesn’t make space planning any easier.
The same problem applies upstairs: just to fit a double bed in the bedroom requires a wall about 4m (13 feet) long. Subtracting this from 6.94m leaves 2.94m (10 feet). If the interior wall takes up part of the 4m length, then there is no room for a 2m (6.5 feet) wide double bed — the occupants might have to settle for something only about 1.80m (6 feet) wide. And so on.
It will get even tighter if a solid masonry construction is used.
I’ve been calculating back and forth and am already feeling a bit claustrophobic just thinking about it...
We currently live in 76 square meters (818 square feet) spread over two floors (open living area, bathroom, storage room upstairs, bedroom, small basement, third room downstairs). I know what I’m talking about. Lots of stairs are healthy, but I wouldn’t build like that. Our floor plan is more rectangular with a longer side, which makes space planning much easier.
Does it necessarily have to be a semi-detached house? With two units stacked vertically, you could save a stairwell. For such tight living space, that might be worth considering.
Do the two units have to be equally sized? Otherwise, a larger main dwelling combined with a smaller in-law apartment (and only one stairwell) is also an option.
I find it difficult to design two such small, almost square units in a way that allows for sensible room layouts (a bedroom also needs a sufficiently large closet, which requires additional space, etc.).
And I think this is exactly why there won’t be an off-the-shelf house plan that fits here.
I would sit down with a good planner (whether you choose an independent designer or one from a house builder) and consider how this very limited space can be used optimally according to your needs.
And, as I said, I would seriously rethink the plan to build such a semi-detached house with these parameters.
I would plan the semi-detached house to be larger and submit a building permit / planning application to the local authority. Maybe you are allowed to build more than the 0.4 floor area ratio?
Is the plot even suitable for two dwelling units? You should check with your local planning department to find out what options are available.
Is the plot even suitable for two dwelling units? You should check with your local planning department to find out what options are available.
That was my original question—whether it is even allowed to build a duplex here, meaning whether the building permit / planning permission has already been approved. I have fundamental doubts about that...
However, the original poster is clearly overwhelmed by the feedback here and has not responded since.
However, the original poster is clearly overwhelmed by the feedback here and has not responded since.
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