ᐅ Looking for the optimal floor plan for a semi-detached house, 6.5 x 13 meters
Created on: 4 Mar 2026 11:42
S
Simon1988
Hello everyone,
We worked out the following two floor plans for the ground floor with our architect.
Semi-detached house with garage
Plot size 235 sqm (2,529 sq ft) – 10 m (33 ft) wide, 23.5 m (77 ft) long
Building envelope of 6.5 x 13 m (21 x 43 ft)
Terrace facing southwest
3-4 people (1-2 children)
We prefer design 8 with a niche directly to the right of the front door (as shown in design 9) and would plan the kitchen in a U-shape (we couldn’t fit a kitchen island visually with the 3.26 m (11 ft) wide window front).
In design 9, the U-shaped kitchen would be too elongated, so it probably wouldn’t look as nice visually.
We plan to integrate the washing machine and dryer in the bathroom on the upper floor and build without a utility room.
Do you have any tips or ideas on what we could improve, or what do you think of the floor plan in general?
Thanks and best regards,
We worked out the following two floor plans for the ground floor with our architect.
Semi-detached house with garage
Plot size 235 sqm (2,529 sq ft) – 10 m (33 ft) wide, 23.5 m (77 ft) long
Building envelope of 6.5 x 13 m (21 x 43 ft)
Terrace facing southwest
3-4 people (1-2 children)
We prefer design 8 with a niche directly to the right of the front door (as shown in design 9) and would plan the kitchen in a U-shape (we couldn’t fit a kitchen island visually with the 3.26 m (11 ft) wide window front).
In design 9, the U-shaped kitchen would be too elongated, so it probably wouldn’t look as nice visually.
We plan to integrate the washing machine and dryer in the bathroom on the upper floor and build without a utility room.
Do you have any tips or ideas on what we could improve, or what do you think of the floor plan in general?
Thanks and best regards,
S
Simon19884 Mar 2026 19:37We can no longer change the general contractor or the architect. We are building without a basement or a penthouse level.
In my opinion, the design doesn’t make sense as long as there is no space planned for technical equipment.
Furthermore, despite the overall size, it is ultimately a small house where you have to manage the square meters carefully. 57 sqm (613 sq ft) for a combined living space is, in my view, completely impractical for a house of this size. I can already imagine this room regularly becoming cluttered due to the lack of any storage space.
Please ask the architect to accurately include on the plan the heating system, hot water tank for 4 people, electrical panel, water connections, and such items as vacuum cleaner, bucket, stroller(?) and similar, all to scale! I’m curious to see how she envisions this.
Furthermore, despite the overall size, it is ultimately a small house where you have to manage the square meters carefully. 57 sqm (613 sq ft) for a combined living space is, in my view, completely impractical for a house of this size. I can already imagine this room regularly becoming cluttered due to the lack of any storage space.
Please ask the architect to accurately include on the plan the heating system, hot water tank for 4 people, electrical panel, water connections, and such items as vacuum cleaner, bucket, stroller(?) and similar, all to scale! I’m curious to see how she envisions this.
Simon1988 schrieb:
Basement, floors: construction on a slab without a basement [...] We can no longer change the general contractor or the architect. We are building without a basement / recessed floor. I usually like to help with technical expertise. In this case, I’ll have to limit myself to praying for you. What a pity :-(
Why rush into disaster when you had already joined this forum beforehand? I just don’t understand it!
I find it hard to believe that a half-meter trench next to the garage will be enough to access the utility room with the pipes. At least switch to an open parking space; that could still mitigate the disaster.
Simon1988 schrieb:
Design by an architect, arranged through our general contractor [...] We’re uncertain about the step depth—is access from the house to the garage practical? As I said, the design won’t work as drawn. So maybe it’s time to go to a lawyer instead of just relying on my prayers?
I can only share your uncertainty about the steps since, as mentioned, we don’t know the floor height. Step depths of 24 or 25 cm (9.5 or 9.8 inches) would translate to step heights of 19.5 or 19 cm (7.7 or 7.5 inches), multiplied by 16 risers, resulting in a floor height of 3.12 or 3.04 meters (10.2 or 10 feet). Normally, the floor height would be around 2.80 to 2.90 meters (9.2 to 9.5 feet), which translates to step heights of approximately 17.8 to 18.2 cm (7.0 to 7.2 inches), and thus about 27 to 28 cm (10.6 to 11 inches) step depth—meaning longer stairs. The maximum budget of 420,000 (currency) will be tight for 140 square meters (1,500 square feet). I foresee a long and dirty DIY job looming.
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S
Simon19884 Mar 2026 20:41The technical room is located behind the garage. Storage space is available under the stairs or in the garage as a substitute for a basement.
Great, this gives us something to work with.
However, I think many points deserve reconsideration—in other words: you should be prepared to learn that these ideas or wishes are difficult, very difficult to reconcile with this semi-detached house.
You almost have none. Under the stairs is a space/area that cannot be entered. It’s only enough to reach in with one step. The utility room is not large enough, nor is there space for tools, gardening items, etc., which you would typically want or need to store INSIDE the house (batteries, temporary garbage storage, shopping bags, some supplies). This makes the house impractical or a collection of scattered spots where cabinets have to be placed.
Even if an office is not absolutely necessary, there is often a family workspace with a printer and folders. Gift wrap, greeting cards, decorative ribbons, etc. Alongside a hole punch, stapler, and writing paper, which could fit in a drawer, there is a lot of necessary paraphernalia in a household with children. Therefore, a suitable room would make sense for a family of four.
And where are you going to park the car? In front of the garage?!
Completely pointless in standard semi-detached houses of this width. At 5 meters (16 ft), a quarter-turn staircase would be more sensible; at 6 meters (20 ft) width, a half-turn staircase. It develops from the rooms on the upper floor. If you ask why, just look at this snake-like, impractical hallway upstairs. Of course, you can swim against the current, but not with 4 people, your budget, or the other constraints.
Placing technical installations outside the building envelope is not practical. It is also more expensive because you expand the thermal envelope outward.
There is no room for a walk-in closet here—it is true luxury for the parents at the expense of others.
Don’t plan for conversion later… plan the rooms correctly from the start, then the spaces will be satisfying.
Children’s rooms belong on the light-facing side, bathrooms should be stacked. No ballroom-sized open space. Plan effective widths in meters (feet), then there will be no wasted areas or decorative corridors. Simple, compact design creates the feeling of spaciousness in most houses.
As an example, a quick sketch as support for the upper floor:
And here is the idea to push the garage further back to gain side windows and possibly the entrance.
If I have read correctly, the identical appearance of the semi-detached houses does not apply to doors or windows.
Here, I have not changed the staircase; this is only about the idea of moving the kitchen and/or entrance.
However, I think many points deserve reconsideration—in other words: you should be prepared to learn that these ideas or wishes are difficult, very difficult to reconcile with this semi-detached house.
Simon1988 schrieb:
Storage options
You almost have none. Under the stairs is a space/area that cannot be entered. It’s only enough to reach in with one step. The utility room is not large enough, nor is there space for tools, gardening items, etc., which you would typically want or need to store INSIDE the house (batteries, temporary garbage storage, shopping bags, some supplies). This makes the house impractical or a collection of scattered spots where cabinets have to be placed.
Simon1988 schrieb:
Office (family use or home office): An office would be desirable, but not a must
Even if an office is not absolutely necessary, there is often a family workspace with a printer and folders. Gift wrap, greeting cards, decorative ribbons, etc. Alongside a hole punch, stapler, and writing paper, which could fit in a drawer, there is a lot of necessary paraphernalia in a household with children. Therefore, a suitable room would make sense for a family of four.
Simon1988 schrieb:
Garage, carport: Garage for numerous bicycles, children’s vehicles, tools, etc.
And where are you going to park the car? In front of the garage?!
Simon1988 schrieb:
Straight staircase
Completely pointless in standard semi-detached houses of this width. At 5 meters (16 ft), a quarter-turn staircase would be more sensible; at 6 meters (20 ft) width, a half-turn staircase. It develops from the rooms on the upper floor. If you ask why, just look at this snake-like, impractical hallway upstairs. Of course, you can swim against the current, but not with 4 people, your budget, or the other constraints.
Simon1988 schrieb:
Utility room behind the garage
Placing technical installations outside the building envelope is not practical. It is also more expensive because you expand the thermal envelope outward.
Simon1988 schrieb:
Master bedroom with separate walk-in closet
There is no room for a walk-in closet here—it is true luxury for the parents at the expense of others.
Simon1988 schrieb:
Walk-in closet that could possibly be converted into an office,
Don’t plan for conversion later… plan the rooms correctly from the start, then the spaces will be satisfying.
Children’s rooms belong on the light-facing side, bathrooms should be stacked. No ballroom-sized open space. Plan effective widths in meters (feet), then there will be no wasted areas or decorative corridors. Simple, compact design creates the feeling of spaciousness in most houses.
As an example, a quick sketch as support for the upper floor:
And here is the idea to push the garage further back to gain side windows and possibly the entrance.
If I have read correctly, the identical appearance of the semi-detached houses does not apply to doors or windows.
Here, I have not changed the staircase; this is only about the idea of moving the kitchen and/or entrance.
Simon1988 schrieb:
Storage space would be available under the stairs or in the garage as a basement alternative. There is a garage regulation that prohibits using a garage as a basement substitute or simply as a storage room. Many do it anyway, but it is not allowed. If someone among you feels upset about this, they could quickly face a fine and frustration because no alternative is available.
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