Semi-detached house design

JP_ · 13 Oct 2020

I honestly think it is time we stopped building semi-detached houses. Terraced houses must have big cost savings, and more houses in smaller spaces, but semi-detached just seems a bit silly.

Just found this. Not read it yet.
"The Development of the English Semi-detached House: 1750-1950"
http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/2825/1/Lofthouse_Dissertation_Semis_2012_Oct.pdf

pete50 · 13 Oct 2020

I wouldn't buy a semi. I lived in a council semi when I was growing up. Brick built in the late fifties early sixties. Living rooms and parlours next to each other same with two of the three bedrooms upstairs. Our neighbours were always rowing and chucking things at each other and they might just as well have been in our house for all the row that got transmitted through the adjoining walls. oh and I wouldn't go anywhere near a new build.

JP_ · 13 Oct 2020

the Designs for Labourers Cottages 1860 (page 44) are similar to the ones local to me, that go for a high price and separate all living areas and most bedrooms. But, the front doors are really close and they often share the path leading to the house, which is really odd!

http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/2825/1/Lofthouse_Dissertation_Semis_2012_Oct.pdf

Harry Bloomfield · 13 Oct 2020

diy_fun_uk said:
So why do we think many modern builds still put the lounge, bedrooms etc together? Could it be a cost thing i.e. less distance to run services if they can be brought in at the middle then split?

Pass! As said, my lounge and two bedrooms are alongside next door's, but there would be no cost saving to be had from the layout. The only cost saving is that of the two bathroom and rain water drains being close at the rear. We have shared rain fall pipes front and rear, plus a smaller third one at the rear, but I am not sure where the front one might go to, I have never had cause to trace it. The most direct route to the rain water main drain, would be under the party wall, but I doubt that is/was allowed. If it drained to the front, it would have to somehow join the road side drain.

Water is brought in from the road, up my drive, then sweeps around to the back of the house to the kitchen stop valve and meter, with similar separate arrangement next door.

diy_fun_uk · 13 Oct 2020

jonbey said:
I honestly think it is time we stopped building semi-detached houses. Terraced houses must have big cost savings, and more houses in smaller spaces, but semi-detached just seems a bit silly.

Just found this. Not read it yet.
"The Development of the English Semi-detached House: 1750-1950"
http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/2825/1/Lofthouse_Dissertation_Semis_2012_Oct.pdf

Looks interesting, well, to an extent! Most have the living quarters adjoined. I 'do' wonder if it was partly related to heat retention i.e. having both sets of living quarters in the 'middle' of the overall property.

Harry Bloomfield · 13 Oct 2020

jonbey said:
I honestly think it is time we stopped building semi-detached houses. Terraced houses must have big cost savings, and more houses in smaller spaces, but semi-detached just seems a bit silly.

Depending what you want from life and your home, they (semis) are a fairly good compromise. The most efficient is multi-story blocks of flats, more efficient than terraced homes. Having sampled terraced when I was young, I certainly would not want one now. I like my own personal space, personal garden, personal drive, a door I can close on the rest of the world, somewhere off road to park and a place where I have space to work and potter about fixing things, plus store a lot of tools.

Not all semis have their own garden path and drive, some have to share them, not all terraces have outdoor access to the rear, some have drag all their materials front door to back through the house. I would living like that very frustrating, I would find living in a multi-story flat even more frustrating. The advantage of a modern well insulated terrace, is cheapness to buy and relative cheapness to heat.

Harry Bloomfield · 13 Oct 2020

diy_fun_uk said:
Looks interesting, well, to an extent! Most have the living quarters adjoined. I 'do' wonder if it was partly related to heat retention i.e. having both sets of living quarters in the 'middle' of the overall property.

Possibly - the three heated rooms in my home as originally built, where adjacent to next doors three heated rooms. The unheated hall, stairs, bathroom, small bedroom and back bedroom were always extra cold in winter.

Nige F · 13 Oct 2020

jonbey said:
the front doors are really close and they often share the path leading to the house, which is really odd!
f

Same as the house my gran lived in - rural workers Victorian cottage. 1 gate - then one day ,as the area became gentryfied (green welly brigade) someone put another gate in - so 2 separate gates leading to a single path

Harry Bloomfield · 13 Oct 2020

jonbey said:
Just found this. Not read it yet.
"The Development of the English Semi-detached House: 1750-1950"
http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/2825/1/Lofthouse_Dissertation_Semis_2012_Oct.pdf

I have begun reading it and it looks to be interesting, if long winded.

Tigercubrider · 13 Oct 2020

Yes, I have always thought that semi's should be built with stairs/ landing/ hall together- or even garages?

Harry Bloomfield · 13 Oct 2020

Tigercubrider said:
or even garages?

They would not be semis then, unless the garage was one of those integrated ones, built as the ground floor of the house.

Tigercubrider · 13 Oct 2020

Yes- sort of linked detached with maybe bathroom above. Anything to get actual living accommodation further apart

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Semi-detached house design

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