Semi-detached housing Print

Design Outcome

​​​​Different forms of semi-detached housing 

 

 

Key characteristics of semi-detached housing include:
  • a different overall street character than terraced arrangements, created by the paired form
  • they are typically located in suburban settings, and make for a ‘greener’ local environment with visual connections from the street to back gardens and green space to the side of the house
  • they can be converted into flats or remain as individual houses
  • they are generally larger individual houses than terraced houses

 

Typical layouts

Advantages of semi-detached housing
  • It can be accommodated on smaller or more constrained sites.
  • It provides intermediary density which is more appropriate to suburban settings than terraced housing, but with greater site efficiency than detached housing.
  • A stronger street edge than detached housing can be created, with more defined fronts and backs.
  • Semi-detached houses are more compatible in their overall scale to existing detached houses, and can therefore be located unobtrusively behind or to the side of existing houses to achieve ‘hidden density’.
  • It can assist in achieving a mix of housing choice.
  • It is a good housing choice to transition between medium to lower density areas.
  • Light can potentially enter from three sides, although if adjacent to the boundary this may have to be obscured.
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Disadvantages of semi-detached housing
  • Views into backs and sides of properties can affect occupants’ privacy, if they are not appropriately spaced or landscaped.
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Better Design Practice

Rules of Thumb

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