House types from A – Z: Features, definitions and advantages & disadvantages

You want to take the next step and are looking for a new property – preferably a house? Then you’ve come to the right place! There are so many different types of houses, it’s hard to choose, and it’s not easy to keep track of them all. We have listed all the house types below with brief definitions and a link to a comprehensive article for you. Get to know the different house types with their respective characteristics and find exactly the right house for you!

Tip. Are you looking for the perfect property for your future? Here you will find tips and necessary information for buyers: Buying a house

Bungalow: no stairs, one floor, flat roof & space

Many people know the word bungalow from the context of holidays. But bungalows are not only popular holiday homes, but also a possible choice for your own home. A bungalow is one thing above all: practical – and modern. This type of house is especially popular with young families, as it combines all living spaces on one floor and, especially due to the absence of stairs, does not pose a danger to children or senior citizens. Choosing the right house is certainly not easy, because it is an important decision that may affect your whole life. Here you can find out everything you need to know about bungalows.

• Bungalow

Semi-detached house: Living with direct neighbours & garden

The semi-detached housing solution can be a slightly cheaper alternative to whole houses. Often you don’t even have to compromise on living space. Rather, the space is saved around the house. As a result, semi-detached houses can save you money. Additionally, it could be that you share garden space with neighbor.

A semi-detached house promises the optimum living comfort with the area of a house at a lower price. Sounds very appealing in itself, but any other option, this concept also comes with its own positive and negative factors, which we will discuss in more detail later. However, for now, we’d like to tell you a little more about what the living spaces of a semi-detached house might look like.

• Semi-detached house

Single-family home: building, buying or renting

The traditional single-family home hasn’t been so traditional for a long time. Quite the opposite. The single-family house is rightly the most popular house form in Germany and is becoming increasingly modern. From the floor plan, to energy regulations, to the little extras. Your house is up to date. Especially for young families, this type of house is something very special, as this will usually be the first home of their own. Are you interested in building, buying or renting?

Of course, when you ask this question, you’ll think directly of a townhouse or duplex. However, this is not everything. A detached house can be much more than just standard. Especially if you are interested in a self-build, you should look into the latest and most modern standards. Here you can find out all about the advantages and disadvantages of a detached house, useful tips and everything you need to know, from the perfect plot of land to the correct energy regulations.

• Single-family house

Half-timbered house: renovation and historical charm in facade & co.

The rustic houses, which are especially widespread in Europe, have their own personal charm. Especially in the countryside and in villages, you can still find some of these historic buildings. But what looks so appealing to many from the outside can quickly be associated with high costs: renovation or even refurbishment are often necessary for a half-timbered house. But if a half-timbered house has been modernised or at least overhauled, it is an absolutely unique and magical piece.

In classic half-timbered houses, materials such as straw, clay and even calf’s hair were used not only to build a wall, but also to insulate it additionally. The most striking feature of half-timbered houses is the façade, in which the literal half-timbering – the beam construction of the house – is openly visible. Often the “work”, i.e. the wooden beams, is not plastered in the interior either, and accordingly a unique living atmosphere is offered. How you can protect yourself from too high costs and still fulfill your dream of a half-timbered house, we tell you here.

• Half-timbered house

Holiday home / weekend house: Living at the holiday resort with sea view

Who does not know it? You’ve simply fallen in love with a place and would love to spend every free minute there. But the workplace and the focus of life are simply too much anchored in the actual home. In such a situation the option of a holiday home opens up. Whether on the beach or by the lake – a holiday home or weekend house can be located basically anywhere.

Whether a holiday home or a holiday apartment is really suitable for you, if the property is not purchased for pure investment purposes, is determined above all by whether the chosen place pleases you and makes your heart beat faster with every visit. Criteria, characteristics, and the question of whether and how we try to answer you in the following article.

• Holiday home / weekend house

Prefabricated house: The quick dream of a house, construction phase, selection and more

What is actually a prefabricated house? This question is very difficult to answer, because this type of house is very diverse. Most providers have a large repertoire of prefabricated house types and you are spoilt for choice. Do you want to live in a detached house? In a housing estate or rather a bungalow? With a cellar, garage and garden? These are all important aspects that you should and can consider when planning your house. Because a prefabricated house is one thing above all: versatile. The main advantage is that there are no long and costly construction phases, because the house is literally already finished. Features and advantages & disadvantages you will find in the following article.

• Prefabricated house

Country house: land, garden and life with the closeness to nature

A country house is a residential building on an estate. The large property in a rural environment usually has a spacious garden. A country house does not only convince by its size and the free space but also by its rustic, romantic charm. But nowadays you can find the country house style more and more often in the city.

This country house style is determined by massive buildings with generous proportions. The house entrances are usually strikingly designed, but the long balconies, terraces, dormers and pavilions are also eye-catchers. Folding shutters, doors, windows and railings made of real wood ensure the perfect harmony of the house. Sometimes the property also includes a conservatory or a carport. Wood, rattan, stone and ceramics, natural materials are mainly used in country houses. The floors are tiled in warm colours. A tiled stove makes this country house cosy and warm – the warmth radiates throughout the entire living space of the house.

• Country house

Solid house: construction, durability & features

A solid house is the construction method of a house, in which a house is built according to the plan of an architect with solid building materials. Each house here becomes unique due to the individual wishes of the respective builder.

The opposite of a solid house is a prefabricated house: In a prefabricated house, the house is built according to the modular principle and consists of a wooden construction. The house is built brick by brick. The building materials are delivered to the construction site, where they are assembled into a finished house by specialist companies. The building materials used for walls and floors are aerated concrete, sand-lime bricks or goat bricks. The staircase and roof construction, on the other hand, is usually made of wood. Learn more about solid houses in the following article.

• Massive house

Terraced house: door to door with the neighbours, purchase price & Co.

Looking for an affordable home near the city? Then how about a terraced house? A terraced house is the perfect alternative between a city apartment and a house in the country. Low purchase price, small garden and/or a terrace in a friendly neighbourhood. We show you what makes a terraced house so attractive and why families and couples in particular like to settle in this type of house.

A terraced house is a row of individual houses which are built directly next to each other without any space in between. However, there is no access between the houses, so there is still the privacy of a normal house. Most of these houses have a minimum size of 160m².

• Terraced house

Beach house: House by the sea – the dream of a house on holiday

You love to listen to the sound of the sea, gaze at the starry sky while the sand tickles between your toes and you breathe in the salty sea breeze? Who says these classic holiday memories should only be part of vacations? Why live in a cramped rented apartment, expose yourself to daily exhaust fumes, and work out in a gym with concrete walls? In this day and age where mobile working has become the norm, Pilates and surfing on the beach are among our favorite activities, and the thirst for adventure is constantly on the rise, the beach house seems to have established itself as the new dream property par excellence. The beach house as an investment, vacation home or home of your own! Convince yourself!

• Beach house

Villa: Living in luxury with lots of space & garden

In the past, a villa, especially the city villa, was often used as a second or country house to be close to the city. This applied exclusively to the wealthier urban population. Nowadays, that has changed. City mansions are no longer used as second homes and are primarily occupied by many families. Meanwhile you have the possibility to renovate an old building or to build a new one. A special advantage is the large garden and the pool, which is often included. In this article you will learn everything important about villas. Buying, building, in a modern style or more traditional? You decide!

• Villa

Energy efficient building

1. Low-energy house
2. Zero-energy house
3. Passive House

Low-energy house: characteristic values, construction & requirements

Sustainable living is a trend that is becoming more and more prevalent and also enjoys state support. Therefore, the interest in environmentally conscious housing solutions is growing more and more. For this reason, we have decided to put together the most important facts about efficient living, so that you can decide whether a low-energy house could also be interesting for you.

Caution is advised when buying and renting a low-energy house, because: The term is not associated with specific requirements for the house! Only if one would like to make the housing unit energetically valid with KFW, certain requirements are made. These should meet a low-energy house in any case. What exactly these are, we will explain to you in more detail below.

• Low-energy house

Zero energy house: definition & advantages and disadvantages at a glance

Since November 2009 the long constructed idea of the zero energy house has become reality and more and more people are now dreaming of turning their own house into a zero energy house. Especially when buying a new home, this type of house has gained popularity. However, many do not know much about the term and simply associate it with sustainable living.

Zero-energy houses are small, building planning and energetic masterpieces. A zero-energy house is oriented in its standard value to the passive house. This means that it does not exceed the energy requirement of 15 kWh/sqm per year (regulation of the Passive House Institute Darmstadt) and also produces the consumed energy itself through photovoltaics and solar thermal energy. This means that a zero-energy house forms a completely self-sufficient entity and is not dependent on electricity purchases. What is actually behind this type of house, you will learn in the following article.

• Zero-energy house

Passive house: new construction, features and costs

Sustainable housing options are divided into different house options. Part of them are zero energy houses, low energy houses and also passive houses. You can also find detailed articles on other options in our magazine, but here we will only talk about the passive house for the time being.

A house is called a passive house as soon as it requires less than 15 kWh/sqm per year. This value is achieved through various measures in the construction of the house. Multiple glazed windows and high-quality insulation reduce the transmission heat loss and thus minimise heating costs.

• Passive House

Passive house definition: What is meant by this type of house?

Sustainable housing options are divided into different house options. Part of them are zero energy houses, low energy houses and also passive houses. You can also find detailed articles on other options in our magazine, but here we will only talk about the passive house for the time being.

A house is called a passive house as soon as it requires less than 15 kWh/sqm per year. This value is achieved through various measures in the construction of the house. Multiple glazed windows and high-quality insulation reduce the transmission heat loss and thus minimise heating costs.

Are you looking for the right house? Then check out our guide! Here you will find definitions, meanings and lots of information: House types from A-Z

Construction and room layout and energy consumption

The heat losses that occur in a passive house due to transmission and ventilation are attempted to be compensated by the energy gain of photovoltaic systems on the roof of the house. In any case, energetically advantageous installations are to be expected. These require regular maintenance. This is a long-term cost factor, which should be considered when building a passive house.

Passive houses can also be divided into different subclasses. These classes describe the energy demand that the installations on the house must meet in order to make the house a passive house.

• Passive House Classic: 60 kWh/qma primary energy consumption p.a.
• Passive House Plus: 45 kWh/sqm primary energy consumption p.a. + 60 kWh/sqm energy generation
• Passive House Premium: 30 kWh/qma primary energy consumption p.a. + 120 kWh/qma energy production

Advantages & disadvantages of a passive house: costs, windows and co.

The house type must be as airtight as possible to avoid ventilation heat loss. This is done, for example, by replacing windows that open with a ventilation system. However, this change also involves dangers that are not immediately obvious at first glance.

Advantages: Incidental costs and efficiency

A passive house has extremely positive effects on your life and the environment, especially in the long term. Nevertheless, the decision for or against the housing option can be difficult. We have summarized a few of the advantages that the passive house brings with it for you:

• Sustainability
• Reduced ancillary costs
• Modern
• Future-oriented

Disadvantages: Ventilation and cost

Of course, not everything can always be positive. Especially when building a house, problems arise that are not always taken into account in advance. Disadvantages that a passive house but in most cases brings with it, you can read here:

• Risk of mould if ventilation is damaged
• Increased construction costs
• Maintenance requirements

Source: Passive House (Lukinski.de)

For whom are passive houses suitable? Families, couples & co.

In itself, passive houses are an option for anyone and everyone who can imagine living in a sustainable house. However, one should meet certain requirements so that the modern house does not overwhelm.

For example, it is an advantage to have a certain inclination towards sustainable energies. Or rather, one is able to read into the simple systems in order to understand how to operate them.

However, we would also like to take the opportunity here to allay the fears of people who are concerned that a photovoltaic system could be too much for them. The user view of these systems is kept as simple as possible in order to make them accessible to many people.

Of course, the small computers can be connected to the smartphone and you can follow a live report about the installation and electricity production, as well as be alerted to irregularities, but this is not a must. Ultimately, anyone can learn to deal with the installations of a passive house.

Sustainable living: Energy standards, requirements & comparison

With regard to the requirements that a house must meet in order to be called a passive house, we have already made more concrete statements in the previous section. We would like to compare the different options here to help you find the right house.

Passive house vs. low-energy house

The low-energy house is the preliminary stage to the passive house. This means that a low-energy house, for example, meets the same structural requirements to reduce transmission heat loss, but is not able to generate the energy consumption itself.

Zero energy house vs. passive house

A passive house is, so to speak, the precursor to a zero-energy house. A zero-energy house manages to completely cover the energy demand that arises over the year and thus requires no additional purchases in the field of energy. However, it is important to mention here that these reference values are to be seen all very broadly, just what the buying of energy is concerned, because depending on the season and location, the self-sufficient houses do not manage to maintain their self-sufficiency and low additional costs are incurred.

Passive house: wooden house, prefabricated house and other building options

Good news for all fans of unusual houses: The term passive house is not a building type, but an energy standard that must be met, so there are limits to the freedom of planning, but nevertheless the energy-efficient houses come in many types and shapes.

In terms of new construction, hardly any building style is unattainable. However, certain ideas may not be feasible for reasons of efficiency. One should be aware of these limitations. That being said, there are wooden houses, prefabricated houses and more, all of which meet the energy standard and can conjure up your dream house on your property quickly and sometimes inexpensively.

Build or buy: Is a passive house worth it?

As always, the decision whether the house is newly built or freshly bought better is always dependent on the situation and the offer. What can be said, however, in relation to passive houses is that they are extremely forward-looking. Regulations for new builds and refurbishments are becoming stricter and stricter, then of course the government wants to drive forward the achievement of climate targets, which includes sustainable housing options.

For this reason, it is advisable not to disregard the types of houses in the apartment finding. However, one does not have to decide directly for such an extreme variant, of course. There are also lower energy standards that already bring extreme progress compared to old buildings and also renovated old buildings. For example, different KfW efficiency houses can be considered.

What should be considered when setting up a passive house?

In addition to other factors, the furnishings can also have an effect on heating costs, because furniture stores heat. An empty room is therefore more difficult to heat than a furnished room of the same size. In addition, installations such as carpets and curtains can help to regulate the temperatures in a room.

If you are still looking for inspiration for your interior design, we highly recommend you to take a look at our interior / furnishing section. There you will find ideas for all rooms of your house and even for the children’s room we have the right furniture labels ready.

Tip! You can furnish your house in many different ways. You can find trendy styles for the furnishing of your home with us: Furnishing styles XXL