Semi
‘Semi’ is a contraction of ‘semi-detached’ and is a term commonly heard among property-buyers and sellers. It describes a semi-detached house which shares a party wall on one side with another house (usually of similar design) while on the other side has no attachment at all.
Hence the term ‘three-bedroom semi’ often implies a house with three bedrooms, two reception rooms and a garden.
Properties that have no adjoining neighbour are described as 'detached', whereas properties with adjoining neighbours on both sides are described as 'terraced'.
The term ‘semi’ need not necessarily imply any particular use of materials or architectural style. It can describe two houses of any style that are joined together. However, for many in the UK, especially England, the term semi will typically conjure up an image of a 1920s- or 1930s-style house with three bedrooms, bay windows and tiled pitched roof.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Conservation and transformation
Reading Ruskin’s cultural heritage. Book review.
Renovating Union Chain Bridge.
AI tools for planning, design, construction and management
A long, continually expanding list, any more to add?
Robots in the construction industry
From cultural characterisations to construction sites.
Empowering construction with AI integration
New horizons with a human touch.
Key AI related terms to be aware of
With explanations from the UK government.
A Better Hiring Toolkit for construction
Tooling up to hire under best practice standards in the sector.
Recharging Electrical Skills in Wales
Step by step collaborative solutions.
Ireland budget announcement 2025
CIOB responds with positivity, criticism and clarity.
The continued ISG fall out, where to go?
Support for ISG contractors, companies and employees.
New HES national centre for traditional building retrofit
Announced as HES publishes survey results which reveal strong support for retrofit.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Expected to become one of the largest activities in the global construction industry.
Scope determination appeals and the Building Safety Act
Process explained following release of appeals guidance.
The ECA industry focus video channel
Keeping update with the industry session by session.
Over 25 recorded informations sessions freely available.
AT Awards 2024 ceremony East London October 25th.
Revisiting the AT community at the 2023 awards evening.