assuming there are similar houses on both sides depends on how much extra space is needed for bathrooms, halls and stairwell on all three levels and converting downstairs to bedrooms would probably prevent easy access to any front or rear courtyards and would you keep the stairs down from the street for a fire escape as well as bridge to access the middle level and what is the size of front and back yards, do you have rear access and/or any other buildings on the property and will the attic room be built inside the existing roof or can the roof shape be altered and a balcony added at the back and how many bedrooms do you need ..so many questions that will need an experienced local architect and a very generous budget.. and, although the side return looks exciting it would compromise the window, light and ventilation for the room in the middle

We have an ‘upside down’ house because of views and I’ve always felt a disconnect to the garden. I wish we had of had access stairs outside off the rear balcony to reach the garden to make that connection. Just something for you to consider if important to you.

I think you need to move the bathroom and laundry to a more central position. You stair case is contrary to flow. Get an architect to work with you and your budget, This is not something we can really help with as constraints and opportunities need to be properly understood

Hello Tian, THANK YOU THANK YOU One of the first ever people to indicate north: it is so vitally important but so few know why! Take the credit but if you no not why look up PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN! Questions: how much back garden is there? do you require 3 or 4 beds? Is your budget massive as I think what you are suggesting will need it to be! Three beds on lower level, new bath/loo laundry in the middle somewhere most definitely with windows please. New stairs from street to upper level for kit, living/dining with a pwd room. Center stairs continuing up to master robe and ensuite. Is that the sort of thing you are picturing? Can I suggest more stairs to the garden from the center living level for connection to garden. I do think that is important. Is this your forever home, is it a family home? Have you kiddies now, what ages. Sorry all the questions but all important... Cheers Margot

Thanks for all your replies and feedback. I haven't provided a lot more detail as the location of the kitchen/living areas go will dictate how the rest of the layout flows. This is going to be our forever home. We do not have children yet but planning to start a family soon. We are definitely relocating the stairs to the side of the property regardless as its current location is not really optimal. Louiab's point about losing that connection from the living areas to the garden is what we are concerned about, hence one of the option is to just open up the ground floor, keeping the kitchen and living downstairs and having bedrooms on the first floor. A third option would be have a formal living area at the rear of the first floor and have stairs connecting down to the kitchen and courtyard. That way, we can open up the ground floor to the courtyard and still keep the city skyline view in a common area.