Welcome to...
Companion
PowerPoint
Presentation for the
Introduction to
Housing textbook
Interior Space Planning
Successful housing evidences welldesigned space planning and room
arrangement
 How do you want to live?
 Contributes to quality of life

Conceptual Frameworks

Any design problem is an equation (White)

Housing needs & space planning solutions
(Rapoport)

The plan of an interior space is shown by
a floor plan—the way the rooms are
arranged & how the spaces within the
house are used
outline of space
delineates the structural elements that
physically limit & enclose the space
--House that you want to buy
--Apartment you want to rent
Activities
5 basic types of activities that each require
certain types of spaces
 Social—involve people from outside the
family
 Family—involve family members
 Individual—involve only one person
 Private—require visual & audio privacy
 Work—accomplish a specific task
Zoning
Activities are used to divide the home into
3 zones
 Public zone—where social & family
activities occur (LR, DR, Entrance &
Power); non-family members are allowed
 Work zone—where work activities that
support the household’s lifestyle occur
(Kitchen, Laundry & Home Office)
 Private zone—where individual & private
activities occur (Bedrooms & Bathrooms)
Interior Zoning Concept
All 3 zones should be present in a floor
plan
 Interior zones should not be split
 Household members should not have to
cross through the middle of one zone to
get to another

Buffers

Buffers can separate zones:
walls
doors
closets
room dividers
large-scale furniture
Can also place on different levels
Circulation
Avoid going through middle of rooms
 Don’t interfere with good furniture
arrangement nor interrupt activities
 Don’t interfere with private zone
 Don’t go through kitchen work area
 Easy access from kitchen to rest of house
 Direct access from entrance to clean-up
area
 Short paths to conserve human energy

Open Space Planning
Where living, dining & kitchen areas are
all combined in one large area with no
walls separating them
 Advantages:
-reduced construction costs
-reduced time for cleaning & upkeep
-perception of larger spaces
-increase of space available
-flexibility
-more effective transmission of air

Orientation
The way a housing unit is situated on the
lot
 Affects space plan’s efficiency &
arrangement
 East-west orientation is best
 Passive solar heating in winter + snow on
driveway melts quicker
 Position windows to take advantage of
cross breezes
 Landscaping to buffer winter winds &
provide shade in summer

Project
Indicate zones—public, work & private
Does it meet the 3 zoning principles?
 Identify buffers
Are they adequate for visual &
acoustical privacy, & dividing zones?
 Draw arrows for major circulation routes
Do they meet recommendations?
 Is it an open floor plan? (show it on plan)
 Does the home have a good orientation?
(explain)
 Anything you especially like or dislike?

Entryways
Easily accessible for household members &
their guests
 Front entry—somewhat separated from
living area; closet near front door; powder
room for guests
 Service entry—through attached garage
 To & from back yard through
the public zone; easy access
to kitchen for outdoor
entertaining & dining
Work Areas
Kitchen—primary work area
4 steps to planning an efficient kitchen:
 Convenient work space & access
 Configuration of basic work centers:
countertops, cabinet storage, appliances &
food preparation
 Suitable space standards
 Plan for efficient task operation
An effective work triangle—refrigerator to
sink to range (26’ – 12’)
Laundry area—near kitchen, service entry or
bedrooms; choices based on lifestyles
Storage—plan for plenty of storage space
-bedroom closets next to entrance
-standard vs. walk-in closets
-serve as buffers
Plumbing—concentrated by situating
kitchens, laundry areas & bathrooms next
to each other or stacked
Privacy—highly valued
-private bath for householder
-private den or study
-secluded and not in direct sight nor
sound transfer