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BASIC ELEMENTS OF PLANNING

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Structure
2,l Introduction
Objectives
2;2 Principles of Planning
2.3 Architectural Co~lsiderations
2.4 Climatic Aspects
2.4.1 Orientation of Buildings
2.4.2 Shading Devices
2.5 Fire Resistance Regulations
2.6 Residential Buildings
2.6.1 Houses and Flats
2.7 Other Types of Buildings
2.7.1 Educational Buildings
2.7.2 Institutional Buildings
2.7.3 Business Buildings
2.7.4 Mercantile Buildings
2.7.5 Industrial Buildings
2.7.6 Storage Buildings
2.7.7 Hazardous Buildings
2.8 Relative Importance of Functional Elements
2.9 Anthropometric Data
2.9.1 Broad Classification of Components of Buildings
2.9.2 Pre-conception
2.10 Determinants for Design of a Building
2.10.1 Steps in the Planning Process of a Building
2.11 Sunlrnary
2.1 2 Answers to SAQs

2.1 INTRODUCTION
In Unit 1, various types of buildings like residential, industrial, hospital etc., each of
which stands for different function and purpose, were described; and several guidelines
for selection of appropriate sites for each type were presented.
In this unit, the principles of functional planning, architectural considerations, climatic
aspects of planning and fire-resistance regulations will be introduced. Did you notice the
word "introduced" ? Planning of buildings is a complex task and it is usually undertaken
by architects, who train themselves over several years to deal with the whole range of
issues involved. This whole range includes provision of sanitary facilities, electrification,
lifts/escalators, fire-fighting installations etc. and they are not included in this brief
presentation.
Most of the architects specialise in the design of residential buildings; a few specialise in
the design of educational and institutional buildings; rarer still are the architects who
undertake the planning and design of mercantile and industrial buildings, and you will
have to search for architects who specialise in buildings which store hazardous materials.
All that we aim to present in this unit consist of the broad guidelines which the architects
utilise so that the engineers who build these buildings have a proper understanding of the
expertise that has gFne into the planning and design of such buildings. Engineers usually
have the tendency to modify the plans, elevations, sizes, position of openings and above
all the finishes to conserve money or to suit structural design, and in the process alter the
functions of the buildings and their appearance drastically. It is the primary duty of
engineers to realise in practice what the architect has synthesized in his mind.
The medium of communication between the architects and the engineers are the drawings
and in this unit drawings will be utilised extensively.
.Maonia): of Buildings Objectives
After studying this unit, you should be able to
understand the principles of planning of buildings, appreciate the
architectural considerations, comprehend the climatic aspects of orientation
of buildings, and provision of sun shine-control devices,
construct buildings that satisfy building bye-laws and fire regulations,
have a comprehensive List of the various components of different types of
buildings and their functional arrangements,
plan the construction sequence in such a manner as to avoid costly
modifications and rectifications at a later date,
decipher and understand drawings of a variety of buildings, and
choose building materials andmethods to suit the particular needs of the
type of building m d e r consideration.

2.2 PRINCIPLES OF PLANNING

-
Modem buildings are planned and designed to suit a specific purpose, giving due
consideration to site;climate, character and style.
Planning of buildings presupposes the existence of certain laws and principles which are
applicable in general to a wide variety of buildings. Within the frame work of these laws
and principles a wide variety of designs can be developed depending upon the ingenuity
and creativity of an architect.
Aspect, roominess,.flexibility, grouping, privacy and elegance are the major conside-
rations which form the bed rock for the basic principles of planning as discussed below :
Aspect
The natural gifts of sunshine, wind and scenery should be utilised to provide
comfort, hygiene and cheerfulness to the user of the rooms in a building.
A room which receives light and air from a particular direction is said to have an
aspect of that direction. A kitchen should have an eastern aspect so that the
morning sun would refresh and purify the air, and it would remain cool in the later
part of the day. The living room may have southern or south-eastem aspect, while
bed rooms may have west or south-west aspect.
An aspect plan is presented along with the position of the sun for the city of Poona
in Figure 2.1 (Sane, 1959).
NORTH

Figare 2.1 :Aspect Plan end Position of Sun

Roominess
Every unit of built-up area must be utilised to the maximum. Maximum benefit
must be derived froin the minjmum possible dimension of a room. For example, in
a square room of 3.6 m x 3.6 m size, after leaving a minimum circulation space
 around a table, there is very little useful space left for other purposes. On the other Basic Elements of
Planning
band a ractangular room of 3.2 m x 4.0 m size, (of approximately same area) has
inore room for additional utilisation such as shelves etc. as shown in Figure 2.2. It
is advisable to have the L : B of rooms proportioned in the ratio 1.2 to 1.5 : 1.

rE

2
r-
lZ

l- p-36
.-4
.
Square room
1 4.0 m
Rectangular room of/ /
same area \
- -

Figure 2 2 :Utilitywise Comparison of Square and RectangularRooms

Flexibility
Flexible use of space may have to be planned for if large gatherings are anticipated
during religious functions. Separating the living and dining space with removable
partitions is an example of achieving flexibility. In school buildings, several
classes may have to be combined into a large hall for the.purposes of meetings.
Grouping
The occupants of a building constantly move from one room to another. Thus, the
relationship between spaces must be considered at the planning stage. Dining room
must be close to the kitchen; but the kitchen must be kept away from the living
room. Bed rooms must be placed in such a way that there is independent acc ss
towards the sanitary units (Figure 2.3). e

UNlN6 - 1% d

i E

g
:,

Figure 2 3 :Grouping of Spaces in a Residential Building

In the case of administrative buildings, axial planning is a matter of proper

grouping and also economy. In the case of factories, fabrication units must be
carefully grouped together, whereas packaging and despatch units may have to
form an independent group with administration and sales management units,
constituting the central core.
Privacy
Privacy is of two kinds, namely internal privacy which ensures that one part of a
building has the required privacy from the other part, and external privacy which
Planning of Buildings ensures that a residential building is separated from its neighbouring buildings,
public streets etc.
Privacy of a residential building as a whole can be ensured by carefully planning
the entrance, pathways and drives. Proper groupings of all rooms in a house around
passages, corridors etc. is important (Figure 2.3).
The proper disposition of doors and the way in which their shutters are hung are
important factors in securing privacy. Locating the doors at the centre of a short
wall of a room disturbs privacy (Figure 2.4).

PrlJCl te

Figure 2.4 :Desirable Ways of Arranging Door Openings

Elegance
Elegance is the effect produced by the elevation of a building and the general
layout of the plan. A plan may be well lolit, but yet it may result in a dull elevation.
Regularity and symmetry are preferred by some, while some architects inay opt for
irregularity and su~prise.Planning in relation to the elevation for elegant
appearance is unquestionably important. Elevation should be an external statement
of the character and purpose of a building.
In addition to the above considerations, circulation, sanitation, and prospect of views
from windows and other openings, and furniture layout deserve due consideration by the
architects.
It is to be realised that planning of buildings is indeed the kind of task that is best handled
by people who are well versed in the art and science of buildings, namely the architects.

2.3 ARCHITECTURAL CONSIDERATIONS

The word "Architecture" relatgs to a process and also the end product namely a building.
From a sketch plan to the completion of a given construction, aesthetic considerations are
important, and an architect is called upon to use his creative talents to organise a given
space to perform the desired function(s), to choose appropriate materials and use then1 in
a truthful manner (concrete block should not be made to look like brick work), to express
strength and safety through the format of his structured composition, and to maintain
proportion and above all ensure that the resulting structure is a thing of beauty.
'
For convenience the principles of architectural composition have been traditionally
grouped as under (Sane, 1959) :
(a) Unity (b) Mass composition
(c) Contrast (d) Proportion
(e) Scale
Unity
Unity gives coherance to the parts, integrity to the whole building and harmony
between the elements. Redundancy and deficiency in our conception affects unity.
Some central or local idea is required to provide an interesting accent which
establishes unity. Example of ensuring unity through a dominant central feature is
shown in Figure 2.5.
Mass Composition I

The three dimensional shape is known as a mass and modem architectural

composition depends more on the arrangement of the masses for their effect than
on details. The composition of masses may be either symmetrical about a central
axis or uniformal. Symmetrical arrangements are suited to monuments.
 Basic Elements ot
PI anninp

DUALITY COMPOSITION

Figure 2.5 :Unity through a Dominant Central Feature

In asymmetrical designs, mechanical principle of equivalent momenrs is used to

provide balance. Larger and heavier masses are placed nearer to the central
element, while the lighter and smaller elements being disposed more horizontally.
Some examples of mass composition are sketched in Figure 2.6.

Symmetrical
mass composition

Asymmetrical
balance of masses

Figure 2.6 :Mass Composition

Asymmetrical composition may be dictated by topography, function and materials

chosen for different parts of a building.
Contrast
Our everyday perception of things is a matter of contrast betwfen light and shade,
soft and rough, bright and dull etc. In architectural design also, contrast is utilised
to relieve monotony, to create interest and to exhibit variety. Proper disposition of
solids and voids may produce the desired proportion and contrast. Colours, tone
and texture of surface finishes and projections and recesses have all been utilised
by architects to create interesting structures.
Proportion
Ancient structures were proportioned on the basis of standard geometric shapes
such as square, circle, equilateral triangle and the golden rectangle [4'B = V0.6181.
These are the days of tall apartments, and all that can be ensured is the rythmic
recurrence of certain ratios among lines, areas and masses. Door and window
openings, and open arches should be proportioned carefully. Fonestrations and
louvres, cornices, string courses and projections can all be utilised to advantage to
accentuate proportioning. An example of a building with appealing proportions is
shown in Figure 2.7.
Scale
In architecture the term scale means a proper relationship of several parts with one
another and with the whole unit in the context of the given size of the unit. The
size of the image of an object on the retina of the eye varies depending on the
distance of the viewer from the structure and yet there is a relationship between the
Plauning of Buildings image and the reality because of scale only. This is established by comparison with
a known figure in the picture, say a hurnan figure. Figure 2.8 is an architect's
diagram which emphasizes the intimate scale (with respect lo human figures) of
the functions and utilities of a shopping centre.

Figure 2.7 :A Building with Appealing Pmpoltions

Figure 2 8 :Architects Diagram Emphasizing Human Scale

Activity 1
Choose a large building, which has been designed by an architect, and through
appropriate free-hand sketches, bring out its following architectural aspects :
(a) Unity (b) Mass composition
(c) Contrast (d) Proportion
(e) Scale
 2.4 CLIMATIC ASPECTS
Influence of climate on the selection of site for buildings has been discussed in Unit 1 of
this block. Effects of wind, solar radiation, humidity and rainfall were also described. In
this section orientation of buildings and sun shine-control through shading devices will be
discussed. Clilnatic design is importcantin India. Since, we cannot afford to aircondition
or inechanically control the climate of ourpublic and private buildings, we should take
maxiinwin advantage of the available natural conditions.

2.4.1 Orientation of Buildings

I In Unit 1, we have given broad guidelines for the orientation of buildings based on global
and site climates. These guidelines in a more elaborate form are given as follows :
(a) In hot-'dry climates, the largest dimension of a building should preferably face
north and south, as these elevations receive the lowest heat loads from solk
radiation.
(b) 111warm-humid climates natural ventilation is the predominant criterion for
orientation. The buildings tend to have long elongated shapes with single row ot
romi1s to allow for cross-ventilation. The rooms shall preferably face the south
in India.
(c) In monsoon climates the weather changes from season to season and designers
face a difficult task. Experience shows that the buildings are best designed to
meet the requirements of the cold season. A courtyard type, low-rise
development is suitable.
11 is obvious that the orientation of buildings is based on following three major factors :
(a) Sun as a source of natural light and radiant heat,
(b) Natural breeze, and
(c) Rainfall regime:
Local site conditions sometimes override the available guidelines, and even specialised
functional requirements have their due influence; for example, for schools north light has
been recommended for class rooms, and north orientation is suitable for clothing shops,
libraries and studios where relatively steady illumination is necessary. In factories,
north-light trusses are utilised, and every room in a hospital requires admission of natural
light. preferably from the south.
We have studied in Unit 1 that the solar radiation causes heat obsorbption by direct action
in the day tinie. Tlie materials used in the building absorb heat during day time and
slowly radiate during night, causing discomfort. Protection against this by using shading
devices and providing cross-ventilation are important.
In parts of India which lie within the tropics, February to June forms the summer, and the
subsequent four months is the rainy season. Wind prevails from south-west. Bed rooms
are oriented to west or south-west to take advantage of the prevailing wind, but protection
against solar radiation must be ensured. Shady trees and bushes on the sunny side should
be planted and properly designed sun-breakers should he utilised.
'
In a hot-humid climate, it is essential to have verandahs on the east and the west faces of
the building. In the next section, we shall study the design of shading devices.

2.4.2 Shading Devices

There are three kinds of shading devices which are popularly used by architects. In this
section, we intend to show that they are appropriately designed and these device must be
integrated into the walls even as the walls are being built-up. Attempts to incorporate
them at the finishing stage results in ugly cracking and even failure of the panels and
louvres.
Solar Angles
The position of a celestial body (in our case, the sun) can be found from the altitude
angle '+' and azimuth angle '8' (Figure 2.9).
Altitude (+)
It is the angular distance of sun, measured from the horizontal plane, on the great
circle passing through the sun and the zenith (ZSNA).
 Azimuths (0) -
It is the angle measured from the north point (N),through east, between the
meridian (NZSNA) and the vertical plane passing through the sun (ZSNA).
These two angles can be read directly for any date of the year for any hour of the
day, from Solar Charts or Sun-Path diagrams. Such charts have been made
available by Koeilisberger et a1 (1975).

0 - Observer's Station
S - Sun
Z - Zenith
NA - Nadir
N - Geographiel North
NP - Celestial North Pole
SP - Celestial South Pole
@ - Solar Altitude Augle
Q - Sdar Azimuth Angle
NESW - Horiz.on Plane

Figure 2.9 :Solar Aagles

AngIe of Incidence
From the solar aziniuth angle '0', and the solar altitude angle '$', the sun's
position in rclatinn to the wall surface of any orientation (thus, the angle of
incidence) can be establislud. The horizontal component of the angle of incidence
'6' will be the difference between the solar azimuth and the wall azimuth. If in a
particular case, 8 = 270'. @ = 40°, we consider a wall which is facing west (2'70°),
6 = 270 - 240 = 30" (Figure 2.10).

SUN

Figure 2.10 :The Angle d Incidence

The vertical component is the same as the solar altitude angle itself (41). The angle
of incidence (p) is the angle between the normal to the wall and the sun's direction,
which can be found from the spherical cosine equation as follows :
cos p = cos s x cos $
= cos 30° x cos 40"
= 0.866 x 0.766 = 0.6634

Hence, p = 48'
Shadow Angles
The performance of shading devices can be specified by the horizontal and vertical
shadow angles (Figure 2.11). These are measured from a line perpendicular to the
elevation, and indicate the limit beyond which the sun would be excluded, but
within which the sun would rcach the point under consideration.
The horizontal shadow angle, '6'. characterises a vertical shading device, and it is
the difference between solar azimuth and the wall azimuth, and this is the same as
the horizontal comwnent of angle of incidence.
The vertlcal shadow angle, 'e', characterises a horizontal shading device and it is Basic Elements of
Planing
measured on a vertical plane, normal to the elevation considered. The distinction
between solar altitude angle '$', and the vertical shadow angle 'e', must be
understood. The first describes the sun's positions with respect to the horizon and
the second describes the performance of a shading device. Numerically, they will
coincide only when the sun is exactly opposite to the wall under consideration.

6 = Horizo~~tal
Shadow Angle E = Vettical Shadow Angle

Figure 2.11 :Shadow Angles

Shading devices can be vertical fins or louvres or horizontal canopies or louvres

or egg-crate type as shown in Figure 2.12.

Figwe 212 :Design dShading Devices

Depending on the lengthiheight and projection distance of the vertical fins,

horizontal canopies or combinations thereof, 'shading marks' of a given device can
be established. This can be superimposed on the steographic projection of sun's
apparent movement, and can be considered with respect to the times of the year
and the hours bf the day in which these shading devices are effective. Shadhg
devices are not effective at all times. They should be designed to be effective in the
over-heated periods of the year (Koenisberger et al, 1973).
 Activity 2
A1 Sketch the sikes of the shading devices utilised by an architect in a properly
deslglled building, in your locality, and list the hours between whlch they luc
effective during the summer monlhs,
A2 An egg-crate type of shading device has been proposed for a11 office bullding. It
should be exccutcd in reinforced concrete (weld wire-fabric reinforcement).
Sketch the relnl'orcement details.
A3 For the same problem as above, how will you arrange a suitahle for111work and
casting sequence.
A4 Go to the nearest building under construction and sketch the reinforcement
details for a sunshade which is integrated with the lintel beam over a window or
door opening.
A5 It 1s easy to locate cracked sun-shades, louvres and canopies in any locality.
Locate one of these and reason out the causcs for cracking, rusting ot
reinforcement and other structural damages.

2.5 FIRE-RESISTANCE REGULATIONS

Therc is no such thing as a fire-proof material or fire-proof construction. All materials
and buildings can be destroyed by fire of sufficient intensity and duration. Just as we
require the services of an architect to plan a building. we need the services of fire
protection cngincer at the planning stage itself (NBC, Part-IV).
111 Ule following portion of t l ~ e
text. the minimum standards which a planner shoulti
conlply with and the fire-safety measures which are necessary in public interest are
described. Tllc fire-resistance of a building or its structural elelllents is expressed in hours
against a specified test condition which is expressed in kcal/m2, and against a given
l~ltensityof fire.
There are four types of construction, according to fire-resistance considerations. namely
type-I. type-2, type-3 and type-4. The fire resistance ratings for various types of
construction for structural and non-structural members should be as shown in Table 2.1.
Table 2.1 :Fire-Resistance Hating of Structural Elements (in Hours)

Types of Construction
Structural Element
No. Type-1 Type-2 Type-3 l'ype-4
I I. External load bearing walls 4 2

1
( 2. Extcrnal non-load bearing walls 2 1.5

Inlerior hearing walls 4 2 2

St~icturalmembers supporting walls 3 1.5 1 1 . 1

I
5. Floor co~~struction,
including beams
A. Roof construction including heanls, 1.5
trusses and framing arclles and
roof-deck
, 7. Fire-walls and partition walls 4 2
Fire-e~lclosureof exit-ways, 2
hall-ways, stair ways
) 9. 1 Exil-way acccss corridors 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I
10. 1)wclling unit separations 1 1 1 1
I
 In this context. we define following terms : Basic Elen~ent*of
Plru111i1l2:
Fire-separation is defined as the distance in metres, measured from any other building at
the site, or from other site, or from the opposite side of a street or public space for the
purpose of preventing the spread of fire.
Floor Area Ratio (FAR) is defined as the quotient obtained by dividing the total covered
areil (plinth area) on all the floors by the area of the plot,
Total Covered Area of all Floors
FAR =
Plot Area

Thc Floor Area Ratio (FAR) for different occupancies will be restricted as per the type of
coostruction as given in Table 2.2.
Table 2.2.: FAR for Different Occupancies with Types of Construction

r--T-
1 ct"p~~~~n
Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
Residential/ Assembly Industrial
Eductional
TYW-1 1 Unlimited ( Unlimited 7.5 1

High-Rise Huildings are buildings which are more than 15 metres in height, in which
fire-fighting cannot be carried out from outside with the fire extinguishing appliances
available with the fire-fighting services. In such buildings non-combustible materials
shall be used for construction.
The use of flammable surface finishes on walls and ceilings affects the safety of the
occupjints of a building. Such finishes tend to spread the fire, even though the structural
elcliielits liiay be adequately fire-resistant. Finishing materials have been classified
i1ca)rding to flame-spread ratings (NBC, Part-IV) and their use should be made as
specifled. The thickness of glazing shall not be less than 6.5 mrn.
Every building meant for human occupancy shall be provided with exits sufficient to
permit tlie escape of occupants in case of fire or other emergency. Exits should be clearly
visible and tlie routes to reach an exit should be clearly marked.
Fire-sitfty requirements for residential, educational, institutional, assembly, business,
mercantile, industrial storage buildings have been stipulated in great detail in the
National Buildilig Code 'and they are to be i~icorporatedin the design of a building.

2.6 RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

In addition to architectural, thermal comfort and fire-resistance requirements buildings
will Iiavc to conform to development control rules. In this section the relevant rules
(NBC, Part-111) are surnmarised. The word site (plot) is defined as a parcel (piece of land)
cncloscd by definitc boundaries. Building line is defined as the line upto which the plinth
ot'a building. ;~cl.joininga street or an extension of a street or a street that m y come up in
fulurc, ]nay I;~wfullyextend. Open space is defined as $1 area fdrming an integral part of
tlic plot. lcft opcli to the sky. For other relevant definitions from NBC, refer Amexure - I.
.
~I'lwningef Buildings (A) Open Spaces within a Plot
Front Open Space for every building fronting a street shall be a minimum of 1.5 m to a
maximum of 6 m depending upon the width of the street, fronting the plot, (for
exceptions refer t6 additional provisions in NBC).
Rear Open Space for every residential building shall be on an average 3 rn and at no
place it shall measure less than 1.8 m.
Side Open Spaces for detached buildings there shall be a minimum side open space of'
3n1 on both the sides. For semi-detached buildings, there shall be a minimunl side open
space of 3 m on one side.
For row-type buildings no side open space is required. All habitable rooms shall abut on
the side open space or front and rear open spaces. These open spaces arc specified tor
buildings o f upto 10 m helght. For buildings varying from 10 m to 24 m in height the side
and rear open spaces may vary from 3 rn to 8 m. and thc front open space shall be at least
6 In.
Area and Height Limitations
Thc arca and height Il~nitationsof all buildings and types of construction are achieved by
specifying the FAR, which takes into account the following factors :
(i) (lccupancy class,
(ii) Type of construction,
(iii) Width of the street fronting the building and its traffic load,
(iv) Locality whcrc the building is proposed to be erected and the densily of
buildings,
(v) Parking facilities,
(vi) Local fire-tightlng facilities, and
(vii) Water supply and drainage facilities.
For rcsidential building, for occupancies facing one public street of at least 9 nl width the
tollowing FARs are specified :
Type 1 Unlimited
Type 2 2.0
Type 3 1.4
Type 4 1.o
(U) Requirements of Parts of Buildings
Plinth : It shall no1 be less than 45 cm from the surrounding ground level to ensure
adcquate drainage.
Hahitabie Rooms : 771e height of all roonls for human habitation shall no1 be less than
2.75 m nleasured from thc surface of the floor to the bottom of the roof slab. The arfa of
ha6ilable roolns shall not be less than 9.5 m2 where there is only one room of minimum
width of 2.4 In. Where there are two rooms, one of these shall not be of less than 9.5 rn2
and the other of not less than 7.5 m2 with a minimum width of 2.1 rn.
Kitchen : It shall have a 11eigh1of 2.75 m and area shall not be less than 5 m2 with a
rninilnu~nwidth of 1.8 m. A kitchen, which is intended for use as a dining area also, shall
havc a floor area of not less than 7.5 m2 with a minimum width of 2.1 m (for other
provisions refer to NBC, Part-111).
Bathrooms and Water Closets : The height of such rooms shalI not be less than 2 In and
the size of tlze hc~tlrroomshall not be less than 1.5 m x 1.2 m or 1.8 m2. The-floorarea of
wafer closet shall be 1.1 m2 with a minimum width of 0.9 m. If bath and water closet are
combined, its m a shall not be less than 2.8 m2 and the minimum width shall be 1.2 m.
Lofts : They shall have $minimum headroom of 2.2 m. Loft in a habitabIe room shaIl not
cover more than 25 percew of the floor on which it is constructed and shall not interfere
with Ule ventilation of the room. Maximum height of the loft shall be 1.5 m. On bath
r o o ~ iwater-closets
~~, and corridors, the loft can cover 100 percent area.
Stay Room : It shall have a minimum heighl of 2.2 m and the ana shall not be less t11an
3 m-.
 Bvic Ekmenls of
Garage : It shall have a minimum height of 2.4 m and the site shall not be less than Planning
2.5 m x 5.0 rn.
Panpets : Parapets and hand-rails provided on the edges of roof terraces, balconies,
verandahs etc.. sliall not be less than 1.05 m and not more than 1.20 m in height from the
finished floor level.
Boundary Wall : It shall have a maximum height of 1.5 m above the crown of the
surface of the front street. Compound walls pf 2.4 m height may be permitted if the top
0.9 nl is of open type construction. In the case of corner plots, the bbundary wall shall be
restricted to 0.75 m for a length of 10 rn on the front and side of the intersections and the
hala~ccheight of 0.75 m may be made of open-type consuuction (railings etc.).
Staircases : These shall have a minimum width of 1.0 m, minimum tread without nosing
shall he 25 cnl. and the maximum rise shall be 19 cm. The minimum clear headroonl in
ally staircase shall he 2.2 m.

SAQ 2
(;I) A residential building is sketched in Figure 2.17. In this figure, the dinwnsioas
of the open-spkes and the sizes and heights of the various rocrms are not
rnarkcd. Providc the required dinlerrsions as p r clevelopnier~lcontrol rules
, (NBC. Part 111. 1984).
I a.4

(hl Draw s cross-section of tho building shown in Figure 2.13 across XX. and mark
' l ~ r ,~ ~ ~ ~ n iheights
r n u ~ as
n per development control rules. Show the haserllerlt and
p;lritlWI walls and their heights.

Plot size
16m Y 16m

S T R E F T

Figure 2.13 :PlPn of a RcnidenCiPl Building

2.6.1 Houses and Flats

We have seen that the development control i l e s ge~exhaustiveand in these days of high
cost of construction, it is perhaps feasiMe to-.Wxsatisfy the minimum requirements.
Houses are so varied in type that one needs to .be abreast with the developments in this
arca of the subject.
The problem with flats is one of vertical circulation - that is the provision of staircases
and lifts: however, for buildings less than' 15 m in height, lifts are not required.
W ; I ~ I B ~ of
I I ~Buildings
: Figure 2.14 gives diagrams of staircase arrangements for corridor-type housing flats of
3 t o 4 storeys.'

Figure 2 1 4 :Corridor-typeAccess Elatv

A feature of a corridor-type plan is the provision of cross ventilation and most favourable
orientation of its flats. The advantage is that they provide cross ventilation of all llats and
at the same time require fewer staircases. Another advantage of corridor-type houses is
the continuous open verandahs on both exposures which serve not only as access but also
as sun-shading installations.

Figure Z.~S>A Multi-stomyed Building with Lifts and a Single Eaty

Alloilier Lypc of dwelling for tamilies. each composed of three persons or more. is a Basic Eleltirlltb (,I'
I'liu~l~i~~g
nlulb-storeyed huildiog wilh lifts and a single entry (Figure 2.15). Note the variable size
of flats that can be built.
Example 2.1
A plot of land adincasures 9.84 m x 22.96 m. 11ie front road is 9.84 in widc Ihcing
sou~li.Service lanc is 011 the rear, measuring 4.92 m. Prepare a suitable plan of a
res~dentialbuilding whose details are as given below :

la) ~lireebed rooins including one for guest (miyimum size should he 10.22 111')
(h) Uirct' toilets (miniinun~size should be 2.8 ni')
(c) onc drawing-cum-dining room
((1) a kitchen (nlini~numsize should be 4.5 m2)
(e) utility space
(f) little storage space (if possible)
(g) a staircase
R:,A/~-ic.tioar
As per local municipality bye-laws. tollowing restrictions arc maiidatory
(a) Total covered area cannot exceed 60% of the plot area
(h) A scl-back of 4.92 m on the front
(c) A set-back ol' 3.048 m on the rear

(a) A canopy of width about 2.2 m is pernlissible at roof level throughout thc
breadth of tlie building.
(h) A balcoliy on the rear side, not exceeding 0.991 ni in width is permissible.
Sghlutitm
A suitablc plan as per the given requirements is shown in Figure 2.16.

Dimemions of Various Components

of the Plan of the Residentid Ruilding
VERAN1)AI 1
3.3smx l . l J m
CXIEST BEI) ROOM
2.89 rn x 4.42 m
LIVING AREA
3.35 rn x 3.50 rn
DINNING AREA
4.42 m ~ 2 . 4 4
rn
KITCHEN
1.83 rn x 2.44 rn
COURT YARD
2.74 rn x 2.44 rn
IJTILITY SPACE
3.27 rn x 2.44 rn
BED ROOM
3.27 m x 3.88 m
BED ROOM
3.35 m x 3.27 m
TOILET
1.83 m x 2.44 m
FRONT OPEN SPACE = IS Feet
REAR OPEN SPACE = I 0 Feet

Figure 2.16 :Plan of a ~esidentialBtrilding

 Activity 3
A1 Locate a three- or four-storeyed housing board flat or private apartment
building and sketch its plan view, and front and side elevations. Comment on
the arrangement of staircases.
A2 Locate a multi-storeyed huilding of more than 15 m height and obtain copies of
its plan, elevation and all relevant details. Study the provision of lift(s),
staircases and fire escapes. Write your critical comments. Also, comment on the
parking arrangements made for cars.

2.7 OTHER TYPES OF BUILDINGS

In the manner listed for residential buildings. The National Building Code provides
detailed control regulations for other types of buildings. You are supposed to study these.
In this section, the principal components of other types of buildings and their fuiictions
are stated.

2.7.1 Educational Buildings

These have following principal components :
(i) Place to read or study - Class Rooms
(ii) Place to work - Library, Workshop, Liboratory
(iii) PIace for in-depth study - Tutorial Room, Library
(iv) Place for spending leisure time - Common Room, Canteen, Gaines Room,
Gymnasium
(v) Place for faculty members - Teachers' Room, Principal's Room
(vi) Place for overall control - Administrative Office, Store
(vii) Games fields - Essential cocurricular activities
(viii)Toilets and first aid centre - Health care
Since the principal or major function of this type of building is to impart education, the
class rooms, laboratories etc. should be given greater importance in planning for the
purpose of ensuring natural light, natural landscape, intluence and view, venlillation etc.
' The subsidiary or secondary elements of the building can be grouped together if feasible,
thus, giving a proper focus to the class rooms.
 Basic E ~ ~ I I IoC
f II~
Some suggested guidelines for such types of buildings are as follows : Aauriur~
(a) Adlmlistrative office ,and Principal's or Head's rooms should be near the
elltrance to the building.
(b) Class room3 and other study rooms like tutorial rooms, library, laboratory etc.
should be in the relatively silent zone away from noisy roads, play grounds and
the like.
(c) Recreation roomsla)mn~onroomslcanteenlcafetariasshould be away from the
study areas.
(d) Toilets and drinking water fountains should be placed at prominently visiblc
aid easily accessible are,?s/zones and distributed throughout the complex so as
to be conveniently accessible.

2.7.2 Institutional Buildings

Buildi~igsoC this category compnse Nursing Hoines,Jlospitals. Research Stations. Public
Libraries, Assembly Buildings etc. The development control rules for these buildings as
given in National Buildings Code be studied.
The functional elements of these buildings are as follows :
(A) Nursing Homes, Hospitals (small size)
(i) Spaces for doctors to exami~iepatients
(ii) Waiting space for visiting patients and their attendants, reception, billing uld
cash counters
(iii) Dispensing room$ with an attached store for medicines etc.
(iv) Toilet facilities for visiting patients and separately for doctors
(v) Emergency rooms
(vi) Annexure for disposals, etc.
(B) Specialised Nursing Homes o r Large Hospitals
(i) Several rooms or wards to accoinmodate in-patients
(ii) O.P.D. hall to examine extenial and day-care patients
(lii) Pathological laboratories
(iv) Operation theatres along with preparation room, recovery room etc.
(v) Special wards for certain specific diseases
(vi) Adlninistrative wing
(vii) General store for medicines, surgical materials with arrangement for day-to-day
dispensing
(viii) Kitchen with store for preparation of diet
(ix) Toilet facilities for different types of patients, for wards, staff and doctors etc.
(x) Canteen/cafetaria
(C) Teaching Hospital
A teaching hospital may have the following spaces, in addition,
(i) Offices for faculty members
(ii) Class roomllecture theatres
(111) Teaching and clinical laboratories
(iv) Students' coinmo~~
room
(v) Toilet facilities
(vi) Cruiteei~/cafetaria
While piamling these buildings, the following points be kept in mind :
(a) Wards in a hospital are of prinle importance.
for doctors and nurses should be provided within or
(b) Rtn~~~~s/spaces/cubicles
adjacent to each ward.
 (c) There may be provision for separate cabins along with a ward. In such cases,
attached toilets to the cabins are also to be provided. In certain types of
specialised hospitals, cabins are also provided with extra room for
attendantslvisitors.
(d) O.P.D. in a hospital is equally important like the wards. It should be near the
entrance to the hospital. O.P.D. may or may not be adjacent to the wards.
(e) Emergency ward should have a quick accessibility from the outside as well as
from an operation theatre.
(f) There should be some doctors' rooms in or near the O.P.D.
(D) Assembly Bulldings
(i) Congregation space or main entrance foyer
(ii) Aasemblylauditorium proper, with or without a balcony
(jii) Activity areas, namely stage, greeddressing rooms, back stage
(iv) Property storage for new or old furniture, locker room
(v) Snack bar or canteen
(vi) Ticket counter facility, if the building is put to commercial use
(vii) Toilet facilities for visitors and for stagelback-stage persons
The importance of relative positioning of the elements is outlined as follows
(a) That foyer and auditorium should he adjacent to each other so that access to
them from either place is direct.
(b) Secondary functional spaces like ticket counters, snack bars, restaurants, toilers,
wailing spaces may form part of the foyer or be attached to it.
(c) The entry of audience should be separate from that of performnerslartistes.
(d) Likewise wtisteslperformers should have independent entrylexit to green
rminsldressing rooms, and their toilet facilities etc.
(E) Library
(i) Stack rrwm for boaks, magazines etc.
(ii) Reading hall with facilities like lending colmter, catalogue space, space for
reading joumalsl~azineslnewspapers,exhibition space for new books etc.
(iii) Space for repairing, binding etc. of todold books
(iv) Space for the librarian to sit and a general office
(v) Toilets
Following considerations are imponant in the planning of these spaces :
(a) Reading room is the most important area in a library.
(b) Stack rooms are generally combined with the r e a d i i hall unless the library
itself is very large.
(c) Book binding and book repairing room should be clos'e to the stack room.
(d) Librarian9s/Asstt.Librarian's room or his cubicle should be located prominently
within or close to the reading hall.
(F) Research Laboratory or Institution~estHouse
(i) Work rooms, laboratories
(ii) Storage for chemicals and general equipmenVinstnunents
(iii) Staff room
(iv) Administrative office
(v) Toilets
(vi) Disposal storage
The relatively important considerations in this regard art, given as below :
(a) Laboratories are the most important functional elements. Therefore, these
should be close to chemical stores, if appropriate in a given situation.
 (b) Administrative office and publiclclient dealing should be near the entrance. Basic Elements of
Planning
(c) Staff rooms and utility rooms need not be near the entrance and may be placed ,
such that these are near the laboratories.

2.7.3 Business Buildings

Buildings in this group would be banks, computerised officeslcomputer halls, offices of
professionals, government offices and the like. Functional requirements of these
categories of buildings would be :
(A) Hank
(i) Public space for movement, waiting and transactions,
(ii) Work space for bank staff
(iii) Strong room for valuables and cash
(iv) Individual office rooms for the manager and other senior personnel
(v) ~ockerlvaul~ room
(vi) Toilets
The important points to be considered while planning the layout of a bank are listed as
below :
(a) Public-space and the work-space should be as near the entrance as possible to
facilitate smooth contact between bank staff and the customers.
(b) Strong room, vaultAocker room and record room should be kept inside in a
delineated security zone. These could be in the basement, if there is one, meant
for the purpose.
(c) However, toilets are not to be provided in basement floor as per the bye-laws of
various municipalities and local bodies.
(d) Manager's room should he easily accessible from the publiclwork space.
(e) Other officers' rooms may or may not be adjacent to the publiclwork space,
depending on the site-lay out, size etc.
(B) Offices of Professionals
(i) Working space for staff
(ii) Cubicles or rooms for managerial staff
(iii) Record room
(iv) Conference room
(v) Storage room
(vi) Library, if not a part of the conference room
(vii) Toilets
(viii)Utility room (tea/rniscellaneousstorage)
Important points to be kept in mind, in the planning of space, are as follows :
(a) Cubicles or rooms of managerial staff should be near the entrance to facilitate
contact with the clients.
(b) Work space of staff should be adjacent to managerial staff for ready
consultation and access to records.
(c) Library, if provided separately, may or may not be close to where the
managerslworkers sit and function.
(d) Conference room should preferably have access both from inside (for staff and
managers) as well as from outside (for the visitors and clients).
(e) Conference room should have separate toilet facilities.
(C) Computerised Offices/Halls
(i) Computer hall for terminals/PCs .
(ii) U.P.S/battery room
(iii) Magnetic tape storage
Planning of Buildings (iv) Room for main frame computer-networking
(v) Air-conditioning plant room
(vi) Programmer's room
(vii) Conference room
(viii)Visitors' room
(ix) General office
(x) Individual office rooms for managers and others
(xi) Toilets
The important aspects to be considered with regard to computer installations are as given
below :
(a) Computer halls/rooms normally need air-conditioning.
(b) Generally, the main frame computer is placed adjacent to programmer's hall for
convenience in dealing with electrical installations..
(c) Battery room should also be placed adjacent to the computer hall for
uninterrupted power supply (UPS).
(d) Central A/C plant room is also placed adjacent to the rooms wherein computers
are installed.
(e) An air-lock enclosure should be provided at the entry of the computer hall for
removing dust from men and materials entering into the hall.
(f) Usually, the manager's room is also placed adjacent to the computer the hall to
enable the manager to oversee the operations inside the hall.
(g) Other functional elements like office, workers' rooms, toilets, conference room
etc. should be as per considerations mentioned for other types of buildings.
2.7.4 Mercantile Buildings
Buildings in this group are shops, stores, marketslcooperative stores, canteens,
restaurants etc. Functional requirements of each of these are as given under :
(A) Shop
(i) Storage and display spaces
(ii) Sales counters
(iii) Public space in front of cash counters
(iv) Toilet facilities for staff and customers
(v) Utility rooms including packaginglrepackaging areas
(B)Stores
(i) Rooms for storing different types of articles
(ii) Loading and unloading space
(iii) Office rooms
(iv) Staff rooms
(v) Toilets
(vi) Weighing and packaging rooms
(C) Marketslcooperative Stores
(i) Rooms for individual shops with accompanying storage facility for each room
(ii) Display counters
(iii) Movement space for customers
(iv) Walk-in and pick-up facility for purchasers
(v) Office room
(vi) Toilet
(vii) Weighing and packaging rooms
(D) Canteens/Restaurants Basic Elements of
Planning
(i) Dining tables and seating facility for customers with adequate circulation space
(ii) Cooking area with accompanying storage space including cold storage
(iii) Display space (food counters) specially for self-service cafetarias
(iv) Washing area for customers
(v) Washing space within or adjacent to kitchen for soiled utensils
(vi) Toilets for staff and customers
(vii) Staff rest room
The additional points to be noted with regard to mercantile buildings are given below
Shops
(a) Display space should obviously be near the entrance. It may at times be
required to be visible from outside to attract customers.
(b) Cash counter may or may not be with the sales counter.
Stores
(a) Loading and unloading space may or may not be at the main entry
(b) Loading and unloading may be carried out from the same locations, or they may
be separated as per requirement.
(c) Office room should be near the entry point
MarkeVCooperative Stores
(a) Rooms for similar articles should preferably be continuous/adjacent to each
other, within the same cluster.
(b) Pick-up facility is provided only where self-service system is in vogue.
Canteenmestaurant
(a) Customers' sitting place should be of prime importance. It should be oearer to
the entrancelexit.
.(b) Food counters should obviously be near the seating area specially where there is
a system of self-service.
(c) Cooking area as well as washing place of utensils should not be visible from the
customers' area.
(d) Toilet facilities for customers and workers should be separated, preferably not
adjacent to each other.
2.7.5 Industrial Buildings
The spaces required to carry out the activities may vary from industry to industry. But, in
general; such buildings contain the following units :
(i) Large production halls, as many as necessary
(ii) Storage of raw materials, including chemicals (if needed)
(iii) Storage forfinished goods and packaging area
(iv) Areas for checlung and testing arrangements within the production line
(v) Offices for management, cash and acco*ts
(vi) First aid centre and medical offiker's room
(vii) Toilet facilities for staff and management
(viii) Spaces for receiving and despatching of goods
For these type of buildings the following may be noted :
(a) Storage of raw material should preferably be' near the production area for quick
movement.
(b) Checking and testing (quality control) area may have to be provided near both
the raw material stores as well as finished goods stores, specially for export
oriented products where customs checking is also required.
 (c) Finished goods storage (which is generally kept under greater security) should
preferably be closer to the production hall for reduced carriagellraisport costs.
(d) Cash office is generally provided in a closed and secured enclosure adjacent to
the room of the officer in charge of cash.

2.7.6 Storage Buildings

This group includes grain godowns, silos, cargo complexes, bulk storages for consumcr
durables. medicine godowns and others. Their requirements would be as given under :
(i) Large storage roornslhalls for the different materials including cold-storage
rooms for perishables, chemical etc.
(ii) Air-conditioning plant room
(iii) Loading and unloading spaces
(iv) Bays for inventory check-up and weightinglinspection facilities
(v) Receipt and despatch rooms
(vi) Offices
(vii) Toilets ,
(viii) Foyerslfront room/staff rest rooms
For these type of buildings, the following points may be noted
(a) As already indicated for stores, loading and unloading areas may be at the same
location or may be kept at separate locations as needed.
(b) Office should as usual be near the entry.
(c) Receipt and inventory check-up should be near to each other or in the same
enclosure.
(d) Air-conditioning plant room should be given similar consideration as mentioned
for computer installations.
2.7.7 Hazardous Buildings
In this group, the general requirements are as given under :
(i) Storage rooms for different types of toxic/obnoxious/dangerousmaterials
(ii) Testing laboratories and disposal plantslareas
(iii) Air-conditioning plant room
(iv) Administrative offices
(v) Toilets
(vi) Staff rest rooms including canteen facilities
The important points to be considered in the planning of this category of buildings are as
given below :
(a) Storage of toxic material should be given careful protection as provided in the
relevant Acts and Laws concerning the same.
(b) Such store should preferably be kept in a separate building.
(c) Adequate moving space around for fire engines should be provided, besides fire .
fighting systems for this group of buildings.
SAQ 3
;::cii:~c.nls of fsol!i,wi6~gb b i i i l i i l y i :
:..:st out hr!!;]d fu;l~;i!;l~-!;rt
 Basic Element$ of
Planning
.Activity 4
Sketch the plan of an educational building where you have studied. Indicate the
sizes of its various units. Comment on (a) ventilation and day lighting aspects, and
(b) conformity to NBC regulations.

2.8 RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF FUNCTIONAL

ELEMENTS
You have by this time been able to identify the different functional elements required for
the planning of various types of buildings. You have also learnt that the actual aim of
planning is to organise or syntllesise the different functional elements of a building in
order to achieve a comprehensive whole. There may be difficulties in organizing the
different elements until you are able to appreciate the relative importance of different
functional requirements and focus upon those which are the principal functions of a
particular building: and commence first with locating these in the planning of a spatial
synthesis. A proper analysis will show that the following functions are relatively of
greater importance rather than various other subsidiary functions.

2.9 ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA

Once you have identified the functional elements, and the relative importance of such
elements, it should be your endeavour to fix the sizes for such elements so that the
different geometric figures which have been worked out for different elements can be
juxtaposed appropriately.
For fixing the sizks of such elements you have to take the help of anthropometric data
which gives the sizes of or standard measurements of postures of human movements. For
example, Annexure - IIA gives body measurements in different postures of human
movement, whereas Annexure - IIB presents the table sizes for good standard of a
restaurant. Likewise, you will have to study or find out the sizes of different items of
furniture that you may like to put in the functional spaces.
With the help of anthropometric data for various space requirements and sizes and shapes
of furniture, you will be able to find out the minimum sizes that are required for the
functional elements and evolve a difinite geometric shape (preferable square or rectangle)
for such elements.

2.9.1 Broad Classification of Components of Buildings

The space within a building can be broadly divided into three parts :
(a) Functional space : bed room in a residential building, dining hall in a restaurant
or class room in an educational building.
(b) Circulation space :corridor in an educational building, hospital or hotel; lobby
in a school.
(c) Service space : toilets and kitchen in a habitable building, pump room,
air-conditioning plant room or laundry in hotels and hospitals etc.
In order to achieve a tnost cost efJective planning, your endeavour should be to evolve a
tnost co~tlpactform of a Guilding in which the circulation space is minimum. Once the
dqferent functional aspects of the building are known, the utilitarian planning will be to
arrange the different functional spaces in a compact, neat and least costly form in which
superfluous corridors etc. have been avoided, and a pleasing form obtained.
l'1anning of Buildings 2.9.2 Pre-conception
Pre-conceived forms for any building should be avoided. It is always better to adjust Lhe
requirements (geometric shapes that have already been evolved) to obtain a suitable form
of the building. To summarise, we may say that form follows function.

2.10 DETERMINANTS FOR DESIGN OF A BUILDING

Following parameters are relevant for a functionally appropriate design of a given
building project :
(a) Nature and magnitude of activities intended to be carried out in it,
(b) Social and cultural needs of users, e.g. based on religious, provincial or other
allied factors,
(c) General climatic consideration, e.g. extremes of climate and catering to a rainy
climate,
(d) Cost factor or affordability,
(e) On-site factors, e.g. geological conditions, existing facilities, undulating lands
etc.,
(f) Off-site factors e.g. proximity to a beautiful garden, sea- shore, highway,
railway station, market etc., and
(g) Technology available for construction,etc.
2.10.1 Steps in the Planning Process of a Building
It is just appropriate, in order to save on effort and cost, to follow a time-tested schedule
of steps while planning a building, such as :
(a) Identify activities to be performed in the building;
(b) Determine as to how many persons will be engaged at a time;
(c) Estimate the space requirement for each activity;
(d) Identify the relationship among the activities;
(e) Identify the constraints (cost, climate, site condition, regulations of local bodies
etc.);
(f) Prepare a diagrammatic design of the building;
(g) Translate this diagram into actual plan by computing the prescribed dimensions
and areas;
(h) Prepare from this building design, the plan, elevation, section etc.; and
(i) Test the design against requirements and constraints till a satisfactory solution
is found.

2.11 SUMMARY
This unit has dwelt upon the fundamental principles on which the planning of a building
depends, covering considerations for getting good sun shine, and achieving privacy and
elegance. Further, basic architectural aspects like unity, scale etc. have also been
discussed. Due stress has also been given on climatic aspects, fire-resistance regulations,
and other functional requirements of various types of buildings.
Man is the end user of a building and hence, anthropometric factors, other parameters thal
influence its design, and important steps in the process of planning too have briefly been
explained.

2.12 ANSWERS TO SAQs

Refer the relevant preceding text in the unit or other useful books on the topic listed in
the section "Further Reading" to get the answers of the SAQs.