BULE HORA UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
LITRATURE REVIEW ON APARTMENT BUILDING DESIGN

COURSE TITLE: ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN II

COURSE CODE: ARCH 3092

NAME ID NO
ABRHAM WUBISHET RU 0814/12

SUBMITTED TO: ANTENEH D

LITERATURE REVIEW
ON
APARTMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
i. INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................II
ii. DEFINITION.................................................................................................................................3
 iii. HISTORY.......................................................................................................................................3
iv. TYPES OF APARTMENTS..........................................................................................................4
v. SIZE REQUIREMENTS................................................................................................................8
vi. NATURAL VENTILATION.........................................................................................................8
vii. WASTE WATER TREATMENT..................................................................................................9
viii. TYPES OF PARKING.................................................................................................................10
ix. FUNCTION STANDARDS.........................................................................................................11
x. ROOM DEPTH............................................................................................................................11
xi. STORAGE....................................................................................................................................13
xii. SOLAR ACCESS TO COMMUNAL OPEN SPACE..................................................................13
xiii. NATURAL VENTILATION.......................................................................................................14
xiv. BUILDING ENTRY AND CIRCULATION...............................................................................15
xv. WASTE AND RECYCLING.......................................................................................................16
xvi. REFERENCE...............................................................................................................................17

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 INTRODUCTION
An apartment (American English), flat (British English) or unit (Australian English) is a self-
contained housing unit (a type of residential real estate) that occupies only part of a building,
generally on a single level. Such a building may be called an apartment building, apartment
complex, flat complex, block of complex. A well-planned apartment provides maximum privacy
for various activities and makes movement to any room possible without crossing another.

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 DEFINITION
An apartment is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building. Apartments
may be owned (by an owner-occupier) or rented (by tenants).The term apartment building refers
to a multi-story building that is primarily for residential use and that has individual residential
unit, on all or most floors.

HISTORY
In ancient Rome, the insulae were large apartment buildings where the lower and middle classes
of Romans dwelled. The floor at ground level was used for tabernas, shops and businesses with
living space on the higher floors. Ancient Roman insulae in Rome and other imperial cities
reached up to 10 and more stories, some with more than 200 stairs. In the late 19th and early
20th century, the concept of the flat was slow to catch-on amongst the English middle-classes.
Those who lived in these flats were assumed to be adaptable and "different". In London,
everyone who could afford it occupied an entire house – even if a small one. During the last
quarter of the 19th century, ideas began to change. Both urban growth and the increase in
population meant that more imaginative housing concepts were going to be needed if the middle
and upper classes were to maintain a pied-à-terre in the capital. The traditional London town
house was becoming increasingly expensive to maintain. Especially for bachelors and unmarried
women, the idea of renting a modern mansion flat came increasingly into vogue.

NEED OF APARTMENTS

 Higher land value

 Inconveniency of services like water supply in individual level
 Inconveniency of construction work in individual level.
 security and privacy
 Increase in population
 Migration to city
 trend of parent-child unit eliminating the extended family concept apartment building,
especially if it consists of many apartments for rent.

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 CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH-RISE APARTMENTS
• Two entrances/exits, front and back
• Laundry, water, heating, telephone, cable, electricity facilities common, parking, air
conditioner, extra storage, and garbage disposed in trash containers, provision of fire
escape and lifts because of the no. of stories.
• Space must be simple and universal for variety of lifestyles
• Balconies for aesthetic purpose, visual extension of living space, outdoor sitting area,
green area, extra storage space

AMENITIES & SERVICES: PUBLIC FACILITIES:

• water supply
• Laundry and drier
• Electricity
• surface drainage
• garbage and drainage system
• pedestrian and vehicular lane

COMMUNITY FACILITIES:
• telecommunication
• park and playground
• multipurpose hall
• security
• healthcare & recreational spa

COMMERCIAL FACILITIES:
 market & stores
 bank
 entertainment sector

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 TYPES OF APARTMENTS
A. According to vertical movement
1. Central corridor

Most economical type of high-rise apartment. Max. Gross floor area with minimum
number of stairs and elevators. Orientation as major factor for light.

2.Point block

Point block is schematically a square or near square. Apartments are planned along
all sides in airing pattern around the core. Its radial expansion is limited. It can take
many shapes (having own inherent limitations)

3.Multi corridor
A rhythm created with numbers of point block types. It is used to satisfy variety
of factors like site condition. It provides a sense of seclusion and improved
surveillance. Undeniably costlier than central corridor and point block system.

4.Exterior corridor system

Apartments can have two exteriors zones due to form of access. it is Logical if use
is immoderate climate as for cross ventilation. It is not an economical type of housing-
each apartment carries twice the amount of corridor cost of central corridor scheme

5. Skip stop system

Skip-stop- apartment have 2-3 levels with half floor differences. It is two story
apartments with interior stairs. The Stair- the connector between various levels plays a
relatively minor role as an aesthetic element. There is two level living space for an
aesthetic pleasure.

B. ACCORDING TO DESIGN

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1. Simplex apartments
• Most common and simplest type.
• All the components are in one level.
• Size varies from Efficiency up to Multi-bedroom unit.
• Simplex and most economic to build.
• Simplified circulation.
• Planning can be followed in High-rise as well as in Garden Apartment.
• More floor area due to corridors and stairs.
• The type is usually blend with other type

2.Duplex apartments

• located on two levels.

• Living, dining and kitchen on one level and sleeping on upper level.

• Separation of sleeping and living provides greater privacy.

• elimination of corridor and elevator as the economic factor.

• Both levels can have through ventilation.

• Need of interior stair – sever problem for handicapped and elderly people.

• Has more prestige and values than other.

• Expensive than conventional

3.Triplex apartments
• Located on three different levels.

• Functions are similar to that of duplex type

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• Restricted to most luxurious high-rise apartment.

• Greater privacy and livability.

• Interior staircase most be provided

4.Efficiency apartments

• One large space-living, dining, sleeping, kitchen and toilet.

• Apartment for single person, newly married couple, elderly etc.

• Referred as “STUDIO APARTMENT" when efficiency units increase.

• Often less than minimum area is provided for subsidiary functions

C. ACCORDING TO NO. OF BEDROOMS

 Single
 Double
 3 bedrooms
 4 bedrooms

D.

• Studio apartment
• Garden apartment
• Secondary suite
• Masonite
•Two-story flat
• Communal apartment

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 STUDIO APARTMENT. The smallest self-contained apartments are referred to as studio,
efficiency or bachelor apartments in the US, or studio flat in the UK. These units usually
consist of a large single main room which acts as the living room, dining room and bedroom
combined and usually also includes kitchen facilities, with a separate smaller bathroom.

 GARDEN APARTMENT. In some locales, a garden apartment complex consists of magnet

rise apartment buildings built with landscaped grounds surrounding them. The apartment
buildings are often arranged around courtyards that are open at one end. Such a garden
apartment shares some characteristics of a townhouse: each apartment has its own building
entrance, or shares that entrance via a staircase and lobby that adjoins other units
immediately above and/or below it. Unlike a townhouse, each apartment occupies only one
level.

 SECONDARY SUITE: When part of a house is converted for the ostensible use of a
landlord's family member, the unit may be known as an in-law apartment or granny flat,
though these created units are often occupied by ordinary renters rather than family members.
In Canada these suites are commonly located in the basements of houses and are therefore
normally called basement suites or "mother-in-law suites."

 MAISONETTE: Masonite is a large multi-story apartment located in an apartment building.

Building may be a connection between two apartments above each internal staircase,
connecting the top floor with an attic, or pre-planned extension to the flat roof of the
building. The usual layout is combined kitchen and dining room, living space and accessories
on the lower floor, several bedrooms and a second bathroom on the top. In the UK, a
Masonite is best described as a dwelling, on one or more floors, separated horizontally from
other property in the same building and with its own entrance door, as opposed to a flat
which usually has a shared entrance/hallway with others in the building.

 TWO STOREY FLAT. In Milwaukee vernacular architecture, a Polish flat is an existing

small house or cottage that has been lifted up to accommodate the creation of a new

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 basement floor housing a separate apartment, then set down again; thus, becoming a modest
two-story flat.
 LOFT APARTMENT. This type of apartment developed in North America during the middle
of the 20th century. The term initially described a living space created within a former
industrial building, usually 19th century. These large apartments found favor with artists and
musicians wanting accommodation in large cities (New York for example) and is related to
unused buildings in the decaying parts of such cities being occupied illegally by people
squatting. These loft apartments were usually located in former high-rise warehouses and
factories left vacant after town planning rules and economic conditions in the mid-20th
century changed. The resulting apartments created a new bohemian lifestyle and are arranged
in a completely different way from most urban living spaces, often including workshops and
art studio spaces. As the supply of old buildings of a suitable nature has dried up developers
have responded by constructing new buildings in the same aesthetic with varying degrees of
success.

 COMMUNAL APARTMENT. In Russia, a communal apartment is a room with a shared

kitchen and bath. A typical arrangement is a cluster of five or so room-apartments with a
common kitchen and bathroom and separate front doors, occupying a floor in a pre-
Revolutionary mansion. Traditionally a room is owned by the government and assigned to a
family on a semi-permanent basis. SERVICED APARTMENT. A "serviced apartment" is
any size space for residential living which includes regular maid and cleaning services
provided by the rental agent. Serviced apartments or serviced flats developed in the early part
of the 20th century and were briefly fashionable in the 1920s and 30s. They are intended to
combine the best features of luxury and self-contained apartments, often being an adjunct of
a hotel. Like guests semi-permanently installed in a luxury hotel, residents could enjoy the
additional facilities such as housekeeping, laundry, catering and other services if and when
desired. communal serviced

 LOW RISE APARTMENT: Twelve or more dwelling units per building. Up to four floors
often clustered on a large lot, but recent examples have more units per site acre and smaller
sites. DATA: 12-40 units/building. 3-4 floors/building interior entry.

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 MID- RISE APARTMENT: . Five to eight floors of apartments. Historically rare in the twin
cities. many examples Have recently built. DATA: . 60-240 units/building. 5-8
floors/building interior entry.

 HIGH- RISE APARTMENT: Rising at least eight stories on a small footprint. It is mostly
seen in cities. DATA: 60-240 units/building. . 8+ floors/building interior entry

SIZE REQUIREMENTS
Generally, a room must have minimum dimensions of 8 feet x 8 feet x 8 feet, and must have a
minimum floor area of 80 square feet Usage requirements: The following are rooms: bedrooms,
living rooms, studies, recreation  rooms, kitchens. The following are not rooms: closets, halls,
stairs, laundry rooms, bathrooms, foyers, dining spaces. Standard size Ranges from A to B
Living room 4200mm*4800mm 14ft*16ft 5400mm*7200mm 18ft*24ft Bed room
3000mm*3600mm 10ft*12ft 4200mm*4800mm 14ft*16ft kitchen 2500mm*3900mm 8ft*13ft
3000mm*3600mm 10ft*12ft Store room 2500mm*2500mm 8ft*8ft 3000mm*3000mm 10ft*10ft
verandah 1800mm[6ft] 3000mm[10ft]

BUILDING ENTRIES

To provide building entries that are easily identifiable and assist in the identify and legibility of
the development. -To be clearly visible from streets or internal driveways so that visitors can
easily identify an individual apartment. -provide a sense of address, shelter and transitional space
around the entry and contribute to security. - Provide a minimum width of pedestrian walkway of
approximately 1200 mm.

SET BACKS

Means the space to be left fully open to sky from the edge of the building to the property line or
boundary of the street. No built-up space shall be provided within the setback except specifically
permitted projections and other structures under the rules. Buildings over 15m in height have a
setback of 6m around the building.

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 NATURAL VENTILATION
Natural ventilation is an important aspect of apartment design because it ensures regular
exchange of fresh air which is essential for maintaining comfortable living environment. > The
design and layout of dwellings should maximize openable windows, doors or other devices in an
external wall of the building, where appropriate. > At least 40% of dwellings should achieve
effective cross ventilation. Effective cross ventilation is achieved where: 1. There is a maximum
breeze path through the dwelling of 18 meters. 2.There is a minimum breeze path through the
dwelling of 5 meters. 3.The ventilation openings have approximately the same area. The breeze
path is measured between the ventilation openings on different orientations of the dwelling.

Habitable Room Height and Depth Standards Habitable rooms, not including kitchens, should
achieve the following proportions: a) Room depth from window is up to 6 m = minimum ceiling
height 2.4 m c) Room depths from window is greater than 9 m = minimum ceiling height 3.0 m.
b b]Room depth from window is between 6 m to 9 m = minimum ceiling height 2.7 m > Natural
air movement through a building or apartment can be achieved by the ‘stack effect’ and cross
ventilation.

DAYLIGHT

• As natural light, especially sunlight, has a significant impact on our health and wellbeing it’s
important to consider this carefully in your apartment design. Daylight and sunlight animate
indoor spaces and enhance apartment residents’ enjoyment of an interior. Views outside keep
people in touch with their wider surroundings, the prevailing weather, and the rhythm of the day
and seasons. • Good natural light also reduces the energy needed to provide artificial light for
everyday activities. Controlled sun penetration can also help meet part of the apartment’s winter
heating requirements when thermal mass is used correctly and if windows in the main living
areas face north.

WASTE WATER TREATMENT

TREATMENT OF DRINKING WATER: The basic steps in wastewater treatment are: •
preliminary treatment - to protect plant operation • settling - to remove solids • biological

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treatment - to remove organic matter • disinfection - to remove pathogens • solids processing - to
provide safe final disposal.

DRAINAGE AND SANTITATION

• The layout shall be as simple and direct as practicable.

• The pipes should be laid in straight lines, as far as possible, in both vertical and horizontal
planes.

• The pipes should be non-absorbent, durable, smooth in bore and of adequate strength

• Drains should be well ventilated, to prevent the accumulation of foul gases and fluctuation of
air pressure within the pipe, which could lead to unsealing of gully or water-closet traps.

• Sewer drain shall be laid for self-cleaning velocity of 0.75, m/s and generally should not flow
more than half-full. • Sewer pipes should be at least 900 mm below road and at least 600 mm
below fields and gardens

FIRE SAFETY

• For buildings 15 m in height or above non-combustible materials should be used for

construction and the internal walls of staircase enclosures should be of brick work or reinforced
concrete or any other material of construction with minimum of 2 h rating. The walls for the
chimney shall be depending on whether the gas temperature is above 200”C or less.

• Fire catching Areas and Reasons for Fire Accidents in Residential Buildings Kitchen, Short
circuits etc. Setbacks are must and stood for any kind of structure or buildings.

• In case of apartments setbacks should be 1/3rd of the building height.

•The compulsory open spaces around the building shall not be used for parking;

•the main entrance; the width of such entrance shall be not less than 4.5 m. If an arch or covered
gate is constructed, it shall have a clear head-room of not less than 5 m. No external staircase,
used as a fire escape, shall be inclined at an angle greater than 45° from the horizontal.

MAXIMUM HEIGHT

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Every building shall be restricted in its height above the ground level and the number of stores,
depending upon its occupancy and the type of construction. The height shall be measured as
specified in Part 3 ‘Development Control Rules and General Building Requirements’. The
maximum permissible height for any combination of occupancy and types of construction should
necessarily be related to the width of street fronting the building, or floor area ratios and the local
firefighting facilities available. • The minimum headroom in a passage under the landing of a
staircase and under the staircase shall be 2.2 m. External stairs shall have straight flight not less
than 1250 mm wide with 250 mm treads and risers not more than 190 mm. The number of risers
shall be limited to 15 per flight. Handrails shall be of a height not less than 1000 mm and not
exceeding 1200 mm. There shall be provisions of balusters with maximum gap of 150 mm. Stair
case should not be situated around a lift and no gas pipes or electrical wires in stair cases. All
external stairs shall be directly connected to the ground.

PARKING

Parking space means an area enclosed or unenclosed, covered or open, sufficient in size to park
vehicles, together with a drive-way connection, the parking space with a street or alley and
permitting ingress and degrees of the vehicles. Basement floor shall be used only for parking and
not for any habitation purpose. Parking can be permitted in one or more levels (multi-levels). In
case of basement being used as parking only, the travel distance shall be 45m. Parking must be in
90 degrees or other than 90 degrees. The minimum width of the drive way shall be 4.5m.
Visitors’ parking shall be provided with minimum 10% of the parking area. cellar parking.

TYPES OF PARKING
 Underground parking
 Semi basement parking
 Undercroft parking
 Ground floor parking
 Surface parking
 Above ground parking
 Mechanized parking
 Multistore car parking

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 There are 3 types of parking

1.ANGLED PARKING: (30,45,60,90 degrees)

2.PARALLEL PARKING

3.PERPENDICULAR PARKING

CAR PARKING

A typical arrangement allows an area of 2.4 m x 5 m for a car park with a 6 m wide double
access lane between the car parks. A wheelchair-accessible car park should be at least 3.2 m x 5
m. As a general rule, provide one car park for each unit. Residents who do not own a car always
have the option to lease their car park to those who require additional parking. However, the
decision on the number of car parks you provide may depend on discussions with the local
building consent authority as, in areas of intensification, the infrastructure may only allow a
certain number of cars without causing major traffic congestion. Authority Area of Flat Parking
Requirement (One car Parking space equal to 20 Sq.mt.) 1. Municipal Corporation Area. a.
Below 100 Sqm. above 100 Sqm. 1 Car/Every two flats 1 Car/Every one flat 2. Other Areas of
Urban Dev. Areas excluding Up to 40 Sqm. b.40-60 Sqm c.60-100 Sqm above 100 Sqm. 1
Car/Every 4 flats 1 Car/Every 3 flats 1 Car/Every 2 flats 1 Car/Every one flat 3. Visitors Parking
1 Car/Every 10 flats.

FUNCTION STANDARDS
A dwelling should have bedrooms that meet the minimum internal room dimensions specified in
Table 1. All bedrooms should provide an area in addition to the minimum internal room
dimensions to accommodate a wardrobe

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 ROOM DEPTH

A single aspect habitable room should not exceed a room depth of 2.5 times
the ceiling height. A single aspect open plan habitable room depth may be increased to 9 meters
provided the following requirements are met.

• The room combines the living area, dining area and kitchen.

• The kitchen is located furthest from the window.

• The ceiling height is at least 2.7 meters measured from finished floor level to finished ceiling
level, except where services are provided above the kitchen. The room depth is measured from
the external surface of the habitable room window to the rear wall

WINDOW

Standard

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A window in a habitable room should be located in an external wall. A window may provide
daylight to a bedroom from a smaller area within the room, where:

• The area is at least: − A minimum width of 1.2 meters. − A maximum depth of 1.5 times the
width, measured from the external surface of the window.

• The window is clear to the sky

STORAGE
Standard Each dwelling should have convenient access to usable and secure storage space. The
total minimum storage space (including kitchen, bathroom and bedroom storage) should meet the
requirements specified in Table 1.

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 SOLAR ACCESS TO COMMUNAL OPEN SPACE
Standard

The communal outdoor open space should be located on the north side of a building, if
appropriate.

NATURAL VENTILATION
Standards

 The design and layout of dwellings should maximize openable windows, doors or other
devices in an external wall of the building, where appropriate. At least 40% of dwellings
should achieve effective cross ventilation. Effective cross ventilation is achieved where:

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  There is a maximum breeze path through the dwelling of 18 meters.
 There is a minimum breeze path through the dwelling of 5 meters.
 The ventilation openings have approximately the same area.
 The breeze path is measured between the ventilation openings on different orientations
of the dwelling.

BUILDING ENTRY AND CIRCULATION

Standard

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  Entries to dwellings and buildings should:
 Be visible and easily identifiable.
 Provide shelter, a sense of personal address and a transitional space around the entry.
The layout and design of buildings should:
 Clearly distinguish entrances to residential and non-residential areas.
 Provide windows to building entrances and lobbies, including open stairs and lift areas.
 Provide common areas and corridors that:
− Include at least one source of natural light and natural ventilation.
− Avoid obstruction from building services.
− Maintain clear sight lines

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 WASTE AND RECYCLING
STANDARD
 The development should include dedicated areas for:
• Bin and recycling enclosures which are adequate in size, durable, waterproof
and blend in with the development. These areas should be adequately ventilated.
• Bin and recycling enclosures that are located and designed for convenient
access by residents and made easily accessible to people with limited mobility.
• Adequate area and facilities for bin washing. These areas should be adequately
ventilated.
• Collection, separation and storage of general waste and recyclables, including
where appropriate opportunities for on-site management of food waste through
composting or other waste recovery as appropriate.
• Collection, storage and reuse of garden waste, including opportunities for on-
site treatment (where appropriate), or offsite removal for reprocessing.
• Adequate circulation area for waste collection vehicles that allows waste
vehicles to enter and leave the site without reversing.
• Adequate internal storage space within each dwelling to enable the separation of
recyclables, residual waste and where appropriate food waste. Waste and
recycling management facilities should:
• Be designed to meet the best practice waste and recycling management
guidelines for residential development adopted by Sustainability Victoria.
• Protect public health and amenity of occupants and adjoining premises from the
impacts of odor, noise and waste collection vehicle movements.
• Be maintained in accordance with a Waste Management Plan approved by the
responsible authority.

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THE END.
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 REFERENCE

1 better apartment-design standards(book)

2 www.delwp.vic.gov.au

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