AWH3O - Planning

for Individual Spaces

Unit 2: The Built Environment and Space

Planning
Chapter: 8 Planning for Individual Spaces
 Clients and Their
Needs
• By far, the most nb interactions a designer and client have are
during the early part of the design process. The goal is to
explore the needs and wishes of the client in a quantitative and
qualitative way.
• Quantitative info: a characteristic of an objects or interior that
can be measured with numbers (size, quantity, temp.)
• Qualitative info: characteristics (quailty needs) of an object or
interior that cannot be measured (privacy, security and control)
• An essential practice is walking through a client’s existing
space, viewing the current living situation and belongings, and
discussing daily activities and use of each individual space.
This helps to distinguish needs brought to light by current
inadequate facilities vs. making assumptions about needs and
the essential accommodations for family growth and change.
 Design for All
• Meeting the needs of all occupants, now and in the future,
is done through using the concepts of accessibility,
adaptability and universal design (UD).
• One way to look at these terms is to see them on a
continuum of designing spaces:

• Accessibility: the ability to reach something and use it.

Public buildings require accommodating spaces for
special needs including physical limitations (mobility,
vision, hearing)
• Adaptability: refers to the ability to change or fit different
circumstances. It means the ability of interiors to meet the
changing needs of it’s occupants without excessive $$ or
inconvenience.
• Universal Design (UD): a design concept that focuses on
making living environments, and the products used to
create them, without special adaptations. They are built to
meet all the needs of future occupants without alterations.
Universal Design

• Today, many housing designs utilize universal design to accommodate the

needs of all people. The focus is on making housing more useable by ALL
people.
• When UD is used, every building and product within is developed to provide
greater usefulness to as many people as possible.
• Many UD features are structural and must be built into the house.
 Existing Home
Characteristics
• Once you understand the needs of your client, the next task
is to evaluate the characteristic of the home.
• With existing homes, there are structural elements and
architectural characteristics that are difficult to change and
can dictate a great deal of your space planning.
• In order to determine the use of each room, this evaluation
might include:
• Pragmatics
• Interior Landmarks
• Window Analysis
• Circulation and Proportion
• Defining space
• Pragmatics: dealing realistically with things that cannot be
changed easily. Spaces that do not have semi-permanent
architectural features (ie plumbing etc) are those where your
creative mind can begin to see alternative uses for spaces
and new possibilities.
• Interior Landmarks: structural columns and stairs are
expensive to move. Flooring material can be as well. Ceiling
height can be hard to change.
• Window Analysis: existing windows can tell a lot about the
possibilities of room usage. The amount of light entering a
room can dictate room usage. A bedroom must have an
operable window.
• Circulation and Proportion: Consider where the main traffic
patterns are and how it does or does not work. Also,
remember square footage is not always equal
• ie. 20’ x 20’ square room (awkward to plan because its
hard to avoid circulation thru the conversation areas or
have space in the middle of the room) vs. 10’ x 40’ (overly
long rooms waste a disproportionate amount of sq footage
on circulation) vs. 16’ x 25’ (40% to 60% ratio which is
the best ratio because it allows for multiple activity
zones).
• Defining Sapce: Open floor plans create a great
deal of flexibility, but challenging to create a
space plan. Consider the following when doing so:
• Using Planes - vertical planes (shelving
units/columns and partial walls) can separate
spaces physically and without blocking natural
light and visual connection.
• Texture and colour changes - a colourful accent
wall or area rug can designate and differentiate
use if space.
• Furnishings - an implied conversation circle
created from chairs or an area rug can designate
space use.
• Lighting- varying levels of light pooling over
certain areas of an open plan can differentiate
spaces.
 Considerations for Individual Spaces

• When designing, consider each room individually

and as a part of the whole.
• Think about room sizes and proportion in addition
to distinct space amenities and layout.
• Typical Space Sizes: Building codes determine the
bare minimum size individual rooms can be.
• Standard Clearance Spaces: there are
recommendations for space clearances for furniture
placement or space to walk/perform tasks.
• Entryway/Foyer: people prefer to have an entryway
with physical separation from living space. This
area should be adjacent to the most public areas of
a house. They should have indoor and outdoor
standing areas. Some type of storage is
recommended
 LIVING ROOMS

• Living Room: the living habits of the occupants influence the functions
these rooms serve. The purpose and needed furnishings determine room
size and layout. Living rooms should be centrally located, near or
convent to an entrance. Also, having a good line of site to the
remaining public areas and the outside spaces helps to keep family
members aware of children’s activities and be able to communicate.
• The scale and layout of the space should accommodate a sensible
furniture arrangement. In a large space, comfortable and intimate
seating clusters should be accomplished by separating into multiple
conversation areas (with 4-6 people).
• Furniture requirements:
• Seating - mix of types, long sofa, movable pieces allow for
entertaining
• Coffee table - should be similar height to the sofa seat to
accommodate its use.
• Side table - similar to the height of the sofa arm to be a natural
transition for paling items on it.
• Sofa tables - placed behind the sofa and are at the height of the rear
of the sofa
• Lamps - give people control of the space without having to get up
and are good for reading
• Area rugs - help anchor a seating arrangement within a great room.
 FAMILY ROOMS
• Many alternative spaces are considered semi-private. They
may be accessible to guests, but they are more physically
separated and used less by guests.
• This room is more casual and for personal entertaining.

• The furniture is often flexible and geared towards

multimedia experiences.
• You may have a wet bar (esp. in basements that open up to
the outside)
• These spaces need finished and surfaces that are durable to
stand up to the frequent use.

BONUS SPACES
• These spaces are often created from an unused bedroom or
previously unfinished space:
• Study/Office - when planning office space, you must
determine its purpose. Is it for occasional use (paying bills)
or used daily (homework or work from the office). Will
there be clients in the space?
• Library - this can be its own space or attached to another
room (ie master suite or great room). Appropriate and
flexible storage is necessary for the types of books etc.
Acoustic and lighting control helps.
 BONUS SPACES

• Media and Entertainment room - these rooms can

include space for a home theatre, music making,
dancing, games (ie billiards/ping pong), video games,
snack abr. Acoustical privacy, adjustable lighting and
comfortable seating is NB.
• Hobby and special-use area - sewing, music, crafts etc.
are encouraged by having well-planned spaces
dedicated to the activity. Flexible storage and adjustable
lighting are desirable.
• Home gym - Take care when adding gym equipment to
a home as they can be noisy. Think about ventilation,
floor space, and clearance for full movement of
machines. Floor should be water and slip resistant.
• Game room - these rooms are typically dictated by
large gaming tables (pool, poker, pingpong etc).
 DINING
• These areas should be sensibly lasted close to kitchen and
storage (pantry).
• The size and layout of the room are often determined by
purpose, level of formality and # of guests.
• The furnishings needed are a major part of the planning:

• Table and chairs: rule of thumb is one linear foot per person
for a rectangular table.
• Table leaves/additional chairs: leaves allow you to expand
the table for more guests. Consider additional chairs and
space to accommodate for this.
• Buffet/Sideboard: a serving area created by these pieces can
assist with extra platters from the table or allow for self-
service.
• China Cabinet: this allows for storage of dishes, table cloths
and serving ware.
• Some people may skip a formal dining room for a more
informal space in a kitchen. This frees up the space to be used
for another bonus space.
 KITCHEN

• In most home the kitchen is the most used room in the

home. Here are some questions to ask your clients to
gauge their needs:
• How much socializing is expo ted within the space?
What type of entertaining is done?
• How often and hay type of cooking takes place in the
current kitchen?
• Is a visual connect tin to other public spaces a
requirement?
• Does the client want a kitchen island/peninsula for food
prep and in-kitchen dining?
• Are there any special requests related to the appliances
(ie. side-by-side fridge)?
• Is there a need for a prep or bar sink in addition to the
main kitchen sink?
• Will there be a need for a walk in pantry or a standard-
depth pantry in the cabinetry?
 KITCHEN

• When determine adjacencies (the dishwasher.

nearness of 2 or more rooms/functions)
with a kitchen, you should think about • The foundation of kitchen design
the daily life of the client: involves knowledge about the
furnishings, tools and appliances that will
• Groceries: where are they stored? be used. (ie. wall cabinets are 12” deep,
utilized? Prepared? Sink location? base are 24” and what goes in each).
• Utensils: Where are they stored, Used,
rinsed and cleaned?
• This wil help to create a logical plan that
account for micro-adjacencies (the
nearness of 2 or more tasks or tolls in a
room). ie. putting wall cabinets for
glasses between the fridge and
 KITCHEN
• Primary Work Areas: The kitchen has 3
primary work areas:
• Food prep and storage (fridge)
• Cleanup (sink & dishwasher)
• Cooking and serving (range and oven)
• The imaginary line that connects these 3 areas
form a work triangle.
• In a well designed kitchen, the total length of
the work triangle does not exceed 26 feet. If it
is too large (it’s inefficient), a secondary one
can be created.
• Clearance: Assume that there will be more
than one person in the kitchen at a time. It is
best to consider clearance on cabinetry,
countertops, islands and appliances.
• Landing Spaces: on each side of each work
centre, there should be adequate landing space
(area on either side/across from an appliance
or other functional kitchen piece, that serves
as a space to set cooking tools, hot items or
oversized items.
 KITCHEN
• Other appliances and their placements:
• Microwave oven: many are located directly
over the cooktop under a short wall cabinet
(this is not optimum because it interferes
with a primary work centre). You can also
place it on the counter (but takes up a lot of
space). The best location is in a wall cabinet
away from a cooktop, in a tall cabinet
grouped with the primary or secondary
oven, or just under the countertop a base
cabinet.
• Dishwasher: when open, a person should be
able to stand to one side of the dishwasher.
You should be able to load the dishwasher
while standing at the sink and have a
surface on which to place the clean
dishes/or to put them right into the
appropriate cabinet.
• Additional Oven: this can be helpful with
two cook families and large entertainers.
• Countertop Appliances: these might include
a coffeemaker, toaster oven, food processor.
 KITCHEN
• Counter and Storage Space: the larger the
kitchen, the more storage and counter
space it needs. Investigate special
cabinetry features such as divided
flatware drawers, spice racks, plate slots,
pull-out drawers and deep drawers in
base cabinets for cookware. Consider
the adjacency of these pieces to the
appliances they serve.
• Corner and Tall Storage: When
considering kitchen shapes, note that
corner cabinets can be either an
opportunity or an inefficient use of space.
They can be deep, so adding a lazy susan
or hinged shelf can help. Use tall
cabinets sparingly and on the outside of
the work triangle to not interrupt
valuable counter space.
• Lighting: well thought out lighting can
increase safety , add to the aesthetic
qualities and add to psychological
comfort.
• Waste and Recycling: at least one trash
receptacle in needed. More than one in
helpful if there are multiple work
triangles or a pantry.
 BREAKFAST ROOM
• An informal dining space, room or nook
may also serve as a work or prep area,
office or homework space.
• This tecnds to be the location for everyday
dining and breakfast.
• These areas are typically not much larger
than the table and chairs with maneuvering
space.
• They are usually adjacent to the kitchen,
living space, outdoors and possibly the
garage.
• Seating can be a combo of built-in booth,
multi-set bench and individual chairs.
 LAUNDRY
• These are sometimes located in the basement or
mudrrom, but newer trends place the laundry within
the private zones, where dirty clothes re stored and
where they return.
• The larger the home, the more amenities the laundry
room can provide. These items may be:
• Laundry sink for stain removal and hand-washing
• Folding/ironing area
• An area for hanging clothes
• Storage for cleaning and pet supplies
• Area for pet cleaning
• Drop zone for school books, coats and shoes
• Craft area and supply storage
 Private Zones
• It is NB to have the client elaborate on the functions
they believe these spaces serve in addition to
sleeping and bathing. This could be functionality
(more storage), relaxing retreat (soaking tub or steam
shower), privacy (acoustic control, terrace, reading
nook) or having their own space (space for personal
expression).
• Furniture choices and room function generally
dictate bedroom size.
• Bedrooms can be grouped together as a quiet zone of
a home or segmented by occupant - master, guest
and children.
• Providing multiple furniture arrangement options can
allow families to grow and change within the same
environment. This could include making sure there is
more than one wall in each room that could
accommodate the head of a bed (think doors and
windows).
• A bedroom typically includes:
• Bed(s) with sizer depending on client need
and preference
• Side tables with reading lamps and electrical
outlets
• Clothing storage by way of low or high
dresser or armoire, which can also serve as a
surface for a TV or other personal storage.
• Hanging storage by way of closet (typically
2’ deep)
• At least one operable window as a means of
egress with additional windows for
ventilation and light
 MASTER BEDROOM
• A master bedroom has an attached bathroom and
typically a walk-in closet or dressing area. It is
generally more luxurious than other private areas.
It may contain personal reading and conversation
areas, entertainment area, exercise equipment or
spa.
• Closet storage should fit the needs of both
occupants. Closet shelves and rods should be an
appropriate height and depth for the individuals
belongings.
• A dressing area may be included and should have
an appropriate counter height, drawers, hanging
stronger, mirror, lighting and a chair.
• It is desirable to lay out master bedrooms as a
suite to maintain max. privacy but also to have a
small foyer into the suite. This prevents line of site
from public areas.
 OTHER BEDROOMS
• Children’s spaces should accommodate
sleeping, dressing, storage, studying, personal
entertainment and playing.
• They have a need for independence and
personal space.
• Storage should evolve as they grow, changing
from toys and books to media in their teen
years.
• Accommodating guests via trundle beds can
help conserve space.
• Most guest bedrooms have one queen-sized bed
or two twin beds. The closet should hold
additional linens. A ceiling fan can help
regulate room temperature. Consider space for
luggage for travelling guests.
 Master Bath and Other Bathrooms
FULL BATH HALF BATH
• Bathrooms are located throughout the house
and should provide the required fixtures,
functional layout and adequate storage.
• Master baths can be totally private, but full and
half baths for guest should be accessible from
the living areas of the home.
• You can enclose the toilet and shower
separately to accommodate multiple users.
• Full Bath (min. 5’ by 8’) has a toilet, sink and
shower/tub.
• Half Bath (min 3’ by 7’) has as sink and toilet.
BATHROOMS - ACCESSIBILITY
 GARAGE/CAR PORT

• Garage/Car Port: the size must

accommodate vehicles and other
furnishings to be functional. A single car is
15’ x 20’, a double is 22’ x 22’.
• Tanke hobbies and other functions into
account (work benches, bikes, excercise
equip. etc.)
 ASSIGNMENT
1. Locate a floor plan (with furniture) that you like on the internet and print a copy. Use the floor plan and the
principles of space planning and traffic patters, to do each of the following:
A. Shade the quiet, social and work areas with different coloured pencil crayons. Determine if the areas are
divided appropriately and justify your decision.
B. Trace the traffic patterns, and check them with the guidelines and clearances listed in this lesson. Explain if
they are safe and convenient.
C. Identify which storage is for individual use and which is for common use.
2. Suppose you have a client whose favourite hobby is sewing and making other crafts. Your client wants to convert
an 8’ x 10’ utility room with one entry door, one closet and two windows into a room for sewing and crafts. List
the furnishings, equipment and accessories that might be needed to create a room especially for this purpose.
Note sizes of your pieces and the clearances needed. Sketch your ideas for how this sewing/craft room might
look when complete.
3. Considere yourself at age 5 vs. your current age. On grid paper, draw a basic shaped room that is approx 195 sq ft
(12’ x 15’). Duplicate that plan. Draw in the needed furnishings for the 5 yr old you ad the current you on the two
separate plans and label each. How did your needs change> Are there any furniture pieces or accessories that
would work well in both scenarios? Write a summary of your thoughts.