Floor Plans

Changing Housing Needs  Social trends shape needs  Economic conditions, lifestyle, physical needs and technology affect changes  Large Victorian homes were divided into specialized rooms.  Today’s homes have an open space and multipurpose rooms.

Designing Functional Interiors  Floor Plan – A diagram of a home or other structure that shows the arrangement of rooms.  Have to think about the homes function, and the needs of the occupants.

Activity Zones  3 Most Common Zones  Private Zone – Provides quiet, comfortable areas for sleeping, relaxing and privacy; bedrooms, bathrooms,  Service Zone – Where household work is done. Includes kitchens, laundry room, workshops and garages  Social Zone – Part of the house used for activities and entertainment. Living room, dining room, family rooms

What type of zone is shaded blue?

Floor Plans  Open Plan – When few dividing walls separate rooms  Closed Plan – Rooms are separated or self contained

Types of Floor Plans  Single Story  Two Story  Split Level  Split Entry

2 Story Floor Plan

1 Story Floor Plan

Floor Plans  Traffic Patterns – the paths people take as they walk from room to room during everyday activities  Well designed floor plans provide convenient pathways  Easy access should be provided between related areas

Floor Plans  Traffic Patterns  Economy of construction – Putting two areas that require plumbing close together. Ex: Kitchen and Laundry areas  Dry areas placed back to back  In two story homes – one bathroom above another.

Traffic Patterns should:  be convenient and direct  provide adequate space without wasting it  avoid cutting through the middle of rooms  avoid interfering with a good furniture arrangement or interrupting activities within a room  avoid cutting through a kitchen, work area, or any other hazardous area  allow room for doors to swing open, drawers to be opened and chairs to be pulled out