1. Interior Space Planning Floor Plans

2. House Plan Successful housing evidences well-designed
space planning and room
arrangement
How do you want to live?
What makes sense for your
lifestyle, wants & needs

3. Floor Plan outline of space
The plan of an interior space. The way the rooms are arranged & how the spaces within the house are used
outline of space
delineates the structural elements that physically limit &
enclose the space
Helps you decide
where to place
furniture

4. Elevation
Gives you a straight on view as if you were standing in front of a wall
Technical drawing, drawn to scale

5. Interior Zoning Concept
All 3 zones should be present in a floor plan
Interior zones should not be split
Household members should not have to cross through the middle of one zone to get to another

6. Activities
5 basic types of activities that each require certain types of spaces
Social—involve people from outside the family
Family—involve family members
Individual—involve only one person
Private—require visual & audio privacy
Work—accomplish a specific task

7. 3 Basic Zones of a House Activities are used to divide the home
Living/Social/Public zone—where social & family activities occur (LR, DR, Entrance & Power); non-family members are allowed
Private zone—where individual & private activities occur (Bedrooms & Bathrooms)
Work zone—where work activities that support the household’s lifestyle occur (Kitchen, Laundry & Home Office)

8. What zone of the house do these rooms fit into?

9. Buffers Buffers can separate zones: walls doors closets room dividers
large-scale furniture
Can also place on different levels

10. 3 Basic Interior Zones 1 – Living and Social Area
Living room, dining room, family room, game room, great rooms, entry ways, porches, dining etc.

11. 3 Basic Interior Zones
2 Service/Work -Kitchen, Garage, Office, Basement, Utility/Laundry room.

12. Laundry area—near kitchen, service entry or bedrooms; choices based on lifestyles

13. Plumbing—concentrated by situating kitchens, laundry areas & bathrooms next to each other or stacked

14. 3 Basic Interior Zones
3 Sleeping/Private- Bedroom, Bathroom, Closets and Dressing rooms.

15. Privacy—highly valued
-private bath for householder
-private den or study
-secluded and not in direct sight nor sound transfer

16. Color your floor plan On your note taking guide:
Color all of the living/social areas in blue
Color all of the sleeping/private areas in green
Color all of the work/service areas in orange

18. Traffic Patterns or Circulation Path
The route that people follow as they move from one place to another.
Minor Traffic Paths should allow feet
Major Traffic Paths should allow 4-6 feet
Types – Family, Work & Service, Guest

19. Circulation Avoid going through middle of rooms
Don’t interfere with good furniture arrangement nor interrupt activities
Don’t interfere with private zone
Don’t go through kitchen work area
Easy access from kitchen to rest of house
Direct access from entrance to clean-up area
Short paths to conserve human energy

20. Good Family Circulation
Bathrooms should be close to bedrooms.
Indoor living next to outdoor living area’s
Other related rooms close to each other.
High use routes should be short and simple.

21. Guest Circulation
Entry, living, dining, powder room or ½ bath not in private area’s of the home, porches, patios, entertainment rooms.
Ask Yourself:
How to guests travel to the living room when you are entertaining?
Do they have to go through private areas of your home?
How do they get to the powder room?
Is the kitchen handy for serving food and drinks to your guests when you are entertaining?

22. Important Room Relationships
Bathroom & Bedroom
Kitchen & Dining
Mudroom & Garage
Garage & Kitchen
Kitchen and outdoor living space
Living and dining areas
Can you think of others?

23. Other Aspects of Good Work Circulation
Easy access to the basement, garage and storage areas.
Clothes care center in a convenient location.

24. Ask yourself these Questions
Can the cook prepare a meal without worrying about constantly walking into someone going by?
If people can eat in their rooms or living areas, can they get there without leaving a trail through the entire house?
If you spend a lot of time grilling outside on the patio, is it convenient to the inside food prep area?
Do you have to walk through to the other end of the house to reach the outdoor grill?
Can you bring the groceries right in from the outside without having to go through the living room?

25. How to Draw Traffic Patterns
Use arrows to indicate where people would walk in the space

26. Draw the traffic pattern on the floor plan on your note taking guide

27. Open Space Planning
Where living, dining & kitchen areas are all combined in one large area with no walls separating them
Advantages:
-reduced construction costs
-reduced time for cleaning & upkeep
-perception of larger spaces
-increase of space available
-flexibility
-more effective transmission of air

28. Closed Floor Plans Have separate rooms
Walls and door separate the space
Traditional

29. Scale
Drawing to scale means that each square on a graph paper represents a given number of feet, inches, or centimeters.
Most residential plans are drawn in ¼” =1ft
To create a scale drawing you must measure the room and furnishings.

30. 7 things you should measure when creating a floor plan
Length & Width of Room
Location of :
Doors
Windows (including mouldings)
4. Closets
5. Fireplaces
6. Electrical Supply
7. Radiators

31. Common Blueprint Symbols

32. Orientation The way a housing unit is situated on the lot
Affects space plan’s efficiency & arrangement
East-west orientation is best
Passive solar heating in winter + snow on driveway melts quicker
Position windows to take advantage of cross breezes
Landscaping to buffer winter winds & provide shade in summer

34. Project Indicate zones—public, work & private
Does it meet the 3 zoning principles?
Identify buffers
Are they adequate for visual & acoustical privacy, & dividing zones?
Draw arrows for major circulation routes
Do they meet recommendations?
Is it an open floor plan? (show it on plan)
Anything you especially like or dislike?