Basic Architectural Design

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ArchitectureDepartment
Course name: Basic Architectural Design I.

Space Planning Basics

Introduction

Spaceplanning is a complex process with many factors to consider. The principles of

space planning involve satisfying a defined criteria on a priority basis -as a result,

space planning is frequently about compromise. That being said, there

is often more
than one solution to planning out the space requirements of a building

Knowing how to organise spaces in carefully considered configurations is a

fundamental skill that both architecture students and architects need to possess and be
constantly developing. We design spaces for users to inhabit and interact with, so it is

of utmost importance that they effectively serve the purpose that they were intended
for.

The principles behind space planning are also applied in other disciplines such as
interior design, urban planning, landscape architecture,event planning, and retail
design. Whether it be arranging furniture in a room or in a banquet hall, the primary
goal is to ensure that the space can be effectively utilised and is tailored to meet tlhe
needs of its users.

How two spaces come together or split apart all becomes very important in
determining the overall comfort and experience users have within the spaces we
design.

In this post we look at some of the key processes to space planning, the questions you
need to ask your client, and yourself, and how to develop this information into space
planning diagrams.

Part 1 -Collect information

The design of a building or spacewill have numerous requirements from the client or
the end user. It is important in the very early stages of design to carry out in depth
research and consider as many aspects of the use of the spaces as possible.

Some considerations can include:

Do the spaces have specific functions or need to be particular shapes or forms?

V Do the spaces need to be flexible?

Is it possible to create a sequenceof spaces (offices,museums for example)?
have different requirements terms of ventilation, views,
Do the spaces in light,

accessibility?
V Do the spaces need to have access to external spaces?
V Must any of the spaces have particular security or privacy?
Are there any hierarchical requirements of the spaces?
What relationships must each space have with one another, and the external
environment?
How should the spaces be connected?
rooms need to be
Which rooms need to be adjacent to one another and which
apart?

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 Basic Architectural Design

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An example of some questions to consider if you are designing a residential unit:

What is the family size and structure?

What is the location of the site?

> How many levels are there?

Are there any particular fanily or individual interests and activities that need to
be considered?

The more information and data that can be collected in these

earlier stages, the easier
it will be to make the leap from data to diagrams and
drawings as you proceed
through the space planning process.

Part 2 -Interpret requirements and build the brief

When we look at how to create spaces and accommodate humans in those spaces we
can consider some universal concepts relating to how people interact vwith their
environments.
Insider vs outsider

Invitation vs rejection
Individual vs
community
Combinationvs dispersion
Openness vs enclosure
Integration vs segregation

invitation vs rejection
combination vs dispersion
insider vs Outsider

1
openness vs enclosure integration vs segregation
individual vs community

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 Basic Architectural Designl

mind we can start to develop a plan of requirements and extract

With these factors in
be
data we have collected, the necessary functions these spaces will
fulfilling.
from the
the
In some cases it isdevelop a matrix/table that demonstrates
suitable to

equiprment and so
requirements of each room, in terms of privacy, daylight, access,
forth, along with writing out any additional requirements
or special considerations for
each room. This information will be a useful reference as you work through the

spaces of cach room and start to develop some sketch diagrams.

Part 3– Consider spaces and spatial relationships

There arenumerous ways in which you can arrange spaces. The following are a few
examples and prompts to get you started:

Spatial Relationships

How carn spaces be related to one another?

Space within a space
Interlocking spaces
Spaces linked by a common space
Adjacent spaces

Spatial Relationships

space within a space spaces linked by a

Common space

interlocking spaces adjacent spaces

Organising the space

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You can consider varying foms of sptial organisation, some of which are more
naturallysuited to particular uses than others:
Centralised organisation
Linear organisation
Radial organisation
Clustered organisation
Grid organisation

Spatial Organisation

Centralised Linear

Radial Cluster

Grid
Consider some of the following as you plan out your spaces:
How does the envelope affect the internalspaces?
How will the contents of the room be arranged?
Do the rooms connect?
What is the flow of the circulation?
What are the main points of access into the space you are designing?
Are the proportions of the spaces comfortable?
Are there any existing structures or features within the building or space that
you may have to work around?
Developing circulation

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Basic Architectural Deslgn

from room room is just as important as the

How people move around the building to

destination.
a circulation structure we can look at a tew basic principles:
When developing

How efficient is the circulation in getting from point A to point B?

Is the circulation discrete?
there a smooth flowing route or a
What is the fluidity of the circulation? Is

more direct route?

Does the circulation route clash with furnishing requirements?

Can the cireulation be the focal point of the design?

Circulation Principles

Effciency

DiscreetneSs

Fluidity

You can also draw inspiration from already existing precedents to organise your
to one another to provide the best
circulation
spaces and test how they relate

throughout the design.

Part 4 Create the solution

studied it is
Once the spaces have been considered and the requirements have been
time to start sketching out spatial relationship diagrams that are also known as bubble

diagrams or adjacency diagrams in architecture.

In a bubble diagram you make use of a variety of bubbles that depict the spaces as
well as arrows and lines that depict connections and relationships betweenthe spaces
you are working with.

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Basic Architectural

rough sketchy styles to take to

a client
Vou can quickly produce these diagrams in

more refined styles for say, a final presentation,

meeting or create them
in

to a more visual
look at
take your design fronm data
These types of diagrams
and rough but enables you
to
out your space. It is abstract,
physically planning how the spaces will

develop your understanding

of the requirements and visualise
them.
work together and
how the circulation may flow between
or space,
represent the building size
stage the bubble diagrams do
not need to
At this
one another, sizes and so on.
at how each room relates to
but more so provide a look

Let's look at some examples:

SEMINAR
LECTURE

STUDY
RECEPN ON

DIR

STAFF
WORK kIT

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 Basic Architectural Design

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RECEPTION)

ZECTURE

As your bubble diagrams develop you can begin to build a rough sketch plan of your
you make the connection between basic
spaces. This developed bubble diagram helps
and a fully drafted floor plan. It is essentially a trial and error
spatial requirements
method of exploring the configuration options.

If you working within the constraints of an existing building you can print out the
are
a new building the
floor plan and work within that. However, if you are designing
bubble diagram can often be connected with your concept and site analysis to develop

the design.

important to keep referring back to the initial data you

During this process it is

collected and the bubble diagram to ensure you are considering all aspects of the
and perhaps even
design requirements. It is also important to update your clients
involve them in this process to confirm everyone is on the same page and that you
are

working out the best possible outcome for them.

This is an opportunity to try both safe and standard ideas along with more erratic out

of the box options as you are carrying out fast sketchy ideas.

We recommend you try different options and configurations, sketch your ideas and
see how the spaces will connect to one another. As you work through the different
options, make notes on each one any pros and cons, benefits etc, so that later you
as to
can easily disregard options that you don't think will work at a later point.

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process ofspace planning:

a quick suminary of this
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Part 5 Review and revise your space planning

out, it is then possible to review these

Once some solutions have been sketched
improvement.
solutions and look for areas that require

consider when we look at a residential scheme:

Things to

will the occupants move from room to room?

How
Does the circulation cut up the space?
areas?
Does guest trafic flow through private add
and windows in suitable positions? Do they interfere or to
Are the doors

the overallspatial plan?

with the site?
Does the plan orientate itself correctly
Do the rooms work well in relation to one
another?

Is there a nced for clear zones such as

distinctions between wet and dry areas.

cooking and dining arcas?

and utilities?
Have youaccounted for space taken up by the services
the plans can be developed
Once you have reviewed your initial sketches and ideas
key to refer to any
further by adding more detail and refining your
drawings. It is

fire safety among crucial others

that
building regulations, codes and standards like
have an impact on your space planning to ensure that your design
is compliant
will

from an early stage.

Helpful links [Link] [Link]/1starchitecture/space-planning/

by Mark Karlen. You can check it out here:

and Space Planning Basics

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