ARCHITECTURAL DRAFTING & DESIGN

Handout
- for DT 212 of Marikina Polytechnic College

For the exclusive use of Marikina Polytechnic College

Compiled by: Mr. SUNNY B. OJEDA

1 Drafting Technology Instructor
S.Y. 2014-2015
 Planning & Designing

A master plan of a house or any structure is also the designer’s

prescription based on the wants and need of his client.

A master plan is defined as a visual presentation of conceptual ideas supported by

mathematical calculations aimed at giving convenience and comfort to the users or
occupants. A good plan however, are those that are functional and economically designed
adhering to the principles of “Form Follows Functions”.
Sound Planning Considerations include:
1. Distribution
2. Circulation
3. Light and ventilation
4. Sizes, areas and shapes
5. Orientation
6. Zoning laws
7. Height
8. Electrical and mechanical facilities
9. Location of doors and windows
10. Superstition

DISTRIBUTION. Refers to the placement , location and arrangement of each room unit
in relation with each other as to functions and coordination. One particular example is the
relation between the dining and the kitchen which primarily requires accessibility on food
servicing. These area units are interrelated and should not be far from each other. To make
the handling of meals easy, the sequence of food preparation should be provided for in the
layout of the kitchen and its equipment. Three works centers are necessary: the mix center,
the sink center, and the cook center. Supplies and equipment for use at each center should
be stored close at hand. There is a direct path between the work centers, forming a work
triangle by which the efficiency of a kitchen can be judged. The sum of the distances
between the work centers should not be less than 3.5 m. and not more than 6 m.
Costs can be minimized by locating the bathroom, kitchen, laundry, or washroom back
to back or one above the other.

CIRCULATION. Circulation and movement of the occupants inside the building should
not hampered by any obstacles nor be detoured as a result of poor planning.

LIGHT and VENTILATION. There is no substitute for a good daylight and fresh natural
air entering and circulating inside the building. Artificial lighting and ventilation is very
costly to those who cannot afford, but others prefer it for maximum comfort regardless of
costs. The design therefore, depends upon the likes and preferences of the owner.

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Rule VIII of the New NBC under the 2005 Implementing Rules & Regulations (No.8)
“Rooms intended for any use not provided with artificial ventilation shall be provided
with a window with a total free area equal to at least 10% of the floor area of the room but
not less than 1.00 sq.m. Toilet and bath rooms and laundry rooms shall be provided with
window with an area not less than 1/20 of the floor area but not less than 240 sq.mm. Such
windows shall open directly to a court, yard, public street or alley or open watercourse.”

SIZES, AREAS and SHAPES. All rooms are intended for human use, and therefore
should be planned according to human scale. Good design always provide ample areas to
accommodate furniture, appliances, and other related facilities, including the most critical
and important lanes or pathways for routinary movements inside the house. The shape as to
plan and elevation should be strictly functional, not fancy in character.

Rule VIII of the New NBC under the 2005 Implementing Rules & Regulations (No.7)
Minimum sizes of rooms and their least horizontal dimensions shall be as follows:
1. Rooms for human habitation “ 6.00 sq.m. with a least dimension of 2.00 m.
2. Kitchen “ 3.00 sq. m. with a least dimension of 1.50 m.
3. Bath and Toilet “ 1.20 sq. m. with a least dimension of 0.90m.
When we say least dimension, it does not mean to limit the additional length or width the
owner may want.

ORIENTATION. Refers to the position and direction of the sunrise and the sunset. It also
includes the prevailing wind directions in the area for the year round. The kitchen laundry
and bathroom is better oriented west for sunlight kills many types of bacteria.

ZONING LAWS. The zoning ordinance should be consulted first before deciding on the
final site of the house or building. You might be constructing your residential house on an
industrial or commercial zone. Of course, the family would be very happy if the house is
constructed in residential areas provided with the right facilities like; market , school and
playground for school children, church, etc.

HEIGHT. A moderate height ceiling allows fresh air circulations, comfortable atmosphere,
and preserve aesthetic value of the room. Room with low ceiling, has warm atmosphere that
requires artificial ventilation.

Rule VIII of the New NBC under the 2005 Implementing Rules & Regulations (No.6)
Ceiling Heights
(1) Habitable rooms provided with artificial ventilation shall have ceiling heights not
less than 2.40m. For buildings of more than 1 storey, the minimum ceiling height of
the first storey shall be 2.70 m, for the second storey, 2.40 m. and for the succeeding
storeys, 2.10 m. Above-stated rooms with natural ventilation shall have ceiling
heights of not less than 2.70m.
(2) Mezzanine floors shall have a clear ceiling height of not less than 1.80 m above
and below it.

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ELECTRICAL LAYOUT. Although this facility maybe considered secondary aspect in
planning residential house, was included because common errors were committed when the
location of the switches and outlets are not properly in-placed.
The location of convenience outlet should be planned simultaneously with the
appliances to be placed on. The extension wire for appliances is the most unsightly obstacle
in the room due to improper location of convenience outlet.
An ideal convenience outlet is installed 30 centimeters above the floor line , and not
more than 1.00 meter away from the appliance to be served.
A satisfactory electrical layout and installation, is when you avail of its services
without the need of an extension cord. Switches should be installed near the door of every
room for convenience in switching-in and switching-off when entering and leaving the room
respectively.

LOCATION of DOORS. When a door becomes an obstacle creating inconveniences to the

occupant, that is the time we realized the mistake of not analyzing its proper position from
the early stage of planning.
Avoid having the front door open directly into the living room. This causes draughts
eliminates privacy, and increases traffic wear. Use a room divider, a wall or a closet to create
a vestibule effect.

SUPERSTITION. “Beliefs which are puzzle to architects and engineers; but in deference to
Filipino tradition – and Filipino homeowners – adhere to them”. If your client believes and
insist that his life success depends on luck brought about by his superstitious belief, then as a
planner, you have no choice but to do what your client says, if you do not want to lose your
bread and butter.
Some Folk Beliefs About House Construction
 House Construction: Don’t start the construction of a house at the period when the
moon is waning( entering its last quarter). Pick a time on or about a full moon. Also
start construction on Monday ; never on a Friday.
Avoid starting construction when the year is about to end(“kawitang-palakol,”
the old folks call such period). A better time is when the year has just begun- January
to June.
Never have a house built when your wife is pregnant, and is expected to give
birth at the very month.
Before giving the order to lay the foundation or put up the posts of your house,
make peace with your enemies- especially those belonging to your own family or
clan.
Before cement is poured to the foundation, one-peso coin should be dropped
inside the forms. Again this brings good luck.
When the first post is about to be put up, or when cement is being poured to
form the first wall, or when the first row of bricks or hollow blocks is being laid-in
short, when any vertical part of the house is being erected- the father or the eldest
member of the family should be present to witness. This contributes to the solidity of
the house.

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 Do not build a house on a lot which is perpendicular to the street(“tumutumbok
sa kalsada”). If space still allows it, locate the house such as it lies in position which
is at an angle with the street. This way, the inhabitants keep out of the way of the
disaster.
No part of your house should cover or overhang an anthill (“punso”- Magagalit
daw ang mga nuno sa punso na nakatira dito).
No part of the house should cover or overhang a site of a recently-cut tree;
neither should the house overlap any position of the old house.
 Materials: Never use materials that once belonged to a church, or those that are
more often to build churches rather than ordinary houses. Also, as much as possible
avoid using materials that came from owner’s old house. “Ang malas daw ng lumang
bahay ay maililipat daw sa bagong bahay.”
All nails and screws that become bent in the process of building a house should
be kept in a box and not left lying around. Leaving them scattered will bring
misfortune to those who are involved in the construction.
It is taboo to use wood the sap of which is still fresh- what they call “weeping”
wood (“lumuluha”)- especially the kind which they call mayapis or palosapis.
 Posts: The number of the main posts should always be even , not odd. Definitely,
never 13!
 Floors: Flooring planks-whether of wood or of bamboo- must be laid parallel to the
steps of any stairway. “Huwag patumbok o pahulog dahil di umano, ang biyaya ay
laging mananaog sa bahay.”
 Roof : The longer length of the roof must lie parallel to the road instead of
perpendicular to it.
Stairs: The number of steps in every flight of stairs must fall to the count of either
oro or plata in the sequence of oro- plata- mata ( gold, silver, death ) counting each
step. This means prosperity and good luck to the dwellers. When the number of steps
correspond to the count of mata, bad luck or poverty is to be expected – from Spanish
belief. In the same manner, the Chinese also believe the sequence of good-good-bad-
bad.
 The principal steps should face east, so the rising sun may shine on them.
To the Muslims , the principal / prayer room and the stairway should face the
direction of Mecca.
 Doors: Doorways should not face each other along a straight path. They should lie
on a staggered path . Good fortune flows quickly out of the house in the first
arrangement.
 Do not occupy a new house until it is completely built or blessed.

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 Architectural Drafting

Working drawings are prepared by an architect for a construction

project, e.g., plans, elevations, section, and details.

Plan – A two-dimensional graphic representation of the design, location and

dimension of the project, or parts thereof, seen in a horizontal plane viewed from
above.

Floor Plan – a horizontal section taken above the floor to show diagrammatically
the enclosing walls of building, its doors windows and the arrangement of its interior
spaces.

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STEPS IN DRAWING FLOOR PLANS

1. Layout the position of exterior and interior walls.

2. Add the thickness of the walls with a hard pencil (don’t darken the walls at this
stage).
3. Locate the position of doors and windows by center line and by their widths.
4. Darken the object lines with an F pencil.
5. Add doors and window symbols with a 2H pencil.
6. Add symbols for stairwells.
7. Erase extraneous lines if they are too heavy. If they are extremely light, they can
remain.
8. Draw the outlines of the furniture and fixtures.
9. Add the symbols and sections for any masonry work such as planters.
10. Dimension the drawing

DOORS AND WINDOWS IN PLAN

1. Show normally swinging doors at 90º opening.
2. Doors swings are shown with light lines and quarter symbols.
3. Door type is not illustrated in plan, only in elevational views.
4. Window type cannot be explained in plan except for width and location : window
type and height are shown in elevation views.
5. Show sill lines with a lighter line weight than walls, jambs and glass, since sills are
not in fact cut through.

RULES FOR DIMENSIONING FLOOR PLANS

1. Architectural dimension lines are unbroken lines with dimensions placed above the
lines. Arrowheads, dots, small circles and diagonal lines are used to denote the
termination of the dimension line. Dots are used when the area to be dimensioned is
too small for arrowheads. Arrowheads may also be placed outside the extension lines
when the area is too small.
2. Dimensions should be placed to read from the right or from the bottom of the
drawing. The numerals should always be written above the lines.
3. Dimension lines are placed about 10 mm apart. To avoid crossing extension and
dimension lines, place the longer dimensions farther away from the plan. Overall
building dimensions are placed outside all other dimensions.
4. When the area to be dimensioned is too small for the numerals, they are placed
outside the dimension lines. Do not try to “fancy up” dimensions with artistic
numerals, legibility is the only concern.
5. Rooms are dimensioned from the center line of partitions. In some cases, they may
be dimensioned from wall to wall, exclusive of wall thickness.
6. In dimensioning stairs, the number of risers is placed on a line with an arrow
indicating the direction (up or down).
7. Architectural dimensions always refer to the actual size of the building regardless of
the scale of the drawing.

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 8. Never crowd dimensions. To free the plan of excessive dimensions, the sizes of doors
and windows are given in the door and window schedule. All obvious dimensions are
also omitted.
Site Development Plan – a plan of a construction site showing the position and dimensions
of the building to be erected with its technical descriptions and contours of the lot.
Vicinity Map – a map that shows where the project is in relation to major cross street, key
landmark or geographic features e.g. a map from city proper of San Jose Del Monte to
Barangay Kaypian.
Location Plan – a map that shows corresponding divisions of lot in a particular area
showing the exact site of the project e.g. a particular subdivision or area in Barangay
Kaypian.

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ELEVATION – a drawing showing the vertical elements of a building, either exterior or interior, as a direct
projection to a vertical plan.

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STEPS IN PROJECTING ELEVATIONS

The major lines of an elevation are derived by projecting vertical lines from the floor
plan, and measuring the position of the horizontal lines from the ground line

Vertical line projection

Vertical lines represents the main lines of a building should first be projected. These

lines show the overall length or width of the building. They also show the major parts
or offsets of the building. The position of the doors and windows are also projected from the
floor plan

Horizontal line projection

Horizontal lines that represents the height of the eave line and ridge line above the
ground are measured, then drawn to intersect with the vertical lines drawn from the floor
plan. The intersection of these lines provide the overall outline for the elevation

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SECTION – representation of a building, or a portion thereof, drawn as if it were cut
vertically to show the interior.

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KINDS OF SECTIONS

FULL SECTION
A section cut through the entire building or component
a. Cross Section – a section showing a crosswise cut through the building.
b. Longitudinal Section – a section showing a transverse or lengthwise cut
through building.
OFFSET SECTION
A section with a cutting plane line offset to permit it to cut through necessary
features.
HALF SECTION
A cut to remove only one quarter of a symmetrical component. Thus both exterior
and interior can be shown in one view.

POINTS TO REMEMBER IN DRAWING SECTIONS

1. A building material is only sectioned when the cutting plane line passes through it.
The outline of all other materials visible behind the plane of projection must also be
drawn in their proper position and scale.
2. As with floor plans, whatever is cut through in taking a section (floor, walls, roof
structure, etc.) is profiled with a heavy line (cutting plane line).
3. Show the main areas like staircase, toilet, dining, and bedroom. Cut sections
through major elements in a building (major window openings, doorways, changes in
roof and floor levels, roof opening, etc.). never cut through columns.
4. It is good practice to include people in building design section to give a scale to the
spaces.
5. The physical context of the building should always be shown by indicating the earth
upon which it sits, which is also cut through
6. Construction details and foundations need not be indicated in design sections.

RULES FOR DIMENSIONING SECTIONS

1. Vertical dimensions should be read from the right of the drawing

2. Levels to be dimensions should be labeled with a note, term or abbreviation
3. Room heights are shown by dimensioning from the floor line to the ceiling line
4. The height of windows and doors are dimensioned from the floor line to the top of
Windows and doors. Windows and doors may be indexed to a door and window
schedule, or the style of the windows and doors may be shown on the sectional
drawing.
5. Sectional dimensions show only vertical distances. horizontal distances are shown in
the floor plan

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 6. Dimensions for small, complex, or obscure areas should be indicated to a separate
detail overall height dimensions are placed on the outside of sub-dimensions.

PERSPECTIVE- a graphic representation of a project or part thereof as it would appear

three-dimensionally, naturally and lifelike.

EXTERIOR PERSPECTIVE

INTERIOR PERSPECTIVE

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 Importance of understanding
Basic Architectural Design Theories for
Drafting Application

It is very important that a draftsman knows’ what he is doing. He

should practice drafting not just to provide impressive drawings but
Basic an accurate and precise illustration of work.
Architectural It is very hard to draw something that you can not visualize. Chances
of guessing might take place. And this action might result for
Design inefficiency; a waste of time and materials that added unwanted cost
Principles for the firm. For this reason, it is very necessary for draftsmen to be
equipped with knowledge in basic theories and principles of design.

There were three design principles in architectural design practice. Namely Aesthetic which
refers to beauty, Function which refers to its use, and Strength which refers to durability.
These principles make the difference between architecture and engineering practice. For in
engineering, the focus of design is centered on functionality and durability.

Basic Theories of Architectural Design

What is design?

Design in this matter is any visual concept of a man made object, as a work of art. The
architectural concept of a building as presented by plans, elevations, renderings, and other
drawings.

What are the basic aspects to be considered in

Architectural Design?

 Influences on Architectural Design

 Anthropometrics (Human Dimension)
 Space planning
 Forms and Balance

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 Influences on Architectural Design

General Influences
Needs of Man

1. Physical Needs
A) Self preservation
food , shelter, clothing – basic

Add to these Basic Needs: Power, water, transportation ecological balance,

education, sports, medical, and livelihood.

B) Reproduction – for population to increase and continue existence.

Shelter – is something that covers, protects, or defends as roof that shields one
from the elements and changes.

The Modern man’s shelter shall have:

1) Necessities – warm, dry house with glazed doors, windows, sanitation and
permanency.
2) Convenience – rooms shall be arranged economically. Circulation are studied
according to functions, such as the kitchen for food preparation, bedroom for
sleep and bathroom for cleanliness.
3) Comforts – this must contain the labor-saving devices which provide heat,
ventilation, and instant communication. The furnishings are designed for
comforts.

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 Houses of Parliament, London

2. Emotional Needs
The emotional reactions of man have to do with the instincts stirred by the forces of
religion and art with the desire to indulge in recreation. Art in its broadest interpretation,
assumes the various familiar forms, painting, sculpture music and literature.

Sample:

Holy Rosary Catholic Church

Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

Sports Complex: Olympic games Tent, Munich Germany

By: Arch. Gunter Behnisch

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3. Intellectual Needs
Education, science and government demand a proper architectural setting. Intellect or
reason alone may erect a utilitarian building; emotion will endow it with beauty and
interest.

Samples:

Nagoya University

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 NASA Building

Influences of Nature

Climate and photography influence the life and habits of a

nation. They decide what foods shall be grown and what
occupations shall be followed. They determine what regions
will develop farmers, sailors, or merchants. Climate aids in
giving to races their own particular traits. These races in turn
create architecture with local or national characteristics.

A. Climate
This affects the habits and temperaments of the people. Those near the sea are quiet, taciturn
and bold people. They are easy going and carefree and produce an architecture different from
people in the cold and forested areas, whose people plan in advance. This requires initiative,
patience and energy.

Eskimo Igloo

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 Bahay Kubo - Philippines Sampan

B. Topography
Topography, in its broadest sense, may mean the general terrain or contour of the surface of
the entire country. If the country is small and the topography is uniform, this tends to be a
similarity of character in the architecture. It maybe nationalistic and may assume traits
common to the entire area.

Mt. Apo Overlooking Bohol’s chocolate Hills

Baguio: Banawe Rice Terraces

Alaska
Sahara Desert

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 Japan

Influences of Man

1. SOCIAL CONDITION
Architecture, because it is the most permanent and
cumulative-reflects the social structure of the period in
which it is developed. The interests of the people dictate
the type and appearance of its buildings.

Stable government and improved social condition

eliminate the necessity of many protective features such as
high fences, shutters, wrought iron or steel railings for
doors and windows, broken glass and barbed wire on top
of fences. Comfort and convenience now control
architecture.

Example:

Periods
The different architectural characters in different periods of architecture is shown
in their buildings.
In this new millennium, our social structure has become so complex that
confusion rather than simplicity is its chief characteristic.

Stone Age Habitat

The Great Pyramid of Khufu Greek: Parthenon

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 Coloseum; Italy, Rome 72 AD
Amphitheater;Nimes, France 1st
or early 2nd century

Amiens,West fcade Cologne Cathedral St. Chapelle, Paris

Medieval Age: Gothic Architecture

Contemporary Architecture: St. Louis, Missouri Post Modern Architecture

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2. Man’s Personality
By his appearance, something is known of his interests from the type of house in
which he/she lives. In a similar manner, it s possible to trace a comparison
between the personality of a nation as reflected in its clothing and its attitude
toward architecture as seen in its buildings. Clothes give an indication of its
simplicity or complexity of the existence of its in habitants which in turn controls
its architecture.

3. Man’s Interests
It has been pointed out that the activities and interests of man are directly
responsible for the type, which he develops.
This is shown in the typical structures like the:

house – which provides shelter for man during his hours rest.

factory- offers a place in which to work and to produce a commodity of

exchange.

Church and Mosque – affords spiritual relaxation and opportunity for

worship.

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 CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE

Contemporary architecture breaks

away from cookie-cutter design and
traditional aesthetics. It strives to
create home designs that go beyond
“standard” ideas and instead pursue
projects inspired by layout, location,
and function. Frank Lloyd Wright’s
mentor, Louis Sullivan famously
stated that, “Form follows
function”. This idea is expressed by
contemporary principle to have land
or the function of a project dictate
much of the design ideas. For
example, Wright was famous for
building with the land - his
residential homes almost always relied on the lot to determine how the building was to be
laid out. Wright believed that a building should be “one with the land” and not simply
plopped down on top of it. Modernist architecture takes inspiration from the project itself - if
the project is meant to showcase something, house something particular, or be occupied by a
particular person, Contemporary architecture’s aim is to design for each unique situation and
to be inspired by its purpose.

Modernism Architecture is a set of building styles with

similar characteristics, primarily the simplification of form and
the elimination of ornament. The first variants were conceived
early in the 20th century. Japanese (Zen) inspired architecture
can be classified as modern architectural design.

Postmodernism Architecture was an international style whose first examples are generally
cited as being from the 1950s, and which continues to influence present-day architecture.
Post-modernity in architecture is generally thought to be
MODERN ARCHITECTURE
heralded by the return of "wit, ornament and reference" to
architecture in response to the formalism of the International
Style of modernism.

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 POST MODERN ARCHITECTURE

Deconstructivism Architecture also called deconstruction - is a development of

postmoderm architecture that began in the late 1980s. It is characterized by ideas of
fragmentation, an interest in manipulating ideas of a structure's surface or skin, non-
rectilinear shapes which serve to distort and dislocate some of the elements of architecture,
such as structure and building envelope.

Expressionism Architecture - was an architectural movement that developed in Europe

during the first decades of the 20th century in parallel with the visual manifestation of the
concept and performing arts.

Neoclassicism Architecture - is the name given to quite distinct movements in the

decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw upon Western
classical art and culture (usually that of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome).

EXPRESSIONIST ARCHITECTURE

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NEOCLASSISISM ARCHITECTURE

DECONSTRUCTIVIST ARCHITECTURE

Mediterranean Inspired House Designs

This style is inspired by architecture from Spain, Italy, France, Greece and Morocco. Sunny
states like California and Florida are the perfect environment for Mediterranean style homes.
Although the style is named after the sea this style of house can also fit in well in the
countryside of Texas or the mid-western states.

Characteristics:
 Low pitched tiled roof often using red tiles
 One to two stories
 Designed with cornice and moldings
 Stucco exterior walls painted in colors which complement the surroundings
 Arched windows
 Use of columns to hold up porticos and balconies
 Open plan living
 Courtyards in larger houses

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Zen Inspired House Designs
As these erratic and stressful times make it increasingly difficult to find tranquility and
relaxation in our lives, one of the few options left is to create a peace haven in the comfort of
our own home. This is the reason why Zen principles applied in interior design have
increased in popularity and become a trend of modern days. But what does Zen actually
mean? In Japanese, Zen refers to meditation. In interior design, it reflects balance, harmony
and relaxation.
Although Zen is not a proper design style and does not come with a book of strict rules, it is
often associated with minimalism, simplicity and purity of lines. It is rather a way of
arranging your home and creating an atmosphere that offsets the stress and hassle of your
daily routine.
Minimalistic design is always associated with Zen design concept which has been highly
influenced by Japanese traditional design and architecture. Minimalism describes movements
in various forms of art and design, especially visual art and music, where the work is set out
to expose the essence or identity of a subject through eliminating all non-essential forms,
features or concepts. Minimalism is any design or style in which the simplest and fewest
elements are used to create the maximum effect.

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 16

How can we start Design?

It is very important for you to always remember that you are creating the
design for human. Therefore, as a designer you must design so to satisfy
their needs.

First thing First

Knowing
Anthropometrics
(Human Dimension)
What is Anthropometry?
Anthropometrics are used to describe the "user" or "target" population for a product.
Answers are given in terms of the range of body dimensions, which exist in that population.
Anthropometric variations between different nationalities
It is important to use the appropriate anthropometric information for the population who will
be using the eventual design. As you might expect, there are some differences between
nationalities for most body dimensions.

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AREA PLANNING
In creating any architectural design, the designer must progress as logically step by step
through the design process. One key step in this process is to divide the functions of building
into specific areas.

Three Major Functional Areas of a House

for Planning purposes

1. The Living Area

2. The Sleeping Area
3. The Service Area

Living Area

The only area of the home that

most strangers observe. The
living area is what the name
states, the area where most of
the living occurs. It is here the
family entertains, relaxes, dines,
listens to music, watches the
television, enjoys hobbies, and
participates in other recreational
activities.

The total living area is divided into

smaller areas (rooms) which are
designed to perform specific living
functions. The subdivisions of most
living areas may include the living
room, dining room, recreational or
game room, family room, patio,
entrance, foyer, den or study room, and
guest room. Other specialized rooms,
such as library, music room, sewing
room are often included as part of the
living area of large houses that have
space to devote to such specialized
functions. In smaller homes, many of
the standard rooms combine two or
more functions.

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Sleeping Area
One third of our lifetime is spent in
sleeping. Because of its importance,
the sleeping area should be planned to
provide facilities for maximum
comfort and relaxation. The sleeping
area is usually located in a quiet part
of the house and contains bedrooms,
toilet and bathroom, dressing areas
and nursery room.

BEDROOMS
Houses are usually classified by size according to the number of bedrooms; for example, a
three- bedroom home, or a four-bedroom home. In a home there are bedrooms, master
bedrooms, nursery rooms according to size of the family.

Function
The primary function of a bedroom is to provide facilities for sleeping. Some bedrooms may
also provide facilities for writing, reading, sewing, listening to music, or relaxing.

Noise Control
Since noise contributes to fatigue, it is very important to plan for the elimination of as much
noise as possible from bedroom area. The following guides for noise control will help you
design bedrooms that are quiet and restful.

1. The bedroom should be in the quiet part of the house, away from major street
noises.
2. Carpeting or porous wall and ceiling panels help absorb many noises.
3. Rooms above a bedroom should be carpeted.
4. Floor to ceiling draperies help to reduce noise.
5. Acoustical tile in the ceiling is effective in reducing noise.
6. Trees and shrubbery outside the bedroom help dreaden sounds.
7. The use of double-glazed insulating glasses in windows and sliding doors help to
reduce outside noise.
8. The windows of an air-conditioned room should be kept closed during hot
weather. This eliminates noise and aids in keeping the bedroom free from dust
and pollen.
9. Air is a good insulator; therefore, closets provide buffers, which eliminate noise
coming from other rooms.

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Service Area
The service area includes the
kitchen, laundry, garage
workshops, storage centers,
and utility room. Since a great
number of different activities
take place in the service area, it
should include facilities for the
maintenance and serving of the
other areas of home. The
functioning of the living and
sleeping areas is greatly
dependent upon the efficiency
of the service area.

KITCHEN

A well-planned kitchen is
efficient, attractive, and
easy to maintain. To design
an efficient kitchen the
designer must consider the
basic shape, décor, size and
location of equipment.

Function

The preparation of food is the basic function of the kitchen. However, the kitchen may also
be used as dining and as laundry.
The proper placement of appliances, storage cabinets and furniture is important in planning
efficient pattern eliminates wasted motion. An efficient kitchen is divided into three areas;
the storage and mixing center, the preparation and cleaning center, and the cooking center.

Location

Since the kitchen is the core of the service area, it should be located near the service entrance
and near the waste-disposal area. The children’s play area should be visible from the kitchen
must be adjacent to the dining area and outdoor eating areas.

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THE WORK TRIANGLE

From the work sequences described above, it will be seen that there are three activities which
relate to three main appliances – the refrigerator, the sink and the cooker. The relationship of
these three fittings is commonly referred to as the work triangle.27

Kitchen triangle
Optimum length between 3.6m and 6.6 m. Less than 3.6 m means worktop length too short.
More than 6.6 m is time consuming and hard on the feet.

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Kitchen layout
These diagrams show different layouts with the kitchen triangle in a dotted line. This links
the three most used appliances: sink, cooker and refrigerator. The U-shaped kitchen is the
easiest to use as the appliances surround the cook and are set in worktops unbroken by
circulation. Conversely the island unit generates too much walking while having totally
inadequate amount of worktop space.

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LOCATION OF THE KITCHEN

The kitchen must be located near the service entrance and near the waste disposal
area. If possible, the children’s play area should also be visible from the kitchen. The kitchen
must always be adjacent to the dining area or when provided, outdoor dining areas.

GUIDES IN PLANNING A KITCHEN

1. The traffic lane is clear of the work triangle.

2. The work areas include all necessary appliances and facilities. Electrical outlets must
be provided for the appliances. There must be adequate storage centers for all work
areas.
3. The kitchen is located adjacent to the dining area and near the children’s area.
4. The work triangle measures less than 22’ or 6.7m.
5. Shadow less and glare less light is provided and is concentrated on each work center.
6. Adequate counter space is provided for meal preparation.
7. Ventilation MUST be adequate.
8. The oven/range/stove is separated from the refrigerator by at least one cabinet.
9. Working height for counter is 36” or 0.90m.
10. The combination of base cabinets, wall cabinets, and appliances provides a consistent
standard unit without gaps or awkward extension or depressions.

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