SPACE PLANNING

What is Space Planning?

Do you find it easy to go from room to room in your house?
Does your bedroom have a large window that lets in plenty of sunlight, and does it connect directly to
a bathroom? If so, these qualities probably didn't happen by chance. Instead, they were probably the
result of space planning.
Space planning is an in-depth analysis of how physical space is used in structures. It considers the
purpose of spaces and who will use them. Space planning is a process that takes several steps, and it's
an important component for the work of interior designers and architects.
Space planning helps ensure efficient use of floor space without wasting it. If done right, it also
accounts for all possible uses of a given space. When the process is completed, it can result in a
comprehensive space plan. This is a drawing that identifies the needs and required elements of
spaces, including windows, doors, and even furniture within them.

Space Planning in Architecture

Architects begin space planning by gathering information. They need to know several things before
they can draft a space plan. Keep in mind that these steps need to be considered for all spaces in a
building, including how those spaces connect.

Purpose and Use of Spaces

First, the purpose of structures and spaces needs to be defined.
How will the space be used?
A building might be commercial, industrial, or residential. Structures with different purposes have
very different space needs, and their use will help determine how it is allocated. Some spaces might
have more than one function, and they might need to be flexible. An elementary school gym is a good
example of a flexible space that can transform into a cafeteria.

When there's the consideration of who will use the space. Buildings and the spaces in them are for
people, after all, so the architect needs to answer some questions:

how will people spend their time in the building?

Is it living space, offices, work space, or storage space?

How many people does the space have to hold?

The architect needs to consider things like work flow and circulation, or how people will move
through the spaces while doing their jobs. Such questions include exploring how offices, open work
spaces, and yes, even cubicles, will be configured.

Conducting space planning helps architects solve puzzles while they design a structure. Often, clients
have spaces with multiple needs. Prioritizing which need comes first might not be easy, but it might
be crucial to how the space is designed. So the architect needs to be aware of all the elements to
come up with the best solution. And it may involve a compromise.

Other Space Planning Considerations

During space planning, the architect must also consider elements like lighting and ventilation. Another
important facet is accessibility, or making the space easy to use by differently abled people, like those
who use wheelchairs or have other mobility challenges. If the space is meant for offices of staff and
management, issues of privacy also need to be considered.
 Once the purpose and use of spaces is better defined, other elements come into play.

Does the space need access to the outside, perhaps by a door or large loading bay?

How should the spaces be connected?

Choices like hallways, for example, create a very different traffic flow than rooms that lead directly
into other rooms.

WHAT IS SPACE PLANNING AND HOW TO CREATE A SPACE PLAN

What is Space Planning in Interior Design?

Space planning is a fundamental element of the interior design process. It starts with an
in-depth analysis of how the space is to be used. The designer then draws up a plan that defines the
zones of the space and the activities that will take place in those zones. The space plan will
also define the circulation patterns that show how people will move through the space. The plan is
finished by adding details of all the furniture, equipment and hardware placement.

13 Points to consider when deciding how to layout your room:

 Think about the structure of the room, what are the main focal points? These could be
windows, fireplaces, doors or built in units. Are they balanced in the room? If not, think about what
you can add to the space to help balance the structure of the space. Remember that the human eye is
drawn to focal points, and will scan a space when entering it.
 Perception of space is based on body size. Different size spaces suit different size people: one
person’s claustrophobic box is another’s cosy nest.
 Think about the space in terms of volume, eg: if it were a fish bowl, if you add in a sofa,
chandelier, sculptures, bookshelves, table, coffee table etc, you displace some of the water. Ensure
that you don’t overfill the space.
 Aim to create both a prospect and a refuge in each room so you can feel enclosed, but also
have a view beyond to the outside or natural world. Using Prospect and Refuge theory in a space can
make it more comfortable for the human experience. “We prefer a shelter (refuge) with a view
(prospect), because humans have their field of vision to the front (prospect), therefore needing some
sort of protection from behind (refuge).”
 Plan your furniture with a scale drawing of your room or cut paper shapes to size and place
them in the room to work out the best possible arrangement of furniture and accessories.
 Ensure that the circulation passageway through a room follows an easy and economic
pathway from the door to all the other main activity areas.
 Clutter closes down space, so edit your clutter to avoid blocking both circulation and
reducing the perceived size of a room.
 In large or long spaces, subdivide different activity zones to give definition to each part of the
room.
 When planning decoration and lighting, work with the principles that vertical lines draw our
eyes up and horizontal lines draw them across to extend or reduce the proportions of a room.
 Wallpaper with a square grid or tiling a room in squares will give the impression that it is
bigger than it is – the smaller the grid, the larger the room appears.
 Borrow space from outside by ensuring an uninterrupted view of the outside world. You can
also ‘borrow’ space from adjoining rooms by using the same flooring materials.
 When furnishing small rooms, blur the edges of the room to break up the lines between floor
and walls; draw furniture a little way away from the walls; buy furniture in proportion to the room;
choose furniture with legs to give the illusion of more space.
 Disguise oversized sofas by breaking up their upholstered surface with a different coloured
or textured runner or folded throw.

Questions to ask yourself before creating your own Space Plan

 What are you going to be using the space for? Will it be multi-functional? Eg: living/dining
or bedroom/study?
 How many people will be using the space and will they all be using it for the same
purpose? Eg: A family might use the same room; someone may be watching TV, while another reads
and another is working.
 Do you have any existing furniture that you want to use in the space?
 Can furniture be moved into or out of this room from other areas of the house?
 How do you want the room to feel, space-wise – open and airy, cozy, minimal, serene?
 How much natural light is available and what kinds of lighting will be needed?
 What are the focal points of the room and how can you take advantage of them?
 Do you need to create focal points?
 Do you like balance and symmetry, the unexpected, or a combination?
 Is there anything else on your wish list for this room?
 ACTIVITY

[How to create a Space Plan

The Bubble Plan

A bubble plan is a simple diagram that will show you what activities take place in the space and the
relationship between these activities.

For example, in an open plan living area, you might have 3 or more bubbles, 1 showing the kitchen,
the other showing the dining area and another showing the living area. Using bubbles will help you to
define these spaces. When you are clear about where the activities are going to happen in the space
then you can move on to creating a scale plan.
 Try to get as large a piece of paper as possible to make it easy. I suggest getting a large A1/A2 piece
of card and some pencils to do this with. You can then erase any mistakes you might make. Draw
your space to scale on the piece of paper. Include window, door, built in cupboards/shelves, fireplace
and lighting placements. You want to be able to see all the fixtures and features on the plan.

Make a list of everything you would like to have in the space and create scaled paper cutouts for each
piece. You can then start placing these scaled pieces of furniture onto your space plan. This will start
to bring your space to life and show you how you will be able to use the room.

Spend some time moving pieces around, this will help you to think differently about the space. Come
up with a plan, and then swop all the pieces around, see what this does to the flow of the room. Keep
moving the pieces around until you ‘know’ which is right for the space.

Space planning 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.]

Part 1 – Collect information

The design of a building or space will have numerous requirements from the client or 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 needs to particular shapes or forms?
 Do the spaces need to be flexible?
 Is it possible to create a sequence of spaces (offices, museums for example)?
 Do the spaces have different requirements in terms of light, ventilation, view, accessibility?
 Do the spaces need to have access to external spaces?
 Must any of the spaces have particular security or privacy?
 Is 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?
 Which rooms need to be adjacent to one another and which rooms need to be apart?

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

 What is the family size and structure

 Location of site
 Number of levels
 Family or individual interests and activities
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 – 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 with their environments.

 Insider vs outsider
 Individual vs community
 Invitation vs rejection
 Openness vs enclosure
 Integration vs segregation
 Combination vs dispersion
 (With these factors in mind we can start to develop a plan of requirements, extract from the data we
have collected the necessary functions these spaces will be fulfilling.

In some cases it is suitable to develop a matrix/table that demonstrates the requirements of each
room, in terms of privacy, daylight, access, equipment and so 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 each room and start to develop some sketch diagrams.)

Part 3 – Consider spaces and spatial relationships

Spatial Relationships
How can spaces be related to one another?
 Space within a space
 Interlocking spaces
 Spaces linked by a common space
 Adjacent spaces
 Consider some of the following as you plan out your spaces:
 How does the envelope affect the internal spaces?
 How will the contents of the room be arranged?
 Do the rooms connect?
 What is the flow of the circulation?
 Are the proportions of the spaces comfortable?

Organising the space

You can consider a varying forms of spatial organisation, some of which are more naturally suited to
particular uses than others:
 Centralised organisation
 Linear organisation
 Radial organisation
 Clustered organisation
 Grid organisation
 Developing circulation
 How people move around the building from room to room is just as important as the
destination.
 When developing a circulation structure we can look at a few basic principles.
 How efficient is the circulation in getting from point A to point B
 Is the circulation discrete?
 What is the fluidity of the circulation? Is there a smooth flowing route or a more direct
route?
 Does the circulation route clash with furnishing requirements?

Part 4 – Create the solution

The relationship diagram takes your design from data to a more visual look at physically planning out
your space. It is abstract, and rough but enables you to develop your understanding of the
requirements and visualise how the spaces will work together and how the circulation may flow
between them.
At this stage the diagram does not need to represent the building size or space, more a look at how
each room relates to one another, sizes and so on. Lets look at some examples:
(The bubble diagram helps you make the connection between basic spatial requirements and a fully
drafted floor plan. It is essentially a trial and error method of exploring the configuration options. If
you are working within the constraints of an existing building you can print out the floor plan and
work within that. However, if you are designing a new building the bubble diagram can often be
connected with your concept and site analysis to develop the design. During this process it is
important to keep referring back to the initial data collected and the relationship diagram to ensure
you are considering all aspects of the design requirements.)
(Try different options and configurations, sketch your ideas and how the spaces will connect to one
another. As you work through the different options, make notes on each one as to any pros and cons,
benefits etc, so that later you can easily disregard options that you don’t think will work at a later
point.)
 Part 5 – Review and revise
Once some solutions have been sketched out it is then possible to review these solutions and look for
areas that require improvement. Things to consider when we look at a residential scheme:

 How will the occupants move from room to room?

 Does the circulation cut up the space?
 Does guest traffic flow through private areas?
 Are the doors and windows in suitable positions? Do they interfere or add to the overall
spatial plan?
 Does the plan orientate itself correctly with the site?
 Do the rooms work well in relation to one another?

Once you have reviewed your initial sketches and ideas the plans can be developed further by adding
more detail and refining your drawings. It is key to refer to any building regulations, codes and
standards that will have an impact on your space planning to ensure that your design is compliant
from an early stage.

Space Planning : How to Design Efficient Spaces

Space planning is an essential step in the interior design process. Without proper space planning, you
risk creating a design that is not optimal and that doesn’t work well for your client.

The key to a successful design job starts with determining the purpose of the space being
designed. As a professional, it is your job to ask all the right questions and gather all the necessary
information to plan out a functional space that suits your client’s needs.

Your in-depth analysis together with basic design principles will help you create a well-balanced,
easily navigable and beautiful space.

Effective space planning tips to help you design more efficient spaces:

Determining purpose and defining zones

First things first – even before you start designing, you’ll have to define zones depending on the
purpose of the space.

Ask your client what the area will primarily be used for. For example, if you are designing a kitchen,
ask your clients how often they cook, how many people cook, if they normally cook together, if they
have kids, if they prefer eating at the kitchen island or if they would rather have a dedicated dining
area, what kind of storage they need, what appliances they need, etc.

Asking these types of questions will help you determine the main purpose of the room, making
it easier for you to define specific zones.
Allowing easy circulation

Easy circulation is (or should be) a priority in a home, and it is a major component of space planning.

A room cannot be considered functional if navigating it is a hassle. As a designer, you need to make
sure there aren’t any obstacles obstructing passageways and that the distance between structures
is comfortable enough to walk through or work around.

For example, when designing a kitchen, there are certain measurement guidelines you need to follow
in order to provide a seamless experience. The distance between counters, appliances, and the sink
all have to be measured out prior to executing your design for optimal results.

Maximizing lighting

Another aspect of proper space planning is maximizing the amount of light in the room. You can do
this by adding or replacing windows, or simply by making sure there is sufficient artificial lighting in
the space.

If you will be adding windows, make sure they are facing the right direction to let in as much sunlight
as possible (unless the client prefers indirect sunlight). If you are adding artificial lighting, make sure
you layer it to achieve the desired level of brightness.

Depending on the room you are designing and the client’s needs, you can opt for ambient lighting,
overhead lighting, task lighting, or all of the above. Dimmers come in handy so your client can adjust
the brightness as needed.

Placing outlets and switches

When it comes to outlets and switches, strategic placement is key.

When you are creating your design, you need to think about how many appliances, lights, and other
devices will potentially be plugged in. Asking your client what they use the space for will help
you determine the number of outlets and switches necessary in your design.

If you’re designing a living room and your client is planning on mounting their television to the wall,
you can draw out your plan and place the power and cable outlets halfway up the wall. That way,
your client won’t have to worry about drilling a hole in the wall to fish out the electrical wires.

Considering accessibility

If your client is differently-abled or has decided to age in place, you will have to plan ahead to offer
them as much freedom and convenience in their home as possible.

If you’re designing a kitchen or bathroom for a differently-abled client, you need to consider things
like adjusting the height of the kitchen sink, installing pull-out trays for the pantry and cabinets,
front-mounted controls for cooktops, adjusting the height of the toilet, installing grab bars in the
shower, and much more.
Space Planning – What Is It And Why Is It Important?

As architects and planners, our job is to create and transform spaces to tell our client’s story and
promote their vision with innovative design solutions. Each client and their needs differ. The space
created should symbolize the heart of the organization and afford the inhabitants both comfort and
convenience.
What is Space Planning?
Generally people assume that a space has interior designers selecting furniture and finishes, but not
everyone knows an outstanding space was carefully mapped out through space planning – an
essential step in the interior design process. Space planning organizes the space, furniture and
functions to work together and most effectively accommodate the needs of the employees and
visitors.
When creative planning techniques are used in organizing a space, studies show employee
engagement, client retention and innovation are boosted.
What should be Considered When Planning Your Space?
First, what are the goals of the space – occupants health? inviting collaborative spaces? Space
planning can represent and support these long-term goals with a suitably designed interior
environment.
Next, think about how time will be spent in these spaces.
Finally, there should be a focus on designing a space that is ergonomically friendly for occupants.
Carefully selected furniture allows occupants to both sit and stand in all spaces. Certain opportunities
for activity can stimulate productivity and health.
Why Does Space Planning Matter?
The bottom line is, thoughtful space planning techniques are used by residents looking to become
more efficient and increase productivity. More efficiency in a space leads to higher productivity and
occupant satisfaction.