WAINAINA PATRICK NJENGA

*The floor plan: is a view looking down a horizontal plane that is cut through a building from above about 1.5m, illustrating it’s the horizontal dimensions of a building spaces, the thickness & construction of vertical walls & columns that define these spaces.

*The importance of plans:

*Define the spaces & its functional relationship.

*Illustrates places of openings (doors- windows).

*Finishing.

*Entrance (main- Utilities (stairs- elevators- mechanical room- baths- stores….)

*Structural system:

* R.C, steel, bearing walls…

*Columns, beams,…

*Thickness of walls (exterior & interior)

*Measurement and cost (quantity survey)

*Successful housing evidences well-designed interior space planning and room arrangement

*A well planned interior contributes to the quality of life of the inhabitants of the space.

*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

*Activities are used to divide the home into 3 zones

*Public zone(social area)—where social & family activities occur (LR, DR, Entrance & Porch); non-family members are allowed

*Work zone—where work activities that support the household’s lifestyle occur (Kitchen, Laundry & Home Office)

*Private zone—where individual & private activities occur (Bedrooms & Bathrooms)

* Living and Social Area

*Living room, dining room, family room, game room, great rooms, entry ways, porches, dining etc.

*Kitchen, Garage, Office, Basement, Utility/Laundry room.

*Bedroom, Bathroom, Closets and Dressing rooms.

*T he zones in plans are colored for ease in reading the zones.

* living/social areas - yellow

*sleeping/private areas – red

*work/service areas - blue

*The route that people follow as they move from one place to another.

*9 to 12 ft should be allowed for circulation paths.

*Types – Family, Work & Service, Guest

*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.

*Closed floor plans separate rooms

*Open floor plans have less walls, save on cost of building materials, and home feels more spacious

*Is the route from the center of the sink, to the center of the stove to the center of the refrigerator and back to the sink.

*Smaller work triangles will save steps.

*For safety reasons there should be no cross traffic. Cross traffic can cause spills and other accidents.

With thanks……………….