Floor Plans

Changing Housing Needs

Social trends shape needs

Economic conditions, lifestyle, physical needs and technology affect changes

Large Victorian homes were divided into specialized rooms.

Today’s homes have an open space and multipurpose rooms.

Designing Functional Interiors

Floor Plan – A diagram of a home or other structure that shows the arrangement of rooms.

Have to think about the homes function, and the needs of the occupants.

Activity Zones 3 Most Common Zones

Private Zone – Provides quiet, comfortable areas for sleeping, relaxing and privacy; bedrooms, bathrooms,

Service Zone – Where household work is done. Includes kitchens, laundry room, workshops and garages

Social Zone – Part of the house used for activities and entertainment. Living room, dining room, family rooms

What type of zone is shaded blue?

Floor Plans

Open Plan – When few dividing walls separate rooms

Closed Plan – Rooms are separated or self contained

Types of Floor Plans

Single Story

Two Story

Split Level

Split Entry

2 Story Floor Plan

1 Story Floor Plan

Floor Plans

Traffic Patterns – the paths people take as they walk from room to room during everyday activities

Well designed floor plans provide convenient pathways

Easy access should be provided between related areas

Floor Plans

Traffic Patterns Economy of construction – Putting two areas

that require plumbing close together. Ex: Kitchen and Laundry areas

Dry areas placed back to back

In two story homes – one bathroom above another.

Traffic Patterns should:

be convenient and direct provide adequate space without wasting it avoid cutting through the middle of rooms avoid interfering with a good furniture

arrangement or interrupting activities within a room

avoid cutting through a kitchen, work area, or any other hazardous area

allow room for doors to swing open, drawers to be opened and chairs to be pulled out