PRINCIPLES OF PLANNING THE HOUSE.
Architects often use the word plan to meet the horizontal representation of an area which is commonly known as floor plans. Such plans usually show walls as thick lines, windows as thin lines, windows as thin lines and doors as blank place. Complete plan should show the direction in which doors swing and also the location of the electrical outlet. As a general rule, the shape of a plan is governed by the climatic condition of the place whether compact or closed or extended or opened. Whatever the plan certain principles which govern the theory of planning are common to all building. They are
1.Aspect. ‘Aspect’ means peculiarity of the arrangement of doors and windows in the external walls of a building which allows the occupants to enjoy the natural gifts such as sunshine, breeze, scenery, etc. Aspect is a very important consideration in planning as it provides not only comfort and good environment to live in but from hygienic point of view also. A room which receives light and air from a particular side is said to have aspect of that direction; From this angle, the following aspects for different rooms are preferred
It is clear that a kitchen should be on E-aspect/ so that the morning sun would refresh and purify the air and keep the kitchen cool during the remaining period of the day. The dining/ drawing and living rooms should have a S-aspect or S-E-aspect. The sun is towards the south during winter and more deviated towards the north during summer. Similarly, the bedrooms should have W-aspect or S-W-aspect, since the breeze required in summer will beavailable from west side only. But a verandah, a gallery or some such sun-shading device, must be provided on that side {i.e., W or S-W side) so as to protect the structure from the hot afternoon sun. Hence, reading rooms, stores, stairs, studios, class-rooms, etc. are placed towards the north.
2. Prospect Prospect’, is the impressions that house is likely to make on person who looks at it from the outside. Therefore, it includes the attainment of pleasing appearance by the use of natural beauties; disposition of doors and windows; and concealment of some un- desirable views in a given outlook. ’Prospect’ and ‘Aspect’ both demand disposition of doors and windows.
3. Privacy Privacy is one of. the important principles in the planning of buildings of all types in general and residential buildings in particular. Privacy requires consideration in two ways: (i) Privacy of one room from another. (ii) Privacy of all parts of a building from the neighbouring buildings, public streets andby-ways. Privacy of the former type is attained by carefully planning the building with respect to grouping/ disposition of doors/ mode of hanging doors, provision of small corridor or lobby etc. This can also be achieved by planning screens or curtains. Privacy of the latter type is easily secured by carefully planning the entrance and steering it with tree or creepers trained on a trellis. Privacy is of supreme importance in bed rooms water closets, urinals, bathrooms, etc.
4. Grouping Grouping means the disposition of various rooms in related position so that all the rooms are placed in proper correlation of their functions and in proximity with each other For example, in a residential building, dining room must be close to the kitchen; at the same time kitchen should be away from the drawing or the main living room, otherwise kitchen smells and smoke would be distracting. Services must be nearer to and independently accessible from every bed-room. The water closets, urinals, etc. must be far away from the kitchen and dining room, and so on.
5. Roominess Roominess’ refers to the effect produced by deriving the maximum benefit from the minimum dimensions of a room. It is the accomplishment of economy of space at the same time avoiding cramping of the plan. It is essential particularly in case of residential buildings where large storage spaces is required, to make maximum use of every nook and comer of built-up area of the building before making an addition to the plinth area. For giving better impression of roominess, the following points should be kept of view:
(i) A great skill should be exercised in making suitable arrangements of the rooms, doors and passages for accommodation in such a way that the utility, liability, privacy and extension appearance are not adversely affected.
(ii) A square room appears relatively smaller in size and utility than a rectangular room of the same area.
(iii) A small room within ordinately high walls appears relatively smaller than its actual size.
(iv) The disposition of doors, windows and cupboards, such that they do not cross-cut this room area and obstruct the placing of furniture, adds to roominess.
(v) The design of elements such as floors, walls, ceilings, lifts, etc. should be such as to create a sense of space beyond its actual dimensions.
6. Furniture Requirements. The functional requirement of a room or an apartment governs the furniture requirements. This is an important consideration in planning of buildings. In residential buildings, a room whether intended for a bed room or kitchen or drawing room, the architect should take into account the furniture positions of all types likely to be accommodated, so that the doors, windows and circulation space do not prevent from placing of sufficient number of pieces.
7. Sanitation Sanitation consists of providing ample light, ventilation, facilities for cleaning and sanitary conveniences in the following manner:
(i)Light. Light has two-fold significance, firstly it illuminates and secondly from hygienic point of view. Light in interior buildings may be provided by natural or artificial lighting. A room should get sunlight as long as and as much as possible. Vertical windows are, therefore, better than horizontal ones.
(ii) Ventilation. It is the supply of outside air either positive ventilation or by infiltration into the building. Good ventilation is an important factor conducive to comfort in buildings. Poor ventilation or lack of fresh air in building, always produces headache, sleepiness, inability to fix attention, etc. Ventilation may be natural or mechanical. In natural ventilation, the outside air is supplied into the building through windows, ventilators or other openings in mechanical ventilation the outside air is supplied either by mechanical device such as fan or by infiltration by reduction of pressure inside due to exhaust of air, or by a combination of positive ventilation and exhaust of air. Good ventilation is generally achieved by placing the windows, doors and ventilators such that they catch as much of breeze as possible.
(iii) Cleanliness and sanitary conveniences. Though the general cleaning and upkeep of the building is the responsibility of the occupants but even then some provisions to facilitate cleaning and prevention of dust are necessary in planning. The floors, as far as possible, should be of non-absorbent surface, smooth and proper slope should be given to facilitate washing with suitable outlets in the walls. Prevention of dust accumulation is essential. Dust helps the growth of bacteria and, spread of disease. Sanitary conveniences include the provision of bathrooms, water closets, lavatories, latrines, urinals, etc. in a building.
8. Flexibility Flexibility means planning rooms in such a way which, though originally designed for a specific purpose, may be used to serve other overlapping purposes also, as and when desired. This is particularly important for designing the houses for middle class families A house planned on scientific principle. within a. small space, must provide various similar activities such as listening to radio, child homework, entertaining guests and festive occasion such as holiday dinners, birthday parties, wedding banquets and so on. One is to combine the drawing room and the dining room by a removable partition or a screen between them, and the other way is to dine in the open air.
9. Circulation Circulation means ‘internal thoroughfares or the movement space provided on the same floor either between the rooms or within the room called ‘horizontal circulation’ and between the different floors through stairs or lifts called ‘vertical circulation’. Passages/corridors, halls and lobbies serve the purpose of horizontal circulation, whereas for vertical circulation normally stair or stair-case, electric lifts, ramps, etc. are the means of access to different floors.
10. Practical Considerations The following practical points should be given due consideration in the planning of buildings: (i) Strength and stability of structure, coupled with convenience and comfort, should occupy the first place of importance in planning. (ii) Simplicity and effect of strength lend a lasting beauty and mobility to a building. (iii) It should be remembered that a building or a house is immovable property and is built to last for several generations. One has, therefore, no right to practice false economy by erecting a weak structure, (iv) While planning, it is necessary to keep provisions for either adding a wing or extending some. part of house without dismantling-l
