Planning the Living Area

2. Chapter 7 Planning the Living Area

3. Objectives • Identify the three main areas in a typical residence. • Explain why designers take special needs into account when designing a new home. • Describe the rooms and areas that comprise the living area. • Apply design principles to planning a living room.

4. Objectives • Analyze a dining room using good design principles. • Design a functional entry and foyer. • Communicate the primary design considerations for a family room. • Integrate designs for outdoor living areas into the total floor plan of a dwelling.

5. Areas of a Residence • Three main areas: livingarea, sleepingarea, servicearea • Designer must know purpose of each room and its accessibility needs • International Residential Codes (IRC) establish regulations for residential design and construction • CADD tools reduce time needed to develop suitable designs

6. Areas of a Residence

7. Traffic Circulation • The movement of people from one area or room to another • Plan trafficcirculation for maximum efficiency of movement • Analyze movement to determine if plan is as functional as it can be

8. Living Room • Size • What furniture is planned? • How often will the room be used? • How many people are expected? • Is it a multipurpose room?

9. Living Room • Location • Do not place in traffic corridor • Grade level is best position • Take advantage of views • Near dining room • Informal divider often used in greatroom • Orient for comfort and energy conservation

10. Poorly Located Living Room

11. Properly Located Living Room

12. Living Room • Décor • Homeowner’s preference • Emphasize good points, minimize weak points • Interior style should reflect exterior style

13. Dining Rooms • Popularity of dining rooms changes from time to time • Lifestyle determines the need for a dining room • May be formal or informal • Special place for eating and family gatherings

14. Dining Room • Plan • Closedplan or openplan? • Size • Based on number of people who will use room, amount of furniture, and traffic clearance • 2'-3" from center-to-center of chairs • 2'-0" between chair backs and wall

15. Entry and Foyer • Every house has at least one main entry • Many, but not all, houses have a foyer • Three basic types of entries: • main entry • service entry • special-purpose entry

16. Main Entry • Centrally located and open into a foyer • Visitors visible without opening door • Provide protection from weather • Visually interesting • Size depends on size and design of house

17. Two Types of Main Entry

18. Service and Special-Purpose Entries • Service entry usually connected to the kitchen or utility room • Special-purpose entry provides access to patio, deck or court

19. Foyer • A place to greet guests, remove coats and boots • Flooring must be soil-resistant • Coat closet • Provides access to other rooms • Size depends on house size, location, personal preference • Décor reflects adjacent rooms

20. Foyer Design

21. Foyer Design

22. Family Room • Place where the family can play or pursue hobbies • Design for function and easy maintenance • Basement location advantages include large area, separates noise from other living areas, contains necessary structural details, easy to decorate and keep clean

23. Family Room • Size varies • Furniture selected depend on anticipated activities • Décor reflects homeowner’s lifestyle • Common items in room include large-screen TVs, pool tables, game tables • Accessibility is important

24. Special-Purpose Rooms • Dedicated to pursuit of special interest, such as a greenhouse • Special-purposerooms frequently have unique requirements: • Storage, lighting, ventilation, plumbing, electrical

25. Outdoor Living Areas • Patios, porches, decks, courtyards, gazebos • Enlarge the area and function of a home • Lighting allows for use after dark, adds safety and security

26. Patios • Patios are near house but not structurally connected to it • Located at ground level • Building materials include concrete, brick, stone, tile, redwood, pressure-treated wood, or synthetic decking • Place to relax, play, entertain, and live • Carefully choose location, size, design

27. Porches and Decks • Porches and decks are structurally connected to house • Porches are covered, decks are not • A ramp is required for access by the disabled • A balcony is a narrow porch located on an upper floor of a home • A veranda is a large porch that extends along an entire wall of a house

28. Porch

29. Courtyards • Courtyards are outdoor spaces totally or partially enclosed by walls or roof • Used for dining, relaxing, talking, entertaining, and as gardens

30. Gazebos • A gazebo provides an architectural focal point.

31. Architecture Green • Porches and green design • Prior to widespread use of air-conditioning, houses had porches, which prevented the sun from directly entering the home • Once air conditioning became widespread, homes were designed without porches • Designers are realizing the potential of porches to reduce electricity use while moderating the temperature of a home

32. Employability • Preparing for a job interview • Research the employer and the job • Be prepared to answer questions • List the questions you want answered • List the materials you plan to take to the interview • Decide what to wear • Practice the interview • Know where to go for the interview