The Myths of Circulation Space
Our local paper has a "house of the week" in its "residential" section each Friday. I've always given the plans a cursory look. Rarely, they'll have something that is interesting. But one thing is fairly common-- lack of dedicated circulation space. And I think that's bad.
"Open" plans are popular. People like "wide open spaces" in their houses. We've lost "rooms" and now have areas. We have the great room with the kitchen, dining & living spaces, all together--just like the one room cabin long ago. Everything is to take place in these rooms (which create confusing options for furniture placement). Circulation space is to be made part of these spaces. Even in houses without great rooms, the circulation space has been minimized. Don't want to "waste" space.
Yet, what most of these plans fail to take into account is that circulation is important. Of course, too much circulation space is wasteful, but the current trend is towards very limited dedicated circulation space.
Start at the front entry... Most entries are marginally functional. Are they designed taking into account the evetns that occur at an entry (and this goes for auxilliary entries at garages, mud rooms, etc)? Not really. Most of them don't have sufficent space for the activities that take place (including the one where everyone stands in the entry after somebody has come to visit and are on their way out. How many conversations take place here? Is it a comfortable space for this activity?). What about places to put coats, shoes, etc? Carefully look at stock plans and you'll notice the entry is not designed, but has just happened.
Circulation in and through, up and down, is common in every house. It's necessary. An "open plan" concept is fine...if circulation is accounted for in the design. This would require thinking about furniture placement, flow and movement through the space. Are there alternative furniture locations? What about door swings? If these things aren't accounted for you may discover the main circulation path through a room occurs between the sofa and the entertainment center -- people are always walking past the TV when you're trying to watch it.
When you've picked your "perfect" plan...be sure you also know how you're going to move through that plan. You may discover that it doesn't flow for your family.
"Open" plans are popular. People like "wide open spaces" in their houses. We've lost "rooms" and now have areas. We have the great room with the kitchen, dining & living spaces, all together--just like the one room cabin long ago. Everything is to take place in these rooms (which create confusing options for furniture placement). Circulation space is to be made part of these spaces. Even in houses without great rooms, the circulation space has been minimized. Don't want to "waste" space.
Yet, what most of these plans fail to take into account is that circulation is important. Of course, too much circulation space is wasteful, but the current trend is towards very limited dedicated circulation space.
Start at the front entry... Most entries are marginally functional. Are they designed taking into account the evetns that occur at an entry (and this goes for auxilliary entries at garages, mud rooms, etc)? Not really. Most of them don't have sufficent space for the activities that take place (including the one where everyone stands in the entry after somebody has come to visit and are on their way out. How many conversations take place here? Is it a comfortable space for this activity?). What about places to put coats, shoes, etc? Carefully look at stock plans and you'll notice the entry is not designed, but has just happened.
Circulation in and through, up and down, is common in every house. It's necessary. An "open plan" concept is fine...if circulation is accounted for in the design. This would require thinking about furniture placement, flow and movement through the space. Are there alternative furniture locations? What about door swings? If these things aren't accounted for you may discover the main circulation path through a room occurs between the sofa and the entertainment center -- people are always walking past the TV when you're trying to watch it.
When you've picked your "perfect" plan...be sure you also know how you're going to move through that plan. You may discover that it doesn't flow for your family.
posted by 3DP at 10/31/2005 10:25:00 AM
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