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What Is Space Planning

Space planning is the process of analyzing how physical space in structures can be used efficiently. It considers the purpose of each space and who will use it. The goals are to maximize usable space without waste and ensure all space needs are met. Effective space planning allows optimal use of floor area. It is an important part of the work of architects and interior designers.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
551 views10 pages

What Is Space Planning

Space planning is the process of analyzing how physical space in structures can be used efficiently. It considers the purpose of each space and who will use it. The goals are to maximize usable space without waste and ensure all space needs are met. Effective space planning allows optimal use of floor area. It is an important part of the work of architects and interior designers.

Uploaded by

kesavaganesan58
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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What is Space Planning?

Space planning is an in-depth analysis of how physical space is used in structures. It considers
the purpose of spaces and who will use them. Space planning is a process that takes several
steps, and it's an important component for the work of interior designers and architects.

Space planning helps ensure efficient use of floor space without wasting it. If done right, it also
accounts for all possible uses of a given space. When the process is completed, it can result in a
comprehensive space plan. This is a drawing that identifies the needs and required elements
of spaces, including windows, doors, and even furniture within them.

Effective space planning ensures optimal use of floor area without wasted space often


spent on circulation, unnecessary storage and other wasteful activities and spaces. ...
Simply put, a well-considered and designed space plan will allow you to make the best
use of your floor area.

Space Planning in Architecture


Architects begin space planning by gathering information. They need to know several things
before they can draft a space plan. Keep in mind that these steps need to be considered for all
spaces in a building, including how those spaces connect.
Space is one of the most important elements of interior design. Space acts as a foundation
on which the entire interior design plan is built. Hence it is essential that the designer is well
aware of the space available, its dimensions and its utilities.

Purpose and Use of Spaces


First, the purpose of structures and spaces needs to be defined. How will the space be used?
A building might be commercial, industrial, or residential. Structures with different purposes
have very different space needs, and their use will help determine how it is allocated. Some
spaces might have more than one function, and they might need to be flexible. An elementary
school gym is a good example of a flexible space that can transform into a cafeteria.
Some spaces serve multiple purposes, like a library storage and work space

Then there's the consideration of who will use the space. Buildings and the spaces in them
are for people, after all, so the architect needs to answer some questions: how will people
spend their time in the building? Is it living space, offices, work space, or storage space? How
many people does the space have to hold? The architect needs to consider things like work
flow and circulation, or how people will move through the spaces while doing their jobs. Such
questions include exploring how offices, open work spaces, and yes, even cubicles, will be
configured.

Space planning includes consideration of how rooms will be connected to


each other

Conducting space planning helps architects solve puzzles while they design a structure. Often,
clients have spaces with multiple needs. Prioritizing which need comes first might not be easy,
but it might be crucial to how the space is designed. So the architect needs to be aware of all
the elements to come up with the best solution. And it may involve a compromise.

Other Space Planning Considerations


During space planning, the architect must also consider elements like lighting and ventilation.
Another important facet is accessibility, or making the space easy to use by differently abled
people, like those who use wheelchairs or have other mobility challenges. If the space is meant
for offices of staff and management, issues of privacy also need to be considered.

Once the purpose and use of spaces is better defined, other elements come into play. Does the
space need access to the outside, perhaps by a door or large loading bay? How should the
spaces be connected? Choices like hallways, for example, create a very different traffic flow
than rooms that lead directly into other rooms.

What should be Considered When Planning Your Space?

First, what are the goals of the


organization – employee engagement? employee health?  inviting
collaborative spaces? Space planning can represent and support these long-
term goals with a suitably designed interior environment.
Next, think about how time will be spent in the building. Depending on the
industry and type of business, employees might sit at their desk all day, they
might collaborate and work in large groups or perhaps have a work style that
falls somewhere in between. Most office environments will need to
accommodate these possibilities in one way or another.
Finally, there should be a focus on designing a space that is ergonomically
friendly for employees. Carefully selected furniture allows employees to both
sit and stand in their workstation. Certain opportunities for activity can
stimulate productivity and health. For example, eliminating waste cans at
each station and offering one central trash/recycle station will get employees
up and walking, if even for short period of time.
Why Does Space Planning Matter?
The bottom line is, thoughtful space planning techniques are used by
businesses looking to become more efficient and increase productivity. More
efficiency in a space leads to higher productivity and greater employee
satisfaction. Employee satisfaction can lead to better, more innovative work
which benefits an organization as a whole.
Safety and Health are Essential          
This one is unavoidable when it comes to office space design. So, now the
challenge is staying in line with both building and fire codes, while designing
the well-organized office we need to make sure aisles are clear for
evacuation, cables don’t present a fire hazard, and that dangerous items are
tucked away to avoid tripping or other harm. They can present unsafe
situations, especially in the case of an emergency, that can cause liability
issues for your business. Keep in mind that the office may have accessibility
issues for persons with limited mobility.
As for the general health of employees, make sure to keep the space
properly lit and ventilated. Proper ventilation can help reduce the amount of
sick days needed because of airborne illnesses or allergens while poor
lighting risks employee’s suffering from headaches and eyestrain which can
slow production and call for more absences.
Hiring a professional space planner is a simple solution to following these
important office space planning guidelines. The happier your employees, the
more profitable your business, and the better your retention rate. Office Flip
can help bring each of the above qualities into your new office design with
their space planning expertise. Contact us for more information on how your
New Jersey office space can benefit today.

 Points to consider when deciding how to layout your


room
 Think about the structure of the room, what are the main focal
points? These could be windows, fireplaces, doors or built in units.  Are
they balanced in the room?  If not, think about what you can add to the
space to help balance the structure of the space. Remember that the
human eye is drawn to focal points, and will scan a space when
entering it.
 Perception of space is based on body size. Different size spaces
suit different size people: one person’s claustrophobic box is another’s
cosy nest.
 Think about the space in terms of volume, eg: if it were a fish
bowl, if you add in a sofa, chandelier, sculptures, bookshelves, table,
coffee table etc, you displace some of the water. Ensure that you don’t
overfill the space.
 Aim to create both a prospect and a refuge in each room so you
can feel enclosed, but also have a view beyond to the outside or
natural world. Using Prospect and Refuge theory in a space can make it
more comfortable for the human experience. “We prefer a shelter
(refuge) with a view (prospect), because humans have their field of
vision to the front (prospect), therefore needing some sort of
protection from behind (refuge).”
 Plan your furniture with a scale drawing of your room or cut paper
shapes to size and place them in the room to work out the best
possible arrangement of furniture and accessories.
 Ensure that the circulation passageway through a room follows
an easy and economic pathway from the door to all the other main
activity areas.
 Clutter closes down space, so edit your clutter to avoid blocking
both circulation and reducing the perceived size of a room.
 In large or long spaces, subdivide different activity zones to give
definition to each part of the room.
 When planning decoration and lighting, work with the principles
that vertical lines draw our eyes up and horizontal lines draw them
across to extend or reduce the proportions of a room.
 Wallpaper with a square grid or tiling a room in squares will give
the impression that it is bigger than it is – the smaller the grid, the
larger the room appears.
 Borrow space from outside by ensuring an uninterrupted view of
the outside world. You can also ‘borrow’ space from adjoining rooms by
using the same flooring materials.
 When furnishing small rooms, blur the edges of the room to break
up the lines between floor and walls; draw furniture a little way away
from the walls; buy furniture in proportion to the room; choose
furniture with legs to give the illusion of more space.
 Disguise oversized sofas by breaking up their upholstered surface
with a different coloured or textured runner or folded throw.

Elements to be considered before creating Space Plan


 What are you going to be using the space for?  Will it be multi-
functional? Eg: living/dining or bedroom/study?
 How many people will be using the space and will they all be
using it for the same purpose? Eg: A family might use the same room;
someone may be watching TV, while another reads and another is
working.
 Do you have any existing furniture that you want to use in the
space?
 Can furniture be moved into or out of this room from other areas
of the house?
 How do you want the room to feel, space-wise – open and airy,
cozy, minimal, serene?
 How much natural light is available and what kinds of lighting will
be needed?
 What are the focal points of the room and how can you take
advantage of them?
 Do you need to create focal points?
 Do you like balance and symmetry, the unexpected, or a
combination?
 Is there anything else on your wish list for this room?

These questions will highlight the problems that your space plan needs
to solve.  Think about these points when creating your space plan and
try to find a solution that will work.  You might find that you need to
compromise on some of the points. That’s ok, you as the designer
need to make the decisions that will make the space work best for the
client, whether that’s you or someone else.

How to create a Space Plan


The Bubble Plan

The way that I like to start a space plan is by roughly drawing out a
map of the space and creating a bubble plan.  A bubble plan is a
simple diagram that will show you what activities take place in the
space and the relationship between these activities.
For example, in an open plan living area, you might have 3 or more
bubbles, 1 showing the kitchen, the other showing the dining area and
another showing the living area. Using bubbles will help you to define
these spaces.  When you are clear about where the activities are going
to happen in the space then you can move on to creating a scale plan.

A detailed Scale Plan


Try to get as large a piece of paper as possible to make it easy.  I
suggest getting a large A1/A2 piece of card and some pencils to do this
with.  You can then erase any mistakes you might make. Draw your
space to scale on the piece of paper. Include window, door, built in
cupboards/shelves, fireplace and lighting placements. You want to be
able to see all the fixtures and features on the plan.
Make a list of everything you would like to have in the space and
create scaled paper cutouts for each piece. You can then start placing
these scaled pieces of furniture onto your space plan.  This will start to
bring your space to life and show you how you will be able to use the
room.

Spend some time moving pieces around, this will help you to think
differently about the space. Come up with a plan, and then swop all the
pieces around, see what this does to the flow of the room. Keep
moving the pieces around until you ‘know’ which is right for the space.

A Space’s Design is Often a Client’s First Impressions


Whether your commercial property is an office, a restaurant, or a retail space,
the first impression made on potential clients and customers will be the
appearance of your business. A poorly laid-out area will look disorganized and
your workers will clearly be less productive. Your business may also look dated.
All this implies a lack of concern on the businesses’ part, whereas a well
designed space says your company is thoughtful, good at problem-solving,
dedicated, and in-touch with current trends and technologies.
Well-Planned Spaces Mean More Productive Workers
Perhaps the most direct benefit of space planning and design is the increase in
efficiency in your staff by understanding the unique needs of each role. A good
design will consider what resources your workers need, whom they need to be in
easy communication with, and what could be a distraction to them. For example,
a well planned office may place conference and break areas out of view of the
main work areas and provide custom casework near desks to provide a
professional-looking and easily accessed storage system for items that are
frequently used.
A Good Design Will Plan For Growth
As businesses thrive and expand, they often require a larger workforce. A good
design should take this into account and consider which areas will grow first and
most. Worker’s personal spaces may initially be more spread out, but as the
company expands the space should accommodate more workers comfortably.
The goal is to maintain a professional and productive environment with the
addition of workers and without having to move to a new location.
Planning and Design Prevents Wasted Space
Again, space planning should focus around your workers’ daily needs. Workers
who primarily use computers to accomplish tasks will require less desk space
than those who work with documents, so to use desks of the same size is a
waste of space. Likewise, using individual storage for supplies and tools requires
more space than a shared storage system. With careful design, you may find you
need a smaller space than you initially thought, which can save money not only
on your lease but in utility costs. As mentioned above, this smaller space should
still allow for potential growth.
A Professional Design Considers Building Code
The average business owner is not as familiar with building codes and
requirements as a trained professional space planner and may design a space
that does not meet requirements. There are laws concerning the lighting levels,
amount of space each workers should be allotted, the ease of access each
individual must have to a fire escape, and ventilation. Furthermore, a space
planner will take into account the location of electrical outlets and who will need
access to them, as well as the acoustics of a space and how that can be
improved.

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