1. Residential planning
Chapter 6 and Chapter 7 (Highlights)

2. New Construction vs. Remodeling
New Construction: (advantages and disadvantages)
Location and orientation can be selected
Customized
New technology and building materials
Don’t have to live in the construction
More expensive
Takes longer
Travel time to oversee construction

3. New Construction vs. Remodeling
Remodeling (advantages and disadvantages)
Relocation not required
Work can be completed in stages
Less expensive than new construction
Living in the mess
Subcontractors in your home
Finding surprises

4. Economic Considerations
Economy is an important consideration in planning space.
New construction and remodeling will have limitations (maximum that can be spent) dictated by financial institution or by homeowner
What is affordable? 2 times the annual family income although many people go up to 3 or 4 times the annual income.
Interest rate, length of loan (15 yr vs. 30yr)
4% = $78,000 for 15 years
4% = $168,000 for 30 years
Location
Building materials used
Labor rates

5. Square footage vs. Material and labor
Quick way to estimate is using the sq. footage method based on the average price in the neighborhood. Not as accurate as using a materials and labor quote.
Material and Labor quote is more accurate

6. Zones
Social: public area and most used portion of the home. Comprised of the entry, family room, living room, media room, game room, etc.
Private: Areas such as the bedroom, bathrooms, etc.
Work: Kitchen, laundry, HVAC, storage, office, etc. Most of these areas should not be in direct view of guests (except the kitchen).

7. Evaluating the plan Traffic patterns
How do you move from room to room?
Does traffic flow through the conversation areas?
Does traffic flow through meal preparation area?
Does guest traffic flow through private areas?
Is there a good flow from a service entrance?
Note: when evaluating a plan or home, don’t let the beauty of the architecture, furnishings and accessories distract your judgement.

8. Evaluating the plan
Look for poorly located doors, windows and closets.
Are they conveniently located or do they interfere with good furniture arrangements and traffic patterns.
Is there adequate storage space inside and out?
Is the plan effectively oriented on the site?
Climate control
Privacy/views
Garage door openings (to side)
Look for adjacencies of rooms.
Do they function in relation to each other?
Is the space appropriately allocated?

9. Common traffic considerations
Kitchen, garage, mud room
Dining room to kitchen
Kitchen to service entrance
Laundry to bedrooms
Bedrooms to bathrooms

10. Considerations by area:
Entry: Provides the first impression.
No direct views into the private zones or work zones from the entry.
Should have a coat closet
Should not open directly into living area
Approximately 35 sq. feet
Ability to view visitors
lighting

11. Considerations by area:
Living areas, dining rooms, home offices can be viewable from entry.
Should have a focal point
Good traffic flow – not through conversation area
Access to a guest bath or powder room
Should have ample wall space for furniture placement
Should not have direct view into private zones - should have a corridor that leads to the private zone
Should not have direct view into work zones

12. Considerations by area:
Kitchen
No traffic through the work triangle (sink, cooktop and refrigerator)
Garage access is nearby
Appliance doors and cabinet doors do not collide
Panty is provided
Kitchen should not be viewable from entry
Storage:
Recommended 10% of total sq. footage
Location is convenient
Separate closets for men and women – walk-in ideal

13. Considerations by area:
Dining Rooms should be near the kitchen for ease of clean up
Surface, sideboard for utensils, food etc.
Consider how family eats
Formal sit down
Informal sit down
Buffet style
Meals on the run
Young children

14. Consideration by area Bedrooms (1/3 of our lives is spent in bed!)
120 sq. feet desired, minimum of 70 sq. feet required by code 90 sq. ft. allows for a single bed, 120 allows for a double bed square feet
Must have an operable window
Closets can act as sound barriers – minimum closet size is 24” deep by 5’ wide
Locate remotely as possible from social areas for privacy
Sound insulation needed in walls if adjacent to social areas
Adequate wall space to plan furniture layout
Door swings against wall
Split plans are ideal

15. Considerations by area
Bathrooms (ideally a 3 bedroom should have 2 full baths)
Located in private zone, close to bedrooms
Use back-to-back plumbing
Compartmentalize in family bathrooms
Consider privacy in regard to windows (not on front of house
Look at door swings – shouldn’t hit anyone standing at a vanity
View into the bathroom ideally should not be a direct view of a toilet
Nearby linen storage needed
Master suites often have separate tub and shower
Minimum size is 5’ x 7’
FYI: Water closet is another name for a toilet

16. Considerations by area:
Laundry room
Venting access
Out of view
Acoustic insulation
Drain and tile floor recommended
Utility sink and clothes rod
Ironing station
Folding area
Can serve as a mud room
Freezer storage
Clothes drop in 2-story homes or second floor laundry room

17. Traffic pattern pitfalls
Rooms that act as hallways
Door locations that force circulation through conversation areas
Spaces that are too small to plan
Traffic pattern through work areas that tend to be messy
Hallways less than 3’ (ideally 3’-6”)
Doors should open against a wall.

18. Floor Plans Open plans – concept developed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Less expensive to build
Space seems larger
Flexible layouts
Ideal for accessibility
Lacks privacy
sound

19. Floor Plans Closed Plans Spaces walled off and have doors
Provides more privacy
Creates chopped up plans
Can control HVAC to areas not used often
Not easily accessible
Less flexible for furniture layouts

20. Types of Housing
Single family detached: represents a house with a yard – requires more maintenance and yard work. Examples: Ranch, 1 ½ story, two-story, patio home, mobile home
Attached dwellings share walls with other residences and usually don’t have a yard. Row houses, town houses, garden homes apartments. Usually windows and doors are placed on front and back only.
Multi-family such as high-rise apartments. Lacks privacy, limited on parking and usually no outdoor space

21. House sizes Small: up to 1,500 sq. feet Medium: 1,500 – 3,000 sq. feet
Large: Over 3,000 sq. feet

22. Ways to save money – through design
Smaller sq. footage
Two-story homes
Back-to-back plumbing
Stacked fireplaces
Reduce number of dormer windows
Use simpler foundations (less jogs, simple rectangle)
Use standard sizes and finishes
Plan long-term and easy maintenance
Reduce cubic feet (lower ceilings for heating/cooling)