ARCHITECTURAL

DESIGN THEORY
II
LECTURE 6
CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL
UNITS

22nd april 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design, Rohtak

CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL UNITS

A spatial unit is a module of space that is controlled for

an exclusive activity human or mechanical.
A room can be seen as a spatial unit.
Spatial units are designed for an envisaged activity an
activity that the designer feels is required for that
context.
Thus, a drawing room, a bedroom an operation theater
are designed for an envisaged activity.

22nd april 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture &

Design, Rohtak

CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL UNITS

Factors that effect the usage of interior spaces:

Activity typology
User behavior patterns
Furniture

Fenestrations

Doors
Windows

Environmental conditions

Movable
Fixed

Light
Ventilation
Acoustics

Inside outside relationship

22nd april 2014

View
Movement

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design, Rohtak

CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL UNITS

Meaning of Circulation

To move anything including the human body

The space required to do the above mentioned activity

Need of Circulation in interior spaces

All human activity needs movement

Of the limbs
Of the body

Usage of furniture requires space around it for it to be used

efficiently
Objects have to be moved around for their utilization
To add aesthetic value to the space

22nd april 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture &

Design, Rohtak

CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL UNITS

Placement of movable furniture and its effect on

circulation
Movable furniture is that which can be shifted or
moved such as chairs, tables, beds etc.
All such furniture occupies space.
All furniture requires space around it.

Different furniture types will require different spatial

configurations for its efficient usage.

Certain furniture types are intrinsically related to each

other like a bed and bedside table.

22nd april 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture &

Design, Rohtak

CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL UNITS

Placement of fixed furniture and its effect on circulation
Fixed furniture or built in furniture is that which can
not be moved or shifted such as wardrobes, cabinets,
toilet fixtures etc.
All these furniture/fixtures require space to be accessed
and to be used efficiently.
Some of these need additional space for operations, like
the space required for the opening of the wardrobe
shutters.

22nd april 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture &

Design, Rohtak

CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL UNITS

Location of fenestrations and their effect on circulation in interior
spaces
Door/s will require appropriate space for effective utilization of
the interior space.
If more than one, the doors will need effective connective space
between them.
Windows need space for operations and maintenance.
Windows provide the view and the inside-outside relationships,
so the placement of furniture and consequently the space
required in front of a window has to be appropriate for that
function.

22nd april 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture &

Design, Rohtak

CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL UNITS

Interior space typologies

Normally a space has an exclusive envisaged function

Sometimes interior spaces can be organized for numerous

purposes

Dining kitchen, Studio classroom, etc

There could also be multipurpose spaces

Bedroom, kitchen, classroom, office etc.

College gymnasium cum theater, single room dwelling etc.

Each space requires different furniture types and configurations

for the efficient performance of the envisaged activity.

22nd april 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design, Rohtak

CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL UNITS

22nd april 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture &

Design, Rohtak

CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL UNITS

Most human functions requires

some kind of furniture.
Specific functions require specific
furniture
The space required around the
space also depends on the kind of
expression required from the space

22nd april 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design, Rohtak

10

CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL UNITS

The bed normally

requires space on two
sides.
Group seating needs a
special spatial
configuration.
The location of the
windows will effect the
placement of the
furniture

22nd april 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture &

Design, Rohtak

11

CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL UNITS

Note the clarity

of movement
space and the
comfortable
spaces in front of
the sofas.

22nd april 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design, Rohtak

12

CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL UNITS

Note the lack of space

between the sofa and the
coffee table and the
possibility of discomfort
because of the placement of
the single seater with the
three seater.
Note the lack of effective
relationship of the furniture
arrangement and the
window.

22nd april 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture &

Design, Rohtak

13

CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL UNITS

Note the direction of the

sofas with respect to the
TV cabinet. All furniture
units need to be related
according to the
functions.
Also note the quality of
light because of the
windows.

22nd april 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design, Rohtak

14

CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL UNITS

Note the spaces around

the furniture and the
quality of light.

22nd april 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture &

Design, Rohtak

15

CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL UNITS

The plans show the

specific requirement of
space around furniture
for the effective use of
space.

22nd april 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture &

Design, Rohtak

16

CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL UNITS

Note the spaces around the

furniture and the total visual
effect because of the size of
spaces left between the
furniture.
22nd april 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture &

Design, Rohtak

17

CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL UNITS

The plan helps
in defining
spaces
required
around
the furniture

22nd april 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture &

Design, Rohtak

18

CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL UNITS

The plan, when drawn on

scale, is a medium for
working out the spaces
occupied by the furniture
and the spaces required
around it for the effective
usage of both the space
and the furniture.

22nd april 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture &

Design, Rohtak

19

CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL UNITS

22nd april 2014

Different kinds of
furniture require
different kind of
spaces.
Spaces can be left
to create special
expressions in a
spatial
Sat Priya school of Architecture
&
organization.
Design, Rohtak

20

CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL UNITS

Note the effect of

fenestrations on the space

22nd april 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture &

Design, Rohtak

21

CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL UNITS

Everything inserted in space will

have a strong visual impact and
will also effect the functionality
of that space.

22nd april 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture &

Design, Rohtak

22

CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL UNITS

Different expressions of placement of furniture

Utilitarian

Grand
22nd april 2014

Friendly

Crowded
Sat Priya school of Architecture &
Design, Rohtak

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CIRCULATION WITHIN SPATIAL UNITS

The

factors that effect efficient usage of space

within a spatial unit therefore are:
Correct

choice of furniture
Appropriate space around the furniture
Suitable circulation space to access all furniture units
Suitable lighting and ventilation
Good view

22nd april 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture &

Design, Rohtak

24