Chapter 7Chapter 7Designing Livable HomesDesigning Livable Homes

Four Factors that influence housing Four Factors that influence housing needs:needs:

Economic conditionsEconomic conditions Lifestyle changesLifestyle changes Physical needsPhysical needs Advances in TechnologyAdvances in Technology

How have these factors How have these factors changed today’s homes?changed today’s homes?

Society became less Society became less agricultural and more agricultural and more industrial.industrial. Suburbs grew to fill needs for Suburbs grew to fill needs for

housing, but new houses were housing, but new houses were built for nuclear, not extended, built for nuclear, not extended, families.families.

How have these factors How have these factors changed today’s homes?changed today’s homes?

Refrigerators and freezers Refrigerators and freezers replaced the need for cellarsreplaced the need for cellars

Interiors became less formalInteriors became less formal More functional space & More functional space &

multipurpose roomsmultipurpose rooms

How have these factors How have these factors changed today’s homes?changed today’s homes?

Early homes had two or Early homes had two or more stories, separated more stories, separated family activitiesfamily activities Today’s homes usually have Today’s homes usually have

one level or have split levels one level or have split levels If two-storied, have bathrooms If two-storied, have bathrooms

and some sleeping space on and some sleeping space on both floorsboth floors

The Purpose of a floor The Purpose of a floor plan…plan…

To show the size & layout of To show the size & layout of roomsrooms

Easiest way to illustrate how Easiest way to illustrate how space is used in a homespace is used in a home

Two Factors to keep in mind when Two Factors to keep in mind when evaluating a floor plan:evaluating a floor plan:

Traffic PatternsTraffic Patterns – the paths – the paths people take as they walk people take as they walk from room to room during from room to room during everyday activities.everyday activities.

Economy of ConstructionEconomy of Construction – – for example, place rooms for example, place rooms needing plumbing near one needing plumbing near one another to reduce plumbing another to reduce plumbing problems.problems.

Homes are divided into Zones/Areas to Homes are divided into Zones/Areas to minimize conflict between different minimize conflict between different

activities.activities.

Private ZonePrivate Zone Comfortable areas for sleeping Comfortable areas for sleeping

and relaxingand relaxing Privacy for bathing and dressingPrivacy for bathing and dressing Bedrooms and BathroomsBedrooms and Bathrooms

Homes are divided into Zones/Areas to Homes are divided into Zones/Areas to minimize conflict between different minimize conflict between different

activities.activities.

Service ZoneService Zone Where household work is doneWhere household work is done Kitchen, laundry room, Kitchen, laundry room,

workshop, and garageworkshop, and garage

Homes are divided into Zones/Areas to Homes are divided into Zones/Areas to minimize conflict between different minimize conflict between different

activities.activities.

Social ZoneSocial Zone The part of the home used for The part of the home used for

activities and entertainmentactivities and entertainment Living room, dining room, Living room, dining room,

family roomfamily room Recreation room, entrance Recreation room, entrance

hall, patio, deckshall, patio, decks

Open PlanOpen Plan

Has few dividing walls Has few dividing walls separating roomsseparating rooms

Closed PlanClosed Plan

Rooms are separated and self-Rooms are separated and self-containedcontained

Floor Plan Options…Floor Plan Options…

One-Level HomeOne-Level Home Home that is all on one-levelHome that is all on one-level All parts of the living area are easily All parts of the living area are easily

accessible without going up or down accessible without going up or down stairs.stairs.

No stairways = increase usable No stairways = increase usable space in homespace in home

Exterior maintenance ( painting, Exterior maintenance ( painting, cleaning gutters) = easiercleaning gutters) = easier

Ranch houses, apartmentsRanch houses, apartments

Floor Plan Options…Floor Plan Options…

Two-Level HomeTwo-Level Home Two levels of living Two levels of living

spacespace Social and service floors Social and service floors

on the first flooron the first floor Bedrooms on the Bedrooms on the

second floorsecond floor Single-Family homes Single-Family homes

and multifamily unitsand multifamily units

Floor Plan Options…Floor Plan Options…

Split-Level HomeSplit-Level Home Two or more levels of living Two or more levels of living

space, each separated by a space, each separated by a short flight of stairsshort flight of stairs

The entrance, living room, The entrance, living room, dining area, and kitchen are all dining area, and kitchen are all at ground levelat ground level

The bedrooms are a short flight The bedrooms are a short flight aboveabove

The garage , laundry room, The garage , laundry room, utility area, family room, are a utility area, family room, are a short flight belowshort flight below

Floor Plan Options…Floor Plan Options…

Split-Entry HomeSplit-Entry Home Has two levels of living space, Has two levels of living space,

with the lower level partially with the lower level partially under groundunder ground

The entrance to the home is The entrance to the home is located midway between the two located midway between the two main levelsmain levels

Upper level = living room, Upper level = living room, kitchen, dining area, bedroomskitchen, dining area, bedrooms

Lower level = laundry, utility Lower level = laundry, utility area, family room, perhaps a area, family room, perhaps a bathroom , and often another bathroom , and often another bedroombedroom

Design A Floor Plan—The Design A Floor Plan—The Gavlinski FamilyGavlinski Family

This family consists of a man, a woman, This family consists of a man, a woman, and three children, boys, ages 9 and 12, and three children, boys, ages 9 and 12, and a girl, age 16. The man and woman and a girl, age 16. The man and woman are both employed outside the home. are both employed outside the home. Mornings are hectic in this household as Mornings are hectic in this household as the whole family gets ready for work the whole family gets ready for work and school. Breakfast often takes place and school. Breakfast often takes place in shifts, with the children preparing it in shifts, with the children preparing it for themselves. Evenings are busy too, for themselves. Evenings are busy too, as the family tries to juggle activities as the family tries to juggle activities involving the different family members. involving the different family members. The Gavlinskis frequently invite groups The Gavlinskis frequently invite groups of family or friends over to share a meal of family or friends over to share a meal and spend some time together.and spend some time together.

Design A Floor Plan—The Design A Floor Plan—The Campbell FamilyCampbell Family

The Campbell family consists of a The Campbell family consists of a married couple, both with careers. married couple, both with careers. One career requires that paperwork One career requires that paperwork often be brought home at night. Both often be brought home at night. Both people love to cook and enjoy trying people love to cook and enjoy trying out new and unusual recipes on their out new and unusual recipes on their friends. As a result, they entertain friends. As a result, they entertain often, in both small and large groups. often, in both small and large groups. Sometimes their guests are clients or Sometimes their guests are clients or others associated with work. Since others associated with work. Since both friends and relatives live out of both friends and relatives live out of town, visitors often spend the night.town, visitors often spend the night.