Space Planning
In cities where the real estate prices are high and space is an expensive commodity, most people are forced to make use of every square inch of available space. The confines of designing small spaces compounded with shoestring budgets often make a jigsaw puzzle look easy. It is the problem which demands creating the right equilibrium between open space verses functionality.
In space planning, the important goal is to visualize how a space will function when finished out and furnished, and communicate the design of an interior environment that will meet the needs of the individual user.
Of primary concern are the functional and aesthetic aspects of the individual rooms and how the rooms relate to one another. Good coordination of these two elements creates effective Space Planning. Good practical solutions with creative ideas provide residents with a comfortable lifestyle within the restricted environment.
A home should be such that the settings that surround you should speak for themselves. Optimum use of space, a functional layout, keeping structural safety in mind, attention to details, effective use of colour and illumination with quality workmanship are the mantras for a successful space planning.
Though there are constraints at all the sites, budget and completion time being the key factors, the challenge lies in being true to one’s own sensibilities and satisfying the individual needs by creating a smooth functioning home, where one feels happy and confident.
One of the first steps while space planning is to sketch a furnishings layout on the floor plan based on what a typical room requires. This sketch will help define where the traffic flow will be in the space and it will also show if furnishings will fit in the room and point out any asymmetry (or symmetry for that matter) where it isn’t supposed to be.
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Maria Shruti is the Principal Architect of Y. P. Design House. She is the creative, crazy yet organized mind behind the design house. An interior designer and space planner, she is centred on sensible, convenient, realistic and useful concepts and ideas. She can be contacted at mariashrutirao@gmail.com