PLANNING FOR SUITABLE UTILITY

Principles of planning for appropriate utility are following:

1.  Roominess
2.  Furniture Requirements
3.  Groupings
4.  Circulation.

1. Roominess: in the building it refers to appropriate proportioning of width, length and height of rooms to get maximum benefit from the minimum dimensions. Length to width ratio might be 1.2 to 1.5. If it is almost square lot of area is wasted for movement, whereas, it is more than 1.5; it gives the 'tunnel' effect. Doors for rooms should be correctly located so that privacy and utility maximum. Cupboards and lofts might be provided to increase roominess. Good colours to wall and floor also give roominess effect. Light colour gives effect of more space.

2. Furniture Requirements: Buildings positions of required furniture should be drawn in planning residential, office, laboratory, hospital and then room dimensions, windows, positions of doors, wardsities etc. are planned. It may need centrally placed door In case of planning a hostel room for two students whereas if it is for three students, it might be near the end of front wall. Positions of study tables, cots and cupboard might be drawn and room planned. Positions of sofa, chairs, T.V. show case etc. should be drawn and size of the room and positions of doors fixed in designing a living room. Availability of circulation area should be checked. Therefore the furniture requirement influences the planning of a building to a great extent.

3. Grouping: in the building Grouping means disposition of several rooms for the convenience of users and their utility. Dining room should be close to the kitchen; white sanitary block might be away from kitchen, but convenient to bedrooms. Administrative department, In case of offices is located centrally. In factories, several sections are located in one direction such that product moves to get finally assembled after least movement. In residential buildings grouping is to achieve, privacy, comfort and efficiency whereas in the case of other buildings it is to achieve economical service.

4. Circulation: Circulation means the space to be provided for movement from room to room or floor to floor. Lobbies, Passages halls provided serve horizontal circulation whereas and lift and stairs serve vertical circulation. Within a room also a portion of it serves for circulation whereas for utility some other portion serves. The points should be considered in planning circulation are following:

1.  They should be adequate.
2.  They should be straight.
3.  Stairs should be simply accessible to all the users.
4.  They should be adequately lighted and ventilated.
5.  For every user Sanitary services should have access through passage lobby.