2024

Jimma University
Jimma Institute of Technology
Department of Architecture and urban Planning

Architectural Design 3

LITERATURE REVIEW ON RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

PREPARED BY BEREKET HABTAMU RU 0397/15

SUBMITED TO: MR BIRUK, MR

DEGAGA AND DEJENE

SUBMITTION DATE NOV,21,2024

Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................... 2
History of Residential buildings .................................................................................... 3
4
Historical Houses................................................................................................... 4
4
Ancient Houses...................................................................................................... 4
16th century houses ................................................................................................ 4
18th Century Houses.............................................................................................. 5
19th Century Houses.............................................................................................. 5
20th Century Houses.............................................................................................. 6
Definition of residential buildings ................................................................................. 6
TYPES OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDING BASED ON MATERIAL USAGE ........ 7
CONCRETE MASONARY ....................................................................................... 7
Characteristics of residential buildings ................................................................... 7
Types of residential building ......................................................................................... 7
BASED ON WEATHER CONDITION ................................................................. 8
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN HOT AREAS .................................................... 8
RESIDENTIAL BUILDING IN COLD ENVIROMENT ....................................... 8
Condominium ........................................................................................................ 9
Single-Family Home .............................................................................................. 9
Townhouse .......................................................................................................... 10
Apartment............................................................................................................ 10
Villa .................................................................................................................... 11
Multifamily Home ............................................................................................... 12
Size of Bedrooms ................................................................................................ 13
Master Bedroom Sizes ......................................................................................... 14
Size of Guest Room ............................................................................................. 14
Size of Verandah ................................................................................................. 15
Size of Office Room ............................................................................................ 17
Size of Dining Room ........................................................................................... 18
Size of Kitchen .................................................................................................... 19
Storeroom ........................................................................................................... 20
Pantry: ................................................................................................................. 21
Size of Bathroom and WC: .................................................................................. 22
Layout of Rooms 2D & 3DSectional view .................................................................. 23
General design consideration ...................................................................................... 24
ORIENTATION .................................................................................................. 24
Aesthetical Requirements .................................................................................... 27
Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 27
REFFERENCES ......................................................................................................... 35

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Figure 1 peasant’s house ........................................................................................................... 3
Figure 2 mammoth skin tents .................................................................................................... 3
Figure 3 .................................................................................................................................... 4
Figure 4 mammoth skins and bones .......................................................................................... 4
Figure 5 cardinal wolesy court palace ....................................................................................... 5
Figure 6 18th century houses ..................................................................................................... 5
Figure 7 19th residential building .............................................................................................. 5
Figure 8 20th century residential buildings ................................................................................ 6
Figure 9 Hot climate houses ...................................................................................................... 8
Figure 10 Igloos ........................................................................................................................ 9
Figure 11 Condominium ........................................................................................................... 9
Figure 12 Single family house ................................................................................................. 10
Figure 13 Sicily white building ............................................................................................... 11
Figure 14 Sicily residential houses .......................................................................................... 11
Figure 15 furniture standard for living room............................................................................ 13
Figure 16 double bedroom ...................................................................................................... 14
Figure 17 children bedroom .................................................................................................... 14
Figure 18 Guest Room ............................................................................................................ 15
Figure 19 veranda ................................................................................................................... 17
Figure 20 office room ............................................................................................................. 17
Figure 21 furniture standard for dining room ........................................................................... 18
Figure 22 Dining room............................................................................................................ 19
Figure 23 kitchen circulation ................................................................................................... 19
Figure 24 kitchen .................................................................................................................... 20
Figure 25 storeroom arrangement ............................................................................................ 20
Figure 26 storeroom ................................................................................................................ 21
Figure 27 pantry...................................................................................................................... 21
Figure 28 Bathroom And WC .................................................................................................. 22
Figure 29 ................................................................................................................................ 23
Figure 30 ................................................................................................................................ 23
Figure 31 ................................................................................................................................ 23
Figure 32 Local villa house ..................................................................................................... 32
Figure 33 ................................................................................................................................ 33
Figure 34 ................................................................................................................................ 33
Figure 35 ................................................................................................................................ 33
Figure 36 ................................................................................................................................ 34

Introduction
Residential house is an organized space in which it is designed for people to live in by providing
accommodation in addition to other services and it is occupied by private houses. When designing
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a house, the main consideration is to create a pleasant, comfortable environment to live in. If a
house is designed well, with a place and position for each item, it becomes a well-lit, airy, clutter
free, efficient place to live in, which in turn makes us happy and contented. To design a house in
the best possible way.

History of Residential buildings

The history of residential building trace back to prehistoric
times, when human beings needed shelter as much as
people do now. The timeline for building and home
construction history therefore begins with the prehistoric.
During Paleolithic age people used naturally shaped natural
formations (caves) used as protection against elements and
wild animals. Later people lived in caves for some of the
time, but they also made tents from mammoth skins.
Mammoth bones were used as supports. They wore boots,
trousers and anoraks made from animal skins. were able to
Figure 1 peasant’s house
create habitation for themselves with their own creative
activities. Since then, people-built residency with their own
hands that we call construction activity. Human shelters were
at first very simple and perhaps lasted only a few days or
months. Overtime, however, even temporary structures
evolved into such highly refined forms as the igloo.

Gradually more durable structures began to appear,

particularly after the advent of agriculture, when people
began to stay in one place for long periods. The first shelters
were dwellings, but later other functions, such as food storage
and ceremony, were housed in separate buildings, for
example British peoples sheltered from ice in side caves and Figure 2 mammoth skin tents
Japanese in huts. During medieval age, there was more
elegance and more built –in creature comforts.as tools improved, materials were more readily
available across the broad and building process become easier to learn, homes and buildings
became more impressive. Peasant houses were simple wooden huts they had wooden frames filled
in with wattle and daub. As the time goes by the people change with knowledge and need, that
change their residence by upgrading time after time. Starting of 20 century working class homes
had two rooms and downstairs.

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 Figure 3

Historical Houses
Ice age humans lived in caves some of the time, but they also made tents from mammoth skins.
Mammoth bones were used as supports. They wore boots, trousers and anoraks made from animal
skins.

About 7,000 BC a new people lived in Jericho, and they had learned to make mortar. They used
it to plaster walls and floors. Catal Huyuk, which probably had a population of about 6000, was
one of the world's first towns. It was built in what is now Turkey about 6,500 BC not long after
farming began.

Figure 4 mammoth skins and bones

Ancient Houses
The first civilization arose in Sumer (which is now Iraq). There were a number of city states.

Each city had a protector God, and the king was regarded as his representative on earth. Below
the king were nobles and rich merchants who lived in considerable comfort in large houses with
many rooms. Their houses were two story high, and they were arranged around a courtyard.

16th century houses

In the Middle Ages rich people's houses were designed for defense rather than comfort. In the
16th century life was safer so houses no longer had to be easy to defend. Rich Tudors built grand
houses e.g. Cardinal Wolsey built Hampton Court Palace.

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Figure 5 cardinal wolesy court palace

18th Century Houses

In the 18th century a small minority of the population lived in
luxury. The rich built great country houses. The leading
architect of the 18th century was Robert Adam (1728-1792).
He created a style called nee-classical and he designed many
18th century country houses.

Figure 6 18th century houses

19th Century Houses
In the early 19th century houses for the poor in Britain
were dreadful. Often, they lived in 'back- to-backs'. These
were houses of three (or sometimes only two) rooms, one
of top of the other. The houses were literally back-to-
back. The back of one house joined onto the back of
another and they only had windows on one side.

Figure 7 19th residential building

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20th Century Houses
Starting of the 20th century, working class homes had two rooms
downstairs. The front room and the back room. The front room
was kept for the best, and children were not allowed to play there.
In the front room the family kept their best furniture and
ornaments.

The back room was the kitchen, and it was where the family spent
most of their time. Most families cooked on a coal-fired stove
called a range.

Figure 8 20th century residential

buildings

Definition of residential buildings

A building is a structure that has a roof and walls and stands permanently in one place. Residential
building is a building for a dwelling or living purpose in which dwelling area makes up half of
the floor area. In other words, residential buildings are buildings, of which at least one half serves
residential purposes - measured in terms of total usable space.

Residential Design is an organized space in which it is designed for people to live in by providing
accommodation in addition to other services and it is occupied by private houses. When designing
a house, the main consideration is to create a pleasant, comfortable environment to live in

"Residential building" includes any structure that is used as a model to promote the sale of a
similar dwelling house. A building used for dwelling in which the dwelling area makes up at least
one-half of the total floor area (Classification of buildings).A residential building is defined as
the building which provides more than half of its floor area for dwelling purposes. In other words,
residential building provides sleeping accommodation with or without cooking or dining or both
facilities.

The term “residential building” includes:

1. detached one-or-two family dwellings having not more than three stories above grade
plane.

2. Buildings that consist of three or more attached townhouse units and have not more than
three stories above grade plane.

3. Buildings that are classified in Group R-2, R-3 or R-4 and have not more than three stories
above grade plane.

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Single family residential buildings are most often called houses or homes. Residential buildings
containing more than one dwelling unit are called a duplex, apartment building, to differentiate
from individual houses. A condominium is an apartment that the occupant owns rather than rent.

NB: Non-residential buildings are buildings other than dwellings, including fixtures, facilities
and equipment that are integral parts of the structures and costs of site clearance and preparation.
Historic monuments identified primarily as non-residential buildings are also included. Examples
include warehouse and industrial buildings, commercial buildings, buildings for public
entertainment, hotels, restaurants, educational buildings, health buildings, etc.

TYPES OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDING BASED ON MATERIAL

USAGE
There are different materials used for constructing a residential building. Among these materials
block masonry (concrete and brick), wood and mud can be listed out.

CONCRETE MASONARY

Concrete is strong and solid construction that provides comfortable shelter from typical weather
and minimizes property damage while protecting occupants from extreme weather and natural
disasters. Yet strength and durability alone are not enough: the systems must be easy to design
and build and be versatile to suit any architectural style. Concrete systems are that and more.

Characteristics of residential buildings

What gives residential building a character is its rooms, special arrangement and fixtures. The
functions of the rooms are the characters of the house. Also, it can be influenced by the different
climatic conditions, traditions of the place it is being built.

Also, the important performance characteristics include:

 Beauty
 Durability
 Usability
 Service life

Types of residential building

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In a residential building one can find different types of residential buildings. Two types of
residential buildings can be distinguished: Houses (ground-oriented residential buildings):
comprising all types of houses (detached, semi- detached, terraced houses, houses built in
a row, etc.) each dwelling of which has its own entrance directly from the ground surface.

Other residential buildings: comprising all residential buildings other than ground- oriented
residential buildings as defined above.

In terms of material usage:

Based on material residential houses are built considering

- Weather condition

- Functionality of the material

BASED ON WEATHER CONDITION

RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN HOT AREAS
House design in a hot and dry climate takes a very particular
approach. Not only is the home to be visually appealing
inside out, but also it must also be designed to keep cool and
conserve the water supply. Most people will live in this
climate year-round, so with no escape to greener pastures.
For hot climates taking advantage of solar PV systems is a
good way to conserve energy and use the sun’s energy. That
means how the walls are constructed, the design of the
plumbing, where the home is positioned on the property and
even how you can use the climate to your advantage with
house design green construction. Generally, we use stone and
block masonry to keep the rooms cool, and avoiding wide
glasses can also contribute to the temperature in each area.
Also, we must think about your windows and doors.

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING IN COLD Figure 9 Hot climate houses

ENVIROMENT

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Most of the houses built in arctic zone or cold areas are igloos,
Igloos are temporary snow houses once used by Alaska Native
Eskimos. Igloos are good houses for the polar region, where
the earth is frozen, the snow cover is deep, and there are few
trees. Snow is a good insulator, and dense blocks of ice offer
good protection against the arctic winds. Not all Inuit people
used igloos some built sod houses instead, using whale bones
instead of wooden poles for a frame. Like a sod house, the
igloo is dome shaped and slightly excavated, but it is built
from the snow, with large blocks of ice set in a spiral pattern
and packed with snow to form the dome.
Figure 10 Igloos

Condominium
Condominiums (or condos for short) are single
units within a larger building or community.
Condos share a wall or two with other units, and
generally come with homeowners’ associations
(HOAs), which require the residents to pay
monthly or yearly dues. They are popular in
urban, high-density areas, where there are many
restaurants and shops. Numerous Buildings at a
single place. These contain many triplexes and
even feature four-unit Buildings. Thus, we can say
that the residing in a single flat among several Figure 11 Condominium
such flats which are contained in a single unit are
called as Apartment. a form of ownership with individual apartments for everyone, and co-
ownership (by percentages) of all of the common areas, such as corridors, hallways, stairways,
lobbies, recreation rooms, porches, rooftops, and any outdoor areas of the grounds of the
buildings.

- Condominium is Single-family detached home that is any free-standing house that is structurally
separated from its neighboring houses, usually separated by open land, making it distinctive from
such dwellings.

Single-Family Home

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Single family homes (often abbreviated as SFH)
are homes built on a single lot, with No shared
walls. Sometimes there’s a garage, attached or
detached. Single-family homes tend to offer more
privacy and space than other types of homes, and
frequently come with private front and back yards.
Since you don’t share the property with Anyone
else, you are free to express yourself with any type
of home design you choose.

You’ll. also have a more reliable resell value than

condos and townhouses. And its weakness is that Figure 12 Single family house
this home type generally requires a lot more
maintenance and all of the cost for that Falls on the shoulders of the homeowner. With condos
and townhouses, you share the costs Involved with yard maintenance, plumbing, roofing and
building amenities.

Townhouse
Townhouses are a hybrid between a condo and a single-family home. They are often multiple
floors, with one or two shared walls, and some have a small yard space or rooftop deck. They’re
generally larger than a condo, but smaller than a single-family home. Townhouses often have
more privacy than a condo might afford. Some have HOAs or joint maintenance agreements to
share upkeep costs. They tend to be more affordable than a single- family home. Townhouses
don’t usually have shared amenities like a gym or a pool, but they’re not as private as a single-
family home. A townhouse, townhome, town house, or town home is a form of medium-density
housing in cities and towns. Modern townhouses are those with a small footprint on several floors.
The buildings are exclusively occupied by rich people in Boston, Chicago, New York City,
Philadelphia and Detroit. In other cities or towns townhouses can be occupied regardless of
income. It is a type of terraced housing. A contemporary townhouse is usually one that has a tiny
footprint that spans several floors. Townhouses date back to the 1700s.

Apartment
An apartment is a place to live that is only part of a larger building. Usually it is a group of
rooms on one floor of a building in a city, where land is too expensive for people to have
separate houses. An apartment that is separately owned is called a condominium or "condo".
A lesser known ownership structure for apartments is housing cooperatives. A rental
apartment has an owner called a landlord who charges money ("rent money" or "rent") from
the people who live there ("tenants").An apartment building or block of flats may have a
few or many apartments. Each apartment is a separate room or set of rooms for people to live
in. Sometimes an apartment will only be one small room, and tenants will have to share other
rooms like the bathroom and kitchen. Other times, tenants will only share an entrance
hallway with different doors leading to each apartment. This shared area is often cared for by

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 a janitor or caretaker. An apartment complex or housing estate is a group of apartment
buildings. In an apartment complex, all of the apartment buildings are usually made in a
similar way. Apartment flats are diverse in size and design, and include studio/efficiency
units, and one, two,three, and more, bedroom floor plans. The modern apartment flat can be
as large as a single- family home and can include a family room, den, home office, and/or
formal dining room. Apartment, multi-unit dwelling made up of several (generally four or
more) apartments. Contrast this with the two-family house and the three-family dwelling.
Numerous Buildings at a single place. These contain many triplexes and even feature four-
unit Buildings. Thus, we can actually say that the residing in a single flat among several such
flats which are contained in a single unit are called as Apartment a relatively self-contained
housing unit in a building which is often rented out to one person or a family, or two or more
people sharing a lease in a partnership, for their exclusive use. Sometimes called a flat or
digs (slang). Some locales have legal definitions of what constitutes an apartment. In some
locations, "apartment" denotes a building that was built specifically for such units, whereas
"flat" denotes a unit in a building that had been originally built as a single-family house, but
later on subdivided into some multi-user house type.

Villa

Figure 14 Sicily residential Figure 13 Sicily white building

houses

The Medici villa in Fiesole. Example of a modern architecture villa in Sicily.

A villa was originally a style of house built for the upper classes in ancient Rome. This style
of architecture has been kept and adapted upon. The villas in Italy have gradually evolved into
luxurious houses. Today, the word villa can refer to many types and sizes of houses around the
world. A villa is a type of house that was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house.
Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa has evolved considerably.

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Multifamily Home
Multifamily homes are the least common type of residential building. They are essentially
a home that has been turned into two or more units. They can be row house-style or have
multiple floors, and range in size from a duplex to a four- flex; anything more than four
units is considered commercial. The distinction between multi-user family units and
condos is that the units can’t be purchased individually; there’s one owner for the whole
building. Multifamily homes are ideal for those looking for an investment property: many
decide to live inone unit, and rent out the others for income, or simply rent out all units.
They are also a great option for mufti-generational households; they allow family
members to live in the same building but have their own unit. Multifamily units are a
hybrid between a single-family home and a condo. The units tend to be smaller than
single-family homes, and less private. If you’re renting one, the maintenance costs go to
the landlord, but if you own one, you’re bearing all the costs for maintenance plus the
timecommitment of finding renters.

Types Advantages Disadvantages

Condominium - shared responsibility - limited remodeling
- shared cost for maintenance - pet and rental restriction
- uniformity and safety - low privacy

Single family home - more privacy and space - requires more maintenance
- private front and back yards - the cost for maintenance is
- more reliable resell value not shared
- freedom of design - responsibility is not shared
Townhouse - more affordable than single - less privacy than single
family home family
- joint maintenance agreement home

Apartment - more security than others - higher costs for rental or to

- higher standard or quality buy the apartment

COOPERATIVES -Co-op owners usually take on - Their mortgage on a co-op,

maintenance as a community the bank can foreclose on the
whole building.
Multi-Family Home - units are smaller than single-
- allow family members to live family homes
in - less private than others
the same building but have - takes time to find renters
them
own unit

Standard Size of Rooms in Residential Building and their Locations

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 Size of Drawing or Living Room

Drawing room or living room is a common, comfortable and attractive place for sitting of family
members and to receive friends and guests. Sometimes it is used as reception room and dining
room and special occasions. Drawing room should be located in the middle of the building and
should be connected to the front verandah and dining place. It should be well-lighted and
ventilated. Generally, drawing or living room is the biggest room of the building so that it can be
utilized for some ceremonial function in the house. Size of the drawing room should be
determined by type of furniture to be used. Standard size of drawing room may range from:
4200mm (14ft) X 4800 mm(16ft) to 5400mm (18ft) X 7200mm (24ft)

Side or Desk L- l'-6" D- I'-6" H 2-6" Large table L- 5'-0" D- 2'-6" H- 2'

Figure 15 furniture standard for living room

Size of Bedrooms
Bedrooms should be so located that they are well ventilated and at the same time
provide privacy. Generally, they should be located on the sides of the building so that
at least one wall is exposed for good ventilation and lighting. The bedroom should be
located on the side of the direction of prevailing wind. The location should be such that
the bedroom receives sunlight during morning hours. The minimum window area
should be 1:10th of the floor area. In bedrooms 9.5 cubic meter per adult and 5.5cubic
meter per child space should be available and suitable allowance should be made for
furniture. If good water supply and drainage system is available, a bedroom should
have an attached bathroom and water closet.

Standard size of bedrooms may range from:

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Master Bedroom Sizes
Small 3.65 x 4.26 Single bed - 3'-0'' x 6'-10''
Medium 4.26 x 6.10 Double bed- 4'-6'' x 6'x10''

Large 4.87 x 7.31 Easy chairs- 2'-6'' x 3'-0'' medium nights- 1'-6'' x 1'-6''

Figure 17 children bedroom

Figure 16 double bedroom

Size of Guest Room

Guest room should be well lighted and ventilated. It should be located on one side of
the building, generally by the side of the drawing room. Guest should be disconnected
from inside of the house and should have separated bathroom and water closet. Standard
Size of Verandah:

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 Figure 18 Guest Room

The best location for verandah is south and west. If the frontage of the building is east
then they are located in east also. The verandah also serves the purpose of a waiting
room. It segregates the private apartment from the entrance area. The veranda should
shade the walls of the building during greater part of the day. For this it is necessary
that it must not have openings of a height greater than 2:3rd of the floor width. Each
house should have one front and rear verandah. If space doesn’t permit, the rear
verandah can be omitted. Verandah have width ranging from 1800mm (6ft) to 3000mm
(10ft) Verandah opening should always have a Caja projection for protection from
sunlight and rainwater. Size of guest rooms may be: 3000mm (10ft) X 3600mm (12ft)

Size of Verandah
The best location for verandah is south and west. If the frontage of the building is east then they
are located in east also. The verandah also serves the purpose of a waiting room. It segregates the
private apartment from the entrance area. The veranda should shade the walls of the building
during greater part of the day. For this it is necessary that it must not have openings of a height
greater than 2:3rd of the floor width. Each house should have one front and rear verandah. If
space doesn’t permit, the rear verandah can be omitted. Verandah have width ranging from
1800mm (6ft) to 3000mm (10ft) Verandah opening should always have a Caja projection for
protection from sunlight and rainwater.

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16
Figure 19 veranda

Size of Office Room

Office rooms should be on one side of front verandah, disconnected from other rooms. Sometimes
an office room serves the purpose of guest room and vice versa. Standard size of office room may
be: 3000mm (10ft) X 3600mm (12ft)

Swivel Armchair Width- 2'-4'' height- 2'-9''' DESK L-l'-6"D-I'-6"H2-6

Large table L-5'-0"D-

Figure 20 office room

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Size of Dining Room
Generally, the dining room should be provided in rear of the drawing or living room
and near the kitchen. In modern houses drawing room and dining room are combined
to have a big room for special occasions. For orthodox families dining room is kept
separate. Size of bedrooms may range from: 3600mm (12ft) X 4200mm (14ft)
to 4200mm (14ft) X4800mm (16ft)

Side or Desk L- l'-6" D- I'-6" H 2-6"

Large table L- 5'-0" D- 2'-6" H- 2' - 6"

Figure 21 furniture standard for dining room

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Figure 22 Dining room

Size of Kitchen
The kitchen should be provided in rear corner of the building but NE corner is the
best. It should be connected with dining room and should have one approach from
outside also. If possible, the kitchen should be so located that sun light should come
in the morning hours, when it is used most. It should have windows for good
ventilation and chimney for smoke escape. The window space should be min. of 15%
of floor area. Sink should be provided for washing and sufficient number of shelves
should also be provided. Sometimes storeroom and kitchen are combined together, if
less space is
available. Standard size of kitchen rooms may range from: 2500mm (8ft) X
3900mm (13ft) to 3000mm (10ft) X 3600mm

Figure 23 kitchen circulation

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Figure 24 kitchen

Storeroom
Storerooms should be located near the kitchen and should have sufficient number of
racks. Standard size of storeroom may range from: 2500mm (8ft) X 2500mm (8ft) to
3000mm (10ft) X 3000mm (10ft)

Figure 25 storeroom arrangement

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Figure 26 storeroom

Pantry:
Pantry is a small room adjacent to dining room for keeping cooked food. It should have
enough cupboards and shelves. For ordinary building, kitchen serves the purpose of
pantry. Size of pantry may range from: 2500mm (8ft) X 3000mm (10ft)

Figure 27 pantry

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 Size of Bathroom and WC:
Now-a-days it has become common practice to provide attached bathroom and water
closets with each bedroom. This is preferable only when good drainage and water
supply is available. It is not attached to the bedrooms, bath and WC should be provided
in rear of the building separately so that the two can be used at a time. Good ventilation
should be provided for bath and WC. There should be two windows in a bathroom. One
for ventilation at a height of 2000mm above outside ground level and another at usual
low level with frosted glass shutters for admitting light and maintaining privacy.
Sometimes ceiling height is kept low (2100mm or 7ft) and upper space is used for
storage purpose

Common sizes of bathroom and water closet may be:

Bath and WC (combined): 1800mm X 1800mm to 1800mm X 2500mm Bathroom

(separate): 1200mm X 1800mm WC (separate): 1200mm X 1200mm

Figure Bathroom
28 Bathroom
andAnd
WCWC

22
Layout of Rooms 2D & 3DSectional
view

Figure 30
Figure 29

Figure 31

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General design consideration
ORIENTATION
Orientation means proper placement of rooms in relation to sun, wind, rain, topography
and outlook and at the same time providing a convenient access both to the street and
back yard. The factors that affect orientation most are as follows.

• Solar heat • Wind direction • Humidity • Rain fall • Intensity of wind site
condition • Lightings and ventilation

SOLAR HEAT: Solar heat means sun’s heat, the building should receive maximum
solar radiation in winter and minimum in summer. For evaluation of solar radiation, it
is essential to know the duration of sunshine and hourly solar intensity on exposed
surfaces.

WIND DIRECTION: The winds in winter are avoided and are in summer, they are
accepted in the house to the maximum extent.

HUMIDITY: High humidity which is common phenomenon is in coastal areas, causes

perspiration, which is very uncomfortable condition from the human body and causes
more discomfort.

RAIN FALL: Direction and intensity of rainfall effects the drainage of the building and
hence, it is very important from orientation point of view.

INTENSITY OF WIND: Intensity of wind in hilly regions is high and as such window
openings of comparatively small size are recommended in such regions.

SITE CONDITIONS: Location of site in rural areas, suburban areas or urban areas also
effects orientation, sometimes to achieve maximum benefits, the building has to be
oriented in a particular direction.

LIGHTING: Good lighting is necessary for all buildings and three primary aims. The
first is to promote the work or other activities carried on within the building. The second
is to promote the safety of people using the buildings. The third is to create, in
conjunction to interest and of well beings.

VENTILATION: Ventilation may be defined as the system of supplying or removing

air by natural or mechanical mean or from any enclosed space to create and maintain
comfortable conditions.

Operation of building and location to windows helps in providing proper ventilation. A

sensation of comfort, reduction in humidity, removal of heat, supply of oxygen are the
basic requirements in ventilation apart from reduction of dust.

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OPEN SPACE: New development should contribute to the creation of private and
public open spaces that are accessible, attractive, safe and comfortable for their users.

PRIVATE AND COMMUNAL OPEN SPACE: Access to open space is an important

component of higher density residential developments.

Open space can be provided as:

- private open space including balconies, terraces or courtyards

- communal open space shared between dwellings

- public open space accessible to residents and visitors.

Design of shared outdoor spaces: should take into account the following:

- Orientation and shading for optimum solar access.

- Shelter for access during inclement weather.

- Planting location and type for durability, ease of maintenance and aesthetic quality.

- Ground surface materials to allow access in all weather conditions.

- Privacy of dwellings facing open spaces.

- Public access and measures to control access where required.

- Safety, in the form of lighting, informal surveillance, as well as restricted access

to pools

and

- Water features for children, changes in level and trip hazards in ground
surfaces.

OPEN SPACE should:

- provide a clear delineation between public, communal and private space

- be substantially fronted by active ground floors including building entries

- provide an outlook for as many dwellings as possible

- provide opportunity for mature planting to provide shade, shelter orscreening

- be designed to protect any natural features on the site or immediatelyadjacent to

the site

- be accessible and usable

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The Residential provide specific and broad recommendations to create high quality
buildings and site plans that will result in more attractive, livable, and pedestrian-
friendly neighborhoods. They aim to be prescriptive enough to create a framework for
design and carry out the community’s urban design vision but flexible enough to allow
for creativity and innovation in design and planning.

A. Development Intensity and Neighborhood Compatibility

B. Building Height and Form

C. Building Relationship to the Street

D. Building Design

E. Building Setbacks for Light, Air and Privacy

F. Auto Circulation: Site Access, Streets and Driveways

G. Parking Location and Design

H. Facilities for Walking, Bicycle, Transit

I. Site Landscaping

J. Usable Open Space

K. Fences and Walls

L. Services

Zoning in on Functions in Home

The physical flow of a home can make all the difference between a comfortable, pleasant
space and an awkward and confusing one. Well-designed homes feature floor plans that
make daily activities simple to perform because the functional spaces flow perfectly.

Zoning means mapping your home against those different purposes, thenconstructing
and maintaining that space to that map. Some areas might be pretty straightforward (the
kitchen, for example), but others could host multiple purposes and functions, and need
to be carved up smartly and realistically.

Once you have areas defined, it means placing of items for a particular task where they
are needed and will be used. This means you’re not always placing like and like
together, but putting your stuff in places aligned with how you actually use it. Zoning
increases the chances of you replacing the item to where it belongs once you have
finished with it, having to use little effort and thought.

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 Aesthetical Requirements
Aesthetics is a branch of philosophic study that relates to the nature and expression of
beauty and taste, in other words, the appearances of things. As aesthetics concerns an
appreciation of beauty, it is influenced by the subjective taste of an individual.

Like painting and sculpture, architecture can be considered a visual art to which the
philosophy of aesthetics can be applied. Application of aesthetics to buildings and
architecture is complicated by the physical requirements of the brief, budget, structure,
regulations, climate, weather, and so on, meaning that building design is driven by form
and function as well as aesthetics. Aesthetic considerations in architecture might
include: Line, Shape, Size, Texture, Color, Balance, Unity, Movement,
Emphasis/contrast, Symmetry, Space, Alignment, Culture, Context.

Conclusion
We can say that a residential building is one which feels safe and gives us a feeling of
belongingness. We not only feel safe but also protected and comfortable when we are
in our home. so, a residential building is not just a building it is also our home.

CASE STUDY ON RESIDENTIAL HOUSE

The Glass House

Key Facts

 An iconic modernist pavilion within a wet tropical setting

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 The main living areas and circulation zones are literally open, outdoor conditions under
cover

OVERVIEW

This project is a re-presentation of Phillip Johnson’s Glass House in New Canaan,

Connecticut, USA – less the glass – making it a perfectly adaptable modernist
prototype for contemporary living in tropical latitudes. This residence is a new
housing prototype and a re-think of the possibilities of a typical suburban context
within our tropical cities.

PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

In contrast to the typical condensed street frontage, the home was setback deep into
the block, providing for an expansive front garden and rear outlook onto a freshwater
creek. This provided an opportunity to successfully re-present an iconic modernist
pavilion within a wet tropical setting, visible from the street as a distinct alternative
and new suburban typology.

The process strives for innovation and new solutions to the problems of living with
climate change in the 21st century. Integration of allied disciplines was critical to the
successful delivery of the vision for the project, in particular the hydraulic and
structural engineering which not only facilitated the advanced sustainability initiatives
but also the practical requirements for withstanding annual cyclonic weather events.

The project budget was clearly defined at the outset, not to be exceeded. The project
was delivered on time and on-budget through positive management of the functional
requirements meeting with the architectural intent. Finishing trades were minimized
where possible, in the spirit of the great modernist houses of the 20th Century: the
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house is intentionally raw yet elegant.

SITE

The lot is situated in the inner city suburb of Cairns, a few minutes away from Cairns
Botanical Gardens and close to city center amenities. The building area was flat and
cleared of vegetation.

DESIGN

The main living areas and circulation zones are literally open, outdoor conditions
under cover.

Functional ‘pods’ figure in plan to enclose bedrooms, bathrooms, a lounge / music

room and an e-glazed office – all secure by way of sliding glass panels and
individually air-conditioned.

A central dappled-light filled ‘internal’ courtyard features the swimming pool as a

feature garden within the main living and dining spaces.

Open to the sky, this central garden provides a regular spectacle in tropical downpours

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as a ‘rain curtain’.

The office ‘pod’ features glazed walls that double as transparent bookshelves,
conceptually as display case featuring a ‘field’ of bookends.

The client requested that the house be exemplar as best practice for universal access.
Careful consideration was taken in the development of all details such that the entire
house is independently accessible via wheelchair.

MATERIALS

Materials are all honestly expressed and the detailing and junction between surfaces is
absolutely clean, requiring genuine attention to detail by the building contractor.

ENERGY

The home is carbon neutral in operation. All energy is renewable, provided by the
large 4.8 kWh photovoltaic and inverter array with feed-back to the power grid, off-
setting the use of air-conditioning and LED lighting.

WATER AND WASTE

The entire roof area is harvested into a 45,000 liter in-ground water tank integrated
with the hydraulic systems for user control over diversion between irrigation and
other non-potable operations.

OWNERS/USERS STATEMENT

“The Glass House is a complex idea of exceptional execution. It melds program

requirements for accessibility and sustainability with modern design principles in a
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 challenging tropical environment. The experience of the house is simple and beautiful
and belies the complexity of thought, design and construction that made it. It makes
you ask yourself ‘How much house do we really need to live comfortably in the
Tropics’?” Dr Shaneen Fantin

More information on the house can be found at:

http://architectureau.com/articles/-glass-house/

PROJECT TEAM

Base building architect/ designer: Charles Wright Architects

Structural engineer: G & A Consultants
Services Engineer: Gilboy Hydraulic Solutions
Builder: La Spina Homes

Local case study

Figure 41

General introduction

Residential building
Location: Addis Abeba, Ethiopia
Architect: sunshine real estates
teamArea: 750 m2
Type: villa house
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 Purpose: for rent
Story: G+1
Owned by: sunshine real estates

The concept of the building

The building have a strong form which

gives it a majestic form. It displays power,
control, strength and safety. It gives the
viewer a sense of being protected like a
shield protecting a worrier. And since the
main purpose for a home is to find that
sense of protection and safety we can say
that the architect achieved his goal of
portraying the feeling of a safe place which
brings the idea of being comfortable inside Figure 32 Local villa house

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Space arrangement
The greenery gives peace in the mind, combined with the silent environment.

Figure 33

Figure 34

The living room and the dining area have access to the refreshing view of the garden
through massive windows which keeps the rooms ventilated and well lighted when
needed.The kitchen is linear shaped and all the furniture are arranged in a way that don’t
take up space since they are attached to thewall.

Figure 35

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 Figure 36

The building contains 4 separate bathrooms which are at high standard with a unique feature
from each other. All are well ventilated and are at the back of the building to prevent any kind
of bad smell.
Materials

The walls are made form HCB , most of the rooms use ceramic tile floors, wooden
doors and fixtures, window frames are aluminium and the windows are glass.
Conclution

This building was built for rent so it is made to suit different kind of people with
different kind of life style, professions and family size. So it makes it flexible for
usage.

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REFFERENCES
 Previous Literature reviews/JIT-AUP students
 https://Archdaily/residential house design layouts.
 www.The constructer.org/standard-room-size.
 https://Civilengineering.com/room/bedroom layout standards
 [Architecture eBooks] Metric Handbook Planning and Design Data
4 Time-Saver Standards for Interior Design and Space Planning
 Architectural_Standard_Ernst_&_Peter_Neufert_Architects'_Data
 Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 International Case study

 https://www.thirkell.com.au/tropicalbuild/case-studies/the-glass-house

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