Chapter 23 Principles of Building Planning 23.
1 PLANNING The planning is defined as the arrangement of all the units of a building on all floors and at levels according to their functional requirements making best use of the space available for a building. All buildings planning should be planned in such a way that it meets the various requirements of a good building keeping in view of the user. 23.2 Principles of Planning : The principles enunciated below are the general principles are not rigid but these are to be followed for good planning. 1. Orientation 2. Roominess 3. Light 4. Ventilation 5. Furniture Arrangement 6. Grouping 7. Circulation 23.2.1 Orientation : The setting out the plan of the building with respect to north-south and east-west directions is known as orientation. It provides an opportunity to occupants to enjoy the natural gifts such as sun-shine , breeze and scenery when required. It is also known as aspect. Aspect means arrangement of doors and windows in the external wall of a building to enjoy natural gifts. The following aspects are preferred for various parts of the buildings : (a) For kitchen Eastern aspect which purifies the air in the morning.
(b) For dining roomSouthern aspect to enjoy winter sun. (c) For drawing and living room Southern aspect or south-eastern aspect which keep the room warm in winter and c ool in the summer. (d) For Bed roomsWestern aspect or south-west aspect. This helps to enjoy breez in summer coming from this side. (e) For Reading room, class room, stairs - Northern aspect is preferred to enjoy diffused light which is evenly distributed. 23.2.2 Roominess: Roominess refers to maximum benefit from the minimum dimensions. Length to width ratio may be 1.20 to 1.50. The doors for rooms should be located in such a way to utility of the room are maximum to maintain the privacy. Followings suggestions are made regarding the roominess:
(i)
The storage elements such as cupboards and lofts should be provided to increase roominess. Use of proper colours to wall and floor to give roominess effect. Use of light colours to reflect the effect of more space. Rectangle rooms instead of square room are preferred.
(ii) (iii)
(iv)
23.2.3 Light: Natural lights and artificial lights are used for better visibility. There should not be glaring and light should be uniformly distributed. The windows and ventilators at the suitable position are provided in rooms to provide a lot of natural lighting. A ratio of area of window to floor area should not be less than 1/10th for residential buildings while for school buildings, it should not be less than 1/5th of floor area. 23.2.4 Ventilation:
The circulation of the air in the building is known as ventilation. The suitable positions of doors, windows and ventilators provided the natural ventilation. It is preferable to use cross ventilations. 23.2.5 Furniture Requirements: Furniture arrangement and its requirements are the most important part of planning. In building planning, the arrangement and position of furniture decides the suitable location of doors and windows without affecting the circulation and ventilation. For example, in case of residential buildings, position of Wardrobe, cup-board, Sofa, chairs and T.V. sets are decided for fixing the size of rooms and to maintain the easy circulation. 23.2.6 Grouping: Grouping means arrangement of various rooms in the building for the convenience of users, their utility and proximity with each other. The object of grouping is to maintain the sequence of their functions, easy communication and to achieve comfort, privacy and efficiency. For example, a dining room should be close to the kitchen, living room should be closed to verandah and the bed room should be away from the living rooms and kitchen while toilet block should be away from kitchen. In case of commercial buildings like offices, theatres, multiplexes, administrative department, libraries should be planned in such a way that user can use the various units easily without any disturbances. 23.2.7 Circulation: The space which is provided to move inside the building both in horizontal or in vertical direction i.e. horizontally from room to room or vertically from floor to floor. Horizontal elements for horizontal movements are passages, lobbies, halls while that for vertical movements are stairs, ramps and lifts. The circulation area should be wide, sufficient, fully ventilated and easily accessible to the users so that efficiency, comfort can be achieved. 23.2.8 Sanitation:
Sanitation includes provision of bathrooms, lavatories, urinals , water supply and other necessary amenities so that it can be easily operated by the user. It should be well ventilated and lighted. It is provided with non absorbent flooring material with suitable slopes and dado on walls so that cleaning is easy and dust cant be accumulated. 23.2.9 Prospects: The prospects means the arrangement of windows to reveal certain desired pleasant features and conceal undesirable features of the buildings from a person viewing from inside. This can be done by using the blinds of various designs and colours as per user choice. 23.2.10 Elegance: Elegance means general effect produced by the elevation. It depends upon proper positioning of doors, windows, ventilators, chajjas, balconies etc. Elevations should be attractive and it depends upon the width, height and the projections in the building. It is also very much depends upon the position of doors, windows, type and texture of material used, the colour applied. 23.2.11Privacy: It is one of the most important part of the Planning specially in case of residential buildings. In planning a building, it should be necessary to maintain the privacy of one room from other room in a building and also the privacy of all parts of a building from from neighbouring buildings, public streets. It can be achieved by careful planning, entrance and by proper grouping of rooms. It also affects the position of doors, windows and ventilators. 23.2.12 Economy: Economy plays important role in planning. It restricts the architect and engineers which leads to unsuitable planning. But, it should be kept in mind while planning for economy that it should not affect comfort, conveniences, durability and use. Economy can be achieved by providing simple elevation, minimum necessary dimensions of doors, windows and ventilators.
23.3 BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF A BUILDING The planning and construction of a building should be aimed at fulfilling the following requirements: 1. 2. 3.
4.
Comfort Strength and stability Dimensional stability Damp proof Fire resistant Heat insulation Sound insulation Termite Proof Economy
5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
1.3.1 Comfort : Planning of building in which the arrangement and sizes of rooms should be fixed and done properly and shall be grouped so as the user can get comfort in using the same. 1.3.2 Strength and Stability: The structural design of the building should be done to sustain all the expected loads coming on it and the same safely transferred to the foundation. The building should be capable of resisting earthquake loads, wind loads, vibrations in case of machine foundation that are expected to occurred during its life. The structural components like beams, columns, slabs and roofs should not deflect, buckle. The building should be safe in sliding, overturing. The building should be stable under the worst combinations of design loads. 1.3.3 Dimensional Stability: The various structural components like beams, columns and slab should not deflect, bend or buckle under the worst effect of natural calamities like earthquake. The design of these components shall be as per the relevant Indian Standard codes.
1.3.4 Resistance to Dampness: The entry of moisture in building due to various causes such as rain water penetration, rise of ground water, condensation in buildings, improper drainage, use of defective material, workmanship and orientation etc. The effect of Dampness is (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) It creates unhealthy living, It produces efflorescence resulting in disintegration of bricks, stones , tiles etc. It softens and crumbles the plaster It causes of corrosion of metals used in buildings It weakens the strength and hence, reduces the life of building.
The building should be designed, constructed in such a way that there is no chance of dampness so that the user can use the building without causing any trouble as listed above due to the dampness during its life span. 1.3.5Resistance to Fire: All structural components of a building should be constructed and designed in such a way and of such materials that they withstand as an integral member of the structure, for the period desired according to the type of construction, in the event of fire. Following are the basic requirements of the building for its resistance against fire : (a) The walls or columns of the building should be thicker. (b) Use of suitable to reinforcement in case of R.C.C. framed structures. (c) Use of fire resistant materials like A.C. boards, fibre boards in case of ceiling and ceramic tiles, concrete in case of flooring. (d) All the fire escape elements such as staircases, corridors, lobbies, entrance etc. should be constructed out of fire resistant materials and be well separated from rest of the building.
(e) The provision of ample escape routes specially in case of theatres, town halls, schools, restaurants, factories, clubs, and such other public buildings in the event of fires. (f) There should be provision of installation of fire hydrants, automatic sprinklers systems, automatic alarm systems etc. 1.3.6 Heat Insulation: The building should be oriented in such a way that there is a constant heat or temperature inside the building irrespective of temperature changes outside so as the effect of tempaerature can be controlled. To achieve this, the use of thermal insulating materials made of fibrous materials like rock wool, slag wool, glass wool, cellulose or wood fibre wool etc. 1.3.7 Sound Insulation: The effect of noise on human results in uncomfortable living condition, fatigue, inefficiency, mental strains. So, the building should be constructed in such a that it controls the outside and inside noise. 1.3.8 Termite Proofing: The presence of termite may causes damage to non cellulosic materials like plastics, leather etc. They also get the food like textiles, wood work, paper products, vegetable products, plastic insulation of wiring etc. Thus, the building should be constructed by giving the pre and post construction treatment. 1.3.9 Economy: The planning of building for economy should be in such way that it does not not affect comfort, conveniences, durability and use. ==============================================================
