SPECIAL PURPOSE SPACES

AND PUBLIC INTERIORS

Submitted To: Submitted By:

Dr. Surinderjit Kaur Simran Grewal
(L-2014-HSc-26-BID)
 INTRODUCTION
Special Purpose Spaces refer to those spaces which have a
particular purpose.
The term Public Interiors refers to spatially contained
environments which are experienced as belong to the
public sphere. In this definition public interiors include the
space inside civic buildings (government buildings) and
institutions (e.g. for education, healthcare, culture etc.)
These are places of sociability, entertainment, transport,
leisure and commerce, as well as culture in the broadest
sense.
 LOFT
A Loft can be an upper storey or attic in a building, directly under
the roof or just a storage space under the roof usually accessed by a
ladder.
Principles of Loft Design:
1) Simplicity- Often we have too much stuff, or the stuff we have
just doesn't fit the urban aesthetic. Think "less is more" and you
are halfway there. Clean lines, no frills and let the architecture to
do the talking.
2) Openness- The beauty of living in a loft is the open floor plan.
Don't think rooms, think about the functions of the space. Every
host knows that the guests always end up in the kitchen, so why
not open the kitchen up to your public spaces?
3) Colours- The best loft designs use bold colours to
accent. Often we will use neutral furnishings and punch
them up with great art, or accessories. Sometimes, the
opposite is true; the walls and floors are plain so that the
furnishings and art can shine.
4) Privacy- The flip side to openness is privacy and it can
be an issue for loft dwellers. You bought all of those
great floor-to-ceiling windows, it seems like a shame to
cover them. Install automated roller shades that have a
beautiful minimalist aesthetic. There are natural
materials such as bamboo or grass being used for shades
 WORKSHOPS
Workshop refers to a small establishment where
manufacturing or handicrafts are carried on. It focuses
especially on techniques and skills in a particular field.
Factors to be considered when planning the workshop
layout:
1) What exactly do you want to do in the workshop.
2) Estimate the costs and time required to equip the workshop.
3) Plan the arrangement of the machines and worktables.
4) Number of machines and workshop accessories
5) Calculate the number of workers / people in the workshop.
6) Decide whether you will be making small objects such
as toys and models, or manufacture large items such as
doors and windows.
7) Space for storing materials as well as finished product
and separate room for finish.
8) Are the doors of appropriate size.
9) Lighting, heating/air conditioning and ventilation should
be adequate. There should be enough electrical circuits
to supply your power needs.
10)Proper security system should be installed.
 DARKROOM
A Darkroom is a workshop used by photographers
working with photographic film to make prints and carry
out other associated tasks. It is a room that can be made
completely dark to allow the processing of the light
sensitive photographic materials, including film
and photographic paper.
 HOME OFFICES
A Home Office is a room or area in someone's home that
they use to work at job.
Principles of Home Office Design:
1) Equipment- Speed and efficiency are critical at home.
Don't pay for equipment you won't use on a daily
basis. Be sure you invest in the fastest equipment
available, so you don't spend your time waiting for
things to work.
2) Ergonomics- Your health, safety and welfare are
critical. Therefore, the items you choose should be
ergonomically designed to promote your health and
4) Lighting- Good lighting is essential. Ideally you want as
much natural daylight as possible. If no daylight is
available, a combination of general and task lighting will
be required. To avoid glare, don't place overhead lighting
directly above computer screens, and don't put a
computer screen directly in front of a light source as it
will cause eyestrain.
5) Colour- Colour impacts mood and energy levels.
Therefore, be aware of the psychological impact of the
colour you choose for your home office.
6) Privacy- No one can work effectively in a sea of noise or
interruptions. When planning your office area, ensure
that it affords a degree of privacy from surrounding
activities. Portable screens can be used to shield the
work area from nearby activities. Alternatively, divider
walls that double as bookcases will not only divide the
area but provide superior storage solutions.
 CONSERVATORIES
A Conservatory is a room with a glass roof and walls,
attached to a house at one side.

Conservatory can be used as:

1) Extra Sitting Room
2) Office or Study
3) Dining Room
4) Growing Plants
5) Kitchen Extension
6) Sun Room
7) Children's Play
Room
8) Gym
9) Games Room
10)Library
 GREENHOUSE

A Greenhouse (also called a glasshouse, or a hothouse)

is a structure with walls and roof made chiefly of
transparent material, such as glass, in
which plants requiring regulated climatic conditions are
grown. A miniature greenhouse is known as a cold frame.
The interior of a greenhouse exposed to sunlight becomes
significantly warmer than the external ambient
temperature, protecting its contents in cold weather.
The explanation given in most sources for the warmer
temperature in a greenhouse is that incident solar radiation
passes through the glass roof and walls and is absorbed by
the floor, earth, and contents, which become warmer and
re-emit the energy as longer-wavelength infrared radiation.
Glass and other materials used for greenhouse walls do not
transmit infrared radiation, so the infrared cannot escape
via radiative transfer. As the structure is not open to the
atmosphere, heat also cannot escape via convection, so the
temperature inside the greenhouse rises. This is known as
the "greenhouse effect”.
Types of Greenhouses:
1) Glass Greenhouse- In domestic greenhouses, the glass
used is typically 3mm (or ⅛″) 'horticultural glass' grade,
which is good quality glass that should not contain air
bubbles.
2) Plastic Greenhouse- Plastics mostly used
are polyethylene film and multiwall sheets
of polycarbonate material, or PMMA acrylic glass.
 COURTYARDS
A courtyard is an enclosed area, often surrounded by a
building or complex, that is open to the sky.

Principles of Courtyard Design:

1) Create versatile courtyards- Courtyard housing allows for
appropriate use of scarce urban space by providing shared
outdoor spaces that can meet the needs of families with,
serve as a gathering place for residents and their cars, and
provide storm water management and other environmental
benefits. These courtyards can contribute to a strong sense
of community while providing safety and security for all
residents.
2) Build functional homes- In this competition, entrants demonstrated how
courtyard housing can achieve functionality for a variety of household
types, including families with children. Many designs were sensitive to
the unique needs of today’s diverse families, accommodated a variety of
physical abilities, adapted to changing household composition and
changes in the developmental needs of family members, and balanced
competing demands for privacy and community.
3) Use sustainable solutions- In a world of diminishing natural resources
and increased populations, it is imperative that all new residential
developments be designed with sustainable practices in mind. Designs
should recognize the importance of sustainability at the building and site
scale through the use of sustainable technologies, resource conservation,
and energy efficiency.
 ATRIUMS
In architecture, an Atrium (plural Atria or Atriums in
both British and American English) is a large open air or
skylight covered space surrounded by a building. Atria
were a common feature in Ancient Roman dwellings,
providing light and ventilation to the interior.
Atria are a popular design feature because they give their
buildings a "feeling of space and light.” Atrium is a Latin
word which is referred to be as open central court. It is
also called as the ‘heart of structure’. It is often located
immediately beyond the main entrance door.
Design Criteria:
1) The spaces should be readily accessible from existing exterior
places. This can be accomplished through direct physical
linkage.
2) Successful atrium spaces should be easily understood for
purpose of way finding circulation and orientation.
3) Atrium space should serve as public pedestrian. The should
contain pedestrian amenities and provide opportunities for
socializing and public occasion.
4) Technical requirements such as heating, ventilation and air
conditioning, smoke exhaust, fire suppression and electric
lighting should be integrated.
 SWIMMING POOL
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or
paddling pool is a structure designed to hold water to
enable swimming or other leisure activities. Pools can be
built into the ground (in ground pools) or built above
ground (as a freestanding construction or as part of a
building or other larger structure).
Pools are most commonly constructed from materials such
as concrete, natural stone, metal, plastic or fiberglass, and
can be of a custom size and shape, the largest of which is
the Olympic-size swimming pool.
Design Criteria:
There are three aspects to any pool: structural design,
hydraulics or mechanic design and cosmetic design, which
includes material, proportion and scale.
If a vessel is structurally sound and has proper hydraulics but is
unattractive, it’s a failure; if it’s attractive but it cracks, it’s a
failure; if it’s structurally sound and attractive, but it dumps
20,000 gallons into the neighbour's yard due to a mechanical
problem, it’s a failure.
The answer is obvious: A good design has to score high on all
three elements.
 PATIO
A patio is an outdoor space generally used for dining or recreation that
adjoins a residence and is typically paved.
Patios are most commonly paved with concrete or stone slabs (also
known as paving flags). Patios can also be created using bricks, block
paving, tiles or cobbles.
Principles of Patio Design:
1)Unity- The patio's design must ensure everything works well together.
The patio flooring, overheads and screens must compliment each other.
The patio furniture should suit the patio's architectural style and
features. Likewise the plants. Patio plants must be in harmony with
themselves and the other plants in the garden. There must also be a
form of unity between the main house and the patio's features.
2)Balance- In patio design, a balance is applied when elements placed in
its space are artfully combined to produce a similar 'visual weight' on
both sides of a central piece. A good example is balancing a mature tree
on one side of the patio with perimeter lined patio benches on the other
side, or in the case of small patios, balancing a garden pool on one side
with accented plants and patio furniture on the other.
3)Variety and Interest- To ensure there is a form of unity in the patio's
design concept doesn't mean there shouldn't be an aspect of variety.
Without variety, unity will become monotonous and bland. For
example, a path can lead from a main patio to another one that is
smaller, cozy and more intimate. A subtle wall fountain can be installed
to give the illusion of a wider dimension to a small patio. Or, different
deck levels can be created to arouse visual interest.
4) Proportionate with Surrounding Structures- Good
proportion demands that the patio must be in scale with the
house and garden. Outdoor furniture takes up more space
than indoor furniture, and coupled with the fact that ample
space must be allowed for other design features such as
containers of plants, barbecue equipment, etc., there should
be added space for the range of activities that will be required
of the patio. To maintain proportion in say, a small patio, its
good to keep its design simple and clutter free. Having clean
lines will make the design elements appear larger. Use
moderate sized patio furniture such as the built-in variety, to
avoid a cluttered crowded feeling.
 SHOPS
Shop refers to a building or part of a building where goods or services
are sold.
Design Criteria:
1)Straight plan- this plan divides
transitional areas from one part of the
store to the other by using walls to
display merchandise. It also leads the
consumer to the back of the store. This
design can be used for a variety of
stores ranging from pharmacies to
apparel.
2) Diagonal plan- uses perimeter
design which cause angular traffic
flow. The cashier is in a central
location and easily accessible. This
plan is most suited for self-service
retail.
3) Varied plan- in this plan attention is
drawn to special focus areas, as well
as having storage areas that line the
wall. This is best suited footwear
and jewellery retail stores.
3) Pathway plan- is most suitable for large
stores that are single level. In this plan
there is a path that is unobstructed by
shop fixtures, this smoothly guides the
consumer through to the back of the store.
This is well suited for apparel department
stores, as the clothes will be easily
accessible.
4) Geometric plan- uses the racks and the
retail floor fixtures to create a geometric
floor plan and circulation movement. By
lowering parts of the ceiling certain areas
can create defined retail spaces. This is
well suited for apparel stores.
5) Curved plan- aims to create an
intimate environment that is
inviting. In this plan there is an
emphasis on the structure of the
space including the walls, corners
and ceiling this is achieved by
making the structure curved and is
enhance by circular floor fixtures.
Although this is a more expensive
layout it is more suited to smaller
spaces like salons and boutiques.
THANK YOU!