Zoning in Space Design

Study Notes

Zoning is the process of dividing a space into distinct areas or zones based on their intended functions or activities.
This division helps optimize the use of the space, ensuring each zone is tailored to its specific purpose while maintaining overall coherence and flow within the design.
Zoning involves considerations such as traffic flow, furniture arrangement, lighting, and overall aesthetic to create a cohesive and functional interior environment.

Homes typically have four zones: social zones, work zones (kitchen, utility, office), private zones (bedrooms, bathrooms), and storage zones (cupboards, closets, and cabinets).
There are functional inter-relationships between zones, with certain zones having an adjacency relationship to one another.

The space planning process recognizes which areas and functions are to be interrelated, ensuring a smooth flow between zoned areas.
Zoning determines the allocation of specific activities within a space, ensuring efficient functionality.

The space planning process involves four stages of diagramming:
- Stage 1: Crude bubble plan showing placement of zones according to function.
- Stage 2: Refined bubble diagram indicating how zones are divided into rooms and relationships between them.
- Stage 3: Refinement showing size and shape of rooms and circulation patterns (traffic flow) between them.
- Stage 4: Final floor plan drafted to scale, defining size and placement of all architectural elements.

Accessible design primarily targets people with disabilities, aiming to create products, services, and environments that cater to their needs.
Inclusive design takes a broader approach, aiming to make products user-friendly for the entire human population, considering factors beyond disabilities.
The goal of inclusive design is to minimize difficulties in using the product, regardless of users' current capabilities or situational limitations.