AK Jain Pg28 37

7/31/2019 AK Jain Pg28 37

1/10

ARCHITECTURE - Time Space & PeopleFebruary 201128

DESIGN THOUGHT

Making BestUse of Space

A.K. Jain

The house should be a machineor living. These are words o the well known architect CharlesEduardo Jenneret, better known as LeCorbusier. Today this statement seemsmore logical as time and space are be-coming increasingly precious. A houses

purpose is determined by its design. The most important aspect o its designis how best and or how long the givenspace is utilised. Spatial composition is

another undamental premise in the acto designing. Whether a house, a o ce,actory or shop there is always a short-age o space. Especially in the metropol-itan cities, like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata,where demand o space is much higherthan the supply, there is no option but

to use every inch o space. The amilykeeps growing but space remains static.Expanding the space is a major chal-lenge o house design.

Insight into judicioususage of space whiledesigning a house

The cleverer I am at miniaturizing the world,the better I possess it. But in doing this, itmust be understood that values becomecondensed and enriched in miniature.Platonic dialectics of large and small do notsuf ce for us to become cognizant of the

dynamic virtues of miniature thinking. Onemust go beyond logic in order to experiencewhat is large in what is small.

Gaston Bachelard, 1958

Figure 1: A Housetucked in a cornero a street

7/31/2019 AK Jain Pg28 37

2/10

7/31/2019 AK Jain Pg28 37

3/10


Figure 3: To work out minimum dimensions is always wise to ollow a grid based on anthropogenic module

7/31/2019 AK Jain Pg28 37

4/10

February 2011 ARCHITECTURE - Time Space & People 31

store books, decorative items etc. Asar as possible, the circulation spaceshould be limited. It can be done bycare ul planning and wherever pos-sible these should open outside.

Old ashioned, bulky, heavy andxed urniture occupies lot o space.

In place o such urniture, lightweight,modular and multipurpose urni-ture should be pre erred. Furniture onwheels or casters makes the organisa-tion o space more fexible and easy.

Some openings can be either with-out a door or with sliding shutter togain more space. I a room is not wellwell lighted, then a partially or ullyglazed door can be used. Sliding and

olding doors also save valuable foorspace. Fold open type door consists o two vertical leaves, which t within thedoor. As it opens, the leaves old to-gether or which only hal the space isoccupied. In a bay window seats can bebuilt, either with or without storage.

It is essential to provide properventilation and lighting to every nook and corner. It is o ten seen that largeamount o space becomes waste areain absence o proper lighting or due towrong position o the ans. Lights, ans,switches and electric points can haveenormous impact on the use o space. These should be well planned and stra-tegically placed so that the space isused to ull potential, is com ortableand e cient to work.

Visual spaciousness is articulatedby the e ect o colours and patterns.

Shade and tone o the colours im-mensely e ect the impression o spa-ciousness. Light, plain, pale coloursand small patterns refect the light,hence the room looks larger. On theother hand, dark, bright colours andlarge, broad patterns advance and givea closer look. The stripes make a lowceiling appear higher. Breaking up o the sur aces, walls and foors in di er-

ent colours, patterns or shades by wayo materials, colours or texture makes aroom to appear smaller. Highly refec-tive paints and mirrors can extend thespace. Less can be more, i the space isdesigned meticulously.

A StAble StructureAn earthquake proo structure shouldpre erably be a ramed structure, i.e.columns and beam structure. Thiswill be able to withstand the lateralthrust that seismic orces exert. Thecross section o a house is essentiallya rectangle, i.e. the angles betweenthe loor, walls and roo are at rightangles. A lateral thrust on the side o

the house will tend to distort this rect-angle into a parallelogram. There ore,the structural design o the columnsand beams should withstand the dis-tortion. To counteract earthquakes,the bracing o the columns and beams

is required, together with tying upthe oundation and lintels. Special at-tention is required or designing theoundation with tie beams. The brick work also needs attention. The cor-ner joints in brick work, i.e. where thebrick walls turns at right angles, are

susceptible to come apart during anearthquake. These joints have to be inger-stitched together, like a mor-tise tendon or a tongue and groove joint in wood joinery. This means thatalternate brick courses have stretch-ers coming to the end o the cornerrom both sides. This stitches the cor-ner wall, preventing it rom splittingduring an earthquake. The advances

in construction engineering providepre abricated technologies, and smallpre abricated elements can be ad-opted or design and construction o houses, which are cheaper, e icient,aster and need lesser maintenance.

Fig: 4: Basic components or construction with small elements

7/31/2019 AK Jain Pg28 37

5/10


the living room deSign

In India, the concept o drawing roomin a house is not very old. Drawingrooms among the princely or aristo-cratic amilies, used to be the mostsplendid and spectacular showpieceo the house. These were decorated

with an assemblage o coloured glass,gold iligree, crystal chandelier, show-pieces o ivory and silver, plush vel-vet chaise, lounge mirror, cut glass,marble statues, ireplace, paintings,Prussian or Kashmere carpets, walnut,rosewood and Burma teak urniture.It was a statement o the socio-eco-nomic status and personal and aes-thetic aspirations o the owners. In

traditional Havelis, Baithaks used tobe the exclusive domain o the males. Thus the Baithakanas were plannedon the outside o the main house. Thevisitors are received and entertainedin this room, which is urnished withcushions, covered with white spread

sheet, bolsters and pillows.With the passage o time and

changing patterns o living, the draw-ing room concept has become an in-tegral part o the dwelling, albeit itis based on the unctional consider-ations. Perhaps starting with the Bun-galows and sta quarters designedby the British during the Raj era, theconcept o drawing room has under-

gone a dramatic transaction. Now withsqueezing homes, changing social pat-terns, and with a ast pace o urbani-sation, the orm and unctions o theliving or drawing room have been re-de ned. It has dual unctions rst; thesocial where one entertains the guests,

and secondly, the private, where theamily gets together. The ul lment o these two diverse unctions should bethe cornerstone o designing the draw-ing room. The designer should be ableto identi y the two areas, i.e., the sit-ting area and the living area. In a largeroom, the delineation o unctional ar-eas may be more than two, which mayinclude dining, card playing, childrens

Figure 5: House with a Jharokha, Plot area 264 Sq.yard The ront balcony in the shape o Jharokha gives aunique identity to the small house

Figure 6: A Small compact house o 1400 Sq . AreaDeviation rom parallel walls gives this small house aspacious look

7/31/2019 AK Jain Pg28 37

6/10


corner, dancing etc. In case the roomis too small, the unctions may overlapby way o multipurpose urniture, etc.

Besides unctional aspects, oneshould remember that the drawingroom is the re lector o the person-ality o the amily and it is a show-

window o the house. Being the mostvisible part o the house, it should bedesigned with vision and lair. Thedrawing room, its arte acts, memen-toes, paintings, urniture, urnishings,colour scheme, lighting, etc, shouldmerge in a total concept and theme.It should not be a museum o vari-ous arte acts, designs and patternsunrelated with the overall orm. The

drawing room should be invitingand com ortable. The urniture in

the room should be com ortable andcompatible to the style o decor. I theroom is large, various unctions canbe separated by treatment o looringpattern or levels. But in a small room,it breaks the space and gives a con-stricted look.

For a spacious look, the drawingroom should not be overloaded withtoo much urniture and urnishings. Itscirculation should be direct, consum-ing the minimum area. For example,the dining area should be adjacent tothe kitchen. The dining table shouldbe selected or designed according tothe shape and size o the space avail-able. It is not necessary that the table

should be rectangular it can be round,hexagon, octagon, or any other ir-

regular shape, having our, six or eightchairs. For a small lat, one could evendispense with the ormal dining table.A stone slab or ledge can be built-insomewhere between the drawingroom and the kitchen.

Where the space is at a premium,

its optimum utilisation should be theirst priority. It should there ore benecessary to scrutinise closely wheth-er the circulation can be improvedand space could be saved by replac-ing, shi ting or shutting a wall, parti-tion, door or window. A ramed steelor concrete structure planned on amodular basis, with channelled roo ,standard doors and windows and

modular kitchen, bathroom ittings,etc. can save space, time and money.

Figure 7

Fig 8: A House on 500 sqm plotCompact rom inside and open to outside,this house inter ace inside-out

7/31/2019 AK Jain Pg28 37

7/10


Fig: 9: House on 500 Sqm. Plot. The house with a small basement(Cellar), Drawing room, dining room, sitting area provide space or aparty or 100 persons. A synthesis o traditional and modern designis refected in details o doors, windows, boundary wall, gates, etc.

Fig: 10: A House at Dehradun. This is six bedroom house or a joint amily, which is compact yet spacious. Curved R.C. roo gives the house an organic look

Fig: 11 A uturistic House on 96 sqm Plot. The design envisagespre abricated insulated units which can be assembled on the site

Fig: 12 A Farmhouse Villa- small. Compact and unctional

7/31/2019 AK Jain Pg28 37

8/10

7/31/2019 AK Jain Pg28 37

9/10


Fig: 16 Low cost houses should be designed in a cluster, that giveseconomy , sizable courtyard and promotes community interactionand privacy. Vasna Housing Development, 1975, Kirtee Shah (a terV. Bhatt and P. Seriver)

Fig: 17 Low cost Housing- Typical Floor Plan o 18 sqm built up unit.

Common walls, service areas and minimising neutral circulationarea are key to economy.

Fig:18: Ground Floor Plan Plot Area 26 sqm. A small RehabilitationScheme plot demands best use o limited space and low cost,innovative construction technology, based on the ollowing: Maximise livable area, A Framed RC structure saves wall area Built-in-almirahs in walls Basement and 3 upper oors willprovide a dwelling of about 800 sq. ft. (3BR) If possible, project1.2 m wide balcony on upper oors Staircase to be compact with175-200 mm riser

Fig: 19: Skelton Housing (32 sqm. Dwelling units). Indea acesa huge challenge o low income group housing. Pre abricateddwelling units with common open space provide the houseskeleton in 4 story walk-ups, where the amilies common openspace provide the house skeleton in 4 story walk-ups, wherethe amilies nish and urnish their homes according to theirtaste, resources and needs.

7/31/2019 AK Jain Pg28 37

10/10


Fig: 20: Precast concrete modular units or boundary wall can createmagic o light and shade, solids and voids, colour and orm

Fig: 21 : Concrete block or per orated walls

Fig 22: Brick is a universally available, humble and cheap buildingmaterial. It can be creatively used in unlimited designs, to givebeauty to a wall, together shading it rom rain, dampness and sun.

A.K. Jain is an architect town planner who asCommissioner (Planning),Delhi Development Authority, worked on theMaster Plan for Delhi-2021,Conservation of DelhisHeritage and Planning for the Commonwealth Games(2010). He is a member of the

editorial Board of the IJES,member Advisory Board UN Habitat ( HS Net). Extract from the book A Practical Guide to House Designs by A.K. Jain, Nabhi Publications,New Delhi, 2010.

Illustrations: Courtesy the Author.

Fig: 23 Rainwater HarvestingIn most o the regions in India, water is a criticalproblem. By rainwater harvesting, waste waterrecycling, primary treatment and checking o leakages,the problem can be mitigated to a great extent.\

AK Jain Pg28 37

Documents