Space planning and circulation

List every space with its required area and quantity, then add circulation and walls (often 15–30% depending on building type) to estimate the gross floor area. Compare with the budget and site early — it's the first reality check.

An adjacency diagram shows which spaces must be next to each other (kitchen–dining), near (bedrooms–bathroom), or apart (bedrooms–garage). Group spaces into zones: public/private, day/night, noisy/quiet, wet/dry. Zones then become the building's organisation.

Draw the furniture and activity first, then the walls: a bedroom needs the bed, clearances to walk around it (about 600–700 mm), wardrobe and door swing. Accessible spaces need larger clearances (e.g. turning circles). Minimum room sizes and ceiling heights may be set by local codes.

Corridors, halls and stairs don't earn their area — keep them short, well lit and doing double duty where possible. Avoid routes through the middle of rooms, especially bedrooms. Check fire egress requirements (travel distances, exit widths) in your local code.