Design considerations worksheet

Timber Frame / Post and Beam design and construction of homes, barns, schools and commercial structures in New England.

Design Considerations
Worksheet

Prior to the selection of the design for your home, you need to decide how much and what type of space you need for your many activities and functions. The particular house design you choose will naturally result from a combination of those needs and your preference for one architectural style over another. The following questions will be helpful in stimulating you to consider the basics to room use, size and general space planning. By using them to generate ideas and further thought, you can begin to explore the requirements you have of a home. Reading related building and architectural magazines and books, and visiting homes will be valuable in helping you to determine what your house needs are.

1. List projected dwelling occupants. (family members, relatives, etc.)

Name		Age	Sex	Relationship
___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

2. List pets, livestock, etc.

Species				Number
___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

3. Projected time of occupancy of occupants. (life, to 21 years, occasional, seasonal, etc.)

Name				Time/Duration
___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

4. What kind of transportation vehicles, construction equipment, farming equipment, recreational equipment, etc., do you have or anticipate? Are they stored, sheltered, parked, etc.?

Vehicle/Equipment				Space Needed
___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

5. Have you determined the approximate total square footage of living area that you need? Yes____ No____ If yes what is the square footage?________________. How did you arrive at this size? (i.e. existing situation, family size, number of bedrooms/baths, future needs, furniture arrangement, etc.)

___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

6. Are you going to be the occupant of this dwelling? Yes____ No____. (If not, consideration of marketability of dwelling should be involved in your spatial needs requirement.)

7. List any circumstances peculiar to you or your family which may have an effect on the design of your dwelling (i.e. handicapped needs, medical needs, noise consideration, light considerations, air quality, temperature control, etc.)

___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

8. Should expansion flexibility be a consideration? Yes____ No____ Do you know what you may be adding, where and its size?

___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

9. List activities and amount of time expected to be spent in rooms/spaces listed below and approximate space required. Reference and measurement of existing space in which you live may be helpful. Keep in mind furniture, equipment, storage requirements, etc. This will help you determine minimum/maximum spatial requirements.

Room/Space		Projected activities/Time		Size-Min/Max (include built-ins & storage)

Living Family Kitchen Dining Sunroom/greenhouse Bath(s) Utility/laundry Pantry/storage Bedroom 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom 3 Guest Linen Study/library/den Studio/project room Other Basement Cellar Garage/shop	__________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________

The following list shows possible residential rooms and spaces you may or may not consider in your home. Circle those you would like to consider in your design.

Courtyard Utility Basement Sun Room/greenhouse Studio Airlocks Darkroom Bedroom Stables Dining	Powder room Other Laundry Stairways Deck Library Crawl space Mud room Atrium Wood storage	Family Bath Fountains Pantry Dressing room Saunas Study Halls Patio Recreation room Mechanical room	Garage Shop Barn Kitchen Lavatories Lakes/ponds Broom closet Linen closet Porch Den	Cellar Entry Project room Parlor Living Playroom Pool Breakfast Clothes closet Hot tub

List any additional storage areas you need, where and how much.

___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________