The Pros and Cons of Open-Plan Home Design

For many of us, a 21st century lifestyle means long working days and a variety of shift patterns. As a result, many people have become time poor, and catching up with the family around the dinner table is harder to do.

Television, radio and the internet are a constant presence, and media is becoming increasingly accessible anywhere in the home. This has contributed to the rise of open-plan house layouts, as occupants make an effort to stay connected to one another.

The perceived benefit of open-plan design is that it encourages conversation and shared moments. This does work a lot of the time, but it might not be what you want all day, every day.

So, can homes be too open-plan? If you’re tackling a self-build, renovation or extension project, it’s vital for your designer to have a good understanding of what it is you’d like to achieve in terms of room configuration. For example, have you thought through the kinds of spaces that work well for groups, whilst also bearing in mind zones for quieter moments?

The visioning stage of your project is critical, and the way that you want to live should directly influence your chosen layout. After all, that’s why you’re creating a bespoke home.

At my architectural practice we design an element of open-plan living into the majority of our schemes, and it works well for the clients who choose it. So what are the pros and cons of this kind of floorplan, and why is it worthy of your consideration?

Zoning the kitchen

When they’re entertaining, clients tell us that they want to cook up wonderful culinary delights for their guests – a process that takes time and space. Rather than having the designated chef locked away in the kitchen for hours on end while everyone else is having fun elsewhere in the house, a growing number of people want to be able to socialise at the same time.

It’s interesting to see the progression of the kitchen into the habitable space it’s become today, as devices like island units and peninsulas become more popular. Not so long ago, this part of the house would have been tucked away in the basement, or there only would have been enough room to prepare food and cook.

Some of you may even remember having a serving hatch connecting the cooking zone to the dining area, which was followed by the use of a hostess trolley to link the two spaces. Having an open-plan layout means that meal preparation can take place in a communal area, without the need for dividing walls or a means to transport food.

The post The Pros and Cons of Open-Plan Home Design appeared first on Build It.

Article reference The Pros and Cons of Open-Plan Home Design