Apartment Complex: Notes
Apartment Complex: Notes
Notes
Directions: Complete the following notes during the lesson and class discussion.
Types of Apartments:
2. Row Apartments
- Very versatile and common
- Modular - have sections
- Usually have 2 to 3 units per entrance
- Non-habitable rooms face the side boundaries for privacy
- Dual aspect apartment
- Has the balconies which face the street and rear yard
- The ends of the apartments have exterior walls
- Has an exterior front and back, the rest are interior walls
- Good for privacy and ventilation
- Usually has 3 to 4 floors
- With smaller rooms, better to use a smaller room (1 Bed 1 Bath) instead of a bigger room (2
Bed 2 bath, etc.)
6. Perimeter Apartments
- Always on a corner of a street
- The corner piece is very defined (more details, materials, colors, etc.)
- Has a space in the center to use for courtyards or communal areas
- Has a continuous street wall height for the area
- Usually taller (can be any size but are typically taller)
Building Considerations:
Complex Considerations:
1. Facade - Good composition, materials, textures, and color selections. The patterns and repetitions
of the facade, the proportions and articulation of the external walls and the detailed design of
facade elements are all important considerations. Facade design may include elements that are
proportional and arranged in patterns. You don’t want to design the exterior based on the interior;
the exterior should be planned out and look good.
2. Access - Need elevators and multiple stairwells at easy access. The total number of apartments
accessed off one circulation core should be eight or fewer. Designing common circulation spaces
can maximise opportunities for dual aspect apartments, including multiple core apartment
buildings. Vehicle access is important as well.
3. Variety of units - Variety provides housing choice and supports equitable housing access. Flexible
apartment configurations are provided to support diverse household types and stages of life.
Larger apartments on the corners where more building frontage is available.
4. Fit of units - consideration should be taken to how each neighbouring unit will fit together.
Creativity can be explored by staggering the exterior walls and on corner units. The units should fit
together like a puzzle to save space, time and money.
Unit Considerations:
1. Ventilation - Natural ventilation is the movement of sufficient volumes of fresh air through an
apartment to create a comfortable indoor environment. Achieved by apartments having more than
one aspect with direct exposure to winds (dual aspect apartments, cross through apartments and
corner apartments). Usually the smaller units don’t have cross ventilation.
2. Traffic Circulation - consider appropriate shapes and window designs to deliver daylight and
sunlight, natural ventilation, and acoustic and visual privacy. All living areas and bedrooms should
be located on the external face of the building (with habitable rooms having at least one window)
3. Acoustics - storage, circulation areas and non-habitable rooms should be located to buffer noise
from external sources. Rooms with similar noise requirements should be grouped together.
4. Visual Privacy - privacy should be considered when designing outdoor open spaces of the
apartment, including balconies, courtyards and terraces, which enhance the amenity and
indoor/outdoor lifestyle of residents. Windows should be placed so that the neighboring buildings
are facing non-habitable rooms. When designing balconies, plan out where it faces.