Could anyone help me with space planning of a multi storied apartment block 2

[karma134]

Dear friends

I am a freshly graduated Civil Engineer. Kindly suggest me with e books for the above topic. It should give with illustrated examples and also with proper guiding principles.Things like the orientation of building, space planning of rooms, plumbings and staircases and all the other structural units.


Thank you in advance.

 

[ishvaaag]

Some ideas about these things were cleared with the "first" "rational"(ist) architectura when for the first time liberation of the bearing wall systems occurred combined with more complex mechanical services. In general the organization was understood to be good by systems (a modern way of divide and conquer) so the services have shaft allocations and use to be concentrated. The distribution of pieces depends a lot of the available lot and zoning rules, and the orientation uses to be heavily dependent on the latitude of the location (some may want sun where others no), plus other predominant environmental issues that normally are soon identified.

Respect books there are many and I am too old to rely on any and so recommend it (would be quite likely old books anyway), but you cand find some surely through browser searches. I would say, perhaps common sense is the main rule when designing something for others, because you will have to conjugate a significant number of issues. Proper training in the matters of building design will help, for otherwise you (without help) may not even recognize there is an issue when there is ... it is good for most to not venture deeply beyond what you know you know.

 

[IRstuff]

Hire someone, and know that no single book will cover all the subjects you mentioned. Some of it will be building code related, some structural related, and some architectural/aesthetic related.

TTFN
faq731-376

 

[MiketheEngineer]

This why they make architects - buy one

 

[karma134]

Dear friends

Thank you all for the advice. This didn't turn out as I was expecting. The only message I got was
1. Don't expand your knowledge
2. hire an Architect

And on top of that I broke the code of conduct of this forum by using the word help.I didn't know that. Rest assured I will keep in mind the next time onwards.

 

[BAretired]

Actually, nobody said "don't expand your knowledge". You just made that up. By all means, expand your knowledge but don't come to a structural engineering forum asking an architectural question. We don't do architectural space planning.

They did say "hire an architect" and that is what you should do because you are not currently competent to perform that phase of the work.

BA

 

[hokie66]

ishvaaag gave you some advice, and he is an architect. As for the rest of us, we don't know.

 

[karma134]

Yes you are right I am not competent enough. Hence the thread Help required. I desperately want to know about the space planning because it would make my life easier. no pun added.

 

[jgailla]

You can start with a standard architectural handbook. There are many on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Architects-Handbook-Professional-Practice-13th/dp/0471419699

The book will have discussions of many architectural principles, although I don't have this particular one. As a civil engineer, I have frequently used it for laying out exterior elements such as football fields. It will also have sections on space planning and building layout and orientation in particular latitudes and climates.
You can also get a free handbook at

http://wbdg.org/ccb/browse_cat.php?o=29&c=4

These are U.S. government Unified Facilities Criteria. They are not as detailed as the architectural handbooks you can buy.
As for the rest of the posts, this is certainly a complicated procedure. A basic understanding of architectural practice will help you as a structural engineer, but it will only come with experience.
At least in the U.S., engineers are not supposed to practice architecture and vice versa. I certainly have been guilty of demeaning architects from time to time as most engineers do, but it is a complicated profession with a need for skilled individuals to practice.
There is no reason you could not get a handle on some simplified space planning to get a head start on a project.

 

[karma134]

Thank You @jgailla for most informative advice so far. As a new member of this forum at least you made my day.

 

[ishvaaag]

Well, when giving advice it was not my intention to forestall any knowledge expansion ... in Spain where I live, from the sixties at least a number of engineers (mainly industrial and agronomes) have been designing their buildings, and with the apparition of the big technical teams it may well have happened that within them some engineers have developed sound ability in architectural matters, whomever be leading the team, since mostly a design and directorship of works team. The bigger firms use to be thought (out of the scope of their works) as engineering teams so there even more properly.

By now and perhaps on the recent history of the practice of the profession of architecture in Spain, I know that the ways I was trained to practice are being led to extinction; our profession has shown scarce stamina against the political drifts that are bringing it from what was (respected and illustrated responsible professionals) to what is becoming (a set of people with some space planning and -modern- draughstman abilities, and not too tall social standing ... and half the training, it seems a Brave New World scheme, thinking architects are seemingly dangerous) quite -likely and unfortunately- following the German model of an architect as a draughstman (then curiously Germany appreciating hiring from here architects with superior training, something does not add up).

I understand that it may look a bit surprising sometimes to see an architect answering questions in this engineering forum, but even today practicing the structural design of buildings I do not do but what I am demanded to do, warrant and undersign by law in my country; that others may have left the field to other competent professionals is something of their convenience or choice. No barriers in my part, life is difficult enough for everyone to tackle with.

 

[DST148]

There are quite a few Architectural Forums. Try posting on

http://www.architectureweek.com