Tutorial 4 - How to Design .

4.0 First Thoughts on a Site

4.2 How to Carry out a Measured Survey of a Site for a New Home

4.3 How to Carry out a Measured Survey of an Existing Building

4.12 Assessing Room Size and Orientation

In order to make the most of this tutorial it is helpful to have completed Tutorials 2 and 3, i.e. you have properly analysed your requirements and your site. You will also find it helpful to purchase a Home Design Kit (available from www.homedesign-online.co.uk or www.homebuilding.co.uk . I have set out below a step-by-step guide to the home design process (this is a brief summary, more information / detail is available in my new book, How to Design Your New Home, Extension or Alteration , available in the Autumn. Watch www.homedesign-online.co.uk ).

1. Step One . Illustration 4.0 'First Thoughts on a Site' encourages you to make notes æon site' whether land for a new build or an existing building on a site which is going to have an extension or a building which you plan to alter. Record your initial thoughts on a simple sketch (like Illustration 4.1 ). Make sure you understand orientation to the sun, to the prevailing wind etc. æDesign doodles' are important!
   
   
2. Step Two . See Illustration 4.2 æHow to Carry out a Measured Survey of a Site for a New Home ' and Illustration 4.3 æHow to Carry out a Measured Survey of an Existing Building ' . Both illustrations give you useful tips on how to carry out basic measured surveys in order for you to get involved in the design process. Remember that more accuracy may well be necessary at a later stage. The Home Design Kit contains grid paper and scales to help you in this measured survey process.
   
   
3. Step Three . Is all about understanding the space required for movement, appliances, furniture and storage. Illustration 4.12 æAssessing Room Size and Orientation' indicates how furniture, movement and storage help to establish the size of a room. The Home Design Kit allows you to quickly plot furniture within a room using templates and grids supplied. Illustration 4.13 æTracing Layout' shows how templates can be used.
   
   
4. Step Four . You need to bring together your requirements, i.e. your Brief which you will have set out in Tutorial 2, with the site information you have gathered (from Tutorial 3). This is also helped by the use of templates, grids and overlays. Illustration 4.14 æBring Together Thoughts on Room Layout' shows the process of bringing all these thoughts together.
   
   
5. Illustration 4.15 æMaking Models' shows how to make a very simple card model. Draw the plans and elevations onto card, cut them out and stick them together. It is not only very satisfying to make a model but it is invaluable in understanding how initial design thoughts might work.
   
   
6. Step Five . Other considerations. You are starting to create a home design. Be aware of other factors such as construction type, planning and building regulations, design and building cost, design detail etc. etc. Some of these points are covered in later tutorials and in more detail in my book How to Design Your Own Home, Extension or Alteration (available Autumn 2004 - watch www.homedesign-online.co.uk).
   
   

4.13 Tracing Layout	4.14 Bring Together Thoughts on Room Layout	4.15 Making Models

Suggested Reader Tasks :

1. Obtain a Home Design Kit and quickly get involved in the æHome Design' process.

Contacts and references :

Go to www.homedesign-online.co.uk and www.homebuilding.co.uk .