Design Considerations Checklist

Introduction

Parking

Public Open Space

Private Open Space

Landscaping

Building Location

Building Shape

Building Appearance

Building Layout

Unit Layout

-	Entry
-	Room Relationships
-	Room Design
-	Unit Mix
-	Dining Rooms
-	Bathrooms
-	Daylight and Ventilation
-	Storage Space
-	Window Views
-	Materials
-	Appliances and Mechanical Systems

Room Design

Consider how individual rooms will be used. Test furniture arrangements, outlet, telephone, cable jack, and light fixture locations to ensure that all rooms can be reasonably furnished. Consider partly enclosing kitchen to allow flexibility in dining/living room use. The master bedroom may have a private bath in units with three or more bedrooms; other bedrooms will share bathrooms. Consider how rooms can be arranged to accommodate working at home. Avoid through traffic in living rooms.

The first floor bedroom in the right hand unit of this two unit cluster (highlighted) has its own bathroom (also highlighted). (Southside Park Co-housing) The smaller, two-bedroom unit on the left has only one full bath on the upper level (highlighted), while the three bedroom unit has a second full bath (highlighted) shared by three upper level bedrooms. (Southside Park Co-housing) The living rooms in this San Francisco development are designed to avoid through traffic. As a result they do not sacrifice precious space to circulation. The result is a spacious, comfortable room that can accommodate a wide number of furniture arrangements. (555 Ellis Street) Each room should be able to accommodate several different layouts, as is the case in this Los Angeles townhouse development. Note the different living room and dining room layouts in the ground floor drawing, and the variety in the bedroom layouts in the upper level drawings. (Willowbrook Green Apartments) Sketches of potential furniture layouts provide a good "reality check" for the livability of a home. (Lyton Park Place, West Town Cluster Housing, Tent City)