Designing a good open-plan layout
Director at Barc Architects, Caroline Shortt, reveals how to effectively incorporate open-plan living into a new build or renovation
ARCHITECT’S VIEW
What are the benefits of an open-plan space and why do you think this approach has become so popular?
People tend to be less formal nowadays than they used to be.
They’re relaxed about having messy kitchens and things on show, whereas in the past it used to be a separate domain and the food would seemingly arrive out of nowhere. Generally, people gravitate towards each other and end up being in the same space.
When smaller, separate kitchens were the design norm, if you had people over it would either be that everyone ended up crammed together in the kitchen or that whoever was cooking would be separated from the conversation. So, the layout of our homes has evolved to work better with modern-day living.