Open-plan in housing architecture: Origin, development and design approaches for spatial integration

Abstract

Open-plan is a term which in architecture denotes the principle of spatial integration of functions. Although it has been widely used both in science and in practice, not very much research has been directed at essential understanding of this term. Since the 1950's, when it was first introduced in the architecture glossary, open-plan has constantly been connected to the principle of flexibility and fluidity of space, but up until now, their relation has not been adequately explained. On the other hand, although open-plan is a concept used generally in all modern living spaces, as it contributes to the quality and space comfort, particularly in smaller living spaces, there has been no research that aimed to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of open-plan, as well as approaches to space integration of housing functions. This is why the aim of this research paper is to shed some light on the origin of this concept, its development in housing architecture and to present the most significant examples that applied the concept of open-plan in a characteristic way. A further aim of this paper is also to emphasize the existence of various design approaches, all contributing to the creation of specific forms of open-plan.

Otvoreni plan je termin koji u arhitekturi označava princip prostornog integrisanja funkcija. Iako je pojam u širokoj upotrebi u nauci i praksi, veoma malo istraživanja je usmereno u pravcu njegovog suštinskog razumevanja. Od pedesetih godina XX veka, kada je termin prvi put uveden u arhitektonsku terminologiju, otvoreni plan se neprestano dovodi u vezu sa principom fleksibilnosti i tekućeg prostora, ali do sada nije na adekvatan način pojašnjena njihova relacija. Sa druge strane, iako je njegova primena nešto što se u velikoj meri podrazumeva kod svakog savremenog stambenog prostora, jer doprinosi kvalitetu prostornog komfora, pogotovo kod stambenih prostora malih kvadratura, ne postoje istraživanja u kojima su ciljano razmatrane njegove prednosti i nedostaci, kao i pristupi prostornom integrisanju stambenih funkcija. Stoga je cilj ovog istraživanja da se rasvetli poreklo koncepta, njegov razvoj u stambenoj arhitekturi, prikažu najznačajniji primeri kod kojih je otvoreni plan na karakterističan način primenjen, kao i da se skrene pažnja na postojanje različitih projektantskih pristupa koji doprinose formiranju specifičnih vidova otvorenog plana.