A journey through architectural evolution in domestic spaces
Most homes feature rooms dedicated solely to passage, yet this wasn’t always the case in domestic spaces. Historically, large European villas clustered rooms together, allowing movement through spaces where daily life unfolded. In Palladian villas, aligned doorways created seamless routes, blending the act of crossing a house with crossing through active living spaces.
Architectural historian Robin Evans highlighted this shift in domestic spaces planning in his 1978 essay, “Figures, Doors and Passages.” He cited John Thorpe’s 1597 plan for Beaufort House in Chelsea as a pioneering example of creating independent room access via a central corridor. This innovation reshaped the concept of a room, evolving from social hubs to private retreats.
Villa Thiene, Andrea Palladio, Vicenza, Italy, 16th-century
The rise of privacy and hidden circulation in domestic spaces
By extracting movement from occupied rooms, architects achieved new levels of privacy. By the 19th century, affluent homes featured dual circulation systems—one for family, another for staff. This spatial strategy soon seeped into middle-class homes, introducing utility rooms and secondary entrances for seamless logistics in domestic spaces.
The shift saw residents adopting tasks once delegated to servants, yet spatial divisions persisted. Architect Lucas Maino Fernandez‘s RH House in Valdivia, Chile, showcases how modern homes still harness these traditions, preserving the domestic spaces’ enduring habits.
RH House, Lucas Maino Fernandez, Valdivia, Chile, 2021
MOS Architects‘ reimagining of circulating spaces
MOS Architects challenged conventional layouts with House No. 11, designed for the 2015 “Chicago Architecture Biennial.” They transformed corridors into living spaces by incorporating furniture into narrow modules, suggesting that the transit zone can acquire other uses. Here, circulation becomes a framework for organizing interior space, enhancing the functionality of domestic spaces.
House no.11 (Corridor House)’, MOS architects, Chicago Architecture Biennial, 2015
Redefining spatial functions: the case of Three Corridors House
In Japan, Taku Sakaushi with OFDA’s Three Corridors House uses hallways not just for transit but as social spaces in domestic settings. The central and side corridors are wide, inviting interaction and activities. This innovative approach demonstrates how hallways can transform from mere passageways to vibrant parts of domestic life.
Three Corridors House, Taku Sakaushi / OFDA, Japan, 2011
Rethinking utility and work spaces in domestic spaces
Spaces like laundry rooms are undergoing a transformation, as seen in Fala Atelier’s House Within Three Gestures in Portugal. Here, the laundry room ascends into a tower, shifting the building’s profile and emphasizing the importance of typically functional rooms. This approach highlights a novel appreciation for utilitarian spaces within domestic spaces.
House Within Three Gestures, Fala Atelier, Gondomar, Portugal, 2023
Open-plan living: merging service and family spaces
In Barcelona, Mesura‘s Vasto Gallery emphasizes spatial integration by aligning service and living areas prominently. The central wooden core organizes the apartment while blurring the line between private and functional spaces, encouraging a fluid living experience within domestic spaces.
Blurring the line between private and functional spaces, discover how modern transformed farmhouses embrace their surroundings to create harmonious living environments.
Vasto Gallery, Mesura, Barcelona, Spain, 2023
The No Footprint House by A-01 in Costa Rica takes this further, centralizing domestic systems to increase adaptability. By housing utilities centrally, the surrounding space remains open, combining traditional instincts with modern needs for flexibility and efficiency in domestic spaces.
No Footprint House, A-01, Costa Rica, 2019
Decoding the legacy in modern floor plans of domestic spaces
Ordinary houses conceal fascinating architectural legacies. Hallways allow uninterrupted movement between rooms, laundry closets isolate chores, and mechanical cupboards hide essential systems. These structures, often unnoticed, reveal the persistence of historical floor plan conventions despite shifts in societal norms within domestic spaces.
To see more innovative designs, explore how miniature staircases reveal architectural mastery through intricate models at Cooper Hewitt.
Dive into the spaces we inhabit with designboom’s MODES OF HABITATION chapter, exploring how the configurations of our homes can transform the way we coexist.
Sources & Links
Source: designboom.com
Frequently asked questions
How did corridors redefine room concepts in architecture?
Corridors redefined room concepts by creating independent access, shifting rooms from social hubs to private retreats. This innovation was highlighted in John Thorpe’s 1597 plan for Beaufort House, marking a significant shift in domestic spaces planning.
What is the impact of dual circulation systems in homes?
Dual circulation systems in homes introduced new levels of privacy and logistics. By the 19th century, such systems featured one path for family and another for staff, which influenced middle-class homes and spatial divisions.
How are corridors used in the Three Corridors House in Japan?
In the Three Corridors House by Taku Sakaushi with OFDA, corridors are designed to be social spaces rather than just for transit. The wide central and side corridors encourage interaction and activities, transforming them into vibrant parts of domestic life.