In recent years, knocking down walls to create open-plan living spaces has become incredibly popular. Celebrity TV estate agents often recommend “opening up” old houses for modern living, or “knocking through” to create open-plan kitchen/diners, which are said to add value.
Gain an understanding of why the layout of your home was designed the way it is.
However, before you grab a sledgehammer and knock down walls in a period property, consider living with the existing layout for a while. Gain an understanding of why the layout was designed the way it is before making any drastic changes. Traditional layouts with individual rooms have prevailed for so long in the history of housing because they are practical and make sense for families.
Why have traditional layouts with individual rooms prevailed for so long in the history of housing?
Individual rooms offer privacy and quiet areas, which can be essential for a family. Being able to isolate certain areas that we wish to heat also allows homeowners to consume much less energy than they would with open-plan spaces. Large open-plan areas can be difficult to keep clean–smells and mess from one area can permeate the entire space. They can also make it difficult to work or relax when multiple appliances (like the washing machine or dryer) are in use.
In addition to these practical considerations, traditional layouts can also play an important role in the overall structural integrity of a building. Internal walls provide much-needed lateral restraint, which can be extremely important–particularly for end-terrace properties. Bowing of the flank wall is a common defect when internal walls are removed in an end-terrace house. Simply inserting a steel joist above a newly-formed opening to support the brickwork above may not be a substitute for the loss of lateral restraint.
While it’s true that open-plan spaces can provide perfect areas for entertaining, it’s worth asking how often homeowners will be entertaining a large group of guests. Moreover, heating large open-plan areas can be expensive, as they will lose heat as soon as an external door is opened.
Individual rooms enable us to isolate certain areas that we wish to heat thereby saving energy.
Open-Plan vs Traditional Layouts
So, while open-plan living spaces may be trendy, traditional layouts still have many benefits that should not be overlooked. Individual rooms offer privacy, energy efficiency, and the ability to isolate certain areas that homeowners wish to heat. They also play an important role in the structural integrity of a building. While there are certainly some advantages to open-plan spaces, it’s important to weigh them against the benefits of traditional layouts and make a choice that is both practical and comfortable for your family.
We hope you have found our article useful and informative. Our sales and lettings team here at David Cosby has legal and surveying expertise to ensure you receive the highest standard of service and the best professional advice on all your property-related matters. Whether you are renting, letting, buying, selling a property, or simply have a property-related question, please contact us by clicking the link below, or call us on 01327 361664.
