TABLE OF CONTENTS A person's home has a tremendous impact on the person's psychological, physiological, and behavioral conditions and attitudes. Home is where we relax, nourish ourselves, rest, propagate, and often work, and every design choice should enhance these activities. The professional's responsibility is to be aware of the impact these choices will have on the residents and to make decisions and recommendations that will improve their lives. If you create a space for a particular client, the information-gathering phase is a critical part of the design process. If the residence is on spec or part of a development, following general guidelines will increase the possibility that the home will be a positive experience for its future occupants. We assume in this chapter that you will incorporate the concepts discussed in Chapter 3. Underlying every choice should be an awareness of the Primary Purpose of that particular space and the intention of creating a flow of energy and balance in the home that will make the environment feel "natural." Try to apply as many of the same guidelines as possible when planning a house, an apartment, or a condominium unit.
Always begin with three basic tools.
Start with the Golden Rectangle or other regular shape for the house footprint and for each room.
Place the public spaces in the front portion of the home or on the first floor of a multilevel house, and put the private spaces in the back part of the residence or on...
