Circulation

A path of movement can be conceived as the strand that combines and associates the adjacent spaces.  According to Francis D.K. Ching, author of Architecture:  Form, Space, and Order, “Since we move in Time through a Sequence of Spaces, we experience a place in relation to where we’ve been and where we anticipate going.

Building Approach

The Distant View: Before a user actually passes into the interior of a building, they will approach its entrance along a designated path. In this first phase of the circulation system, the user will be introduced to the experiences and uses of the spaces. The approach may vary from a quick, compressed space to a lengthy, circuitous route. It may be perpendicular to the façade or at an angle. The approach may be continued in the interior spaces of the building or contrast sharply.

Building Entrances

From Outside to Inside:  Entering a building involves the act of penetrating a vertical plane that distinguishes one space from another.  It can be signified in more subtle ways than punching a hole in a wall.  Passing through an implied plane or even a change in level can establish a threshold or mark a passage from one place to another.  The form of the opening can also range from a simple hole to an intricate gateway.  Entrances may be grouped into three categories:  flush, projected, and recessed.

Configuration of the Path

The Sequence of Spaces:  All paths of movement are linear in some sense.  All paths have a starting point, from there each user is taken through a sequence of spaces to a specified destination.  A path influences and is influenced by the organization of the adjacent spaces it combines.  The configuration may reinforce the spatial organization by paralleling its pattern or it may contrast with the form and serve as a visual counterpoint to it.  Paths can be considered:  Linear, Radial, Spiral, Grid, Network, or Composite.

Path-Space Relationships

Edges, Nodes, and Terminations of the Path:  Paths may be related to the spaces they link by passing by spaces, which helps maintain the integrity of each space.   Passing through spaces can create patterns of rest and movement within it.   Terminating a path within a space is used to approach and enter a space functionally or symbolically. 

Form of the Circulation Space

Form of the circulation  space includes corridors, halls, galleries, stairways, and rooms.  The form of a circulation space can vary depending on:  its boundaries;  the form of the spaces it links;  its qualities of scale, proportion, light and view; entrances opening on it; and how the levels change with ramps or stairs.  A circulation space may be enclosed,  open on one side, or open on both sides.   The width and height of a circulation space should be proportionate to the type and amount of movement it must handle while providing a distinction in scale.