Quad Apartment Arrangement

This is not an attempt at subliminal antisemitism; I swear.

I have a fondness for a very efficient T-shaped 3/4 bathroom arrangement, but it's tricky to use without creating dead space. Previously, I came up with a dual apartment utilizing it and now I have this quadruple one as well. Since this was about the bathrooms, I didn't bother to lay out any of the rest of the units, and their size could obviously be varied (the ones shown are 12' by 24'). The practicality of having so many different entrances would be highly dependent on the location. All the bathrooms being together would make plumbing them quite a bit easier, although some sound proofing would be called for.

On a related note, this layout has all its components digitized into 2.25" squares (so each pixel is 2.25"). I believe this is accurate enough for practical layouts, while keeping the resolution as coarse as possible to reduce the total number of possible placements. Wall thickness is the limiting factor, or else a 6" grid might be employed. A 4.5" grid (the thickness of most interior walls) wouldn't match up well with some appliances. Once an arrangement is arrived at, the small differences from the true measurements can be easily accounted for. This will be the same approach for the automatic floor plan generator I'm developing.

Fireman's Pole With Stairs Combo

I saw this great picture of a spiral staircase with a slide around it and noticed that it seemed too small to really be useful for an adult. What's really required is a fireman's pole, although that is a safety nightmare, especially for small children. Since spiral staircases are problematic to get approved in many areas owing to their narrow treads near the pole, I decided to design one using regular right angle stairs with landings. It doesn't take too much imagination to see how it would translate to a spiral stair. I assumed a story height of nine feet, which can be accommodated nicely in fifteen steps. These stairs could be extended up multiple floors if desired, with the pole extending all the way to the bottom floor. A more practical, if less entertaining, use for the central area would be as a wheelchair lift.

Compact Three Room Apartment

Here is a design for a compact three room apartment. Actually, to use space effectively, it's two apartments sharing a wall. All the appliances and furnishings are full sized except the kitchen sink (a moderately sized single bowl one is shown, although a more expensive corner sink could be employed to make it larger) and there is room for a large wall mounted flat screen television (shown in grey centered on the sofa). A dishwasher can fit under the counter next to the sofa and a stackable washer and dryer is next to the television. The space in the bedroom across from the bed could accommodate an additional closet or a work area (a corner desk would work especially well). Along the wall next to the sofa there is ample space for shelving. If desired, a lift top coffee table could allow for a standard height dining table. All doors are 36" wide, although an along the wall or pocket door may be desirable in the bathroom. The square footage for the entire arrangement is 630 square feet (so 315 square feet per unit) and measures 21' by 31.5'.

Minimal Nesting Bathrooms

I have been considering the best ways to layout bathrooms and have what I believe are the minimal possible footprints using standard components. The full bath is fairly straightforward, but the 3/4 one (for those who prefer a shower stall style) creates some dead space when nested. Of course that area could be used for a closet or other items, such as a stackable washer and dryer. A shower curtain would need to be used or a shower with doors that open in place (there are a few). It should also be possible to adapt a sliding door meant for tubs using the space next to the toilet. These plans are minimal by intention, but the basic layouts can be expanded to create more elbow room. An along the wall or pocket door could also be employed, again using the space next to the toilet. A vanity for the sink, medicine cabinet, and shelves above the toilet tank (with removable bottom shelf to allow access) could provide storage. Towel hooks could be placed on the door.