Will “broken-plan living” be the ultimate post-pandemic lifestyle trend? By Tammi Forman –Metal Windows

Will the pandemic be the end of open plan living? The change comes as South Africans adapt their homes to be multi use spaces. A new lifestyle trend is emerging to accommodate home working, we are re–thinking our existing spaces.

Open Plan vs Broken plan what is the difference? In residential design, “open plan” describes the elimination of barriers such as walls and doors that traditionally separated distinct functional areas, such as combining the kitchen, living room, and dining room into a single great room.

So, what is Broken Plan Living? “Broken plan” has all of the benefits of “open plan”, but the aim with this design is to keep an element of privacy about your home, as well as specific use for each room. Broken plan, when designed correctly, will retain that sense of openness while offering more in the way of nooks and private areas.

It’s difficult to deny the benefits, having an open–plan layout means that meal preparation can take place in a communal area, without the need for dividing walls or a means to transport food. Open–plan living means occupants can share the same zone, encouraging conversation and stronger family relationships. But, there are drawbacks, when working or schooling together in an open–plan area there are potential noise-level and privacy issues.

Knocking down interior walls to form a space that allows light to flow has been the go–to approach for planning during the past few decades.A new, versatile way of living is set to offer an alternative, which still establishes connectivity between rooms but offers privacy, too.

A key consideration when embracing a multi functional space is how to preserve this same flow of light. Compromises come in the installation of internal screens (see examples below), windows, which solve the noise dilemma without sacrificing light and also retain a sense of cohesion between spaces.

Broken–plan living is about the clever use of a space. Distinct zones are created . Examples of ways to accomplish this include the use of semi–permanent partitions, such as screens, retrofit installation of interior doors and or windows which include a lot of glass or foldaway stacking interior doors for versatility. These subtle divides retain the spacious feel that open–plan living provides, but also give a sense of separation, meaning people can have their own space when needed for that Zoom call or quiet coffee, away from each other.

By Tammi Forman –Metal Windows