Melissia Architectural study completed in 2020

Residential architectural study in Melissia

A complete home renovation begins with the best possible use of the existing rooms. The new layout is organised around the needs and daily routines of the people who will live in the home.

The functional layout, architectural study and interior design are developed as one coherent study. Architectural planning defines circulation, uses and proportions. Interior design defines materials, lighting and the visual identity.

In Melissia, we studied the new layout of a 92.12 sq.m. ground-floor home for a family of four. The requirements included three bedrooms, clearer circulation and two levels of building intervention.

The study includes a review of the available legal records, alternative floor plans, 3D visualisations and two final solutions. The options are compared before any construction work is considered.

Start with the initial review

Solution 2 with a limited intervention scope

Home: 92.12 sq.m.
Requirements: 3 bedrooms
Study: 7 + 2 layouts
Status: Design study

01 Initial review

Property due diligence

Before developing the new layout, we verify the property’s legal status

The renovation study begins by cross-checking the title deed, the available official plans, the approved floor areas and the actual condition of the property.

For this home, the title deed and the available official plan formed the first level of documentation. A site survey and a measured floor plan followed. Every proposal was based on the verified property records.

Anonymised extract from the property title deed — **Title deed**. The description and floor areas are checked against the available plans and the actual dimensions of the property.

Official plan extract showing the outline of the buildings — **Official plan**. It provides a reference for the building outline and the relationship between the structures before the site survey.

The extracts were cropped specifically for this presentation. Names, the address, coordinates, signatures and all other personal information have been removed.

02 The objective

Improved function within the existing floor area

The architectural study started with the existing outline, the openings, the orientation and the uncertainty surrounding certain structural elements. The main requirements were three bedrooms, comfortable bathrooms and a better connection between the entrance, kitchen and living room.

Successive alternatives were designed to identify the most suitable solution. Each floor plan examines the location of the entrance, living room, kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms together with the extent of the required demolition work.

Core requirements

Three core requirements of the study

01Three bedrooms
A clear arrangement of the three bedrooms and comfortable space for the living room.
02Improved circulation
Direct access from the entrance to the living room, kitchen and bedrooms.
03Controlled interventions
Comparison of the functional result with the extent of new and demolished walls.

03 From sketch to plan

Working method

The ideas developed through successive reviews

Hand sketches were used to review the entrance position, the grouping of the bathrooms and the distribution of the bedrooms.

The design logic was then transferred to a measured floor plan so the options could be assessed using actual dimensions and floor areas.

Hand-drawn architectural sketch for the residential layout — Early sketch used to review the spatial relationships before preparing the measured floor plan.

Measured architectural floor plan for a home in Melissia — Measured proposal with an 18.7 sq.m. living room, an 11.25 sq.m. kitchen and three bedrooms.

04 Seven proposals

Seven proposals for the functional organisation of the home

The seven proposals we designed are compared with the surveyed existing layout in terms of the entrance, the organisation of the shared rooms, the relationship between the kitchen and living room and the extent of the interventions. Each proposal presents its functional improvement and the work required for its implementation.

Proposal 1 for the residential reconfiguration in Melissia — **Proposal advantage**A more unified daily living area with direct communication between the living room and kitchen.
**Proposal disadvantage**Changes are required to the internal partitions and the organisation of both bathrooms.

Proposal 2 with limited changes to the existing floor plan — **Proposal advantage**A reduced intervention scope and direct use of the existing service points.
**Proposal disadvantage**The relationship between the kitchen and living room remains close to the existing arrangement.

Proposal 3 with an eastern entrance and storage room — **Proposal advantage**A clearer entrance arrangement, a separate storage room and improved separation from the bedrooms.
**Proposal disadvantage**The new kitchen and bathroom locations require a larger extent of building work.

Proposal 4 with a more open connection between the living room and kitchen — **Proposal advantage**A familiar arrangement with limited changes to the bedrooms.
**Proposal disadvantage**The central circulation area continues to occupy a substantial part of the floor plan.

Proposal 5 with a unified kitchen, dining area and living room — **Proposal advantage**Comfortable circulation and direct communication between the kitchen, dining area and living room.
**Proposal disadvantage**Relocating the kitchen increases the requirements for new service connections.

Proposal 6 with a flexible organisation of the shared living area — **Proposal advantage**Greater flexibility in the furnishing and use of the living room, dining area and kitchen.
**Proposal disadvantage**The entrance has a smaller transition area before the main shared living space.

Proposal 7 with alternative options and wall interventions — **Proposal advantage**A complete view of the options for the bathroom, wardrobes and living room before the final decision.
**Proposal disadvantage**Implementation requires increased coordination between partitions, plumbing installations and fitted equipment.

3D visualisation of a unified kitchen and living room — Kitchen and living room with a unified wall and storage extending along the room.

3D visualisation of a kitchen with a metal-framed glazed screen — Kitchen with visual continuity and a defined separation from the circulation area.

3D visualisation of a naturally lit living room — Living room with the natural light and low-level storage assessed together.

3D visualisation of a kitchen worktop and window seat — Window and worktop arranged to make use of the natural light.

3D visualisation of two bathroom variations — Bathroom with two alternatives for equipment and storage.

06 Two intervention levels

Decision framework

The two final solutions were assessed according to the extent of the interventions

Solution 1

Extensive reconfiguration

Greater freedom in reorganising the rooms with a larger extent of wall interventions.

Demolition: 56.04 m²
New walls: 51.40 m²
Total: 107.44 m²

Solution 2

Controlled intervention scope

The functional upgrade is achieved with a smaller extent of demolished and new walls.

Demolition: 34.26 m²
New walls: 27.72 m²
Total: 61.98 m²

Technical coordination

The selected solution determines the permit process and the detailed technical studies.

Based on the extent of the proposed internal layouts and interventions, implementation would require Approval for Small-Scale Building Works. The permit process would be based on the final floor plan so the technical file could describe the selected solution accurately.

Relocating the bathrooms and utility points means implementation would also require water supply and drainage design together with an electrical installation plan. These studies would define the new pipework, drainage, lighting, switches, sockets and appliance supply points before work begins.

07 The value of the study

Comparing the floor plans supports the final decision

A complete architectural renovation study defines the position of new walls, the functional result of each change and the extent of the required work.

The Melissia project covers the architectural study stage. The sequence of drawings documents how the options were organised before any implementation.

Renovator Architectural study

Plan your renovation through documented design decisions.

We design and assess alternative floor plans to examine different ways of distributing the rooms, comfortable daily circulation, storage requirements and the location of the kitchen, living room, bedrooms and bathrooms. Each proposal is developed around the actual dimensions, technical constraints, owner requirements and the intended scope of intervention.

Discuss your project with us