How to Design 2-Story Homes

Study the site and the context within which your building will exist. Observe the areas that receive the most sunlight and decide which rooms will most benefit from it. Study the buildings around the site, to understand which positions work. Decide which rooms will benefit from being located on the second storey and which ones need to be more accessible on the first storey.

List all the uses the home will accommodate. Identify activities that can share spaces. Draw a circulation diagram to show which rooms are adjacent to each other.

Imagine yourself in this home and see if the diagram you have drawn reflects a true impression of your requirements.

Think about every single aspect of the design. Take into consideration the ecological impact of the heating and cooling systems you want to use. Consider the overall sustainability of materials you want to use for every element of the building. Research options and check whether there are alternatives on the market.

Build flexibility into your home. A well designed home will accommodate present and future needs of its occupants. Think about how needs change, as a family becomes older, children grow up and require their own rooms or move out. Design rooms that have dual purposes, such as a guest bedroom and study.

Research different styles of architecture that appeal to you, and do not clash with your neighbors' homes. Study layouts of styles that you have chosen and see if they are similar to your layout. Consider contemporary styles that are more adaptable to changes you will make over the years.