CHAPTER 5

c i r c u l a t i o n

Approach

The first phase of the circulation system is approaching a building’s entrance along a path before passing into its interior. The approach to the building and its entrance depends on the paces before the entrance and lengthy and circuitous route.  Normally there are three kinds of the approaches including a frontal, oblique, and spiral path. The spiral path lets us walk around the building before passing into its interior. The oblique path lets us redirect one or more time to access the building. The image below presents the frontal approach that leads us to enter directly into the entrance of a building along straight.

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Entrance

An entrance is a vertical plane that divides inside and outside of a building. The entrance may be a hole of the wall or two columns with an overhead beam. A change in level that can create a threshold with marking the passage from one area to another is also described as the entrance. The image below presents a projected entrance which forms a transition area and provides an overhead shelter.

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Configuration of the Path

All paths are linear and have a starting to destination point. There are several kinds of the contour which depend on a mode of transportation. Even though pedestrians can tolerate changes in direction, they require a greater volume of space and greater freedom of choice along a route. On the other hand, a wheel vehicle may need a smoother path which reflects its turning radius. Any intersections of paths provide people to make decision. The scale of each path also can tell us how difference between a important paths that leads us to the important place and a secondary path that leads us to lesser places

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Path-space Relationships

Relationships between a path and space are composed of passing by spaces, passing through spaces, and terminating in a space. Pass by spaces is the path passes the spaces which maintained their integrity. Passing through spaces may cut in some parts, center of a space, or along its edge. Terminating in a space presents the location in the space which creates the path.

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Form of the circulation space

Spaces between activities or for movement can form the circulation space. With functional linking device, the circulation space may be corridor spaces. With its scale, the circulation space may be the area that people can stroll, rest, or walk in a view along a path. Generally, there three kinds of a circular space including spaces which are enclosed (private corridor), open on one side (balcony), and open on both side (colonnaded passageway).

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