The design gloves are off: open-plan vs broken-plan
May 30, 2024
More recently there has been a lot of noise about a couple of particular spatial home design opponents, reminding us of professional boxers competing in the ring. It’s the fight of the two main home design types: open-plan versus broken-plan.
Designers opinions are divided over the question as to whether open-plan layouts have had their day. Ultimately, the choice rests with you and your lifestyle as the homeowner but how do the contenders match up and how can one of them win over the other?
KEY DRAWS
The difference between these two home design concepts is that open-plan joins rooms together to form bigger and brighter spaces, whereas a broken-plan concept aims to keep the light and spaciousness of open-plan living whilst splitting rooms into areas for different purposes.
AGE…
The open-plan living trend was born in the mid-1950s, with the concept initially put into practice within office spaces in the 1960s. Open-plan had its breakthrough in the 1990s when it became the go-to planning approach in residential construction. In the early to mid-2000s broken-plan emerged as a design response to the traditional open-plan layout.
A QUESTION OF LIFESTYLE
Whether an open-plan or broken-plan format would work best for you is very much down to your personal lifestyle. Do you like to host friends and family, and if so, is it a more formal or casual affair? It can also depend on who lives with you and if you have children. All these answers will inform your home design and layout choices. You could separate your home into different mood or activity zones and split them by floor level: the basement tends to be a great level for all the fun and noise. Turn it into a great ‘anything-goes’ space for your children to play in or your disco night party patch with drinks from your own home bar. Both open and closed concepts would work in basement spaces.
WINS
Open-plan:
- Creates a sense of sociability;
- Natural light reaches more areas;
- Allows complete freedom of movement between spaces;
- Enhanced sight lines;
- Provides for more flexible configurations;
- Creates multifunctional spaces.
Broken-plan:
- Clearly defined zones for different activities;
- Provides more privacy and better functionality;
- Easier to help manage acoustics and reduce noise;
- Offers opportunities to increase storage and hide away clutter;
- Creates options to set up a functional space like a home office;
- Feels more welcoming and cosier than larger open-plan spaces.
K.Os
Open-plan:
- Reduced privacy;
- Sound travels easily, making it a noisier environment;
- Less wall space;
- More difficult to heat;
- If the kitchen is in full view, any mess is easily exposed;
- Doesn’t work well in period properties with architectural features.
Broken-plan:
- More complex in design and execution;
- Partial barriers and furniture can create a cluttered or cramped ambiance;
- Potential noise transfer between zones due to partial divisions;
- Home can feel somewhat closed off;
- Light doesn’t travel as well through the spaces;
- Potentially higher building costs compared with open-plan.
PIVOT TO BROKEN-PLAN
Yes, you can go from open-plan to broken-plan if the latter style speaks to you more. Within the new design though, it’s key to consider how you can retain the natural flow of light and social aspects of open-plan. When permanent structural changes are not an option, one of the easiest and most classic choices are Crittall-style glass screens. You can achieve a broken-plan layout by clever use of decor and furniture too:
- Open shelving – this is another great, low-cost option that achieves broken-plan without touching the structure of your home. Nicely divide areas whilst adding valuable storage.
- XXL ‘doorways’ – downstairs rooms can be connected through extra wide room openings instead of doors. This allows spaces to be visually connected, appear bigger and still provide pockets of privacy in each room.
- Sliding or pocket doors – give you the option to create separation when you need and can easily slide back when you’re ready to join the connecting rooms.
- Glazed partitions and internal windows – set up a quiet area like a home office by dividing a room with glazed panels from floor to ceiling which can block out the noise whilst letting in sufficient light.
- Split levels – divide the space by changing floor and ceiling heights without sacrificing light or compromising on social aspects. A few gently sloping steps could separate your kitchen from a cosy snug and create that all-important space for relaxation.
- Half walls – are an ideal solution to divide a space whilst retaining both sociability and light flow. Teaming half walls with shutters gives you the option to close off a kitchen from a dining or living area, for example.
- Bespoke fireplace feature – create a private, yet cosy atmosphere without losing the sense of space by introducing an interior chimney with a fireplace that can be viewed from either side of the room. It’ll neatly split an open-plan living area into two – think living room on one side and a smaller snug on the other, creating a lovely new feature at the same time.
- Mezzanines – clearly separate areas that serve different purposes such as the living room and kitchen: cooking and dining on the lower level whereas the level above is for relaxation or sleeping. Consider keeping both spaces linked with glass balustrades.
TRENDING…
In the TV series “Location, Location, Location”, Kirstie Allsopp often advises potential buyers to join rooms together to create bigger, brighter spaces but it appears that open-plan is making way for broken-plan after decades in the lead. Especially families who spent lockdown together and juggled working from home and home schooling have come to appreciate the value of doors that can be shut behind them.
Which concept prevails remains to be seen but it might be worth noting that giving the kitchen, living room and dining area its own designated space is a design choice and style that has managed to stand the test of time.
SPLIT DECISION?
Still not sure if you’re transitioning from open-plan to broken-plan or vice versa? Not a problem. Cube’s friendly, award-winning team provides a great end-to-end service which takes care of the design, project management and build of your project, creating the home that works best for you.
We’re in your corner and are looking forward to discuss your home improvement plans in our complimentary, initial design consultation: