The Effect of house plan types on house plan usage pattern transitions in upper middle-class residences: case in Aniwatte, Kandy

Abstract

This research aims to explore the effect of house plan types on residents’ spatial usage pattern transitions over time with reference to upper-middle-class suburban residences, with a case study of Aniwatte East, Kandy. The houses are intended as permanent architectural forms, the extended period of occupancy results in a change of spatial intensity and spatial usage. The study is limited to upper-middle-class suburban houses in Kandy, as this specific socio-economic and contextual category remains underexplored in research. Through literature review physical parameters which affect house plan and the social parameters which affect usage patterns were identified. This research used a mixed-method approach for the case study of ten houses. Spatial data and usage data were collected via measured drawings, observations, and photographic records and interviews with the residents. The houses were analyzed across three phases, from the original plan, early occupancy, and current status, using both physical factors related to circulation, spatial utilization, material adaptability, durability, and furniture arrangement, analyzing with temporal parameters addressing the interval and frequency of house type transformation. The research identified six house types based on space use intensity. The results showed a trend from higher to lower intensity of use, indicated by the centralization of daily activities within a functional zone and increasing dormancy of peripheral areas. This change occurs mainly through interior rearrangement rather than structural alterations, preserving the original architectural form. The study provides insights for architects and housing professionals to create more adaptable and sustainable homes for upper-middle-class suburban residents.