DESIGNING OPENINGS

 

An opening primarily connects two distinct worlds of outside and inside. Openings through their own presence assume many different guises or architectural character. An internal opening is very important medium of investing the nature of relationship between spatial domains. External openings have in their nominal form, have often diffused the distinction between the interior and exterior spaces. Openings have been stretched inward and outwards to transgress the architectural domain.

 

Design considerations

 

Basic design considerations for an opening system are: width, height, depth, form (shape, configurations) and position (in the surroundings, angles, orientation).

 

Key issues for openings in buildings

 

Openings occur in consonance with other openings, in reference to the exteriors or surroundings, positioned for the functional value in the interior space, maintaining the structural integrity of load-bearing walls or following the regimen of structural framing, and while balancing the punctured surface versus the opaque surface.

 

The openings also take care of nominal transit needs, emergency egress requirements, environmental facilitations, ergonomics needs, and view requirements such as eye level, angle of sight, framing, etc.

 

The openings in buildings are placed for the pattern, compositions, for scaling and proportioning, endowing graphical character, for reflecting styles, cultural ethos, religion and such other affinities and identities.

 

Openings are devices for allowing or restricting the sunlight, air, sounds, privacy and for framing the view of the outside. As a device openings have inbuilt systems to modify the elements transiting through it, such as air, moisture, dust particles, ion charge etc.

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