Common Circulation and Spaces

Common circulation and spaces within a building are shared communally by residents. They include lobbies, internal corridors and external galleries, vertical circulation such as lifts and stairs, as well as community rooms and other spaces.

Common circulation spaces provide opportunities for casual social interaction among residents and can assist with social recognition. Important design considerations include safety, amenity and durability. In addition, the choice of common circulation types has a direct influence on the apartment types provided, building form, articulation and the building’s relationship to the street.

The maximum number of apartments sharing a circulation core is eight

Common circulation spaces achieve good amenity and properly service the number of apartments.

The total number of apartments accessed off one circulation core should be eight or fewer

Common circulation spaces promote safety and provide for social interaction between residents.

External gallery access can be useful to maximise a desirable aspect for apartments or as a buffer to a noise source

Multiple cores improve natural cross ventilation and provide more entries along the street, increasing activity and passive surveillance

Mixed use buildings may have a range of circulation spaces including multiple cores, gallery access and double-loaded corridors with cross-over apartments

Design Criteria

1.The maximum number of apartments off a circulation core on a single level is eight

2.For buildings of 10 storeys and over, the maximum number of apartments sharing a single lift is 40.

Design Guidance

Greater than minimum requirements for corridor widths and/ or ceiling heights allow comfortable movement and access particularly in entry lobbies, outside lifts and at apartment entry doors.

Daylight and natural ventilation should be provided to all common circulation spaces that are above ground.

Windows should be provided in common circulation spaces and should be adjacent to the stair or lift core or at the ends of corridors.

Longer corridors greater than 12m in length from the lift core should be articulated. Design solutions may include:

• a series of foyer areas with windows and spaces for seating

• wider areas at apartment entry doors and varied ceiling heights

Design common circulation spaces to maximise opportunities for dual aspect apartments, including multiple core apartment buildings and cross over apartments.

Achieving the design criteria for the number of apartments off a circulation core may not be possible. Where a development is unable to achieve the design criteria, a high level of amenity for common lobbies, corridors and apartments should be demonstrated, including:

• sunlight and natural cross ventilation in apartments

• access to ample daylight and natural ventilation in common circulation spaces

• common areas for seating and gathering

• generous corridors with greater than minimum ceiling heights

• other innovative design solutions that provide high levels of amenity

Where design criteria 1 is not achieved, no more than 12 apartments should be provided off a circulation core on a single level.

Primary living room or bedroom windows should not open directly onto common circulation spaces, whether open or enclosed. Visual and acoustic privacy from common circulation spaces to any other rooms should be carefully controlled.

Common areas should be provided in larger developments

Windows provide daylight and natural ventilation to common circulation spaces

Incidental spaces can be used to provide seating opportunities for residents

Natural daylight improves the amenity of common circulation areas and increases the likelihood of social interaction between residents

Common circulation spaces should provide short sight lines and be well lit at night

Space for seating in common circulation spaces promotes opportunities for social interaction

Design Guidance

Direct and legible access should be provided between vertical circulation points and apartment entries by minimising corridor or gallery length to give short, straight, clear sight lines.

Tight corners and spaces are avoided.

Circulation spaces should be well lit at night.

Legible signage should be provided for apartment numbers, common areas and general wayfinding.

Incidental spaces, for example space for seating in a corridor, at a stair landing, or near a window are provided.

In larger developments, community rooms for activities such as owners corporation meetings or resident use should be provided and are ideally co-located with communal open space.

Where external galleries are provided, they are more open than closed above the balustrade along their length.

Part 4 Designing The Building

Amenity