ABSTRACT
Many local-authority planning briefs incorporate minimum distances of 22m between principal windows, on the assumption that most people are concerned with visual privacy. Research into internal space raises the important issue of privacy within multi-generational family homes, especially that open-plan living has become so fashionable. These three components of privacy – barriers to sound and to visual intrusion, and feeling safe – are all essential factors in wellbeing and must be built in at the design stage. Privacy gives people control over when and how they interact with neighbours, which is essential for wellbeing. As protection from the public looking into the school was critical to the client, ground-floor windows are stepped to look towards each other, increasing privacy for classrooms. The route in front of the community space, town houses and apartment buildings remains public up to the front entrance doors.
