Hallways With a Beckoning Beauty All Their Own
Make a home's transitional spaces special with rhythm, function and light
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City. I have Bachelor of Architecture and Master in Urban Planning degrees, and over ten years experience in architectural practice, split between Chicago and NYC. Currently I'm focused on writing and online pursuits. My daily blog can be found at http://archidose.blogspot.com
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City.... More »
The popularity of open floor plans in modern and contemporary residential design — most evident in the "great rooms" that combine living room, dining room and kitchen — has not completely abolished the space that traditionally connects distinct rooms: hallways. Even with open floor plans, hallways can be integrated as transitional spaces between public and private, inside and outside, or between the different zones of the house.
Modern/contemporary hallways can be partitioned into three types: single-loaded, or outboard routes with rooms on one side; double-loaded, the internal corridors with rooms on both sides; and bridges, be they literally within tall spaces or as separate volumes connecting two sides of a house. Hybrids certainly exist, but these distinctions are used to structure the examples that follow.
Modern/contemporary hallways can be partitioned into three types: single-loaded, or outboard routes with rooms on one side; double-loaded, the internal corridors with rooms on both sides; and bridges, be they literally within tall spaces or as separate volumes connecting two sides of a house. Hybrids certainly exist, but these distinctions are used to structure the examples that follow.
This house in Big Sur, Calif. uses all-glass walls to open up expansive views of the ocean and surrounding landscape. Here we can see that to the left, and the glass wall on the right means that view is not sacrificed by the hallway that provides access to the ends of the linear plan.
Direct sunlight is not always desirable, even if it is into a hallway, where heat may build up and radiate to the rest of the house. The exterior wall in this example uses louvers to cut down on the hot sun. Note the pocket door in the left foreground, which closes off this end of the hallway from the rest.
This hallway uses solid panels to create a rhythm in the glass exterior. As you can see, these panels are ideal for displaying paintings. The clerestories are a nice touch that illuminate the ceiling and reduce the need for artificial lighting throughout the day.
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| More rhythm and artwork: Here the windows and black-and-white photos work in concert, one opposite the other. |
The rhythm here, in what I'm guessing is an exterior wall at right, is dense but splendid in the lighting it creates. This is aided no doubt by the light on the far wall and the sphere that seems to beckon.
In this example the exterior wall is a courtyard, so both sides are controlled, allowing for full-height glazing with no shades for privacy. Shelving on the left displays artwork that can be enjoyed even from outside, as people lounge next to the pool.
This hallway does a good job of opening views to the landscape of trees, but note how it also rises in the distance to follow the topography. An exterior stair visible through the glass in the center of the photo shows that this consideration of site extends to the spaces outside as well.
Moving to double-loaded corridors, we can see that spatially and in terms of natural light they are not as dramatic or special as single-loaded ones. But often they are necessary. This one is treated minimally, with a white wall opposite a wood wall with matching closet doors.
Lighting can definitely be used to make hallways more special, and in this case rhythmic. Often the doorways that line hallways can be unrelated, creating a random effect (not the case here), so a strong element like these lights can instill its own rhythm. Note the sliding door in the distance, a nice touch that enables the window to frame the end of the hallway when that room isn't occupied.
| Even the barest of hallways — and I can't think of one more bare than these two white walls — can be improved by shaping the space. |
This looks like it could win the award for longest hallway on Houzz, but it's actually comprised of two sections: In the foreground is a double-loaded corridor with sliding doors on the left and some ingenious display space below storage on the right; in the background is ...
... A bridge that links the existing house and the addition. Here again we have louvers cutting down on direct sunlight. This sort of visual "noise" also discourage birds from accidentally striking glass walls, something that is increased in bridges with glass on both sides.
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by Fatima McNell
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| This sizable bridge looks like it could be used as a room, say as a really nice home office. |
This second-floor bridge incorporates a stair to connect two parts of the house. The dark treatment of the floor and ceiling helps to focus attention on the outside and its daylight.
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| This ground-floor hallway bridges two parts of the house, but it also acts as a transition between the exterior (left) and the courtyard (right). |
by jones | haydu
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What at first glance appears to be just a double-loaded corridor is capped by a mesh on the ceiling. From above ...
by jones | haydu
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... we see this is a bridge that follows the path of the hallway downstairs. In this case the location of the bridge is a given, as the space under the gable's peak is the only place to fit it with enough vertical clearance to walk.
This indoor bridge is illuminated by a glass-block skylight that follows the exterior walls. With indoor bridges, it is often the case that what lies at the end is of some importance, such as the master bedroom, so the special journey is appropriate. A bathroom at the end of this hallway, for example, wouldn't make much sense.
The last few examples show hybrids that combine bridges with single-loaded hallways, what are basically mezzanines. This one locates books opposite windows, all under a sloping roof.
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| I sense a pattern: more books and a sloping roof. Hallways are good places for books, because they don't take up space in other rooms and the mental noise they create (look how many of those books I haven't read yet!) is tucked out of the way, yet they are still easily accessible. |
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| Here we have artwork opposite windows under a sloping roof. The skylight is a nice touch, illuminating the paintings that can be seen from below as well.
More: Browse photos of hallway designs Design at the End of the Hall |
Comments
Ryvenna Books create "mental noise"?! That sounds like a comment from someone who doesn't read much. My perfect house would have a bookshelf in every room.
22 months ago · Like
hannabell strangerskies - I think 'mental noise' refers to stimulation of the mind which is what books tend to do.
22 months ago · Like
John Hill I read a fair amount (http://www.archidose.org/books/books.html), but I don't necessarily want books in very room, the bedroom in particular. Yes, I have a few beside the bed, but the wall of books is saved for the living room. In the bedroom they would make it hard to relax. Maybe I just have too many books that I haven't read, too much to ponder looking at them.
22 months ago · Like
Scott Haig, CKD John, you've shown some works exhibiting beauty and thought that was part of planning the larger spaces--and hallways are typically a "leftover" space. Instead of mundane passagways, you have taken us on the scenic route! Thanks.
22 months ago · Like
Gail John, I have really enjoyed this idea book...love, love the single loaded with glass, what a wonderful treat to be able to look out upon nature, be it summer, fall, winter or spring, always something to enjoy. To me it would be such a luxury. Sets a new bar for the double loaded doesn't it. The bridges are cool, and the mezzanines another treat for those who have that kind of set up. The one bridge where you said it would make a nice office, I envision a quilt studio, though I might not get anything done watching the day unfold. Grin. Thanks for the inspiration.
22 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on Aug. 22, 2011.
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