Holly, this particular bubble diagram is really just a generic example. I had to make some assumptions in order to do the illustration, so I simply inserted "optional stairs" as a link between "public" and "private" spaces. In a case where the owners (or the site dictates) a two-level house, then, of course, the spaces would be grouped as preferred by level.

Overlapping bubbles means an inseparable connection between two or more spaces. A line means a circulation connection. Lack of a line means there is no need for a connection.

Hope this helps! :-)

There are some other important concepts shown (but easily overlooked) in the bubble diagram:

--Site Orientation: The major public spaces (which will have the major glazed areas) are oriented to the south, in the direction of the noon sun and the major views. This means the "ideal" site is one in which the views and the major outdoor usable spaces are located towards the south. The north face of the house, where the public entry is located, is largely private, with relatively few public rooms and minimal glazing. This serves to reduce the impact of bad weather and to provide privacy from the front of the site.

Of course, this is the "ideal" site orientation, but the closer one comes to selecting property which will allow this orientation, the more "ideal" will be the placement and design of the home. I fully understand that most urban lots and many suburban lots are not "ideal".

--Solar Issues: The kitchen/breakfast area is oriented easterly for morning sun, while the bedrooms are oriented westerly to avoid early morning sun and light.

--Zoning of spaces: The diagram recognizes that there are "public", commonly used and shared spaces, and also "private", more individual-purpose spaces, and keeps the two zones separate.

--Adjacencies: The diagram also recognizes various types of spatial adjacencies: 1) spaces which are strongly and inextricably linked together; 2) spaces with need to be convenient and accessible with one another; 3) spaces which have no special relationship with many of the other spaces.

These are examples of some of the important conceptual analysis and thinking which precedes the actual design of a custom home.

So, something like this, as a place to start?

Yes, this is a good start for what appears to be a 2-story house. This assumes that you have carefully thought and considered the important adjacencies as a first step. For example, it shows where you prefer your children's bedrooms, the adult's bedroom and laundry. It's the basis for a good initial conversation with your architect.

If that was me, I might begin by asking you to explain why the "stair down" and "future furnace finish" bubbles are separate from the "stair up" bubble...do you really want to separate stairs at different locations?

Do you want the butler's pantry separate from the kitchen and dining spaces, rather than in between them?

Oh, and the sun path should go from E to W, not from N to S! :-)

Great start in conceptual thinking!

Is that what that line was? :-) Now I get it, I was thinking it was sort of a "boundary" to the house.

The stairs down are to the basement, which will be a walkout, and eventually finished, but probably not immediately. Furnace, mechanicals, etc. will be down there.

I actually want the kitchen and dining area to flow together as one space. Although as pass through from the butler's pantry to the kitchen is a possibility.

I shall put pencil to paper a second time and try to do a bit better.

Thank you Mr Virgil for posting and explaining further. I've looked at this for several days and This helped me better understand the concept. So you would encourage someone to take this to their architect? It's not too "controlling" or "limiting their creativity" if I take this to an architect at our first visit?

Providencesparrow wrote, "...It's not too "controlling" or "limiting their creativity" if I take this to an architect at our first visit?..."

Not in my opinion! I'd much rather have a positive discussion with you over this sort of conceptual diagram than to look at a finished floor plan, think OMG how will I deal with this, and try to find constructive directions to explore with a consumer designed floor plan or a generic plan factory floor plan.

The conceptual bubble diagram represents your approach to conceptual thinking. A finished floor plan represents somebody's approach to a finished solution. Very different things, conceptual thinking vs. finished solutions!

Other's mileage may vary!

This is a great way to start. I did it with squares and lines but the idea is the same.

It's almost a universal space and circulation planning tool.

My SO does this sort of diagram as the first step when laying out circuits inside microchips: what needs to be close to the power supply, what needs to be close to the edge, what thing needs to be isolated from that other thing that causes noise, what things need the same voltage. it's all "zones".

I use it for landscape planning to figure out how traffic needs to go around the lot and into and out of the house, ans what can be seen from where.

I DID finally get to my first appointment with our architect and I feel a bit like I got my brain turned inside out. We didn't really do a bubble diagram, but he had his own sheet that he likes to work from and we did do a lot of "OK, we're walking through your kitchen and what do you want to see from there?" He also hammered long and hard about the engineering issues involved with the flat lot we're building on (the water table is high enough that just digging a basement is asking for trouble). He had some good ideas and suggestions as well as walking through the pros and cons of a daylight basement versus full walk out and how much lot adjustment each would take. I was just beginning to think he was trying to tell me I can't build the house I want on the budget I've got with the issues he's being presented with - and then he turned right around and insisted that if I really like the whole widow's walk/tower/cupola idea that it's entirely possible.

It leaves my husband and I a lot to talk over (I had to go it alone, as a local ice storm meant the kids were home from school), starting with whether to stick with this piece of land or look for something with a natural rise. Difficult, in an area that is essentially river flats. :-(

That said, I DO think that we'll get a lot more for our effort this way than from a stock plan and had some good conversation about how he works and what sort of back and forth will be needed.

Holly, I love that he asked you, "OK, we're walking through your kitchen and what do you want to see from there?" type questions. That's a great way to think of the flow of your house. Let us know how it goes, and it would be great if you started a thread detailing the process of working with an architect. I bet lots of people would love to hear about it.

Let us know how it goes, and it would be great if you started a thread detailing the process of working with an architect. I bet lots of people would love to hear about it.

Hmmm, would it be at all of interest to hear the minutiae of someone else's trip from idea to house? It seems like all projects, home-owners, and architects are so different that a lot wouldn't translate...

Yes, absolutely it would be of interest!!!

Experiences with architects are what these forums seriously lack. Yes, the details would be different for each home, but it would give people a general idea of what The Mysterious Architect (and his process) is all about. :-)

Please do, we are just waiting to hear back from our design person, your experiences will be helpful. Take care

Virgil Carter Fine Art, I'm curious why bedrooms should avoid early morning sunlight. Early morning seems precisely the time that bedrooms should receive sunlight. Bedrooms aren't really used in the daytime at any other time. And morning sun helps get your day going; helps regulate your sleep cycle. That sort of thing.

This was very helpful to me. I'm trying to decide how far to get before meeting with an architect. I'm very "design inclined" and we own a roofing company but we are not experienced in whole home building. I'm a Realtor and I see what happens when people down play how much value should be placed on experience sometimes. Are there more resources I should look for to help me best prepare in these early stages for meeting with an architect eventually? Would I save money if I brought him a full plan of what I want though?

Would I save money if I brought him a full plan of what I want though?

As JDS is fond of saying, "would you bring a ham and cheese sandwich to a five star restaurant?"

The best thing you can do is make a bubble diagram, put together idea books of what you like and read anything you can get your hands on.

Book Suggestions

Designing a Custom Home

What Makes a House Have Good Design

Five Rules for Better Home Design

Questions on Changing around a floor plan

Architecture and Symmetry

Sarah Susanka and Bubble Diagrams

Thank you! I'll dig through these links! Thanks for taking the time to share!

Studio of 1 wrote, "...I'm curious why bedrooms should avoid early morning sunlight. Early morning seems precisely the time that bedrooms should receive sunlight. Bedrooms aren't really used in the daytime at any other time. And morning sun helps get your day going; helps regulate your sleep cycle. That sort of thing...."

It all depends on the individual and the family. Many people want to be able to sleep as late as they want and not be awakened by early morning sunlight.

Other folks, following your comments, like early morning sun and getting going in the early morning.

So, there's no one "universal rule" about bedroom orientation and light. But it's always important to ask and to have a significant role in the orientation and organization of a custom home design.

I try to put the kid's bedrooms on the sunrise side and the master bedroom on the sunset side where possible. Fatherly architect humor I guess.

Exactly!