Circulation....

Circulation defines our path of movement between spaces within a building or other interior and exterior spaces.  A path of movement will always have a starting point and an ending point.  The configuration of a path is based on the organizational patterns that it links or on the adjacent conditions of each area. 

Building Approach:  The first phase of circulation is the approach to the building or space.  The approach may be experienced in three different routes: frontal, oblique and spiral.  A frontal approach is a direct axial route to the entrance of the building.  An oblique approach enhances the perspective of the façade by approaching the entrance from an angle or the side.  A spiral approach emphasizes the three-dimensional form of a building by directing the approach around its perimeter. 

Building Entrances: The building entrance involves penetrating the vertical plane that distinguishes the interior from the exterior space. Entrances may be flushed, recessed or projected.  A flushed entrance may make an entrance obscure, while the other two make an entrance pronounced and provide shelter. 

Configuration of the Path: A path has a beginning point, a path of movement and an ending point.  The different paths of movement may be linear, radial, spiral, grid, network or a combination of two or more.  The configuration of the path is influenced by the spaces it passes by or within. 

Path-Space Relationships: Paths are determined by the spaces they link.  There are three different types of path-space relationships: pass by spaces: the shape of the space is kept intact and the path simply goes past the space.  Pass through spaces: the path cuts through the spaces along its edge or directly through it.  Terminate in a space: the space determines the path’s ending point.

Form of the Circulation Space: Circulation space is created within a building by the forms that make up the space.  A circulation space may be: enclosed, open on one side or open on both sides.  The circulation space is determined and affected by it’s boundaries, qualities of scale, light and proportion, entrances and changes in level.