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Office Test Fits
 

EFFICIENCY IS NOT A FACTOR OF TOTAL USABLE AREA ALONE

 

Space efficiency is understood in many different ways. The most basic understanding is that it is the difference between the built up area (or the 'saleable area') and the carpet area (or the 'usable area').

 

However what is important for an organisation to consider is the suitability of a given space in relation to its strategic requirements. Lets say an organisation has shortlisted two premises, Space A and Space B, and both have the same usable area. Space A can fit in 100% of the organisation's requirements and Space B can fit in 95% of the same requirements. In such a scenario, Space A is more efficient than Space B.

 

Space efficiency is not a factor of total usable area alone. Often other factors like shape of the floor plate, floor-to-ceiling height, number of windows, etc, can have a substantial impact on making one space more efficient than the other, even if both have the same usable floor space.

 
 

As an organisation, it is one thing to identify its requirements clearly, which in itself is quite a task. The challenge for the Architect or the Interior Designer is then to ensure that all the requirements fit in appropriately. At this point it is also important for the end user to be sure that excess or inadequate space has not been acquired; which would give rise to new challenges.

It is important to de-risk the selection procedure and ensure that surprises are minimised. This is especially important in markets which see a substantial difference between 'saleable' and 'usable' area; or rather between 'built up area' and 'carpet area'. How does one do that?

Although there are several factors one needs to consider, as highlighted in other parts of this website, one important practice is to conduct 'test fits' of shortlisted premises. Spacefits test fits are block plans of shortlisted premises with an analysis of the given space. This allows the client to comprehend how efficient each of the shortlisted premises are and how best each space contributes to meeting the user needs.

   
ARCHITECT/INTERIOR DESIGNER AT EASE

Conducting test fits and selecting the appropriate property based on such findings puts the Architect or the Interior Designer at ease and reduces his or her constraints with the selected property. This allows one to design and make the optimum use of new place and avoid the challenge of dealing with excess or inadequate spaces.