EP1074677A2

EP1074677A2 - Office at home

Info

Publication number: EP1074677A2
Application number: EP00113719A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Maria Tereza De Matos Myre Dores
Original assignee: Hobbuilding BV
Current assignee: Hobbuilding BV
Priority date: 1999-08-02
Filing date: 2000-06-28
Publication date: 2001-02-07
Also published as: WO2001009444A3; WO2001009444A2; BR9903437A; EP1074677A3; AU6142400A

Abstract

This invention discloses a building structure including a first plurality of residential use configured subunits, and a second plurality of non-residential use configured subunits interspersed among the first plurality of residential use configured subunits, the first plurality of residential use configured subunits being accessible from outside the building structure via a first access pathway and the second plurality of residential use configured subunits being accessible from outside the building structure via a second access pathway, separate from the first access pathway.

A method for constructing a building structure comprising the steps of configuring a first plurality of residential use subunits and configuring a second plurality of non-residential use subunits interspersed among the first plurality of residential use configured subunits is also disclosed

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to building structures generally and more particularly to multi-functional building structures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, building design has emphasized functionality in addition to aesthetic considerations. This emphasis has resulting in enhanced responsiveness of building design to technological innovations, particularly but not limited to innovations in information technology.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide multi-functional building structures which is particularly suited to work-at-home lifestyles.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a building structure including a first plurality of residential use configured subunits and a second plurality of non-residential use configured subunits interspersed among the first plurality of residential use configured subunits, the first plurality of residential use configured subunits being accessible from outside the building structure via a first access pathway and the second plurality of residential use configured subunits being accessible from outside the building structure via a second access pathway, separate from the first access pathway.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, individual ones of at least some of the first plurality of residential use configured subunits are interconnected with corresponding individual ones of at least some of the second plurality of non-residential use configured subunits other than via the first or second access pathways.
Typically, but not necessarily, the first plurality is equal to the second plurality.
Typically, most, but not all, of the first plurality of residential use configured subunits are adjacent to corresponding ones of the second plurality of non-residential use configured subunits. Pairs of adjacent units may be respectively above and below each other or alongside each other on the same floor.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first and second access pathways are totally separate from each other and are not visible one from the other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
Figs. 1A and 1B are simplified plan view illustrations of two adjacent floors in a building structure constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention and including connectable residential use configured and non-residential use configured subunits;
Figs. 1C and 1D are simplified plan view illustrations of a ground floor and mezzanine in the building structure of Figs. 1A and 1B;
Fig. 1E is a simplified partially cut-away sectional illustration of the building structure of Figs. 1A - 1D;
Fig. 1F is a simplified pictorial illustration of first and second stair systems useful in the building structure of Figs. 1A - 1E;
Fig. 2 is a simplified plan view illustration of a floor in a building structure constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention and including connectable residential use configured and non-residential use configured subunits;
Fig. 3 is a simplified plan view illustration of a floor in a building structure constructed and operative in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention and including connectable residential use configured and non-residential use configured subunits; and
Fig. 4 is a simplified plan view illustration of a floor in a building structure constructed and operative in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention and including connectable residential use configured and non-residential use configured subunits.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is now made to Figs. 1A - 1F, which illustrate a building structure constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention and including connectable residential use configured and non-residential use configured subunits. As seen in Figs. 1A - 1F, there is provided a building structure 10 including a first plurality of residential use configured subunits 12 and a second plurality of non-residential use configured subunits 14 interspersed among the first plurality of residential use configured subunits, the first plurality of residential use configured subunits 12 being accessible from outside the building structure 10 via a first access pathway 16 and the second plurality of non-residential use configured subunits 14 being accessible from outside the building structure 10 via a second access pathway 18, separate from the first access pathway (Fig. 1C).
For the sake of clarity, residential use configured subunits 12 are defined as subunits of building structure 10 which include bedrooms, while non-residential use configured subunits 14 are defined as subunits which do not include bedrooms. It is appreciated that other suitable definitions which distinguish between residential use configured subunits 12 and non-residential use configured subunits 14 may be employed alternatively.
The building structure of Figs. 1A - 1F shows a particular structure wherein every second floor, designated in Fig. 1E, by reference numeral 20, is purely residential, i.e. residential use configured and each floor 22 between the purely residential floors 20 is mixed residential and non-residential, i.e. includes both residential use configured subunits 12 and non-residential use configured subunits 14. In the illustrated embodiment of Figs. 1A and 1B, the residential use configured subunits are duplex apartments wherein each residential use configured subunit 12 on a floor 20 is connected internally with a corresponding residential use configured subunit 12 on a floor 22.
Referring now to Fig. 1A, which illustrates a typical floor 22, it is seen that there are provided two residential use configured subunits 12, each typically including a living room 30, at least one bathroom 32, a kitchen 34 and at least one bedroom 36. Residential use configured subunits 12 communicate via at least one entry door 38 with a residential use hallway 40, which is accessible typically primarily by a residential use elevator 42 and preferably also by residential use stairs 44.
As seen in Fig. 1C, residential use elevator 42 and residential use stairs 44 communicate with a residential use lobby 46 on the ground floor 47, accessible via a residential use entrance door 48 on the ground floor.
As seen in Fig. 1D, residential use elevator 42 and residential use stairs 44 communicate with a residential use portion 50 of the mezzanine 52.
It is also seen in Fig. 1A that there are provided two non-residential use configured subunits 14, each typically including a workspace 60 and typically also including at least one bathroom 62 and a kitchen 64 but normally not including a bedroom. Non-residential use configured subunits 14 communicate via at least one entry door 68 with a non-residential use hallway 70. which is accessible typically primarily by a non-residential use elevator 72 and preferably also by non-residential use stairs 74.
As seen in Fig. 1C, non-residential use elevator 72 and non-residential use stairs 74 communicate with a non-residential use lobby 76 on the ground floor 47, accessible via a non-residential use entrance door 78 on the ground floor.
As seen in Fig. 1D, non-residential use elevator 72 and non-residential use stairs 74 communicate with a non-residential use portion 80 of the mezzanine 52.
As seen in Figs. 1A and 1B, internal stairs 82 preferably interconnect the residential use configured subunits 12 on respective floors 20 and 22. As seen in Fig. 1A doorways 84 preferably interconnect adjacent residential use configured subunits 12 and non-residential use configured subunits 14 on floors 22.
Reference is now made to Fig. 2, which is a simplified plan view illustration of a floor in a building structure constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention and including connectable residential use configured and non-residential use configured subunits. This embodiment differs from that of Fig. 1A in that four, rather than two, residential use configured subunits 92 are provided and four, rather than two, non-residential use configured subunits 94 are provided.
Reference is now made to Fig. 3, which is a simplified plan view illustration of a floor in a building structure constructed and operative in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention and including connectable residential use configured and non-residential use configured subunits. The embodiment of Fig. 3 represents another design of the embodiment of Fig. 2, which is particularly suitable for single floor residential use configured subunits.
Reference is now made to Fig. 4, which is a simplified plan view illustration of a floor in a building structure constructed and operative in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention and including connectable residential use configured and non-residential use configured subunits. The embodiment of Fig. 4 represents another design of the embodiment of Fig, 1A, which is particularly suitable for single floor residential use configured subunits.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of various features described hereinabove and in the drawings as well as modifications and variations thereof which would occur to a person of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art.

Claims

A building structure comprising:

a first plurality of residential use configured subunits; and

a second plurality of non-residential use configured subunits interspersed among the first plurality of residential use configured subunits,

the first plurality of residential use configured subunits being accessible from outside the building structure via a first access pathway and the second plurality of residential use configured subunits being accessible from outside the building structure via a second access pathway, separate from the first access pathway.
A building structure according to claim 1 and wherein individual ones of at least some of the first plurality of residential use configured subunits are interconnected with corresponding individual ones of at least some of the second plurality of non-residential use configured subunits other than via the first or second access pathways.
A building structure according to claim 1 or claim 2 and wherein the first plurality is equal to the second plurality.
A building structure according to any of the preceding claims and wherein at least one of the first plurality of residential use configured subunits is adjacent to at least a corresponding one of the second plurality of non-residential use configured subunits.
A building structure according to any of the preceding claims and wherein at least most of the first plurality of residential use configured subunits are adjacent to corresponding ones of the second plurality of non-residential use configured subunits.
A building structure according to either of the preceding claims 4 and 5 and wherein pairs of adjacent units are respectively above and below each other.
A building structure according to any of the preceding claims 4, 5 and 6 and wherein pairs of adjacent units are alongside each other on the same floor.
A building structure according to any of the preceding claims and wherein the first and second access pathways are totally separate from each other.
A building structure according to any of the preceding claims and wherein the first and second access pathways are not visible one from the other.
A building structure according to any of the preceding claims and wherein the residential use configured subunits are duplex subunits.
A method for constructing a building structure comprising the steps of:

configuring a first plurality of residential use subunits;

configuring a second plurality of non-residential use subunits interspersed among the first plurality of residential use configured subunits, and

causing the first plurality of residential use configured subunits to be accessible from outside the building structure via a first access pathway and the second plurality of residential use configured subunits to be accessible from outside the building structure via a second access pathway, separate from the first access pathway.
A method according to claim 11 and wherein individual ones of at least some of the first plurality of residential use configured subunits are interconnected with corresponding individual ones of at least some of the second plurality of non-residential use configured subunits other than via the first or second access pathways.
A method according to claim 11 or claim 12 and wherein the first plurality is equal to the second plurality.
A method according to any of the preceding claims 11 - 13 and wherein at least one of the first plurality of residential use subunits is arranged to be adjacent to at least a corresponding one of the second plurality of non-residential use subunits.
A method according to any of the preceding claims 11 -14 and wherein at least most of the first plurality of residential use subunits are arranged to be adjacent to corresponding ones of the second plurality of non-residential use subunits.
A method according to either of the preceding claims 14 and 15 and wherein pairs of adjacent units are respectively above and below each other.
A method according to any of the preceding claims 14, 15 and 16 and wherein pairs of adjacent units are alongside each other on the same floor.
A method according to any of the preceding claims 11 - 17 and wherein the first and second access pathways are totally separate from each other.
A method according to any of the preceding claims 11 - 18 and wherein the first and second access pathways are not visible one from the other.
A method according to any of the preceding claims 11 -19 and wherein the residential use subunits are duplex subunits.