Agent skill

Building Typology Reference

by Abhinavbwj in Abhinavbwj/Skills-Architects

Compares building types, from detached houses to supertall towers, using plan depth, density and efficiency metrics plus exemplar buildings.

MITAuto-check passedBusiness, Finance & HR

Install Building Typology Reference

skills CLI
$ npx skills add Abhinavbwj/Skills-Architects --skill building-typology -a claude-code

Project install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.

GitHub CLI
$ gh skill install Abhinavbwj/Skills-Architects building-typology --agent claude-code

Project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).

Manual copy
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/Abhinavbwj/Skills-Architects.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/building-typology .claude/skills/building-typology && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.

Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/

Facts

Skill name
building-typology
GitHub stars
296
Used in
1 other repo
Token cost
~8.5k tokens
SKILL.md length
4,178 words
Files
2 (incl. references)
Skills in repo
17
Repo updated
First seen
Licence
MIT

At a glance

Compares building types, from detached houses to supertall towers, using plan depth, density and efficiency metrics plus exemplar buildings.

  • Works in 7 steps: Residential Typologies → Office Typologies → Healthcare Typologies → …
  • Comparing building types for a site, from terraces to mixed-use podium-tower schemes
  • SKILL.md covers 1. Residential Typologies, 2. Office Typologies, 3. Healthcare Typologies and 4. Education Typologies, plus 2 more sections
  • Instructions only: no scripts, shell commands, URLs or credentials in SKILL.md

What it does

Acting as a building typology specialist, the agent works from reference tables organized by use category. The residential section gives each type, such as detached house, semi-detached house and terrace or rowhouse, a metrics table: plan depth, storeys, plot width, typical GIA, density, net-to-gross ratio, structural system, parking, daylight and private amenity.

Each type also lists exemplar buildings with architect, year and place, for example the Farnsworth House and the Moriyama House. According to the description the skill spans residential, commercial, institutional, hospitality, industrial, cultural and mixed-use buildings, and helps compare typological options, select a form for a site, judge plan depth and daylight, and see how a typology affects density, efficiency and user experience. A `references/residential-typologies.md` file supplements the main text.

When your agent uses it

  • Comparing building types for a site, from terraces to mixed-use podium-tower schemes
  • Checking typical plan depth, floor-to-floor height or net-to-gross ratio for a type
  • Finding precedent buildings for a typology
  • Assessing how plan depth affects daylight and density

Example prompts

  • “Compare terrace housing and detached houses on plot width, density and parking.”
  • “What net-to-gross ratio and structural grid are typical for a hospital?”
  • “Suggest exemplar museums that show different plan arrangements.”

Workflow steps

7 steps, taken from the step headings in SKILL.md.

  1. Residential Typologies
  2. Office Typologies
  3. Healthcare Typologies
  4. Education Typologies
  5. Cultural Typologies
  6. Hospitality Typologies
  7. Hybrid and Mixed-Use Typologies

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 30a0845. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.

  • Tool permissions

    Pre-approves nothing: there is no allowed-tools line, so your agent's usual permission prompts apply.

    From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.

  • Runs code

    No scripts in the folder and no shell commands in SKILL.md.

    From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.

  • Network

    No URLs in SKILL.md.

    From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.

  • Credentials

    Names no API keys, tokens, secrets or passwords.

    From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.

Context cost

Building Typology Reference loads about 8.5k tokens when it runs, and up to ~16k if it reads all its reference files. Until then it costs about 180 tokens; SKILL.md has 4,178 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it
~180
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches
~8.5k
With references · SKILL.md plus every file in references/, read only if the agent opens them
~16k

Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.

Safety

Auto-check passed

The automated check found no risky patterns in SKILL.md.

Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); files beside SKILL.md are not scanned.

SKILL.md

The full file from Abhinavbwj/Skills-Architects at commit 30a0845, republished under its MIT licence (© Abhinavbwj). 4,178 words, ~8,522 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/building-typology/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder). This skill also uses 1 other file; get the full folder from GitHub.
name
building-typology
description
Identify and apply building typologies for residential, commercial, institutional, hospitality, industrial, cultural, and mixed-use buildings. Use when the user asks about building types, plan configurations, floor plate design, core arrangements, net-to-gross ratios, structural grids, floor-to-floor heights, unit mix, parking strategies, or exemplar buildings. Also use when comparing typological options, selecting an appropriate building form for a site, evaluating plan depth and daylight, or analyzing how a typology affects density, efficiency, and user experience. Covers detached houses through supertall towers, hospitals through hotels, museums through mixed-use podium-tower developments.

Building Typology Skill

You are an expert in building typology with encyclopedic knowledge of plan types, structural systems, dimensional standards, and exemplar buildings across every major use category. You understand how typological choices drive density, efficiency, daylight, construction cost, user experience, and urban form. Every recommendation is grounded in measurable metrics and real-world precedent.


1. Residential Typologies

1.1 Detached House
MetricValue
Plan Depth8 - 12m (deeper with central corridors or lightwells)
Storeys1 - 3 typical
Plot Width8 - 20m
Typical GIA80 - 300 m2
Density10 - 30 DU/ha
NTG Ratio0.85 - 0.92 (minimal common area)
Structural SystemLoad-bearing masonry, timber frame, light steel frame
ParkingOn-plot garage or driveway, 1-3 spaces
DaylightAll rooms can have windows on 2+ sides; excellent daylight
Private AmenityFront and rear gardens, 50-200+ m2

Exemplars:

  • Farnsworth House (Mies van der Rohe, 1951, Plano IL) -- universal open plan, glass pavilion, 140 m2
  • Maison Bordeaux (OMA/Rem Koolhaas, 1998) -- split-level, hydraulic platform, 500 m2
  • Moriyama House (SANAA/Ryue Nishizawa, 2005, Tokyo) -- cluster of discrete volumes, 263 m2 total
1.2 Semi-Detached House
MetricValue
Plan Depth8 - 10m
Storeys2 - 3
Plot Width5 - 8m per unit (pair = 10-16m)
Typical GIA per Unit70 - 150 m2
Density25 - 50 DU/ha
Party WallMin 100mm cavity masonry, STC 45+
ParkingOn-plot driveway, 1-2 spaces per unit
DaylightThree aspects (front, rear, side); party wall is blank

Exemplars:

  • Donnybrook Quarter (Peter Barber Architects, 2006, London) -- contemporary semi-detached with courtyard variants, 65 DU/ha
  • Accordia (Feilden Clegg Bradley / Maccreanor Lavington / Alison Brooks, 2008, Cambridge) -- mixed semi-detached and terrace, 47 DU/ha
1.3 Terrace / Rowhouse
MetricValue
Plan Depth8 - 12m
Plan Width4.5 - 7m per unit
Storeys2 - 4
Typical GIA per Unit65 - 140 m2
Density40 - 80 DU/ha
NTG Ratio0.85 - 0.90
Structural SystemLoad-bearing party walls (masonry/concrete block), timber floors
ParkingOn-street, rear mews court, or integral garage (reduces habitable area)
DaylightTwo aspects only (front and rear); max depth 12m for adequate rear room daylight
Private AmenityRear garden 20-60 m2, front yard 3-10 m2

Key Dimensions:

  • Min width for 2-bed: 4.5m (internal); 5.0-5.5m preferred
  • Min width for 3-bed: 5.5m; 6.0-7.0m preferred
  • Stair width: 850mm min clear, 900mm preferred
  • Hallway: 900mm min clear

Exemplars:

  • Georgian Terrace (Bath, London, Edinburgh, 1714-1830) -- 5-7m wide, 12-15m deep, 3-4 storeys, the prototype
  • Borneo Sporenburg (various architects, 2000, Amsterdam) -- 5.1m wide, 3 storeys, courtyard within plan depth, 100 DU/ha
  • Goldsmith Street (Mikhail Riches, 2019, Norwich) -- Stirling Prize, Passivhaus terrace, 5.2m wide, south-facing orientation
1.4 Walk-Up Apartment (3-5 Storeys)
MetricValue
Plan Depth10 - 14m (single-loaded corridor: 6-8m)
Core TypeSingle staircase serving 4-8 units per floor (no lift required below 5 storeys in many codes)
Units per Core2 - 4 per landing (stair access type); 6-12 per floor (corridor type)
Typical Unit Size45 - 90 m2 NIA
Density60 - 150 DU/ha
NTG Ratio0.78 - 0.84
Structural SystemLoad-bearing masonry, cross-laminated timber (CLT), reinforced concrete frame
ParkingSurface, undercroft, or basement; 0.5-1.0 spaces/unit
DaylightDual-aspect achievable with stair-access type; single-aspect common in corridor type

Core Configurations:

  • Stair Access (no corridor): Single stair with 2-4 units per landing. Most efficient, best dual-aspect potential. Common in continental Europe (Berlin, Paris, Vienna).
  • Single-Loaded Corridor: Corridor on one side, units on the other. All units face same direction. Good daylight but less efficient (NTG 0.72-0.78).
  • Double-Loaded Corridor: Corridor in centre, units both sides. Most area-efficient but single-aspect units on both sides. Plan depth 12-15m.

Exemplars:

  • Silodam (MVRDV, 2003, Amsterdam) -- mixed walk-up and maisonette, 157 units, harbour location
  • Ely Court (Alison Brooks Architects, 2015, London) -- brick walk-up, stair-access cores, dual-aspect
  • 85 Falkner Street (shedkm, 2018, Liverpool) -- CLT walk-up apartments, Passivhaus
1.5 Mid-Rise Apartment (6-12 Storeys)
MetricValue
Plan Depth12 - 18m (double-loaded corridor)
Floor Plate600 - 1500 m2 GIA
Core Type1-2 lifts + 1 firefighting stair + 1 escape stair (code-dependent)
Units per Core per Floor4 - 10
Typical Unit Mix30-40% 1-bed, 35-45% 2-bed, 15-25% 3-bed
Density100 - 250 DU/ha
NTG Ratio0.75 - 0.82
Structural SystemRC frame, flat slab (most common), RC shear walls + flat slab, CLT (up to ~10 storeys)
Structural Grid6.0m x 7.5m typical (residential)
Floor-to-Floor2.85 - 3.15m
ParkingBasement or podium; 0.3-1.0 spaces/unit
DaylightMix of dual-aspect (corners, ends) and single-aspect (mid-block); plan depth critical

Key Design Principles:

  • Corridor length should not exceed 30m from core (fire egress)
  • Minimum 2 units as dual-aspect per floor (corners)
  • North-facing single-aspect units should be avoided (poor daylight and solar gain)
  • Refuse chute within 30m of every unit entrance
  • Accessible units (Part M Category 2 min, 10% Category 3) spread across floors

Exemplars:

  • Via Verde (Grimshaw + Dattner, 2012, Bronx NY) -- 222 units, stepped profile, rooftop agriculture, mixed affordable
  • One Folgate Street (Alison Brooks Architects, 2018, London) -- 8 storeys, brick, dual-aspect, mixed tenure
  • The Interlace (OMA/Ole Scheeren, 2013, Singapore) -- 31 blocks of 6 storeys, stacked at angles, 1,040 units, 170,000 m2
1.6 High-Rise Residential Tower (13+ Storeys)
MetricValue
Plan DepthPoint tower: 18-24m diameter; Slab tower: 12-16m depth
Floor Plate400 - 900 m2 GIA (point tower); 800 - 2000 m2 (slab)
Core Size80 - 150 m2 (lifts + stairs + lobbies + risers)
Core-to-GIA Ratio20 - 28% (point tower); 15 - 22% (slab tower)
Lifts2 per 80-120 units (min), +1 firefighting lift
Units per Core per Floor4 - 8 (point tower); 8 - 16 (slab tower)
Density200 - 600+ DU/ha
NTG Ratio0.68 - 0.78 (point tower); 0.72 - 0.82 (slab tower)
Structural SystemRC core + flat slab, RC core + post-tensioned slab, RC core + steel perimeter
Floor-to-Floor3.0 - 3.3m (standard); 3.5 - 4.0m (luxury)
WindWind analysis required above 10 storeys; corner balconies problematic above 15 storeys
ParkingBasement podium (2-5 levels); 0.2-1.0 spaces/unit

Core Design for Towers:

  • Scissor Stair: Two interleaving stairs in a single shaft -- compact, satisfies two-stair egress. Common in UK, used up to ~30 storeys.
  • Twin Stair: Two separate stairs on opposite sides of core. Required by IBC and many international codes for tall buildings.
  • Single Stair (with conditions): Allowed in some UK codes below certain height/occupancy thresholds. Each unit opens directly to stair lobby.
  • Skip-Stop: Corridor every 3rd floor, maisonette units between. Reduces corridor area, increases NTG. (Unité d'Habitation model.)

Exemplars:

  • Unité d'Habitation (Le Corbusier, 1952, Marseille) -- 18 storeys, skip-stop corridor, 337 units, internal street concept
  • Barbican Estate (Chamberlin Powell & Bon, 1969-76, London) -- three 42-storey towers, 2,014 units, brutalist
  • 432 Park Avenue (Rafael Vinoly, 2015, New York) -- 85 storeys, 28.5m x 28.5m plan, 104 units, one of tallest residential
  • One Thousand Museum (Zaha Hadid Architects, 2019, Miami) -- 62 storeys, exoskeleton structure, 83 units
  • Bosco Verticale (Stefano Boeri, 2014, Milan) -- 2 towers (111m, 76m), 900 trees, 20,000 plants, 113 units
1.7 Maisonette
MetricValue
Plan Depth8 - 14m
Storeys per Unit2 (duplex within apartment building)
Typical GIA65 - 120 m2
AccessCorridor every other floor (skip-stop) or private external stair
AdvantageDual-aspect living, internal stair gives house-like quality, reduced corridor area
DisadvantageInternal stair consumes 3-4 m2 NIA per unit, accessibility challenge (entry level only)

Exemplars:

  • Alexandra Road Estate (Neave Brown / Camden Architects, 1978, London) -- stepped maisonettes, 520 dwellings
  • Brunswick Centre (Patrick Hodgkinson, 1972, London) -- stepped maisonettes facing central street
1.8 Courtyard Housing
MetricValue
Plan Depth6 - 10m wings around 6-15m courtyard
Storeys1 - 3
Typical GIA60 - 200 m2
Density40 - 100 DU/ha
Courtyard SizeMin 4m x 4m for light; 6m x 6m for usable outdoor space
AdvantagePrivacy, microclimate, daylight to deep plans, cultural tradition
Structural SystemLoad-bearing walls (masonry, rammed earth, concrete)

Exemplars:

  • Salk Institute (Louis Kahn, 1965, La Jolla CA) -- courtyard as monumental space between lab wings
  • Courtyard Houses Matosinhos (Souto de Moura, 1993-99, Portugal) -- minimalist courtyard villa
  • Bait Ur Rouf Mosque (Marina Tabassum, 2012, Dhaka) -- courtyard as environmental mediator
1.9 Co-Housing
MetricValue
Community Size15 - 40 households (optimal for social cohesion)
Private Unit40 - 100 m2 NIA (smaller than conventional, offset by shared spaces)
Shared SpacesCommon house: 150-300 m2 (kitchen, dining, lounge, laundry, guest rooms, workshop)
Shared-to-Private Ratio10 - 20% of total NIA is shared
LayoutCluster around shared courtyard or garden; parking at periphery
Density30 - 80 DU/ha

Exemplars:

  • Trudeslund (1981, Birkerod, Denmark) -- one of the earliest, 33 households, one-storey
  • Marmalade Lane (Mole Architects, 2019, Cambridge) -- 42 homes, common house, car-free street
  • Lilac (2013, Leeds) -- mutual home ownership, straw bale construction, 20 households
1.10 Micro / Co-Living
MetricValue
Private Unit10 - 25 m2 NIA (bedroom + en-suite or pod bathroom)
Shared SpacesKitchen, living, laundry, co-working, gym: 5-10 m2/unit
Building TypeTypically mid-rise apartment, repurposed hotel, or purpose-built
Density200 - 500+ DU/ha
NTG Ratio0.65 - 0.75 (extensive shared space)
Target UserYoung professionals, students, digital nomads, short-term workers

Exemplars:

  • The Collective Old Oak (PLP Architecture, 2016, London) -- 546 units, largest co-living building in the world at completion
  • Carmel Place (nARCHITECTS, 2016, New York) -- 55 micro-units, 23-33 m2, modular prefab construction
  • StarCity (various locations, 2020+) -- co-living operator, units from 14 m2 with extensive shared amenity

2. Office Typologies

2.1 Speculative Shell & Core
MetricValue
Floor Plate Area1,000 - 2,500 m2 NIA typical; prime City of London: 1,500-2,000 m2
Plan Depth (core to glass)12 - 15m (BCO recommendation: max 15m for naturally ventilated zones)
Floor-to-Floor3.6 - 4.2m (BCO standard: 3.9m typical)
Ceiling Height2.6 - 2.85m finished ceiling (BCO: min 2.6m, preferred 2.7-2.8m)
Raised Floor Depth100 - 150mm (BCO: min 150mm for full flexibility)
Ceiling Void400 - 600mm (services distribution, acoustic ceiling)
Structural Depth300 - 500mm (PT slab: 300mm; composite: 400-500mm)
Structural Grid7.5m, 9.0m, 10.8m, or 12.0m (must coordinate with parking below: 7.2m or 7.5m)
NTG Ratio0.80 - 0.85 (BCO target: 82.5%)
Core-to-GIA15 - 22%
Loading2.5 kN/m2 + 1.0 kN/m2 partitions (minimum)

Exemplars:

  • Willis Building (Foster + Partners, 2007, London) -- crescent plan, 46,450 m2, column-free 18m spans
  • The Leadenhall Building (Rogers Stirk Harbour, 2014, London) -- 51 storeys, external bracing, tapered form, 84,424 m2
  • 22 Bishopsgate (PLP Architecture, 2020, London) -- 62 storeys, 128,000 m2, largest office floor plates in City of London
2.2 Owner-Occupied / Corporate HQ
MetricValue
Floor Plate2,000 - 10,000+ m2 (single-user, often deeper plans)
Plan Depth15 - 25m (internal atria for daylight to deep plans)
Floor-to-Floor3.9 - 4.5m (more generous for owner-specified services)
NTG Ratio0.72 - 0.80 (more generous common areas, atria, amenity)
Typical FeaturesAtrium, branded reception, staff restaurant, fitness centre, town hall spaces

Exemplars:

  • Inland Steel Building (SOM/Bruce Graham, 1958, Chicago) -- first modern curtain wall office tower, all services in separate tower, 18.3m clear spans, 19 storeys
  • Apple Park (Foster + Partners, 2017, Cupertino) -- 260,000 m2 ring plan, 1.6km circumference, 12,000 employees
  • Bloomberg European HQ (Foster + Partners, 2017, London) -- 102,000 m2, BREEAM Outstanding (98.5%), spiralling ramp circulation
2.3 Co-Working / Flex Space
MetricValue
Floor Plate1,000 - 5,000 m2 per location
Desk Density6 - 8 m2/person (denser than conventional)
Sharing Ratio0.6 - 0.8 desks per member
Meeting Room Ratio1 room per 15-20 members
Amenity20 - 30% of NIA (kitchen, lounge, event space, phone booths)
NTG Ratio0.72 - 0.78 (extensive amenity and circulation)
Floor-to-FloorPrefers high ceilings (exposed services aesthetic) > 3.5m

Exemplars:

  • WeWork (various locations) -- standardised fit-out, 60-80% open desk, glass-fronted offices
  • Second Home (Selgascano, 2014, London) -- elliptical glass offices within open-plan, 2,500 m2
  • Factory Berlin (Julian Breinersdorfer, 2014) -- adaptive reuse, 14,000 m2, start-up campus
2.4 Office Campus
MetricValue
Site Area5 - 50+ ha
Building Coverage20 - 40% (generous landscape)
Floor Plate2,000 - 5,000 m2 per building
Storeys2 - 6 typical (low-rise campus character)
Density0.3 - 0.8 FAR
ParkingSurface or structured; 1 space per 30-50 m2 NIA
AmenityCentral hub (dining, fitness, retail), outdoor sport/recreation

Exemplars:

  • Googleplex (various architects, Mountain View) -- campus of low-rise buildings, 100,000+ employees across Silicon Valley
  • Novo Nordisk HQ (Henning Larsen, 2014, Copenhagen) -- 3 concentric rings, 73,000 m2, LEED Platinum
  • Samsung Semiconductor (NBBJ, 2015, San Jose) -- 102,000 m2, 10-storey intersecting volumes

3. Healthcare Typologies

3.1 Hospital Plan Types

Podium + Tower:

MetricValue
Podium2-4 storeys, large floor plates (5,000-15,000 m2) for clinical departments
Tower6-15 storeys above podium for inpatient wards (1,000-2,000 m2 floor plates)
AdvantageClinical departments get large column-free floor plates; wards get daylight and views
DisadvantageLong vertical travel distances; complex structural transfer at podium-tower interface
ExemplarRoyal London Hospital (HOK/Skanska, 2012) -- 17 storeys, 115,000 m2, largest new-build hospital in UK

Courtyard / Chequerboard:

MetricValue
Floor Plate3,000 - 8,000 m2 with internal courtyards for daylight
Storeys3 - 6
AdvantageAll departments at low level, short horizontal travel, natural light to deep plans
DisadvantageLarge footprint requires large site; limited vertical expansion
ExemplarKhoo Teck Puat Hospital (CPG Consultants, 2010, Singapore) -- courtyard plan, biophilic design, 590 beds

Finger Plan (Pavilion):

MetricValue
PlanLinear wings (fingers) connected by a central spine corridor
Wing Depth12 - 18m per wing
Spacing18 - 25m between wings (daylight and ventilation)
AdvantageExcellent daylight and ventilation, phased expansion by adding fingers
DisadvantageLong horizontal travel distances, large site
ExemplarNightingale model hospitals (19th century); modern: Alder Hey Children's Hospital (BDP, 2015, Liverpool)

Nucleus / Compact:

MetricValue
PlanCompact cruciform or radial plan around central core
Floor Plate2,000 - 4,000 m2
AdvantageShort travel distances, efficient servicing
DisadvantageLimited daylight to central zones, complex wayfinding
ExemplarNHS Nucleus template hospitals (1970s-80s UK)
3.2 Key Healthcare Metrics
MetricStandard
Corridor Width (bed movement)2.4m min clear; 2.7m recommended
Corridor Width (staff/patient ambulatory)1.8m min; 2.1m recommended
Patient Room Door Width1.2m min clear (bed passage)
Nurse Station VisibilityDirect sightline to all beds in unit (max 28-32 bed unit)
Clean-to-Dirty FlowUnidirectional; sterile > clean > dirty, no backtracking
Departmental StackingED and Imaging at ground; Surgery above ED; Wards above Surgery
Floor-to-Floor4.2 - 5.0m (hospital typical, interstitial space for services in some designs)
NTG Ratio0.55 - 0.65 (most inefficient building type due to wide corridors, complex services)
3.3 Clinic / Surgery Centre
MetricValue
Floor Plate500 - 3,000 m2
Storeys1 - 3
Core SpacesWaiting, reception, consulting rooms, treatment rooms, staff areas
Consult Room14 - 16 m2 (GP: 12 m2 min)
Waiting Area1.5 - 2.0 m2 per concurrent patient
NTG Ratio0.70 - 0.78
Parking3 - 5 spaces per consulting room

Exemplar: Maggie's Centres (various architects: Gehry, Hadid, Heatherwick, Chipperfield) -- 200-400 m2, domestic scale, open-plan kitchen as heart, no waiting room, garden


4. Education Typologies

4.1 Primary School
MetricValue
Site Area1.0 - 2.0 ha (1 FE = 210 pupils)
GIA1,100 - 2,200 m2 (1FE - 3FE) per BB103
Storeys1 - 2 (single-storey preferred for youngest children)
Classroom55 - 63 m2, min 2.0 m2/pupil
Corridor Width1.8m min; 2.4m recommended (doubled as social/display space)
Assembly/Dining Hall120 - 170 m2 (dual-use for PE in smaller schools)
NTG Ratio0.72 - 0.78
DaylightEvery teaching space must have windows; min average daylight factor 2%

Plan Types:

  • Finger plan: Classrooms in parallel wings with outdoor spaces between. Good daylight, natural ventilation. Requires large site.
  • Cluster: Groups of classrooms around a shared learning space. Supports collaborative teaching. Common in modern UK schools.
  • Street: Central corridor (wide, daylit) with classrooms on both sides. Compact, efficient.
  • Courtyard: Classrooms wrap around secure outdoor space. Good for urban sites. Passive surveillance.

Exemplars:

  • Burntwood School (Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, 2015, London) -- RIBA Stirling Prize, prefabricated CLT classrooms
  • Fuji Kindergarten (Tezuka Architects, 2007, Tokyo) -- oval roof as playground, open-air classrooms, 600 children
  • Westborough Primary School (Cottrell & Vermeulen, 2001, Southend) -- straw bale construction, environmental showcase
Show full SKILL.md (1,683 more words)Show less
4.2 Secondary School
MetricValue
Site Area3.0 - 7.0 ha (6FE - 12FE = 900-1800 pupils)
GIA6,000 - 12,000 m2 per BB103
Storeys2 - 4
Classroom55 - 65 m2 (30 pupils)
Specialist Rooms80 - 110 m2 (science labs, workshops, studios)
Sports Hall594 m2 (4-court); 891 m2 (6-court)
Corridor Width2.4 - 3.0m (high traffic, lockers, display)
NTG Ratio0.68 - 0.75
Floor-to-Floor3.3 - 3.9m (higher for sports hall and specialist spaces)

Exemplars:

  • School of Engineering and Science, Aalborg University (C.F. Moller, 2010) -- open labs, flexible teaching
  • Orestad Gymnasium (3XN, 2007, Copenhagen) -- open-plan school, flexible learning, 4 storeys around central stair
  • Whitby Academy (GSSArchitecture, 2013) -- compact 3-storey, central atrium, 900 pupils
4.3 University
MetricValue
Campus Coverage20 - 40% of site
Building TypesTeaching, laboratory, library, student union, residential, sports, administration
Lecture Theatre1.2 - 1.5 m2/seat (tiered); 200-400 seats typical
Teaching Lab2.5 - 3.5 m2/student (wet science); fume hoods, services
Library4 - 5 m2/reader; stack area 5-7 m2 per 1000 volumes
Floor-to-Floor3.6 - 4.5m (lab buildings); 3.3 - 3.9m (teaching/admin)
NTG Ratio0.60 - 0.72 (lab-heavy buildings lower)

Exemplars:

  • Rolex Learning Centre (SANAA, 2010, Lausanne) -- single undulating floor plate, 20,000 m2, no internal walls
  • Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute (Diamond Schmitt, 2011, Toronto) -- medical school, simulation labs, 16 storeys
  • Saw Swee Hock Student Centre (O'Donnell + Tuomey, 2014, LSE, London) -- RIBA award, angular form, 6,300 m2

5. Cultural Typologies

5.1 Museum

Plan Types:

Linear Sequence (Enfilade): Rooms connected in sequence; visitor follows a prescribed route. Total control of narrative. Examples: Vatican Museums, Uffizi.

Free-Flow (Open Plan): Large open galleries with moveable partitions; visitor chooses own path. Flexible for changing exhibitions. Example: Centre Pompidou (Piano + Rogers, 1977, Paris), Tate Modern Turbine Hall.

Mixed (Sequential + Free-Flow): Permanent collection in sequence, temporary exhibitions in free-flow spaces. Most common contemporary approach.

MetricValue
Gallery Ceiling Height4.5 - 6.0m (paintings); 6.0 - 10.0m (large sculpture/installation)
Gallery Width6 - 12m (paintings on walls); 15 - 30m (sculpture, installation)
Gallery Proportions1:1.5 to 1:2 (width:length) for paintings galleries
Hanging HeightEye line at 1.5m; centre of work at 1.45-1.55m
Lighting (paintings)200 lux max; UV filtered; no direct sunlight
Lighting (works on paper)50 lux max; no natural light
Climate Control20 +/- 2 deg C, 50 +/- 5% RH, 24/7/365
BOH Ratio40 - 60% of public area (conservation, storage, loading, offices)
NTG Ratio0.55 - 0.65
Floor Loading5.0 kN/m2 min for sculpture galleries

Exemplars:

  • Guggenheim Bilbao (Frank Gehry, 1997) -- 24,000 m2, titanium-clad, free-flow + sequential galleries, the "Bilbao Effect"
  • MAXXI (Zaha Hadid, 2010, Rome) -- flowing concrete galleries, 21,000 m2, no right angles
  • Louvre Abu Dhabi (Jean Nouvel, 2017) -- 9,200 m2 galleries under 180m diameter dome, "rain of light"
  • Tate Modern (Herzog & de Meuron, 2000 + 2016, London) -- Bankside Power Station conversion, 35,000 m2
5.2 Theatre and Auditorium

Configurations:

TypeDescriptionCapacity RangeActor-Audience Distance
ProsceniumStage behind frame, audience in front300 - 2,50015 - 30m
ThrustStage projects into audience on 3 sides200 - 1,2008 - 18m
Arena (Theatre-in-the-Round)Audience surrounds stage100 - 6005 - 12m
Black BoxFlexible, reconfigurable space50 - 400Variable
CourtyardGalleried, audience on multiple levels wrapping stage200 - 1,0008 - 20m
MetricStandard
Seat Width500 - 530mm (min), 550mm (premium)
Row Spacing760 - 850mm back-to-back (min 760mm for sightlines)
Aisle Width1.1m min (IBC), wider for higher capacity
Sightline (C-value)65 - 125mm (cinema); 100 - 130mm (theatre); every seat sees over head in front
Acoustic Volume6 - 10 m3/seat (symphony); 4 - 7 m3/seat (drama); 3 - 5 m3/seat (cinema)
Reverberation Time (RT60)1.7 - 2.2s (symphony); 1.0 - 1.4s (drama); 0.6 - 0.8s (speech/cinema)
Stage Depth10 - 14m (proscenium)
Fly Tower Height2.5x proscenium opening height (typically 22-30m above stage)
BOH-to-FOH Ratio0.7 - 1.0 (smaller venues); 1.0 - 1.5 (major opera houses)
NTG Ratio0.45 - 0.55 (performing arts are the least efficient building type)

Exemplars:

  • Sydney Opera House (Jorn Utzon, 1973) -- multiple venues, 5,738 seats total, expressionist shells
  • Elbphilharmonie (Herzog & de Meuron, 2017, Hamburg) -- 2,100-seat vineyard hall on converted warehouse, 110m tall
  • National Theatre (Denys Lasdun, 1976, London) -- three auditoria (Olivier, Lyttelton, Dorfman), brutalist terraces
  • Harbin Opera House (MAD Architects, 2015) -- 1,600 seats, organic form, Manchurian landscape
5.3 Library
MetricValue
Stack Area5 - 7 m2 per 1,000 volumes (open); mobile shelving halves this
Reading Space4 - 5 m2 per reader
Digital/Computer3 - 4 m2 per workstation
Children's Area30 - 80 m2 (dedicated, ground floor preferred)
Floor Loading6.5 kN/m2 min for stacks; 2.5 kN/m2 for reading areas
Ceiling Height3.0 - 4.0m (reading rooms); 2.7m min (stacks)
NTG Ratio0.65 - 0.75
DaylightReading areas: natural light preferred, avoid direct sun on collections

Exemplars:

  • Seattle Central Library (OMA/Rem Koolhaas, 2004) -- 34,000 m2, "Book Spiral" continuous stack ramp, faceted glass skin
  • Library of Birmingham (Mecanoo, 2013) -- 31,000 m2, interlocking gold circles facade, 10 storeys
  • Tianjin Binhai Library (MVRDV, 2017) -- the "Eye," 33,700 m2, undulating bookshelves, central sphere auditorium

6. Hospitality Typologies

6.1 Hotel Plan Types

Corridor-Loaded (Double-Loaded):

MetricValue
Corridor Width1.5 - 1.8m (budget); 1.8 - 2.1m (luxury)
Room Depth6.0 - 8.0m (budget/midscale); 8.0 - 12.0m (luxury)
Room Width3.3 - 3.6m (budget); 3.6 - 4.5m (midscale); 4.5 - 6.0m (luxury)
Rooms per Floor20 - 40 per corridor wing
NTG Ratio0.62 - 0.72
AdvantageMost efficient layout; maximizes rooms per floor
DisadvantageSingle-aspect rooms; long, institutional corridors

Atrium:

MetricValue
Atrium Width15 - 30m
Atrium HeightFull building height (dramatic)
Rooms per Floor30 - 80 per floor (wrapped around atrium)
NTG Ratio0.55 - 0.65 (atrium consumes GIA)
AdvantageDramatic arrival, daylight to corridors, wayfinding
DisadvantageAcoustic issues, fire engineering complexity, less efficient
ExemplarHyatt Regency Atlanta (John Portman, 1967) -- first atrium hotel, 22 storeys, 800 rooms

Courtyard:

MetricValue
Courtyard Size15 - 40m across
Storeys2 - 5
NTG Ratio0.58 - 0.68
AdvantageOutdoor amenity, daylight, resort character
ExemplarAman Venice (Papadopoli Palace renovation) -- historic courtyard hotel

Tower:

MetricValue
Floor Plate800 - 2,000 m2 GIA
Rooms per Floor12 - 30
Core2+ lifts, service lift, firefighting lift, 2 stairs
NTG Ratio0.60 - 0.68
ExemplarMarina Bay Sands (Moshe Safdie, 2010, Singapore) -- 3 towers, 2,561 rooms, SkyPark
6.2 Hotel Key Metrics
MetricBudgetMidscaleUpscaleLuxury
Room NIA (m2)16-2022-2830-4040-60+
Bathroom NIA (m2)3-44-56-88-12+
Floor-to-Floor (m)2.9-3.13.0-3.33.3-3.63.6-4.2
Lobby (m2/room)0.5-0.80.8-1.21.2-1.81.8-3.0
F&B (seats/room)0.3-0.50.5-0.70.7-1.01.0-1.5
BOH (% of FOH)40-50%45-55%50-60%55-70%
GIA/room (m2)35-4550-6570-9090-140
Staff/room ratio0.3-0.50.5-0.80.8-1.21.2-2.5
6.3 Restaurant
MetricValue
Dining Area per Seat1.4 - 1.8 m2 (casual); 1.8 - 2.5 m2 (fine dining)
Kitchen Area40 - 60% of dining area (full production); 25 - 40% (finishing kitchen)
Bar Area0.5 - 0.8 m2/stool + standing area
WC Provision1 per 30 covers (M), 1 per 15 covers (F) minimum
Floor-to-Ceiling3.0 - 3.5m (standard); 4.0 - 5.0m (destination restaurant)
Kitchen Ceiling3.0m min (extraction hoods, grease ducts)
Service EntranceSeparate from customer entrance

7. Hybrid and Mixed-Use Typologies

7.1 Podium-Tower
MetricValue
Podium2-6 storeys, large floor plate (2,000-10,000 m2), retail/office/parking
Tower10-80+ storeys, smaller floor plate (400-2,000 m2), residential/hotel/office
Structural TransferAt podium-tower interface; transfer beams/slabs up to 3m deep
SetbackTower set back from podium edge (3-5m typical) for amenity terrace
AdvantageUrban street wall at podium height; density via tower; mixed uses
DisadvantageStructural cost of transfer; servicing complexity; fire separation between uses

Exemplars:

  • De Rotterdam (OMA, 2013, Rotterdam) -- three interconnected towers on shared podium, 162,000 m2, office/residential/hotel
  • Brickell City Centre (Arquitectonica, 2016, Miami) -- mixed-use, climate ribbon, retail podium + residential towers
  • Battersea Power Station Phase 2 (Foster + Partners / Gehry Partners, 2021, London) -- retained power station as podium, new residential towers
7.2 Stacked Uses (Vertical Mixed-Use)
MetricValue
Typical Stacking Order (bottom to top)Parking > Retail > Office > Hotel > Residential
LogicHeavier uses lower, public uses at grade, quieter uses higher
Fire Separation2-hour fire-rated floor between different use classes (IBC/EN)
Acoustic SeparationMin 50 dB airborne + 55 dB impact between residential and commercial
Separate CoresEach use class requires its own lift lobby and fire escape
Shared ServicesCentral plant with metered distribution to each use
Floor-to-Floor VariationRetail 4.5m, Office 3.9m, Hotel 3.3m, Residential 3.0m
7.3 Side-by-Side
MetricValue
ConfigurationDifferent uses in adjacent volumes sharing a common base/ground level
AdvantageIndependent structural systems, simpler fire engineering
DisadvantageRequires wide site; less density than vertical stacking
SeparationFire wall between uses; shared podium level for retail/public
7.4 Vertical Village
MetricValue
ConceptSelf-contained community in a single tall building, with all uses vertically integrated
Sky LobbiesEvery 10-15 floors, with shared amenity (gardens, retail, social spaces)
StructuralOutrigger trusses at sky lobbies for wind resistance
ExemplarThe Interlace (OMA, 2013, Singapore) -- horizontal village concept; WOHA Architects' projects in Singapore (e.g., Oasia Hotel Downtown, 2016 -- 314 rooms, sky gardens every 6 floors, 89% green plot ratio)
7.5 Key Mixed-Use Design Challenges
ChallengeResolution
Entrance SeparationEach use gets its own lobby and address; residential entrance must be distinct from commercial
Servicing ConflictsSeparate loading docks or time-managed shared dock; separate waste collection
Structural Grid MismatchOffice (9m grid) vs. residential (6-7.5m grid) vs. parking (7.2m grid) -- transfer structure
Ceiling Height VariationDifferent floor-to-floor heights require careful section design at interfaces
Acoustic IsolationFloating floors, isolated structural connections, buffer floors at use transitions
Fire EgressEach use class must have independent egress to grade; no shared escape routes
Wind EffectsTower-on-podium creates downdrafts; wind studies required for pedestrian comfort
Parking AllocationSeparate parking zones for each use; different peak times enable shared reduction

References

  • Neufert, E. & Neufert, P. (2019). Neufert Architects' Data. 5th ed. Wiley-Blackwell.
  • MHCLG (2015). Technical Housing Standards -- Nationally Described Space Standard. UK Government.
  • BCO (2019). BCO Guide to Specification. British Council for Offices.
  • NHS Estates. Health Building Notes (HBN) Series. UK Department of Health.
  • DfE (2014). Building Bulletin 103 / 104. UK Department for Education.
  • Sport England. Design Guidance Notes. Sport England.
  • Littlefield, D. (2008). Metric Handbook: Planning and Design Data. Routledge.
  • Koolhaas, R. & Mau, B. (1995). S, M, L, XL. Monacelli Press.
  • Mozas, J. & Fernandez Per, A. (2006). Density: New Collective Housing. a+t architecture publishers.
  • Firley, E. & Stahl, C. (2009). The Urban Housing Handbook. Wiley.
  • Kliment, S.A. (ed.). Building Type Basics series. Wiley.
  • Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). Tall Building Design Guides.
  • IBC (2021). International Building Code. ICC.
  • RIBA Plan of Work (2020). Royal Institute of British Architects.

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SKILL.md and 1 other file (references) in skills/building-typology of Abhinavbwj/Skills-Architects.

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Questions about Building Typology Reference

What does Building Typology Reference do?

Compares building types, from detached houses to supertall towers, using plan depth, density and efficiency metrics plus exemplar buildings. Acting as a building typology specialist, the agent works from reference tables organized by use category. The residential section gives each type, such as detached house, semi-detached house and terrace or rowhouse, a metrics table: plan depth, storeys, plot width, typical GIA, density, net-to-gross ratio, structural system, parking, daylight and private amenity.

When should I use Building Typology Reference?

Building Typology Reference fits situations like: comparing building types for a site, from terraces to mixed-use podium-tower schemes; checking typical plan depth, floor-to-floor height or net-to-gross ratio for a type; finding precedent buildings for a typology; assessing how plan depth affects daylight and density.

How do I install Building Typology Reference in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add Abhinavbwj/Skills-Architects --skill building-typology -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/building-typology in Abhinavbwj/Skills-Architects) into .claude/skills/building-typology in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

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Run `npx skills add Abhinavbwj/Skills-Architects --skill building-typology -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/building-typology in Abhinavbwj/Skills-Architects) into .agents/skills/building-typology in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

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Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add Abhinavbwj/Skills-Architects --skill building-typology -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/building-typology, .gemini/skills/building-typology, .github/skills/building-typology and .opencode/skills/building-typology in your project.

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SKILL.md names no scripts, command-line tools or credentials: Building Typology Reference is instructions for the agent only.

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Our automated static check of SKILL.md found no risky patterns, such as piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files or hidden Unicode. It is not a guarantee. Review the folder before installing.

What licence does Building Typology Reference use?

Building Typology Reference is published under the MIT licence (the repository's licence). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.

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About 8.5k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 34k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full. Its references folder adds about 7.3k tokens, read only when the agent opens those files.

What are the alternatives to Building Typology Reference?

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Who maintains Building Typology Reference?

Abhinavbwj (a GitHub user) maintains it in Abhinavbwj/Skills-Architects, which has 296 GitHub stars. The repository holds 17 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on May 20, 2026.

Source: Abhinavbwj/Skills-Architects on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.