ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN STUDIO III Page 1

FARM BUILDINGS
The planning and construction of farm buildings should be done with regard to the surrounding
outside features as much, as to the interior arrangement and convenience of the rooms. Farm
building appearance, especially since most are cheap compared to other building types, is a
contentious issue. Simple forms, good color, defined planes, and coordinated fittings such as
vent pipes and flues, combined with careful sitting and landscaping, make buildings acceptable.
Surrounds to buildings, including yards, tanks, fences, etc. are often more unsightly than the
buildings.
General Building types
 General purpose agricultural buildings
 Stock housing (pig, stables, sheep housing, cattle sheds, stock pens, field shelters)
 Poultry houses
 Storage facilities (agricultural implements and grain/hay )
 Slurry and manure stores; dirty water lagoon.
FARM BUILDINGS DESIGN CONSIDERATION
There are numerous factores that can influence the design of farm buildings. For individual
buildings, it is necessary to consider the requirements of the following: planning authorities,
building regulations, water authorities, minister of agriculture, health and safty executive, diary
hasabandry advisors, farm building design code etc.
Siting
 Farm buildings are a significant component of most agricultural landscapes.
 Traditionally in their siting and appearance they reflected the farming system, local
materials (often underlying geology), local building techniques, and the particular
character of the site in the landscape.
 Developments should be assimilated into the landscape without compromising the
functions they are intended to serve.
 The choice of site should respect existing physical features, contours and vegetation as
well as existing man-made features, walls, ponds etc.
 The aim should be to disturb the landscape as little as possible; the site should be
considered from key viewpoints and the relationship between building and site should be
enhanced.
 New buildings of modern design may sometimes best be separated from a group of
traditional buildings to avoid visual conflict.
 Sites on skylines should be avoided if possible, and to reduce their visual impact
buildings should be blended into the landscape or, on sloping sites, set into the slope if
that can be achieved without disproportionate cost.
 A single large building may have a greater impact on the countryside than one or more
smaller ones, which can be more easily incorporated into an existing group and provide

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greater flexibility, although the function of the building will be material to shaping its
form.
 Functional and economic requirements can often lead to a large-scale standardized
building, generally requiring a flat site and a large area around to allow for access and
future expansion. However ‘functional’ decisions on the position of the building, its
shape, materials and the layout of the spaces around the building all help determine the
final appearance in its setting.
 It is important to consider carefully the harmonization with the existing landscape and
buildings by careful choice of materials.
Design and appearance
 Traditional building styles may be important in devising local design criteria for modern
buildings.
 It will normally be appropriate to use traditional or sympathetic materials for
development taking place in the setting of a listed building or in a conservation area.
 Alterations and extensions should not pose the same difficulty as new buildings, but
similar considerations concerning design and appearance should be taken into account.
Materials similar to the original should normally be used.
Access and circulation
 The space in and around farm buildings is important. Flow, volume and type of traffic
should be organized in the most economical way, taking into consideration material
handling and weights involved.
 Allow sufficient space for ease of vehicle movement while keeping to a minimum the
distances livestock have to move, to save time and reduce stress and injury to the
animals.
Mechanization
 The importance of eliminating wasteful manual handling of materials to increase
efficiency has led to their being mechanically carried, scraped, dragged, blown, sucked or
floated around the farm.
Internal environment
 Natural and artificial lighting: The levels of illumination both from natural and
artificial sources should provide sufficient light for the efficient and safe execution of
work being done by an operative in any part of that building. In the case of livestock
housing, the level should be sufficient for the proper welfare of the animals and be
satisfactory for inspection.
 Heating and ventilation: The working environment should, as far as possible, satisfy the
needs of both humans and livestock stored crops. Ventilation is important; if there is too
much moisture, bacteria thrive, and poor animal performance results. Baffles can be

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installed to avoid draughts. Poor ventilation allied to wide temperature variations may
result in loss of efficiency and an increase in the levels of both accidents and sickness.
 Ventilation and infiltration: Certain buildings, particularly those used to house
livestock, will require a minimum rate of ventilation at all times. To reduce the incidence
of respiratory disease in cattle and sheep it is better to provide too much ventilation rather
than too little.
o The building should be orientated across the prevailing wind to avoid gable end
ventilation (north-south axis), and the ventilation openings normally positioned at
the ridge and below the eaves.
o Very wide or multi-span structures may require a ‘breathing roof‘ with gaps or
slots at intervals along the building.
o Ventilation openings should be designed so that even in calm conditions the stack
effect created by warm air rising from the stock brings in fresh air at a lower level
Note: In buildings which need to be kept at temperatures above the outside temperature the
reduction of ventilation heat losses requires careful attention. Pressures due to external wind or
internal heat sources (i.e. natural ventilation) can cause high rates of air infiltration in buildings.
Such infiltration can be a major source of heat transfer and may greatly outweigh the structural
heat losses or gains. Forced ventilation systems which cannot be accurately controlled or which
are wind prone can also give rise to the same problem. The design of a ventilation system can
also influence the internal temperature distribution. Temperatures at ceiling level which are
higher than those at the occupancy height can cause excessive roof heat losses in buildings. The
designer should consider the internal air distribution and internal air mixing if such heat losses
are to be contained.

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FARM PROJECT 1 - POULTRY HOUSING

Poultry farming is the process of raising domesticated birds such as chickens, ducks, turkeys and
geese for the purpose of farming meat or eggs for food. Poultry - mostly chickens - are farmed in
great numbers. ... Chickens raised for eggs are usually called layers while chickens raised for
meat are often called broilers.
Poultry production systems should provide fresh air, clean feed and water, protection against
predators, shelter from cold, rain, wind, sun and excessive heat; as well as a source of heat when
birds are young. Basically, the birds need to be able to grow, sleep and lay eggs in comfort. The
birds should also be free from stress and disease. The basic requirements for poultry housing are:
 Protection from weather
 Protection from predators
 Enough space
 Adequate ventilation
 A clean environment
 Access to dust bathing facilities
Protection
 A good poultry house protects the birds from the elements (weather), predators, injury
and theft.
 Chickens require a dry and largely draft-free house. In cooler climates, this can be
accomplished by building a house with windows and/or doors which can be opened for
ventilation when necessary. In hotter climates, windows, doors and even walls may not
be necessary.
 Use building materials which will be easy to clean and simple to disinfect when
necessary
Complete Confinement - A Poultry House
 Keeping chickens totally confined with a fenced and covered run are the best methods of
protection against predators.
 Windows and doors must be securely covered with wire mesh. However, under these
circumstances, chickens (and any other poultry kept under complete confinement) house
will need to be kept clean.
 Chickens need a shelter with both fresh air and sufficient light. In hot climates, a
galvanized or corrugated iron roof can make the house very hot during the day. Chickens
are unable to sweat. By opening their beaks and panting they remove body heat. This
panting can also be a sign of heat stress. Chickens in an excessively hot house suffer from
heat stress. They eat less and thus become less productive (fewer eggs and less growth),
and at high temperatures may die.

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Minimum Requirement of Chickens for floor and perch space

Chicken types Chicken types Chicken types Chicken types
Layer 3 3.6 25 cm (10 in)
Dual Purpose 4 2.7 20 cm (8 in)
Meat 4-5 2.1-2.7 15-20 cm (6-8 in

Hen groups are comfortable at a stocking density of up three to four birds per square meter.
However, if more space is allowed, a greater variety of behavior can be expressed. Less space
creates stressed social behavior, allowing disease vulnerability and even cannibalism, with the
weaker birds being deprived of feeding or perching space - or more likely both.
Individual birds need more room for normal behavior and adequate exercise than the very high
densities currently used in commercial intensive production of both egg laying birds and broiler
chickens.
Site selection and development objectives:
 To ensure that noise, odor, visual impact, dust and pests do not cause unreasonable
interference to the community.
 To minimize any adverse impact on adjoining land uses and the natural environment of
the area.
 To ensure that soil, surface and ground waters do not become contaminated.
 To ensure effective operation of the poultry farm, including feed and water supplies,
pickup and delivery of birds, and avoidance of waterlogging or flooding.
Waste Management;
 Disposal of Dead
 Birds Manure / Used Litter
Orientation
 Site the house so that it provides maximum shade throughout the day.
 Houses should be situated with their long axis in an east-west direction to avoid direct
sunlight falling into the building. The rule of thumb is that the long axis of the houses
should be parallel to the shadow of a vertically erected pole during the hottest summer.
Ventilation
 A good air circulation and movement, without a draft, is essential in any poultry house.
Fresh air brings in oxygen while excess moisture, ammonia and carbon dioxide are
removed. High levels of carbon dioxide and ammonia may cause significant problems in
intensive chicken production, whilst excessive levels of poisonous carbon monoxide may
also cause problems. For small poultry houses, windows or vents on one side of the house
usually provide plenty of ventilation. In warmer climates a building with open sides is
ideal.

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Buffer Distances Surrounding Waste Disposal Area

Amenity Distance (metres)
Urban residential zone 500
Rural farm residence not owned by poultry 100
sheds
Public area 50
Public road - significant use 50
Public road - minor use 20
Any watercourse as defined by a blue line on 50
a 1:50,000 current SA Government
topographical
map

BUFFER DISTANCES
Amenity Distance Principal Purpose of
(metres) Buffer
Urban residential zone 1,000 environmental
Dwelling on another property 500 environmental
Dwelling on same property 100 environmental
Another poultry farm 1,000 disease/quarantine
National highway 1,000 disease/quarantine
Public road 250 disease/quarantine
Side or rear boundary* 300 disease/quarantine

These buffer distances are suggestions only and indicate current industry best practice. They are
not to be considered mandatory.
POULTRY FARM DESIGN MINIMUM PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
N.B. The list of functional spaces are brief and intended to be used only as a departure
point, each group should develop the units in detail.
Unit/ section Functional space Remarks
Broiler production Houses can stock between
20000 and 40000 birds
Broiler houses The broilers may be raised on
deep litter, in cages or in
batteries with slatted or wire
floor systems.
Storeroom;
Office room;
Staff or watchman quarters;

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Laying hens section Caged systems, deep-pit,

canal house, manure belts to
covered storage, Barn and
free-range systems, floor
regime (deep litter).
layer production Layers are reared on deep
litter floors, in cages or on
different kinds of floors at
different ages.
Aviary system with or without range and or
outside scratching area
can use several house levels
Stocking density is 9 birds
per usable m2 or to 15.7 birds
per ground surface (in m2),
with houses accommodating
between 2000 and 20000
birds (bird places).
feeding and drinking area
sleeping and resting area
scratch area
egg laying area individual or community nest
design
manual or automatic egg
collection
Incubation and Hatchery
section
Feed store and preparation
Manure storage and treatment Manure pit; Burial pit or
incinerator
Administrative Office
Staff facilities Like toilet, shower, and rest
room
Loading and unloading Areas For broiler, egg, etc.
Parking area For staffs, guest. etc.

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FARM PROJECT – 2 BARN

STOCK HOUSING FOR CATTLE
Accommodation for adult cattle is normally limited to dairy cattle, suckler cows and bulls. Space
requirements for cattle vary with size of breed and age of animal; allowance has to be made for
increase in size of growing animals during the housing period. If cattle are housed all year round
the movement of machinery around the unit is of vital importance as feed has to be brought from
the fields in the summer months as well as from silage clamps during the winter.
Waste handling
Housing systems can be classified by method of collecting and handling waste products. In
slatted floor systems waste passes through perforations in the floor to be collected and
periodically removed from a cellar beneath. In bedded pens straw is added daily to absorb liquid
waste and the resultant farmyard manure must be removed periodically, while in cubicle systems
waste is deposited into the cubicle passage, which is scraped regularly, or may be slatted.
Requirements of a good dairy layout:
 The layout must suit the ultimate size and potential of the enterprise in terms of land,
livestock and management skills.
 It must be strategically sited in relation to the farm to suit grass transportation, grazing
and summer milking, slurry spreading etc.
 It must integrate with the diverse elements of the enterprise associated with cow feeding,
movement and handling, milk collection, waste storage and collection and ancillary
accommodation in such a way as to ensure efficiency in working towards the full
potential of the animals housed without imposing undue stress or an obvious health risk
to those animals.
 It must have a feed system compatible with the grazing and feeding policy of the farm,
with an inbuilt flexibility to cope with changes in that policy.
 It must suit the stages in the development of the unit towards full potential, taking into
account existing buildings, capital available, herd expansion policy and continuity of
existing production, if applicable.
 It must be visually and environmentally acceptable with careful attention paid to
minimising the risk of pollution.
 It must meet all the relevant legislation appropriate to the farm circumstances, including
all safety legislation.

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Cattle farm (dairy and beef cattle) minimum program requirements

N.B. The list of functional spaces are brief and intended to be used only as a departure
point, each student should develop the units in detail.

Unit/ section Functional space Remarks

Dariy cow housing For at least 200 cows
Cow housing Either individual ( tied up or
catch-stall) or joint housing
(cubicle, feeding cubicle,
deep litter, self-cleaning
sloping pen)
Resting, Walking and
Feeding Space
Calving section
sucking calves
Calves and young stocks
Feeding area
Milking parlour complex
Holding and entrance area
Milking stalls
exit part and Return alley
Cooling and holding tank
Hoof bathing
General chemical store.
Office
Beef cattle section
Bull housing
Resting area
Feeding area
Outdoor exercise folds Consolidated areas placed in
direct connection with the
housing
Waste water and sewage
handling
Solid dung storage
Liquid manure storage
Storage and Feed store
Hay and straw Barn, Flat silo, Tower silo,
loft, etc.
Silage
Veterinary artificial
insemination (AI),
disease diagnosis

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Isolation pens
Pregnancy checks
Medicine and chemical
storage
Garage and sheds For different agricultural
equipment
Administrative Office
Staff facilities Like toilet, shower, and rest
room
Loading and unloading Areas For food, bulls, diary
products etc.
Parking area For staffs, guest. etc.

Reference
 The architects’ handbook I edited by Quentin Pickard.
 METRIC HANDBOOK Planning and Design Data EDITED BY David Adler
 Ernst and Peter Neufert Architects’’ Data Third Edition
 Housing design for cattle- Danish Recommendations; Interdisciplinary report third
edition 2001

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INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS (FACTORIES)

A factory is a complex network of functions, including materials industry, component
manufacture, assembly, interprocess storage, packaging, dispatch and transport interface all of
which must work together
Factories should be designed to serve a variety of uses within their life and production sector.
The function of ‘how’ the product is manufactured or stored may well be more important than
what the product ‘is’.
Basic building type selection
Factories and warehouses are building types which are economically and operationally
interchangeable where the structure will not conflict with requirements of mechanical handling
equipment, and can accept the loading of production and environmental services.
Many companies have mixed manufacturing and storage uses on site, and rapid
interchangeability may be required: flexibility must be built into the structure and services.
Site planning
Safety is a prime consideration in plant siting. Selection of a site involves consideration of a
number of factors, such as possible hazards to the community and their relationships to climate
and terrain, space requirements, type and size of buildings, necessary facilities, availability of
raw material, cooling water, transportation, market, labor supply, population density near the site
and means of effluent disposal. Ground water survey can be undertaken to ensure the availability
of water for industrial requirement.
Site layout for factories and warehouses is determined by:
 shape and size of building
 expansion potential
 services running through site (e.g. gas mains, power cables)
 topography, which will affect access for heavy vehicles and building economics (cut and
fill)
 energy conservation, including exposure to prevailing and storm winds
 ground conditions and drainage (e.g. to avoid piling or potential flood areas)
 surrounding neighborhood, keeping noisy external plant and loading bays away from
residential area
 vehicle (road and rail) maneuvering and marshalling area in relation to loading bays
Location
As far as safety of the public is concerned, the most important feature is the distance between the
site and built-up areas. Sites range from rural to urban, with population densities varying from
virtually zero to high. Separation between a hazard and the public is beneficial in mitigating the
effects of a major accident. An area of low population density around the site will help reduce
causalities. Plants producing or using highly flammable or toxic substances in bulk should be

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located so as not to cause damage to a city or town, either generally or in case of disaster or some
unexpected happening.
Site Services
The site central services such as the boiler house, power station, switch station, pumping stations,
utilities station, etc., should he placed in suitable locations. They should not be put out of action
by events as fire or floor and, if possible not by other accidents such as explosion, and that they
should not constitute sources of ignition for flammables. For example, factors in siting the boiler
house are that it should not constitute a source of ignition, that emissions from stack should not
give rise to nuisance.
Plant layout
Size, shape, location, construction, and layout of buildings and other facilities should permit the
most efficient utilization of materials, processes, and methods.
Plant layout will be based on factors like:
 New site development or addition to previously developed site.
 Type and quantity of products to be produced,
 Possible future expansion,
 Operational convenience and accessibility,
 Type of process and product control,
 Economic distribution of utilities and services,
 Type of building and building code requirements,
 Guidelines related to health and safety,
 Waste-disposable problems,
 Space available and space requirement,
 Auxiliary equipment, and
 Roads and railroad.
Location of Buildings and Structures
The segregation of raw materials storage, processing buildings, and storage for finished products
warrants thorough study in laying out a plant to minimize fire and explosion hazards. Storage of
volatile flammable liquids in an area apart from processing buildings reduces the fire hazards. In
the event of fire, control is more easily achieved. Moreover, the cost of separate storage
eventually may be less than the investment for storage in a processing building. The site should
aim to contain an accident at source, to prevent escalation and avoid creating hazard to
vulnerable targets.
Analytical laboratories should be in a safe area, but otherwise as close as possible to the plants
served. So should workshops and general stores. The stores also require ready access for stores
materials.

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Ample space should be provided between segregated units, from such flame sources as boilers,
and from shops, streets, and adjoining property. The codes of local, state and central authorities
should be followed in planning the location of the units of a plant.
Fire Fighting
Access is essential for fire lighting. This is provided by the suggested plot size of 100 m × 200 m
with approaches preferably on all four sides and by spacing between plots and buildings of 15 m.
Some basic principles are that it should be possible to gel fire-fighting equipment sufficiently
close the site of the fire. Hydrant points should be positioned so that hoses can reach any fire on
the plot. Hydrant spacing of 48 in, 65 m, and 95 m are suitable for high, medium, and low risk
plots, respectively. Plants over 18 m high should be provided with dry riser mains and those over
60 m high or of high risk should be equipped with wet riser mams. The inlets on the ground floor
to dry riser mains and the outlets on all floors to both types of mains should be accessible. Fire
equipment should be located so that it is not likely to be disabled by the accident itself. The site
layout should contribute to the containment of any fire, which may occur, and to combating the
fire.
Ventilation, Heating and Air Conditioning
Ventilating, heating and air conditioning are needed both for personal comfort and very often to
meet process conditions. Personal comfort is very important because it affects employees
efficiency. All efforts should be made not only to make general office and plant conditions
comfortable, but also to eliminate, or at least reduce, poor conditions, which can contribute to
excessive employee fatigue or discomfort. If machinery or processes radiate heat or generate bad
fumes, extra ventilation should be supplied to the work area. Where the ventilation rate is set by
the need to remove a contaminant, the number of air changes per unit time is an appropriate
measure.
Storage
Industrial buildings seldom have enough storage room. Sufficient space for raw materials and
finished products may be estimated on the basis of maximum production requirements with
allowances for shortages, seasonal shipping, and quantity purchases.
Receiving and Dispatching
Receiving and dispatching facilities should fit in with overall material flow within the company
or plant, and should aid efficient flow of materials into and out of production areas. Separate
material gate should be provided, like liquid movement, solid logistic movement, etc, that shall
ensure all entries related to excise and taxation. Receiving and dispatching areas should be
designed to keep building heating and cooling losses at a minimum.
Roads and Footpaths
Roads in plant yards and grounds are sources of frequent accidents unless they are carefully laid
out, substantially constructed, and well surfaced and drained and kept in good condition.

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Heavy duty motor truck hauling requires road tip to 16 m wide for two-way traffic with ample
radii at curves. Gradients, in general, are limited to a maximum of 8 percent. A slight crown is
necessary for drainage, with ditches to carry off water.
Parking Areas
To reduce travel in the plant grounds, a desirable location for a parking area is between an
entrance and the locker room. The entire parking area should be fenced. The parking stalls shall
be laid out so that driving in, parking, opening of car doors and driving away is not obstructed.
Additional Facilities
Greater use should be made of mechanical handling devices, such as conveyors, bucket
elevators, etc., in order to reduce transport by rail and road to an optimum extent.

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INDUSTRIAL BUILDING PROJECT – 1 (GARMENT FACTORY)

GARMENT FACTORY MINIMUM PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Unit/ section Functional space Remarks
Storage Raw material storage
Finished goods storage
Knitting
Dyeing/washing Dyeing (10 machine)
Dye store
Washing (5 washing 5 drying)
Ironing
Laboratory ( 1 officer 2 assistants )
Toilet
Boiler room ( 5 ton boiler )
Production floors Cutting
Accessories store
Cutting quality office
Sewing
Supervisors office
Inspection officers office
Spot removing

Administrative building
cafeteria
service Generators
Water reservoirs
Mini clinic

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INDUSTRIAL BUILDING PROJECT – 2 (VEHICLE (CAR) ASSEMBLING FACTORY)

CAR ASSEMBLY MINIMUM PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Unit/ section Functional space Remarks
store Raw material storage
Finished goods storage
Assembly hall
Production floors Cutting
Accessories store
Cutting quality office
Sewing
Supervisors office
Inspection officers office
Spot removing

Painting Jobs
Administrative building
cafeteria
service Generators
Water reservoirs
Mini clinic

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