HOTEL DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

The design considerations are formulated to bring to the attention of the designers in applying
the universal accessibility design principles and requirements to buildings and facilities. They
can also be used to identify barriers in existing buildings. The design considerations are
categorized into sub groups and presented as bullet points for ease of reference. The
respective best practices section for key issues in each sub-group has been indicated. In
addition to academic principles and theories, these considerations have also incorporated
practical findings as discussed in Section 4 in the case studies, the analysis from the surveys,
and the interviews with users and professionals. These considerations are intended as a design
guideline and planning tool in respect of universal accessibility, the designer shall refer to
relevant Ordinances and Design Manuals for compliance to statutory and other requirements.
In addition, the designer shall also seek relevant advice from the client of the project and
cater for any specific design requirements and standards. It is recommended that building
projects and community facilities, especially those frequently accessed by the public or
intended for international visitors, should take into account the content of these
considerations from the inception design stage.

Access to facilities

Access strategy

• Develop access strategy at an early stage of the design

. • Facility should be accessible to the widest spectrum of users.

• Consider means of escape for users of different needs, abilities and disabilities.

• Collaborate with users and operators for client’s needs.

• Prepare an Access Plan and an Evacuation Plan

Connection with public street

• Identify the connection routes from road, pavement, footbridge and subway at various
directions. • Consider connection from major transportation drop-off and for pedestrian
access.

• Consider vehicular access from the public street to the carpark or loading/unloading facility.

• All accessible routes should be connected to a major entrance of the facility.

• Integrate or segregate the accessible routes for different user groups as appropriate.
External signage

• Provide sufficient directional signage at prominent locations.

• Allow ancillary lighting for good visibility of the signage at night time.

• Signage should be pictorial in addition to words and letters, and should be easy to
comprehend.

• Signage should have contrasted colors and be eye-catching.

• Words and letters should be of suitable size and color for good legibility.

Hotel design involves the planning, drafting, design and development of hotels. The concept
of hotel design is rooted in traditions of hospitality to travelers dating back to ancient
times, and the development of many diverse types of hotels has occurred in many cultures.

Pathways

Configuration

• Pathway width should be sufficient to allow at least two wheelchair users to pass each
other.

• Straight pathway is preferred.

• If winding pathway is provided, turning should be with the largest possible radius and with
sufficient turning space, avoid acute turning.

• Pathway edges should be conspicuous and protected to avoid wheels from dropping off.

• Projections should be of suitable height and projecting width to avoid accidental bumping,
and should not obstruct the pathway users.

• Channel grating slots should not be parallel to the major traffic direction; slot sizes should
be small enough to avoid trapping of crutches or wheels.

• Effective lighting should be provided.

Changes in level

• Ramps, dropped kerbs or sloping grounds should be used to connect changes in level, in
addition to steps and stairs, if any.

• Warning should be provided at a suitable distance before the change in level.

• For slight change in level, a full width continuous sloping ground accessible for all is
preferable than a separate ramp

. • Effective lighting or footlight should be provided to make the change in level clearly
visible.

Ramps and sloping grounds

• Gradients should be as gentle as possible.

• Straight ramps or sloping grounds are preferred.

• If winding ramps or slopes are provided, turning should be with the largest possible radius
and with sufficient turning space; avoid acute turning or turning with steep gradient.

• Sufficient intermediate landings for rest, preferably with chairs or benches, should be
provided.

• Continuous handrails should be provided for assisted walking, preferably with two
mounting levels.

• Channel grating slots should not be parallel to the traffic direction, slot sizes should be
small enough to avoid trapping of crutches or wheels. • Effective lighting or footlight should
be provided to make the ramp or sloping ground clearly visible.

Stairs and steps

• Handrails should be provided on both sides.

• Central handrails should be provided for stairs and steps of excessive widths.

• Sufficient intermediate landings, preferably with chairs, should be provided for rest and
regaining strength, especially for long consecutive stairs
. • Warning should be provided at a suitable distance before the first and last step. • Every
step of a single flight of stair should be of constant tread width and riser height.

• Nosings should be of contrasting colours to the tread and riser.

• Effective lighting or footlight should be provided to make every step clearly visible.

• Natural lighting and light fixtures should be so positioned as to avoid glare or the walking
person’s own shadow casting on the steps.

• Underside of staircases with less than 2000mm headroom should be blocked by guardrails
or other form of barriers to stop people from walking underneath.

Floor surface materials

• External ground surface materials should be no slippery

. • Floor materials should not be too rough to make the surface too bumpy or to give wheels
flat tires.

• Surface materials with less glare are preferred.

• Material joints should be smooth with minimum recess/projections and minimum width.

• Floor surface should be level and even.

• Types of surface materials should preferably be different for the main pathway and other
pathways, but too many different surface materials may cause confusion.

Handrails

• Handrails at two-level mounting heights should be provided for places frequently visited by
children.

• Handrails should be continuous with recessed brackets.

• Ends of handrails should be returned to the wall, floor or post so that they do not become
obstructions.

• Handrails should be securely fixed and durable to avoid posing danger to users relying on
them for assisted walking.

• Materials should be smooth and offer a firm grip.

• Size and shape of handrails should offer a firm grip.

• Materials for external handrails should not retain large amount of heat or coldness.

• Braille, tactile or 3-dimensional signage at top and bottom ends of handrails can provide
direction and location information.

Tactile surfaces

• Continuous tactile guide paths should be provided to entrance/major facilities, information

counters, braille maps/directories and lifts.

• Directional, positional, location and hazard warning tactile surfaces should be correctly laid
to convey correct information.

• Tactile surfaces should be laid at a distance from wall surfaces to facilitate left-handed or
right-handed persons with guiding sticks.

• Avoid any door swings into the tactile surfaces

. • Tactile surfaces should preferably be segregated from pathways for wheelchair users to
avoid conflict between the two user groups.

• Contrasting colours can make the tactile surface noticeable.

Luminous contrast

• Luminous contrast should be provided to distinguish floor and wall surfaces.

• Luminous contrast should be provided at changes in levels.

• Too strong luminous contrast is undesirable to low vision persons.

• Natural lighting provision at passageways or corridors provides clues and stimulation for
day and night orientation.

Parking and loading/unloading areas 5.3.1 Run-in/out

• Location of parking areas and loading/unloading areas should be conspicuous at the run-
in/out, with adequate directional signage wherever necessary.

• Signage for the direction to way out should be conspicuous from the parking areas and
loading/unloading facilities.
Accessible carpark

• Disabled carparks should be in close proximity to access the lifts

. • A smooth and safe accessible route should be provided from the disabled carparks to the
major facilities, entrance or lift lobbies.

• Sufficient side space and headroom should be provided for the wheelchair user to get on
and off the car, and for picking up and setting down the wheelchair.

Loading/ unloading areas

• Loading/ unloading areas for vehicles with wheelchair passengers should be provided near
the access to main entrance or lift zone

. • A smooth and safe accessible route should be provided from the loading/unloading areas
to the major facilities, entrance or lift lobby.

External areas and landscaping

Street furniture

• Street furniture should be positioned so as not to obstruct the passageways.

• Lighting posts or columns should be conspicuously marked at eye-level.

• Low-level bollards and chain-linked posts are hazardous and should be avoided.

• Bollards should have a colour or luminance contrast feature.

• Litter bins should be of a big opening for easy dumping of litter with one hand

Entrances and exits

• The entrances should be at prominent locations.

• Entrances should be marked in a special, recognizable and welcoming way.

• Effective lighting should be provided to make the entrances visible.

• Entrances should not have any crossover with vehicular traffic.

• Entrances/exits should be on level ground to allow the widest spectrum of users to pass
through.

Doors

• Door location should be prominent with sufficient space for access.

• Doors should be easy to operate

. • Door for wheelchair access should have a level landing area after the door swings.

Seven major design consideration while designing any Hotel: -

1. Attractive appearance:
All over the appearance of a hotel is one of the very important considerations for a hotel. It
should be attractive and should reflect the architecture of that area and should also have a
character of the services being provided in that Hotel.

2. Efficient Plan:
The plan of the Hotel should be such that it should be functional and also appeal to the eye.
All the services should be so designed that it meets various principles of layout and design.

3. Good Location:
The design of the Hotel will be guided by the geographical location of the Hotel e.g. if a
Hotel is situated near the airport or railway station, the reception of the Hotel will be
designed in such a way that it could handle a large number of guests at one time because
there is a possibility of guest checking in large groups and around the clock. Similarly, Hotel
situated at hill stations, beaches and the Hotels located in heart of the cities and metros will
be designed differently.

4. Suitable Material:
The Hotel should be designed in such a way that it should be able to use the material locally
available which will be cost-effective and efficient.
5. Good Workmanship:
While designing a hotel one should consider the fact that what kind of workmanship is
available and designer should take advantage of local expertise. This will not only make the
hotel efficient but also will be economical.

6. Sound Financing:
One of the very important factors is finance in designing the Hotel. The availability of ready
funds and management of finance is a crucial factor and it should be considered very
carefully in Hotel Design.

7. Competent Management:
The design of a Hotel will depend upon the quality of management available to operate the
establishment. If we have the quality management and manpower only then Hotel should be
designed for sophisticated equipment and high-tech gadgets.

01 Hotel Design

a. Design Consideration
▪ Attractive Appearance
▪ Efficient Plan
▪ Good location
▪ Suitable material
▪ Good workmanship
▪ Sound financing
▪ Competent Management

02 Facilities Planning
a. The systematic layout planning pattern (SLP)

Planning consideration
a. Flow process & Flow diagram
b. Procedure for determining space considering the guiding factors for guest room/
public facilities, support facilities & services, hotel administration, internal
roads/budget hotel/5-star hotel

Architectural consideration
a. Difference between carpet area plinth area and super built area, their relationships,
reading of blue print (plumbing, electrical, AC, ventilation, FSI, FAR, public Areas)
b. Approximate cost of construction estimation
c. Approximate operating areas in budget type/5-star type hotel approximate other
operating areas per guest room
 d. Approximate requirement and Estimation of water/electrical load gas, ventilation

03 Star Classification of Hotel

a. Criteria for star classification of hotel (Five, four, three, two, one & heritage)

04 Kitchen
a. Equipment requirement for commercial kitchen
▪ Heating – gas/electrical
▪ Cooling (for various catering establishment)
b. Developing Specification for various Kitchen equipment’s
c. Planning of various support services (pot wash, wet grinding, chef room, larder, store
& other staff facilities)

05 Kitchen Layout & Design

a. Principles of kitchen layout and design
b. Areas of the various kitchens with recommended dimension
c. Factors that affect kitchen design
d. Placement of equipment
e. Flow of work
f. Space allocation
g. Kitchen equipment, manufacturers and selection
h. Layout of the commercial kitchen (types, drawing a layout of a Commercial kitchen)
i. Budgeting for kitchen equipment

06 Kitchen Stewarding Layout and Design

a. Importance of kitchen stewarding
b. Kitchen stewarding department layout and design
c. Equipment found in kitchen stewarding department

07 Stores – Layout and Design

a. Stores layout and planning (dry, cold and bar)
b. Various equipment of the stores
c. Work flow in stores

08 Energy Conservation
a. Necessity for energy conservation
b. Methods of conserving energy in different area of operation of a hotel
c. Developing and implementing energy conservation program for a hotel

09 Car Parking
a. Calculation of car park area for different types of hotels

10 Planning for Physically Challenged

11 Project Management
a. Introduction to Network analysis
b. Basic rules and procedure for network analysis
c. C.P.M. and PERT
d. Comparison of CPM and PERT
e. Classroom exercises
f. Network crashing determining crash cost, normal cost

6 MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER FOR DESIGNING A HOTEL

1. Location

One of the most important considerations when designing a hotel is the location. The
location of the hotel can have a significant impact on its success. The hotel should be
in an area that is easily accessible to guests and has a good view. It should be situated
in an area that is safe, secure, and well-connected to transportation options.

2. Functionality

Another important consideration when designing a hotel is functionality. The hotel

should be designed in such a way that it is easy for guests to navigate. The rooms,
common areas, and other facilities should be easily accessible and should be designed
to maximize space usage. The hotel’s design should be optimized to create a smooth
and hassle-free guest experience.

3. Construction Materials

Selecting the right construction materials is also crucial when designing a hotel. The
materials used in the construction of a hotel should be durable, sustainable, and
aesthetically pleasing. High-quality materials ensure that the hotel lasts for a long
time and reduces the need for frequent maintenance. Additionally, sustainable
materials are good for the environment, and hotels that use them are often viewed
positively by guests.

4. Aesthetics

Aesthetics can have a significant impact on how guests perceive the hotel. The hotel
should be designed in a way that is visually appealing and reflects the local culture or
theme. The interior design of the hotel should be consistent with the overall theme
and should create a comfortable and inviting environment for guests.

5. Guest Comfort

Guest comfort is a major factor when designing a hotel. The hotel should be designed
to create a relaxing and comfortable environment for guests. The rooms should be
spacious, well-lit, and well-ventilated. The bedding and furniture should be
comfortable and made of high-quality materials. The hotel should also have amenities
that are essential for guest comforts, such as air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and room
service.
6. Safety and Security

The hotel should be designed in such a way that it is secure and safe for guests. The
hotel should have adequate fire safety measures in place, such as smoke detectors and
fire extinguishers. The hotel should also have a security system in place to ensure that
guests are safe from potential threats.
REFERENCES:

https://hmhub.in/design-consideration-hotel-design/

https://cliconference.com/main-factors-to-consider-for-designing-a-hotel/

https://www.archsd.gov.hk/archsd/html/ua/05-Chapter5.pdf
 Republic of the Philippines

Eastern Visayas State University

College of Architecture and Allied Discipline

Tacloban City

HOTEL
DESIGN
CONSIDERATIONS
Submitted by:

GALLO, MARIA MAE S.

Submitted to:

IDr. AARON M. REBATO piid