1.
Definition of a Walk-up Apartment
As apartment complexes rise in the number of floors, the properties are classified as walk-up (low-
rise), mid-rise, and high-rise. It typically consists of three to five floors (Goddard, 2012). As stated
by Henderson (2019), a walk-up apartment is an apartment located in a building accessible
only by stairs. There's no elevator to reach the upper floors of the building.
Or as said by Finch (2020), these apartments are units in an apartment building that does not have an
elevator, they’re only accessible by walking up multiple flights of stairs and usually does not exceed
from five (5) up to six (6) floors.
In addition, walk-up multi-family housing draws its name from its lack of elevator. It also relies on
on-grade parking solutions, either in surface lots or tucked under the wooden structure (Walk up,
n,d).
2. Basic and ancillary amenities in a Walk-up Apartment
Amenities by Category (the spruce, 2020)
Pet Amenities Transportation and Parking Amenities
Pet-Friendly Garages
Dog park Covered parking
Dog washing station Assigned parking spaces
Large dogs allowed Bike storage lockers
Multiple pets allowed Shared car services
Electric car charging stations
Pedestrian-friendly - Walk Score
Bus stop/Public transportation access
Unit Amenities
Laundry Amenities
Air-conditioning
Shared laundry room Fireplace
Recreation Amenities Family Amenities
Fitness center Playground
Spa Close to schools
Yoga/dance studio Babysitting/Afterschool services
Pool
Playground Miscellaneous Amenities
Community Center
Media room Storage
Party room Security cameras
Community events and Security guard
classes On-Site Staff
Outdoor areas Doorman
Jogging/walking/bike path Gated access
or access to one nearby Valet trash
Conference Room Recycling center
Common Area Wi-Fi Doorstep recycling collection
Outside Storage Space
© https://www.thespruce.com/what-are-apartment-amenities-155950
3. Special Guidelines in the design of a Walk-up Apartment
Diversity
Housing should be designed to ensure it is tenure blind so as not to distinguish between
tenures. The density and residential mix of housing sizes and tenures should aim to meet the
strategic and local targets of the area. Internal distribution of dwelling types across the site
and within buildings will facilitate integration and social mix while ensuring that particular
households are appropriately located (e.g. residents with a disability located close to
entrances and facilities).
Liveability
Housing should provide adequate private and communal storage facilities of a minimum size
of 2.3 m2 internal space in addition to clothes and linen storage.
Wider Community
Prior to the design stage undertake a contextual assessment to show how the design responds
to its physical and natural context including:
the value of existing vegetation;
local pattern of building and streets;
location of other land uses;
traffic and pedestrian/cycle routes and bus stops;
proximity to local open space and facilities;
key views;
barriers to natural surveillance in the vicinity;
maximising connectivity with surrounding areas;
public space;
landscape and topography; and
identified character and local vision or strategy.
In addition prepare a site opportunities map to summarise an
assessment of on-site:
Surveillance;
Street edges;
Retention of vegetation; and
Linkages to surrounding areas.
High density housing development is to be encouraged where access
to public transport, services and facilities is adequate. The design
should:
demonstrate how the development complements the local
network of public spaces, existing streets and paths;
limit overlooking and overshadowing of private open space and
windows of living areas where practicable;
vary building heights to avoid limiting views from balconies of
adjoining dwellings; and
provide legible routes within the site for navigable ways through
the use of signs, waymarkers and maps, landmarks and focal
points, views, lighting, and works of ar
Structure Plan
Provide a structure of buildings and spaces within the development to relate to others in the
surrounding area in terms of:
site layout
movement routes within site
existing street patterns in surrounding area, and
provide networks of public spaces.
Continuity and Enclosure
Streets and other public/communal and semi-public spaces should be enclosed with buildings
and trees of a scale appropriate to the space. Public streets, footpaths and open spaces are to
be overlooked by buildings providing casual surveillance
Connecting Pathways and Entrances
Developments are encouraged to facilitate pedestrian and cyclist movement across and
through the site for residents of all ages and abilities through provision of lit pathways with a
minimum width of 1200 mm connecting buildings, facilities and services at grade and
minimum 2.5 metres wide where adjacent to high-rise building entrances or at intersections.
Car Parking and Transport
In suburban areas car ownership is high and for house renters a car is often the resident’s
most valuable asset, so both shelter and security for the cars is crucial.
Internal Circulation
Allow for generous, well designed staircases with views of (or opento) access corridors and
the external environment to encourage increased activity as a desirable and pleasant
alternative to using lifts. Corridors, stairs and lifts should be wide enough to move large
furniture items to apartments
Character and Sense of Place
Provide for frequent encounters amongst residents by widening of pathways, corridors and
lobbies at entrances to units and where paths intersect or approach units at ground level. All
buildings to maximize active frontages at ground level, with regularly spaced entrances to
groups of units in high-rise buildings and for all dwellings at ground level facing pedestrian
routes and internal roads and external streets.
Features
Provide attractive community focal points such as semi-private central open space focusing
on existing character trees or new tree(s) on the site. Facilitate arts, cultural and education
projects that bring residents together and provide opportunities for artistic and cultural
expression
Consistency and Variety
Housing is to be designed with:
active frontages that include windows, doorways, balconies and
the like;
varied building forms and colours; and
varied and visually interesting spaces, with landscape
opportunities
Quality of Public Realm
Create a sense of wellbeing and amenity:
incorporate furniture (tables and chairs for all age and mobility groups) and facilities
(barbeques, drink fountains, waste bins, water and power outlets etc) that encourage social
interaction in communal and semi-private open spaces; and
create a community focal point oriented around existing natural features such as mature trees.
Landscape
The use of a Landscape Architect at the context assessment and design stages will ensure that
all ground level facilities, movement routes, planting, lighting and furniture are well located
and designed and that sufficient areas and spaces are provided for personalization of
landscape by residents.
Safety and Security
The amount of semi-public areas should be minimised, especially in
higher-density development:
ensure security by providing well-defined entrances to clearly demarcate public and private
space;
enable casual surveillance of ground-level open spaces and play areas from ground level
residential, commercial and retail uses and upper level dwellings;
provide ‘residents only’ semi-private open spaces (including play areas) with secure access
from public space;
activate all building frontages along adjoining streets and along internal roads whether
publicly
Open Spaces and Meeting Places
Provide a variety of on-site internal and external community meeting spaces (including
storage spaces) that are accessible to all residents regardless of age and ability:
Noise Attenuation
Incorporate noise attenuation measures such as:
double-glazed windows;
sealed doorways;
under-balcony sound-absorbing materials; and
wall and ceiling insulation which exceeds BCA requirements where there is a risk of nuisance
from noise.
Water Efficiency
Designs should comply with the Department of Planning Transport and Infrastructure’s water
sensitive urban design principles as follows:
use water-efficient fixtures and appliances;
provide green spaces to receive and utilise stormwater run-off;
use permeable paving (incorporating water storage where possible);
rain water storage and re-use;
water features utilising stormwater; and
recovery and recycling of stormwater on site for irrigation of landscaping and use within
units where appropriate.
Energy Efficiency
Apartments must be designed and set out with dual aspect with
openable external windows, and doors to balconies to facilitate crossventilation of indoor
environments.
provide standard sizes, materials and components and avoid imported fittings such as lights
for which globes are difficult to source or have high energy use;
https://renewalsa.sa.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/1.3-Apartment-Design-BCA-Class-2-
Construction.pdf
4. Design standards and guidelines in designing a Walk-up Apartment
The below table shows comparison between my virtual city building code and real countries
building codes (most countries regulate room minimum width and minimum area).
Teoalida’s
Housing
Singapor Malaysi South Philippine
Room India Brazil
e a Korea s
Low- Standar
cost d
2.9 m usually
Living 3.4 m 2.0 m 2.4 m
16 – 3.6×3.6 – –
room 20 sqm 11 sqm 8 sqm
sqm m
1.8 m
1.9 m 2.4 m 1.5 m 1.5 m 1.5 m
Kitchen – – 5
6 sqm 8 sqm 4.5 sqm 3 sqm 4 sqm
sqm
2.9 m usually 2.4 m
Master 3.4 m 2.0 m 2 m 2.4 m
11 – 3.6×3.6 9.5
bedroom 14 sqm 9.3 sqm 6 sqm 8 sqm
sqm m sqm
usually 2.1m
Other 2.4 m 2.9 m 2.0 m 2 m 2.4 m
– 2.7×3.6 7.5
bedrooms 8 sqm 11 sqm 6.5 sqm 6 sqm 6 sqm
m sqm
usually 1.2 m 1.2 m
1.2 m 1.5 m 0.75 m 0.9 m
Bath – 1.8×2.4 2.8 ?
3 sqm 4 sqm 2.0 sqm 1.2sqm
m sqm * Sqm
1.2 m usually 0.9 m
1.5 m 0.75 m
Toilet 1.8 – 1.5×1.8 1.1 – –
2.5 sqm 1.5 sqm
sqm m sqm
1.2 m
Washing
– – – – – – – 2.4
room
sqm
3
Store room – – – – – – –
sqm
Ceiling probably 2.75
2.6 m 2.8 m 2.6 m 2.5 m 2.4 m * 2.4 m
height 2.7 m m
Hallway usually 1.5 m
1.5 m 1.5 m 1.5 m ? ? 1.2 m
public 1.5 m ?
Hallway 0.9 m 1.2 m 1m ? usually 1.2 m 0.9 m 0.8 m
private
Teoalida’s
Housing
Singapor Malaysi South Philippine
Room India Brazil
e a Korea s
Low- Standar
cost d
1.5 m
Staircase usually 1.5 m
1.4 m 1.4 m 1m ? ? 1.1 m
public 1.2 m ?
Staircase
0.9 m 1 m 1m ? ? 1m 0.75 m 0.8 m
private
Guidelines for standard housing
An ideal city should regulate minimum room sizes and minimum apartment size, not just individual
room sizes. By this way developers have some freedom to make some apartments with bigger living
room and other apartments with bigger bedrooms, to make all rooms accessible from living room, or
to add hallways.
Minimum net floor area (excluding walls and balconies):
1-bedroom 1-bath = 40 sqm
2-bedroom 1-bath = 60 sqm
2-bedroom 2-bath = 70 sqm
3-bedroom 2-bath = 90 sqm
4-bedroom 2-bath = 120 sqm
The following regulations were intended for the system with wall axis and 10 cm walls.
Living room: minimum width 3.4 m, 2.9 m wide is allowed for 2-room. Recommended size for
living + dining: 18 sqm for 2-room, 20 sqm for 3-room, 25 sqm for 4-room, 30 sqm for 5-room.
Dining room: 3-room apartments should provide space for dining table for 4 people while 4-room
apartments should provide space for a dining table for 6 people, if it is a separate room, its size
should be at least 3 x 3 m. In low-cost apartments people can eat in front of TV on a folding table
with folding chairs.
Bedrooms: recommended size 2.9 x 3.9 m or 3.4 x 3.4 m (11 sqm). This size easily accommodate a
wardrobe and one double bed or two single beds (or wardrobe, bed, desk).
Master bedroom: for 3-room apartments, one bedroom is recommended to be 2.9 x 4.9 m or 3.5 x
3.9 m (13 sqm) and for 4-room and bigger 3.4 x 4.9 m (16 sqm). Bigger apartment means richer
owner so need a bigger room.
Kitchen: minimum 2.4 m for cabinets on both sides, minimum 8 sqm for 3/4-room, 10 sqm for 5-
room. 2-room can have kitchen 1.9m wide with cabinets on one side and 6 sqm.
Most f my designs use enclosed kitchen but placed in a way that allow hacking wall to living room
for people who love open-concept kitchen.
Bathrooms: recommended size 2.4×1.6 m to fit toilet bowl, sink and bathtub, or 2.4 x 1.4 m with
shower, or 1.9 x 1.9 with corner shower. Typical bathtub size is 150-160 cm long and 75-80 cm
wide (60 x 30 in).
Hallways: most of my designs use 1.20 m width hallways to comply with almost every country’s
building code. Together with bathroom width of 1.60 m and two walls 10 cm thick, makes a rounded
value of 3 meters.
Staircases: minimal width 90 cm, recommended width 1 m.
Guidelines for low-cost housing
Living room: minimum 3 meters width, floor area vary depending by number of rooms.
Bedrooms: minimum 2.4 x 3.4 m, this is the minimum size that fit 2 single beds or 1 single bed and
desk, and a wardrobe.
Bathrooms: minimum 1.4 x 2.4 m.
Hallways and staircases: minimum 90 cm wide.
Apartment net floor areas: around 45 sqm for 3-room and 60 sqm for 4-room.
Other guidelines (PD 1096)
SECTION 701. Occupancy Classified
Group B – Residentials, Hotels and Apartments
Group B Occupancies shall be multiple dwelling units including boarding or lodging houses,
hotels, apartment buildings, row houses, convents, monasteries and other similar building
each of which accommodates more than 10 persons.
Residential R-3 - a high-density residentialuse or occupancy, characterized mainly as a lowrise or medium-
rise building/ structure for exclusive use asmultiple family dwellings with mixed housing types. R-3 structure
may include low-rise or medium-rise residential condominium buildings that are already commercial in
nature and scale. There shall be two (2) general types of R-3 use or occupancy, to wit:
a. Basic R-3 : rowhouse building/structure of from one (1) storey up to three (3) storeys in
height and with each unit for separate use as single-family dwellings; and
b. Maximum R-3 : medium-rise multi-level building/ structure of from six (6) up to twelve
(12) storeys in height and for use as multiple family 51 dwellings.
Residential R-4 - a medium to high-density residential use or occupancy, characterized mainly as a
low-rise townhouse building/ structure for exclusive use as multiple family dwellings. The term R-4
specifically refers to the building/structure on an
Ceiling heights
Minimum height for first-storey (natural ventilation): not less than 2.70m
Succeeding storey for Artificial Ventilation : not less than2.40m while
Natural Ventilation: not less than 2.70m
Mezzanine floors : not less than1.80m above and below it
Minimum area of rooms:
Habitation: 6sq. meters, least dimension of 2m
Kitchen: 3sq. meters, least dimension of 1.50m
Bath and toilet: 1.20 sq. meters, least dimension of 0.90m
Air space requirement:
Workshops, Factories, Offices: 12 cu. Meters of air space per person
Habitable Rooms: 14 cu. Meters of air space per person.
Riser and Tread: 250 mm tread (minimum) and 200 mm riser (maximum) The maximum
variation in the width of treads in any one (1) flight shall not be more than 5 millimeters and the
maximum variation in one (1) height of two (2) adjacent rises shall not exceed 5 millimeters.
Minimum Area of Windows; Habitable rooms: 10% of floor area, Bathrooms/laundry rooms,etc.:
5% of floor area
Building Height Limit (BHL) by Type of Use or Occupancy
Setbacks
General Requirements for Occupant Loads and Exits*
Apartments – 18.60 sq. meters. Minimum of Two (2) Exits Other than Elevators are Required Where
Number of Occupants is Over 10
5. Case study of a proposed or existing Walk-up Apartment (with floor plans; optional:
elevations and sections)
6. Write-up/essay on your personal understanding/highlights of your research work
(preferably 1 whole page write-up)
https://www.apartmentlist.com/renter-life/walk-up-apartments#what-is-a-walk-up-apartment
https://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/what-is-a-walk-up-apartment/
http://ktgy.com/work/type/residential/walk-up/
https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=OwuSzxldzTcC&dq=Basic+amenities+in+a+Walk-
up+Apartment&hl=fil&source=gbs_navlinks_s
https://www.thespruce.com/what-are-apartment-amenities-155950
https://www.teoalida.com/design/rules/
http://www.iibh.org/kijun/pdf/Philippines_02_IRR_of_NBC_of_the_Philippines.pdf
