Overview
A good plan makes full use of the plot within the rules, keeps circulation short, brings light and cross-ventilation into every room, and gives the structure a clean, regular grid. Getting these decisions right on paper is far cheaper than correcting them on site.
Architectural planning sets out how a building sits on its plot and how each floor is organised: setbacks, access, parking, stairs and lifts, room sizes, daylight, and ventilation. Because our practice is structurally led, plans are developed with the column grid and structural system in mind from the start. This avoids the late compromises that come from fitting a structure into a plan that is already finished.
When you need it
- You own a plot and want a plan that uses it fully within the setback, floor area ratio (FAR), and ground-coverage rules.
- You need architectural drawings for a RAJUK, GAUK, or Paurashava submission.
- You have a rough layout and want it checked against the building rules and the structure.
- You are converting, extending, or re-planning an existing building.
What's included
- 01
Site planning
Building footprint, setbacks, access, parking, and open space arranged on the surveyed plot.
- 02
Floor planning
Unit and room layouts, stair and lift cores, toilets, kitchens, and service shafts, floor by floor.
- 03
Elevations and sections
Facade, floor heights, levels, and the vertical relationships the approval drawings need to show.
- 04
Rule compliance checks
Setbacks, FAR, maximum ground coverage, parking, and open-space requirements of the relevant authority.
- 05
Structure-aware planning
Column grid, spans, and cores planned together with the structural design, so the plan and the structure agree.
How it works
- 01
Brief and plot data
We collect the brief, the land survey, and the plot documents, and confirm which authority's rules apply.
- 02
Layout options
Planning options are tested against the rules, the budget, and a workable structural grid.
- 03
Developed plans
The chosen option is developed into dimensioned plans, elevations, and sections.
- 04
Submission set
Drawings are finalised for authority submission and coordinated with the structural drawings.
What you receive
- Site plan
- The building on the surveyed plot, with setbacks, access, and area calculations.
- Floor plans
- Dimensioned plans for every floor, including the roof and any basement or parking level.
- Elevations and sections
- Drawings that show the height, levels, openings, and external appearance of the building.
- Submission drawings
- Architectural drawings prepared in the format the approving authority requires.
Codes & inputs
- Building construction rulesThe Dhaka Metropolitan Building Construction Rules 2008 in RAJUK areas, and the rules applied by GAUK or the relevant Paurashava elsewhere.
- BNBC 2020Planning, fire safety, and general building requirements of the Bangladesh National Building Code.
Questions about architectural planning
What are FAR and ground coverage, and why do they matter?
Floor area ratio (FAR) limits the total floor area you can build relative to the plot area. Maximum ground coverage limits how much of the plot the building can occupy. Together with setbacks, they decide how large the building can be. The limits depend on the plot size, the road width, and the authority's rules, so they are checked at the start of planning.
What information is needed before starting a building design?
The essentials are the land documents (deed, mutation, and khatian), a land survey of the plot, a soil investigation report for multi-storey buildings, and a clear brief: the use of the building, the number of floors now and in the future, and an approximate budget. If you do not have a survey or soil report yet, we can arrange both as the first step.
Do architectural and structural design need to be coordinated?
Yes. Column positions, beam depths, stair and lift cores, and openings affect both the plan and the structure. When they are designed separately, columns end up in the middle of rooms or beams cut across windows. Planning both together from the start avoids these conflicts and usually saves material as well.
