Quick
For new builds, why do show apartments normally have no internal doors?
Cryptic
You are receiving lots of complaints about waiting times for your elevator system in the building you manage. Assuming replacing the elevator or the building are not an option, what do you do? And Why?
Answer Update (after 7 comments)
I really wanted to call this "The Perception" edition but I thought that would give it away too much.
You'll pretty much got it.
Quick
Nothing to do with H&S. Can't see not having a door would make a place safer. It's all to do with selling. You perceive a flat / room as bigger without the door. It creates an illusion of space. Makes it an easier sell.
Cryptic
The answer was about how long people think they are waiting. Essentially assuming you can't change the elevator system, you need to change it so people don't find waiting an issue. A few interesting suggesting beyond the one I was looking for (which was also suggested). Which is to put mirrors up so people can look at themselves/other people and don't realise they are waiting.
Ref: Defining the problem of elevator waiting times - 37Signals
1. Steve
At a guess for the first one, I’d say either fire safety when showing people around, or to create the illusion of more space/flow.
As for the second (also a guess)… make one elevator for odd-numbered floors, and the other for evens (taking away buttons/covering panels/etc where required?).
2. Steve
Ah… just had a thought…. the first one… it’s not because the building (if so new that only the show is available) will still be settling… and if so, the door will get stuck/stiff?
3. Matt
Two reasons, Health & Safety, and it makes the apartment look a lot bigger, both of which have already been said.
Tell them all to fuck off and use the stairs. Or, build a Starbucks beside the elevator in the lobby. OR, although replacing them is given as being “not an option”, there’s no such caveat on building new ones. So build new ones!
4. Andrew
First one already answered.
Second one - if there isn’t a floor display indicator on each floor (showing what floor the lift is currently at) put one in. Showing people counters/progress indicators (the Expedia “moving boxes” for example when waiting for flight details to return) makes people think the elevator (or results) arrive quicker than without a counter/progress indicator. If there is one, put a TV outside the lift for people to watch. Or tell them to use the stairs.
5. stroppycow
on the theme of internal doors… I was told that in the UK you can date a house on the basis of which way the doors open? In newer houses they open towards the nearest “next wall” to make the room appear more spacious, in older houses they open towards the further next wall to block the view into the room/ preserve the modesty of the occupants if they had missed your knock and were not fully dressed as you come in. Not sure if it’s the actual reason but it sounds plausible.
I’d say H&S has no bearing on 1) purely flow as surveyors would point out a lack of internal doors leading to the kitchen as a H&S hazard.
6. Nigel
Guessing as has been suggested H&S/ space. Plus a faff if clients want to change the open sides/ directions maybe?
Add a mirror. People are vain, and love whiling away the time looking at and preening themselves. Cheaper than a TV.
7. Marc
@stroppycow - I think the reason for the doors opening into the centre of the room as opposed to the nearest wall was so that when partially closed it would allow the heat from the fire places to circulate round the house yet keep drafts from blowing directly into the occupants of a room.
@Quick - It’s primarily about making the show homes look bigger.
@Cryptic - I’m struggling to find a lateral solution, so on a more practical note I would start with some analysis for tackling two areas:
1) Improving the waiting time - analysis of the lift strategy and the traffic patterns.
2) Improving the perception of waiting times - some good ideas mentioned above.
8. cian
any reference to elevators reminds me of this guys waiting time
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dxW36e6XMOY
I believe the elevators at the Petronas Towers use double decker lifts per shaft. To get the even floors to need to board on Floor 0, to get the odd -on the mezzanine.
9. Marc
Interesting yet it sounds like an apocryphal story; but the point is made anyway.