The Shape of Space

This book is primarily concerned with the space planning of restaurants and, since their basic elements are much the same throughout the civilised world, is directed at an international readership. Although concentrating on the average restaurants, we also look at the wider commercial range-banquet ~ooms, cafeterias, fast food establishments, drug stores, sandwich bars and cafes-as well as private dining rooms, outdoor and in-transit situations. Where a particular environment is not specifically singled out, its elements can be deduced by comparison to similar spaces. At a detailed planning level, the design of dining spaces is not a well investigated and documented field. The present work attempts to fill this gap and address the designer's need for hard facts, dimensions, and sound spatial guidelines. The author of this book firmly believes that given rigorous scrutiny of all relevant data almost any design problem can be solved; and that the process of arriving at a solution (or recommendation) can and should be explicable in unequivocal terms.