The popularity of open floor plans in modern and contemporary residential design — most evident in the “great rooms” that combine living space, dining room and kitchen has not completely abolished the space which traditionally joins distinct rooms: halls. Even with open floor plans, halls could be integrated as transitional spaces between private and public, inside and out, or between various zones of the house.

Modern/contemporary hallways can be partitioned into three kinds: single-loaded, or outboard routes with rooms on either side; double-loaded, the internal corridors with rooms on both sides; and bridges, be they inside tall spaces or as separate amounts connecting two sides of a house. Hybrids certainly exist, but these distinctions are utilized to structure the examples that follow.

Sagan / Piechota Architecture

This house in Big Sur, Calif. uses all-glass walls to start up expansive views of the ocean and surrounding landscape. Here we can observe it to the left, along with the glass wall to the right way that view is not sacrificed by the hallway that offers entry to the ends of the linear plan.

jessop architects

Direct sunlight is not always desired, even if it’s into a hallway, where heat can build up and radiate to the remainder of the house. The exterior wall within this example uses louvers to cut back on the hot sun. Notice the pocket in the left foreground, which closes off this end of this hallway from the remainder.

Architects, Webber + Studio

This hallway uses solid panels to make a rhythm in the glass outside. As you can see, these panels are ideal for displaying paintings. The clerestories are a nice touch that illuminate the ceiling and lower the need for artificial lighting throughout the day.

John Lum Architecture, Inc.. AIA

More rhythm and art: one opposite the other, Here the Cabinets and photos work in concert.

Jeff Green Photography

The rhythm here, in what I am imagining is the exterior wall at right, is compact but splendid in the light it generates. This can be aided no doubt by the light onto the far wall and the world which appears to beckon.

Sutton Suzuki Architects

In this example the outside wall is a courtyard, so both sides are controlled, allowing for full-height glazing with no shades for privacy. Shelving on the left screens art which may be appreciated even from outside, as people lounge next to the pool.

David Vandervort Architects

This hall does a good job of opening views into the landscape of trees, but note how it also climbs in the distance to follow the topography. An exterior stair visible through the glass in the center of this photo demonstrates that this consideration of site extends into the spaces out as well.

John Maniscalco Architecture

Moving into double-loaded corridors, we can observe that spatially and with respect to pure lighting they are not as dramatic or special since single-loaded ones. But often they’re necessary. This one is treated, using a white wall reverse a wood wall with matching cupboard doors.

John Maniscalco Architecture

Lighting can definitely be used to make halls more unique, and in this scenario rhythmic. Often the doorways that line halls can be irrelevant, creating a random result (not the case here), thus a solid element like those lights may instill its rhythm. Notice the sliding door in the distance, a nice touch that enables the window to frame the end of the hallway when that space is not occupied.

Peter A. Sellar – Architectural Photographer

Even the barest of halls — and I can’t think of one more bare than those two white walls — can be made better by shaping the distance.

Ian Moore Architects

This seems like it could win the award for longest hallway on Houzz, but it’s actually comprised of two segments: In the foreground is a double-loaded corridor with sliding doors onto the left and some ingenious display distance below storage on the best; in the background is …

Ian Moore Architects

… A bridge which links the present house and also. Here again we have louvers cutting back on direct sunlight. This sort of visual “noise” also discourage birds from inadvertently striking glass walls, something which is raised in bridges with glass on both sides.

Fatima McNell

This large bridge seems like it could be utilized as a space, state as a really nice home office.

This second-floor bridge comprises a stair to connect two parts of the house. The dark remedy of this ground and ceiling helps to concentrate attention on the outside along with its daylight.

Kanner Architects – CLOSED

This ground-floor hallway bridges two parts of the house, but in addition, it acts as a transition between the outside (left) along with the courtyard (right).

jones | haydu

What at first glance appears to be only a double-loaded corridor is restricted by a net on the ceiling. From above …

jones | haydu

… we see that this is a bridge which follows the route of the hallway downstairs. In cases like this the location of this bridge is a given, since the distance below the swimmer’s summit is the only place to fit it with enough vertical clearance to walk.

This indoor bridge is illuminated with a glass-block skylight which follows the walls. With indoor bridges, it’s often the situation that what lies in the conclusion is of some importance, like the master bedroom, so the special journey is suitable. A bathroom in the end of this hallway, for instance, would not make much sense.

Turnbull Griffin Haesloop

The last few examples show hybrids which combine bridges together with single-loaded hallways, what are basically mezzanines. This one finds books windows that are opposite , all under a roof.

Chang + Sylligardos Architects

I sense a pattern: more novels along with a sloping roof. Hallways are good places for novels, because they don’t occupy space in other rooms as well as the mental noise they create (look how a lot of the books I have not read yet!) Is tucked out of their way, yet they’re still easily accessible.

John Maniscalco Architecture

Here we’ve got art opposite windows below a sloping roof. The skylight is really a nice touch, illuminating the paintings which may be observed from below as well.

More: Read photos of hallway designs
Design in the End of the Hall

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