The term commercial architecture is incredibly broad. It encompasses a huge array of different properties, from small local shops to huge office blocks. It is a really interesting field because of how diverse it is. Designing to suit the needs of so many different businesses and their customers is also a challenge.

Categories

When you think about it there are five basic categories of buildings here. They include:

Offices – Whether it is a single room or an entire floor in a block.
Retail – This could be any kind of space, from tiny corner shops to huge department stores and shopping centres.
Industrial – This can be a really diverse area, including things like warehouses as well as factories and even data centres.
Leisure – Another really broad category, it can include restaurants, pubs, gyms, and much more.
Healthcare – While a number of these buildings are public, many are actually retail. That includes private dentists and clinics as well as nursing homes.

Classifications

Another thing that can help to differentiate types of building here is the classifications. Every piece of commercial architecture will have one. This will define the use for the space. You can find a list of the current different classes in the Town and Country Planning (Uses Classes) Order 1987. These could change in the near future though as they have been under review since September 2020.

There are three reasons why it is important to note the classification of a commercial building. Firstly it can identify what type of businesses can use the space. This prevents people doing the wrong activities in buildings.

Secondly, the classification can help local planners to determine when new properties can’t be built in an area. For example there may be limitations for an area because of the amount of noise or risk to locals.

Finally, it is vital to note the current classification when you consider a change of use. While this is possible in many cases, there are some pieces of architecture that cannot change from one use to another. For example a shop or restaurant could not become an industrial facility.

Let us design your commercial architecture

Whatever you have in mind for your premises, Coffey Architects can help. We have a lot of experience, working on large office buildings, healthcare premises, shops, and more. You can view a lot of our work on our website. Plus, you can talk to us if you have any questions or ideas to discuss.