What is the primary purpose of an adjacency diagram in space planning?

• A. To map relationships and proximities between spaces and functions.
• B. To determine structural loads of walls and floors.
• C. To calculate door swing radii.
• D. To select finishes for surfaces.

Answer: (A)

In space planning, adjacency diagrams are used to map relationships and proximities between spaces and functions to guide where each area should sit in relation to others. This helps create efficient circulation, logical flows, and functional adjacencies—like placing the kitchen near dining for ease of service, or keeping private bedrooms away from noisy public zones. It’s a high-level tool focused on how spaces relate, not on exact measurements.

It’s not about structural concerns, door mechanisms and clearances, or finishes. Structural loads require engineering analysis, door swing calculations deal with hardware and clearance, and finishes are about material choices and aesthetics. The adjacency diagram stays focused on how spaces should relate to one another to shape the overall layout.