Patent Publication Number: US-2017362814-A1

Title: Vertically stacked floors

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/372,948 filed on Feb. 26, 2003, which claims priority to a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/046,898, filed on Jan. 17, 2002, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     SCOPE OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a building, condominium or townhouse structure, which includes at least two floors, containing one or more vertically stacked building units. Specifically, the present invention relates to a stacked building unit construction consisting of at least two self-contained units. Most preferably, the units are part of a typical floor plan size of particular architectural project, each unit having areas with both conventional ceiling height and areas with higher cathedral or loft-type ceilings. The units are further characterized by a planar parallel horizontal uppermost ceiling and lowermost floor surface arrangement. The typical floor plan size can vary in size from one stack of pair units, to virtually unlimited number of units connecting side by side filling the desire footprint of a particular project. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the development of urban centres over the past century, there has been a corresponding rise in the density and height of not only commercial buildings, but also residential apartment buildings and condominiums as land costs have increased. As a result, in major urban centres, it is common to construct multiple dwelling unit condominiums and apartment buildings, which consist of a number of vertically stacked pairs of floors, or staked pairs of units using the invented key element defined the new invented look of the front elevation of the building. Such buildings range in height from two or four storeys in the case of low-rise buildings, to high-rise towers of thirty storeys or more. 
     With the progressing densification of cities and increased development, developers are continuously attempting to differentiate each new apartment building or condominium from adjacent properties, in an effort to better attract tenants and prospective buyers. To date, the majority of buildings and condominiums are differentiated from each other by the level of quality of materials, which are used to finish not only the individual building or living units themselves, but also common areas, such as the building lobbies and hallways. In addition, where space permits, an apartment building or residential condominium building may also house a swimming pool or health club facility to provide an enhanced living space for tenants. 
     Heretofore, the ceiling heights of individual building units, which define the self-contained living spaces for the tenants or condominium owners, have remained largely homogeneous, and most typically are selected at between 7.5 and 12 feet. The nature of vertically stacked building unit construction makes it difficult to include, within the building customized units, individual rooms with higher cathedral or loft ceilings or which otherwise have a differing vertical height from either vertically and/or horizontally adjacent units within the building, or for that matter separate living areas within the unit itself. In particular, to ensure structural stability, it is preferred that the load-bearing walls and/or supports of the building extend vertically from the foundation, and cover vertically the entire height of the building. As a result of concerns of structurally weakening the building, there has been a reluctance to include within buildings, units having differing ceiling height configurations, for fear that this would necessitate additional structural reinforcement and architectural input. 
     Although some developers may include customized units, which have increased ceiling height, such units are typically restricted solely to the uppermost floor of a building, such as penthouse suites. The present invention will provide two types of vertically stacked condominium floors or stacked units with different height configurations at any level of the vertical structure with no additional structural reinforcement or architectural input. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of existing building constructions by providing a building structure, which may be incorporated into any conventional low-rise or high-rise commercial or residential building of typical floor plan project, without significantly altering the load-bearing walls or support configuration for the building. The building structure includes at least one pair of vertically stacked units, most preferable part of any typical footprint, or typical floor area of any architectural project enjoying this invention. Each unit defines a self-contained space and includes a primary area having a cathedral or loft ceiling, which is characterized by a ceiling height of 1.5 storeys representing the main starting high floor calculation, but not limited, of basic starting point of unlimited variation of the invention concept key elements storey high from the conventional height, and a secondary area which has a conventional one storey ceiling height. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an improved building structure, which includes at least one pair of vertically stacked floors, or staked units, and which are defined laterally by three parallel opposing common sidewalls or structural sheerings walls or columns, in case the project contains only two staked units, and multiple structure walls or columns, in case that the pair of floors contain more that one staked pair of units. Usually the footprint of a typical floor plan of any project includes more than one pair of staked units. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a building construction methodology for condominiums, townhouses or apartment buildings, which consist of two vertically stacked units, each having a primary living area having a ceiling height of about 1.5 storeys and a secondary living area having a conventional one storey ceiling height, and which may be incorporated into any typical floor plan area of the building project during its construction as a module, in place of any three vertically stacked conventional single storey units. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a building structure, which is characterized by at least one pair of vertically stacked units, each having a primary living area with a cathedral ceiling, and which may be incorporated within the load bearing wall configuration of a building design as a building module, and being incorporated in the most preferable part of a typical architectural floor plan without requiring additional structural reinforcement or significant architectural revision to the building. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a building or condominium unit construction, which includes two building units, each defining a self-contained living space, and which are positioned vertically adjacent to each other, wherein one of the units has a primary living area with a cathedral-type ceiling of approximately, and more preferably exactly, 1.5 storeys in height, and a secondary living area, which comprises a conventional one-storey height floor. The other unit has a primary living area with a cathedral-type ceiling of 1.5 storeys in height and a secondary living area which comprises of two one-storey height floors. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a building construction for an apartment building, condominium or townhouse, which permits two or more separate prestige level dwelling units to be placed in a vertical arrangement, while using substantially the same vertical superstructure and materials of a conventional low-rise or high-rise building, and which presents parallel and planar upper ceiling and lowermost floor surfaces. 
     The present invention provides a building structure or construction which is suitable as a two-invented staked floors building module which may be incorporated into a variety of multi-storey commercial or residential buildings. The building structure includes two or more vertically stacked units which each define a respective self-contained space. As a staked floors module, the building structure extends vertically downward from a planar ceiling surface which forms the upper extent of the uppermost floor system unit to a planar lower floor surface of the other floor system unit. 
     Laterally, the building module is bordered on each side by load-bearing support pillars or sidewalls (hereinafter collectively referred to as load-bearing walls) which extend the height of the building. An interior dividing load-bearing wall is positioned within each of the units between the load-bearing sidewalls, and which divides each unit into primary and secondary living areas or spaces. Although not essential, most preferably, the interior dividing walls of each unit are vertically aligned directly with each other and operate as an internal load-bearing wall. 
     It is to be appreciated that doorways are formed through the dividing wall in each unit to permit passage between the primary living area and secondary area. To minimize the space required for stairways and stairwells, the uppermost unit is preferably provided with a secondary area, which includes the two vertically stacked floors. This configuration advantageously requires that only the upper unit be provided with stairs and a stairwell. 
     The principal living area of the uppermost unit is positioned above the secondary living area of the lower unit and is separated by a floor surface which spans between the interior dividing bearing wall and a first one of the sidewalls. The primary floor surface is located exactly one conventional storey height from the floor surface of the lowermost unit. 
     The secondary living area of the top unit has two different ceiling heights. 
     Accordingly, the first part of the secondary unit that is placed exactly above the primary living area of the bottom unit, covers the exact surface of the primary area of the bottom unit, and is located exactly one-half conventional storey height above the floor surface of the primary portion of the top unit. The remaining space of the secondary living area of the top unit is characterized by a height of 1.25 times that of the conventional storey height with its floor surface one-quarter a conventional storey height above the floor surface of the primary portion of the top unit. The above described remaining part of the secondary living area of the top unit is placed exactly above a corresponding remaining portion of the secondary living area of the bottom unit with a 1.25 height between the two vertically adjacent living areas. 
     The upper unit consists of a primary area having a cathedral-type ceiling and a secondary area which consists of two parts with two different heights. The front first part surface of the secondary living area of the top unit is placed above the primary living area of the bottom unit and consists of a one conventional storey height living area. The total remaining rearward area of the secondary living area of the top unit consists of 1.25 height of the conventional storey height and is placed exactly above the back part of the secondary living area of the lower unit. The back part of the secondary living area of the lower unit also consists of 1.25 height of the conventional storey height. 
     The lower unit will display exactly the same basic characteristics (patterns) of the upper unit. Accordingly, it consists of a primary area having a cathedral-type ceiling and a secondary living area consisting of two parts with two different heights. The surface of the lower secondary unit area, placed exactly and totally underneath the primary living area of the top unit, consists of one conventional storey height living area. The remaining area of the lower secondary living unit area, placed exactly underneath the secondary living area of the top unit, consists of a 1.25 height from the conventional storey height of the building. 
     In the above described modules, each of the building units is accessible from a respective hallway which extends along a rear portion of each unit. The bottom unit accessibility is always from the 1.25 height secondary living area and accessibility for the top unit is always from the 1.25 height portion of the secondary living area. 
     A primary advantage of the building structure resides in the fact that the ceiling surface of the uppermost unit as well as the floor surface of the lowermost unit is formed as parallel horizontal slabs for both types of floor system modules. Furthermore, insofar as the sidewalls, the middle wall and some portions of the back walls are positioned as vertical load-bearing walls, the configuration of the present building structure advantageously enables its inclusion in almost any conventional building more than three storeys in height (respective 2.5 height), while avoiding the need to incorporate additional architectural reinforcement or specialized designs. Rather, one or more building modules could be incorporated in almost any building construction in place of any three conventional vertically stacked units (respective 2.5). 
     The present building structure permits increased adaptability allowing specialized units to be positioned not only at the top storeys of low rise or high rise buildings, but also provides the opportunity to be inserted as mid-storeys or bottom storeys with minimal design changes. Furthermore, it is envisioned that where one side or other portion of a building commands a preferred view, for example overlooking a park or water, an entire side of the building could be formed with upgraded building modules, each module incorporating the pair of units characterized by a primary living area having a cathedral ceiling height and secondary living area of a conventional one-storey height, or conventional 2×1 storey height for the top unit. Any remainder of the building, which does not possess the desired view, could be formed with more economical and modestly priced single storey units. 
     Accordingly in one aspect, the present invention resides in a building structure comprising, at least one pair of floors system contained at least one pair of staked units defining a self-contained space, a hallway area for providing access into or from a selected one of the units, the pair of units spaced forwardly from the hallway area, a first one of said units being spaced vertically directly above the second other said unit, said first and second units being laterally defined by a pair of parallel vertically extending sidewalls, and further including an interior central dividing wall interposed between and parallel to said sidewalls, a first planar horizontal slab spanning between said sidewalls and defining an upper ceiling of said first unit, a second planar horizontal slab spaced about 2.5 storeys vertically beneath said first slab, said second slab spanning between said sidewalls and defining a lower floor of said second unit, each of said units further including a forwardmost principal living area defined laterally by a first one of said sidewalls and said dividing wall, a forwardmost secondary living area defined laterally by the dividing wall and the second other one of said sidewalls and a rearward secondary living area located between the hallway area and at least one of the principal living area and the forwardmost secondary living area, the principal living area of the first unit being spaced vertically directly above the forwardmost secondary living area of the second unit and separated therefrom by a horizontally extending principal area floor surface spanning between said dividing wall and said first sidewall, said principal area floor surface being located approximately 1.5 storeys above said second slab, the forwardmost secondary living area of the first unit being spaced directly above and separated from the primary living area of the second unit by a horizontally extending secondary floor surface spaced approximately 1.5 storeys below said first slab, and wherein the hallway area comprises a pair of vertically spaced upper and lower hallways, the upper hallway extending along at least part of the rearward secondary living area of the first unit, and the lower hallway extending along at least part of the rearward secondary living area of the second unit, at least one doorway permitting movement from the upper hallway into the rearward secondary living area of the first unit. 
     In another aspect, the invention resides in a building construction for an apartment, condominium or townhouse comprising, a pair of building units each defining a self-contained living space, a first one of said units being spaced vertically adjacent to the second other one of said units, each of said first and second units including at opposing lateral ends vertically extending structural sidewalls, and further including an interior vertical dividing wall interposed between and parallel to said sidewalls, a first generally planar horizontal slab spanning between said sidewalls and defining an upper ceiling of said first unit, a second generally planar horizontal slab spaced approximately 22 to 36 feet vertically beneath said first slab, said second slab spanning between said sidewalls and defining a lower floor of said second unit each of said units further including a principal living area defined by a first one of said structural sidewall and said dividing wall, and a secondary living area defined laterally by the central dividing wall and the second other one of said structural sidewall, the principal living area of the first unit being spaced vertically above the principal living area of the second unit and separated therefrom by a horizontal first floor surface spanning between said dividing wall and said first structural sidewall, said first floor surface being located approximately half way between said first slab and said second slab, the secondary living area of the first unit being spaced above and separated from the secondary living area of the second unit by a horizontal second floor surface, said second floor surface being located approximately one third the distance between said first and second slabs, and a horizontal third floor surface spanning between said dividing wall and said second structural sidewall, the third floor surface located said first slab and said second slab. 
     In a further aspect the invention resides in an apartment, townhouse or condominium building module construction comprising, a pair of units each defining a self-contained living space, a first one of said units being spaced vertically directly above the second other said unit, said first and second units being laterally defined by a pair of most preferable parallel vertically extending sidewalls, and further including an interior vertical dividing wall interposed between and most preferably parallel to said sidewalls, a first generally planar horizontal slab spanning between said sidewalls and defining an upper ceiling of said first unit, a second generally planar horizontal slab spaced vertically beneath said first slab, said second slab spanning between said sidewalls and defining a lower floor of said second unit, each of said units further including a principal living area defined by a first one of said sidewalls and said dividing wall, and a secondary living area defined laterally by the dividing wall and the second other one of said sidewalls, the principal living area of the first unit being spaced vertically directly above the principal living area of the second unit and separated therefrom by a horizontally extending principal area floor surface spanning between said dividing wall and said first sidewall, said principal area floor surface being located approximately half way between said first slab and said second slab, the secondary living area of the first unit being spaced directly above and separated from the secondary living area of the second unit by a horizontally extending secondary floor surface spaced approximately one third the distance between said first and second slabs. 
     In another aspect, the present invention resides in an apartment, townhouse or condominium building module construction which is characterized by, a pair of units each defining a self-contained living space, a first one of said units being spaced vertically directly above the second other said unit, said first and second unit being laterally defined by a pair of most preferable parallel vertically extending sidewalls, and further including an interior central dividing wall interposed between and most preferably parallel to said sidewalls, a first planar horizontal slab spanning between said sidewalls and defining an upper ceiling of said first unit, a second planar horizontal slab spaced about 2.5 storeys vertically beneath said first slab, said second slab spanning between said sidewalls and defining the lower floor of said second unit, each of said units further including a principal living area defined laterally by a first one of said sidewalls and said dividing wall, and a secondary living area defined laterally by the dividing wall and the second other one of said sidewalls, the principal living area of the first unit spaced vertically directly above the secondary living area of the second unit, area characterized by a one-storey conventional height between the said second slab and the floor surface of the principal living area of the top unit; the horizontally extending principal area floor surface of the first unit spanning between said dividing wall and said first sidewall, said principal area floor surface being located one conventional storey above said second slab, first part of the secondary living area of the first unit being spaced vertically directly above the secondary living area of the second unit, area characterized by 1.25 from the conventional height between the floor surface of the first part of the secondary living area of the first unit and the said second slab, second part of the secondary living area of the first unit being spaced directly above the principal living area of the second unit, area characterized by 1.5 from the conventional height between the second part of the secondary living area floor surface of the first unit and the said second slab, the first part of the secondary area of the top unit defined laterally by a first one of said sidewalls and the interior dividing wall, the second part of the secondary area of the top unit defined laterally by the two end sidewalls, the floor surface of the second first part of the secondary living area of the top unit located approximately or exactly half-way (1.25) between the said first slab and the said second slab, the floor surface of the said second part of the secondary living area of the top unit located one conventional storey height from the first said slab and 1.5 from the conventional storey height from the second said slab. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further objects and advantages of the invention will now become apparent from the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective front view of a building incorporating a number of building construction modules; 
         FIG. 2  shows a detailed front view of the layout of a single building construction module used in the building in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows a front perspective view of the module shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a left or right side view of the building construction module used in the building of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows a detailed back view of the layout of a simple building construction module shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows a plan view of the upper unit of the building module shown in  FIG. 2  illustrating the layout of the primary and secondary living area; 
         FIG. 7  shows a plan view for the lower unit of the building module shown in  FIG. 2  illustrating the layout of the primary and secondary living area; 
         FIG. 8  shows an exploded perspective view of an alternate configuration of the Type B building Module used in the building of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates schematically a front view of a building incorporating building construction module as shown in  FIG. 2 , together with conventional one-story building units, and 
         FIG. 10  illustrates schematically a front view of a town home incorporating building construction module. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Reference may be made to  FIGS. 1 to 7 , which show a building  8 B incorporating a number of building construction modules  100   a - f  in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, and wherein like reference numerals are used to identify like components. The modules  100   a - f  are of an identical or mirror construction and consist of upper and lower units  14 ,  16 . 
     The module  100  of  FIG. 1  has an overall height of approximately 2.5 conventional storeys with the forwardmost secondary living area  38 , of the unit  14  consisting of a single one-storey unit positioned vertically directly above the primary living area  37  of the second other unit  16 . The forwardmost secondary living area  39  of the lower unit  16  is positioned directly below the primary living area  36  of the upper unit  14 . This configuration advantageously provides the primary living area  36 ,  37  of each unit  14 ,  16  with a cathedral height ceiling of 1.5 storeys. 
       FIG. 5  shows the concrete slab  49  placed approximately or exactly midway between the upper and bottommost slabs  22 ,  20  and spanning (horizontally) between the load-bearing walls  26 ,  28  of the building  8 B. It is to be appreciated that with this configuration, both of the rear hallway areas  44 ,  45  have a ceiling height of approximately 1.25 storeys in height. 
       FIG. 2  shows best the upper unit  14  as including additional stair riser units  63 . The additional stair units  63  permit access between the primary living area  36  and the secondary living area  39 . Depending on the layout of the building  8 , additional stair units  63  may also be provided to facilitate access not only to exterior hallways, but between the living areas  36 ,  38  or the hallway and bedrooms  76  as well. 
       FIGS. 1 to 7  illustrate a module  100  which in the front view of  FIG. 2  illustrates the primary living area  36  as being bordered by the sidewall  28 . It is to be appreciated, however, that the module  100  could equally be formed in the mirror arrangement of  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 8  illustrates best the building  8  as including a number of vertically spaced hallways  140   a,    140   b.  In one simplified construction, the uppermost hallway  140   a  is spaced approximately 1.25 stories above the lower hallway  140   b,  with access into and from each unit  14 ,  16  from a respective hallway  140   a,    140   b  through an access door  142   a,    142   b.    
     Although  FIG. 1  illustrates buildings  8  which are composed entirely of a number of identical building construction modules  100 , it is to be appreciated that the present invention may equally be provided as part of the building having other conventional one storey units. As indicated, the building modules  100  of the present invention could further be provided as either lowermost storeys of the building, the uppermost storeys of a building or for that matter, spaced at various mid-storeys as market forces may permit. 
     By way of non-limiting example, reference may be had to  FIG. 9  which illustrates schematically one possible alternate high-rise building  8  in which like reference numerals are used to identify like components. The building  8  of  FIG. 9  is shown as incorporating a number of the building modules  10  in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention, shown by reference numeral  120  as occupying the uppermost six storeys of the building  8 , a number of modules  100 , shown by reference numeral  122  as occupying the middle five storeys of the building  8 , and a lowermost zone  124  of single conventional one storey residential units  126 . 
     Although the detailed description describes the present construction modules as being used in concrete based structures, any brick or wood structure having a design appropriate for different modules may be used in a townhome or detached home construction. By way of non-limiting example,  FIG. 10  shows one such townhome construction in which like reference numerals are used to identify like components. In such a townhome or detached home construction, the modules remain substantially of the same design, with a garage attached in front of each module. 
     Although the figures illustrate various preferred embodiments, the invention is not so limited. Many variations and modifications will now occur to persons skilled in the art. For a definition of the invention, reference may be had to the appended claims.