The fit-out plan is the layer or plan that describes the changeable infill of a building, separate from the fixed load-bearing structure. The concept comes from “open building”.
Support and infill
In open building, a building is split into two layers with different lifespans:
- The support — the structure or shell. It has a long lifespan and is collective and fixed.
- The infill — the fit-out, such as partition walls, kitchen, sanitary fittings, services and finishes. It has a short lifespan and is individual and changeable.
The fit-out plan describes this changeable infill.
Why a fit-out plan?
By decoupling the infill from the load-bearing structure, clear advantages arise:
- The occupant can adjust the layout without altering the load-bearing structure.
- This provides flexibility in how the space is used.
- It leads to a longer lifespan for the building, because the fixed support remains in place while the infill adapts to changing needs.
The concept was developed within open and flexible building, in which adaptability is central.
Related terms
- Shell
- Shell construction
- Skeleton construction
- IFD
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