What broken-plan means
Broken-plan is the design response to overheard 2010s open-plan: spaces feel connected (sightlines, light, flow) but have partial separation through screens, level changes, structural columns, or floor-to-ceiling joinery. Common devices in London: Crittall MW40 internal steel screens with single-glazed glass; stone-clad column-and-beam between kitchen and dining; oak-clad partial wall doubling as bookcase; step up/down between kitchen and dining; pocket sliding doors hidden in walls.
Typical broken-plan elements and cost
Crittall-style internal steel screens (1500w x 2400h, two-leaf with single fixed pane): £4,000–£8,500 supplied and installed. Larger 3000w 4-leaf £8,500–£14,000. Bespoke oak floor-to-ceiling joinery partition (3m long, integral storage): £6,000–£14,000. Stone-clad column with horizontal beam between kitchen and dining (3m span): £4,500–£9,000 including structural steel and stonework. Floor level change with step (cast in concrete or oak): £1,800–£4,500 for full detailing.
Why broken-plan wins for noise and smell
Fully open-plan kitchens transmit cooking smells, dishwasher and extractor noise into dining and living zones. Broken-plan with Crittall screens reduces noise transmission by 18–25dB vs open and contains smells with door closure during cooking. Acoustic upgrades to broken-plan (carpet zones in living, hard floor in kitchen, fabric-faced ceiling panels) reduce reverberation further. Cost-benefit usually favours broken-plan over fully open in family homes.
