Spear closet

A spear closet is an architectural “left over” space of small size and irregular shape.

Background

Floor plan of typical spear closet

When laying out floor plans for buildings, designers sometimes are unable to avoid small “left over” spaces which cannot be put to practical use. This problem is particularly severe in buildings with angular or curvilinear geometry. These spaces are called “spear closets” because, due to their size and shape, they cannot serve any practical purpose other than possibly to store one’s spears.^[1]

Current usage

Since, in the modern world, almost no people actually own spears and keep them at home, the term is ironic. However, it is a commonly used “professional slang” term in use among architects in the English-speaking world. A spear closet may actually have a door and be used as a storage closet. However, it may also simply be a “dead” space in a building which is completely surrounded by walls and which is inaccessible.

References

↑ Strategic and Tactical Planning of Corporate Facilities, Thomas McCune AIA, 2003

Rooms and spaces of a house

Shared residential rooms	Billiard room Bonus room Common room Den Dining room Ell Family room Garret Great room Hearth room Home cinema Home office Kitchen Kitchenette Living room Man cave Recreation room Shrine Study Sunroom

Spaces	Alcove Atrium Balcony Breezeway Conversation pit Deck Elevator Entryway / Genkan Foyer Hallway Loft Loggia Patio Porch screened sleeping Ramp Secret passage Stairs Terrace Veranda Vestibule

Utility and storage	Attic Basement Box room / Carport Cloakroom Closet Electrical room Equipment room Furnace room / Boiler room Garage Janitorial closet Larder Laundry room / Utility room Mechanical room / floor Pantry Root cellar Semi-basement Spear closet Storm cellar / Safe room Studio Wardrobe Wine cellar Wiring closet / Demarcation point Workshop

Private rooms	Bathroom Bedroom / Guest room Boudoir Cabinet Jack and Jill bathroom Nursery Suite Toilet Walk-in closet

Great house areas	Antechamber Ballroom Butler's pantry Buttery Conservatory Courtyard Drawing room Fainting room Great chamber Great hall Long gallery Lumber room Parlour Porte-cochère Saucery Sauna Scullery Servants' hall Servants' quarters Smoking room Solar Spicery State room Still room Swimming pool Undercroft

Other	Building Furniture House plan Multi-family residential Secondary suite Single-family detached home

Architectural elements	Arch Baluster Ceiling Colonnade Column Floor Gate Lanai Lighting Medallion Ornament Portico Roof Vault

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Spear closet

Background

Current usage

See also

References