A systematic methodology is developed that quantifies the minimum area (MA) target over all mass exchange/heat exchange networks with single component target compositions/temperatures. The resulting mathematical formulation is a Zero-One Integer Linear Program which is polynomially solvable. The methodology is illustrated through synthesis examples in which we identify MA targets for both heat exchange networks (HEN) and single component mass exchange networks (MEN). We further establish, through a rigorous mathematical proof, that co-current mass (heat) exchange configurations are sub-optimal to counter-current configurations in regard to a MA objective. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.