1 UNIT 9 DESIGNING MORE FITTING ENVIRONMENTS

2 Social design research involves studying how settings can best serve human desires and requirements. Social design research involves studying how settings can best serve human desires and requirements. Social Design versus Formal design Social Design versus Formal design What is social design?

3 Social Design vs Formal design Formal design favors an approach that may be described as:- large scale, corporate, high cost, exclusive, authoritarian, tending to high-tech solutions, and concerned with style, ornament, the paying client, and a national or international focus.

4 Social Design vs Formal Design Social Design favors an approach that may be described as: Social Design favors an approach that may be described as: small scale, small scale, human oriented, human oriented, low cost, low cost, inclusive, inclusive, democratic, democratic, tending to appropriate technology, tending to appropriate technology, concerned with concerned with meaning and context, meaning and context, the occupant as well as the paying client, the occupant as well as the paying client, a local focus a local focus

5 Environments should, of course, be both beautiful and functional for their occupants Environments should, of course, be both beautiful and functional for their occupants Architecture as Art

6 the client (who puts up the money) the client (who puts up the money) the designer (architect, planner) the designer (architect, planner) the engineer (on larger projects) the engineer (on larger projects) the everyday building user, occupant, or visitor the everyday building user, occupant, or visitor The principal players in building include

7 Social design research has become necessary in industrial and postindustrial societies. Its Roles are: Its Roles are: To establish and to facilitate communication among the principal players in the design process. To establish and to facilitate communication among the principal players in the design process. To remind everyone involved that the everyday building user is one of the principal players To remind everyone involved that the everyday building user is one of the principal players

8 The Goals The Goals Social design researchers & practitioners goals are to: Create physical settings that match the needs and activities of their occupants (habitability, congruence, or goodness of fit Satisfy the building users Change behavior Enhance the occupant’s personal control Facilitate social support Employ imageability Social Research in the Design Process

9 Stages in the Design Process 1. Programming (Analysis) 2. Design (Synthesis) 3. Construction (Realization) 4. Use (Reality Testing) 5. Evaluation (Review): Post occupancy Evaluation–Dimensions

10 1. Programming (Analysis) Understand users by analyzing the users’ needs  This analysis should involve multiple methods such as surveys and interviews of occupants Stages in the Design Process

11 Stages in the Design Process 2. Design (Synthesis) Formulating Design Guidelines  six workplace design guidelines Shelter and security Social contact Task instrumentality Symbolic identification Growth Pleasure Guidelines must be transformed into building plans

12 Stages in the Design Process 3. Construction (Realization) Building the project and modifying plans under changing constrains The architectural plans are turned into wood, concrete, glass and steel Designers oversees construction  ensure plans are faithfully executed

13 Stages in the Design Process 4. Use (Reality Testing) Moving in and adapting the environment Building are finally occupied

14 Stages in the Design Process 5. Evaluation (Review): Post occupancy Evaluation–Dimensions Evaluation–Dimensions Monitoring the final product in terms of objectives and use  ideally to be translated into future design criteria. Post occupancy evaluations vary along four dimensions: Size Generality Breadth of focus Application timing

15 Key Features of Postoccupancy Evaluation Principal players (including the 'building users' ) Methods Purpose

16 Key Features of Post-Ooccupancy Evaluation 1. Principal players (including the 'building users' ) Are those who have interest in the building - including staff, managers, customers or clients, visitors, owners, design & maintenance teams, & particular interest groups.

17 Key Features of Post-Occupancy Evaluation (con’t) 2.Methods It uses the direct, unmediated experiences of building users as the basis for evaluating how a building works for its intended use. It is different from the conventional surveys and market research. Methods used are similar to environmental psychology, i.e. surveys, interview, observation, etc.

18 Key Features of Post-Occupancy Evaluation (con’t) 3.Purpose It can be utilize for many purposes, e.g. fine tuning new buildings; developing new facilities & managing 'problem' buildings; establishing maintenance, replacement, purchasing or supply policies; preparing for refurbishment; or selecting accommodation for purchase or rent.