© Imperial College LondonPage 1 Loft-style Apartments: New Spatial and Psycho-social Boundaries Ritsuko Ozaki IAPS 2004, Vienna, 7-10 July

© Imperial College LondonPage 2 Introduction The relationship between the design of the physical environment and human behaviour Culture mediating the effect of physical design on behaviour Culture: –A system of shared meanings –Governs the way we behave –Classification system – conceptual boundaries – classification of a space

© Imperial College LondonPage 3 Boundaries and meanings Spatial/physical and psycho-social boundaries Boundaries: –Classification systems = cultural norms –Underlying conceptual boundaries on which we act and behave –Socially and culturally constructed Exploration of boundaries – understanding cultural meanings

© Imperial College LondonPage 4 Loft-style flats Previous work – cultural influence on physical design of house –Separate rooms – separate roles (Victorian middle- class culture) New house type with open-plan layout (since mid-’90s) Zukin (1982) –Aesthetic components to the popularity: artists ambience, authenticity and historic aura –Open floor plan –Space itself

© Imperial College LondonPage 5 Loft-style flats – before conversion

© Imperial College LondonPage 6 Loft-style flats – after conversion

© Imperial College LondonPage 7 Loft-style flats - buildings

© Imperial College LondonPage 8 Methodology Definition of lofts Fieldwork in the City Fringe and Isle of Dogs, London 32 owner-occupiers Semi-structured interviews on housing history, daily routines, etc. Transcribed and coded for NVivo IPA (Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis)

© Imperial College LondonPage 9 Findings and discussion – space A Sense of space –Expression of individuality –Creation of own living environment Something different from traditional houses Physical design helps to express ‘self’

© Imperial College LondonPage 10 Findings and discussion – open-plan Inclusive and communicative relationships –Communication, interaction and ‘being in touch’ –Not to be excluded –Entertaining –Bringing up children Design facilitates the way people want to live But not for everyone Layout reflects the way people live –Choose a layout that helps to achieve goals – values/norms set the boundaries

© Imperial College LondonPage 11 Findings and discussion – closed space 4 levels of psycho-social boundaries (a sense of privacy) –Strict boundaries (2 bathrooms) –Use according to purposes (2 bathrooms) –Convenience (2 bathrooms) –Not the first priority (1 bathroom) Values and norms influencing the use and shape of domestic space

© Imperial College LondonPage 12 Findings and discussion – non-residential blocks Living in the non-residential building –Crossing the boundary of ‘residential’ and ‘non- residential’ –Uniqueness and distinctive experience –A sense of history –The contrast of ‘old’ and ‘new’ The oldness does not sell on its own – crossing the temporal boundary adds appeal

© Imperial College LondonPage 13 Conclusion Loft-style flats – paradox, crossing boundaries Cultural influence – values and norms determine the way space is shaped and used Physical design – facilitating the way people want Design drawn on good understandings of cultural factors – great effects on human behaviour Next step – urban locality