SUMMARY:

Environment- behaviour studies in architecture tackles about the humanenvironment relationship where we, the designers analyses and interprets the users
of a particular building we are designing. It is highly important for us to know the
users behaviour and pattern of actions in order for us to provide a habitable and
comfortable space for them satisfying their needs. A space can greatly affect the
physical actions and psychological response of the users such as being anxious,
comfortable, or disoriented when given not enough space for their needs. We look
on the aspect of human behaviour, personal and cultural values, perception and
cognition where this factors shapes the environment we have.
Before we design a particular space, one must understand how a man moves in his
environment. We should study anthropometrics where we study the human body
measurements that fits to the design furniture provided in a given space and
proxemics that deals with the study of the distances that individuals maintain
between each other. Having a clearer background with this it became a basis on
the minimum and maximum standards of dimensions of circulation of people were
established in design.

REACTION:
Studying Environment- Behaviour Studies allows us to have a deeper understanding
of how the users of a building move in a particular space. It opens up a new door for
knowledge of how their behaviour and there perception about something affects
their movement in a given space. From here we can recognized the pattern of
behaviour, the time it mostly observe and how its environment and the social rules
that governs it gave an impact on how the behaviour occur making it a basis for
our design to adapt with their needs.
Having the knowledge in anthropometrics and proxemics we became aware of the
proper circulation a man needs for a particular space. We know how to properly
design an allotted space for furniture and equipment needed by man without
making any discomfort as he moves in the area. Circulation is a very crucial
consideration when designing a space you have to properly compute the movement
of man in a space because it may greatly affect its behaviour and psychological
responses. It may either boost himself to be productive or may make him idle
instead.

NOTES ON ENVIRONMENT- BEHAVIOR STUDIES

Author: Garry T. Moore
Reference: http://sydney.edu.au/architecture/documents/staff/garymoore/28.pdf
Environment-Behavior-Studies-G.T.-Moore.PDF
Architecture

Is the art which above all others, combines expression, technology and
satisfaction of human needs.
Synthetic discipline
Traditionally comes from engineering, social sciences and arts.

Environment- behaviour studies partial equivalent

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Human Environment Studies

Social Ecology
Human Factors
Behaviour Architecture
Programming

Environment Psychology- research aspect

Users Needs or Social and Behavioural Factors- applied aspect
Environment- Behaviour Studies in Architecture

Systematic examinations of relationships between the environment and

human behaviour and their application in the design process.
A contemporary approach to the traditional humanistic purposes of
Architecture.
It is a view in design and of the environment which places the values, needs
and preferences of users at the forefront of the design process.
Founded on the belief that good design and great buildings are always
ultimately judged by how conducive they are to human existence which is
alive, more human, more capable and free.
Basic questions:
1. How do people interact with the built- environment?
2. What are their needs?
3. How do we apply such understanding in the design process?

Research has shown that the attitudes and values of professionals are very different
from those of the citizens and users.

Three (3) major areas of child development:

1. Physical
2. Social
3. Intellectual Growth

PSYCHOLOGICAL
FACTORS

MAN
PHYSIOLOGICAL
FACTORS
DESIGNERS, ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS

Conceive the built

environment

Shape the
environment in
which we work and
sleep, play, care,

Work shapes not only the physical world

but also affect the social, psychological,
economic, cultural, political and
ecological environment of individuals
and groups.
REFERENCE:

http://sydney.edu.au/architecture/documents/staff/garymoore/28.pdf
Environment-Behavior-Studies-G.T.-Moore.PDF
http://www.jgieseking.org/2012SIE562/