Appropriate space and environment for human activities

Cultural origins of architecture Differentiation of space Organization of the environment Ordering systems Sacred and profane buildings The purpose of architecture
It makes tangible meanings

 Buildings are ways of ordering behaviour, each demanding known expected behaviors, roles and he like.

Human activities

Human behavior and interior environment

The relationship between individuals and their environment how they perceive space and how they react to it. Perception of ones environment is affected by sociological needs, psychological state and individual differences The environment itself also influences human behavior. Both mental and physical stimuli affect behavioral responses.

 Sociological human need Peoples perception of their environment influences their social interaction within that environment. Social interaction can be discussed in terms of four concepts
Privacy Personal interaction levels, territoriality, and crowding.

 Privacy It is a central regulatory human process by which persons make themselves more or less accessible to others. In an office environment, privacy may be manipulated through the use of partitions which protect the individual from physical, visual and acoustical intrusion. The plan of an office environment establishes the privacy level at which the office functions. Definition of an individuals interaction levels is one mechanism used in achieving a desired level of privacy. Besides needing enough space to move about and perform various tasks, each person moves within a domain that expands and contrast to meet individual needs and social circumstances. The size of a space determines perceptions, experiences and uses of that particular environment.

 People inherently discern their relationship with others in terms of distances , or spaces, between them. Defines four distant distances at which interpersonal transactions normally take place . These are
Intimate space Personal space Social space Public space

 Intimate space the smallest social envelope. Optimum distances for different types of interactions Inner Phase of the Intimate space 0-6 inches High intimacy, comforting protecting Outer Phase of the Intimate space 6-18 inches Area of interaction lies well within the personal space boundary of the individual. Is that area immediately surrounding the individuals body. This area is the most private and involves both physical and emotional interactions.

 Personal space the value of personal space behavior relates to its basic functions of achieving an optimal spatial distribution of individuals such that each senses a minimum stress free area of operating space. Is that area within which a person allow only select friends or fellow workers with whom personal conversation is mandatory. Optimum distances for different types of interactions
Close phase -1.5 2.5 ft Far phase 2.5 4 ft

 Social space conversations that occur in this

space are not intended to be personal or private.
Close phase -4 7ft persons at social gathering Far phase 7 12 ft waiting rooms and other public seating areas Is that area within which the individual expects to make purely social contacts on temporary basis. Interacting individuals not violating each other personal space At far space more formal business is transacted.

 Public space people positioned at the public distance are outside the sphere of involvement.
Close phase -12 25ft to take defensive actions if an individual is threatened. Speech is formal, interactions is impersonal, now possible to view persons as objects. Outer phase meaning of speech are lost, the other person is part of the environment and not an object and almost no interpersonal involvement takes place.

 Territory area defended, claimed, dominated. Individuals and groups exercise territorial control by means of two mechanisms.
Defense individuals or group maintain territorial integrity. Personalization individuals self identity, delimit an area.

Territorial behavior occurs at three distinct spatial levels.

Micro space Meso space Macro space

 Micro space personal space is the minimum space necessary for the organism to exist free of physical or psychic pain. Meso space beyond personal space, usually operates on the home base. Macro space beyond home base, not a discrete unit of space completely occupied and defended by one animal or group. An undefended public area.

 Design for territorial space The activities should be designed in cognizance of these zones of personal space. Amenities should be located so that people can position themselves at appropriate distances for intended interpersonal relationships and behaviors.

 Relation between personal space and environment.

Contact seeking sociopetal Privacy seeking - sociofugal

 Proxemics the way personal space is structured is referred to as proxemics.

 Crowding Occurs when personal space and territoriality mechanisms function ineffectively, resulting in an excess of undesired external social contact. Sociologically people respond to crowding in different ways depending upon the situation. Sometimes humans tolerate crowding, though it may be unpleasant, because they know it is only temporary.

 The ultimate object of design is to create form that satisfies behavior. The rightness on the degree to which it fits the behavioral, social and cultural context.

 Sociofugal
Of an grouping of people arranged so that each can maintain some privacy from the others.

Sociopetal space
Contact seeking space

Dynamic fit
When we enter a building foyer, walk up a stairway or move through the rooms and halls of a building.

Static fit
The interior spaces of buildings are designed as places for human movements, activity and repose. There should be a fit between the form and dimension of interior space. The fit can be static one as when we sit in a chair.

 Loose fit Loose fit between function and space Most rooms with a loose fit arrangement accommodates a variety of uses furniture used can be easily moved and arranged. Tight fit Tight fit between the nature of the activity and the arrangement of furniture and equipment. A tight fit modular or unit furniture components integrated multifunctional structures.

HOW TO DEFINE THE OUTDOOR SPACE

The objectives of these illustrations are to describe the various types of outdoor spaces created by buildings, to provide some design guidelines for organizing buildings in a composition, and to outline different methods for integrating buildings and the landscape together into a well-coordinated environment.
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Role of an architect
An architect is trained and licenced in planning and designing buildings, and participates in supervising the construction of a building. Etymologically, architect derives from the Latin architectus, itself derived from the Greek arkhitekton (arkhi, chief + tekton, builder), i.e. chief builder. A looser usage of Architect is: the translator of the building user's requirements of and from a building into an inhabitable environment.

 An architect must understand the building and operational codes to which the design must conform, to not omit any requirement, produce improper, conflicting, ambiguous, or confusing requirements. Architects must understand the construction methods available to the builder in constructing the client's building and structures, in order to negotiate with the client in producing the best possible building via a compromise between the desired results with the actual costs and construction schedule limits.

 Design role Architects deal with local and federal jurisdictions about regulations and building codes. The architect might need to comply with local planning and zoning laws, such as required setbacks, height limitations, parking requirements, transparency requirements (windows), and land use. Some established jurisdictions, require adherence to design and historic preservation guidelines. Architects prepare the technical documents (construction drawings and specifications) filed for obtaining permits (development and building permits) that require compliance with building, seismic, and relevant federal and local regulations. Said construction drawings and specifications are used for pricing the work and in the construction.

 Construction role Architects typically put projects to tender on behalf of their clients, advise on the onward of the project to a general contractor, and review the progress of the work during construction. They typically review subcontractor shop drawings, prepare and issue site instructions, and provide construction contract administration (see also Design-bid-build). In many jurisdictions, mandatory certification or assurance of the work is required. Depending on the client's needs and the jurisdiction's requirements, the spectrum of the architect's services may be extensive (detailed document preparation and construction review) or less inclusive (such as allowing a contractor to exercise considerable design-build functions). With very large, complex projects, an independent construction manager is sometimes hired to assist in design and to manage construction.

 Alternate practice and specializations Recent decades have seen the rise of specializations within the profession. Many architects and architectural firms focus on certain project types (for example health care, retail, public housing, etc.), technological expertise or project delivery methods. Some architects specialize as building code, building envelope, sustainable design, historic preservation, accessibility and other forms of specialist consultants. Many architects elect to move into real estate (property) development, corporate facilities planning, project management, construction management, interior design and other specialized roles.