Designing for adaptability in domestic living areas

Abstract

The topic of this research is concerned with peoples use of space and the task of providing for the requirements of the multiple-users when these users are unknown to the space designer. My interest in this subject extends from my awareness of the number of people who are not satisfied with the way a/the space(s) that they use is/are designed. I believe that communication between the users/client and the designers, during the development of the design, is the only way to achieve a satisfactory end result for all the parties involved. This enables the designer(s) acquire detailed information about the aspects of the particular design situation. Inherent in this process is an investigation of the users' needs, established from the way people interact with their 'built' and 'natural' environment. It is important to realise as Rapoport (1972, pg 12) says that "man is in and of the environment". The creation of an environment that is enjoyable to be in and to use should, in my opinion, be the highest priority when designing a space. It is generally accepted that a pleasant environment promotes a feeling of well-being, and it has also been shown that an environment that does not accommodate a user's needs will affect them adversely (Rapoport, 1977). In the life of a domestic space such as a living area there are likely to be many users of it, and in a multi-unit building, such as a block-of-flats, there are likely to be many people using similar spaces. The aim of this research is to study one type of space, a domestic living area, and support or otherwise the hypothesis that: