Observing people and environment relations in buildings

1. İHSAN DOĞRAMACI BİLKENT UNIVERSITY-INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE
AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
TERM PAPER: OBSERVING PEOPLE AND ENVIRONMENT
RELATIONS IN BUILDINGS
27.12.2017
2017-2018 ACADEMIC YEAR, FALL SEMESTER
IAED 322-PEOPLE AND ENVIRONMENT
INSTRUCTOR: ---
STUDENT: SERRA KOZ
ID NUMBER: ---

2. Koz, 1
OUTLINE
1. Introduction 2
2. Discussion 2
2.1. Privacy 2
2.2. Crowding 6
2.3. Territoriality 9
2.4. Personal Space 10
2.5. A Sociopetal Seating Arrangements 11
2.6. A Sociofugal Seating Arrangements 13
3. Conclusion 14
4. References 15

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OBSERVING PEOPLE AND ENVIRONMENT RELATIONS IN BUILDINGS
1. INTRODUCTION
Design, in a broader perspective, is not only consist of defining and dividing spaces but also it
shapes human behaviors in buildings. The way people behave, feel secure and feel comfort,
use the places efficiently, spend valuable time or not are changed according to the design
qualities of spaces. Thus, designer should think about both the physical factors of space and
behavior of people in a place. In order to make the difference for the behavior of humans,
designers should provide different kinds of areas in a design field considering the privacy,
crowding, personal space, territoriality and seating arrangements.
2. DISCUSSION
In this paper there are some examples for privacy, crowding, territoriality, personal space
and seating arrangements. The examples are discussed and some suggestions to improve
the settings are offered.
2.1. Privacy
There are numerous definitions for privacy. According to the Irwin Altman privacy is
“selective control of access to the self or to one’s group.” whereas according to Amos
Rapoport privacy is “the ability to control interactions, to have options, and to achieve
desired interactions.” (as cited in Lang, 1987, p.145) Definitions can be different but the logic
behind definitions has common features. For defining a place whether it is private or not we
should consider the individual’s control in a place. For instance, automobile gallery is one of
the proper examples for privacy. (Figure 1&2) The hierarchy in automobile gallery gives the
idea of privacy because panels are used although the material of the panels is translucent at

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the back side of the gallery. Also, we can consider the customer in that sense. If they are
interested in buying a car, they can discuss some serious issues with the stuff in the places
where the panels are used without distributing. We should consider the visual privacy as
well. Since there is no door, no opaque partitions between places, people can easily see
what is going on. It is both positive and negative impacts because if there is someone,
people cannot enter because they already know there is someone. On the other hand, for
the ones who use that area, they can feel unsecure because everyone can see but cannot
hear them from a distance. It is also a need for the automobile gallery as seller can use visual
connection to show important features of the automobile to the customers while they are
discussing some issues. As a result, no-one can interrupt them without their permission
while they are using that place which makes this example positive in terms of privacy.
FIGURE 1: Positive ExampleforPrivacy,Location:FatihSultanMah.2719 Cad. No:10A/1-2-, 10B,
Date andTime:16/11/2017, Daytime.

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Another example for the privacy from the Ankara University Hospital rooms where the
patients rest after the surgeries. The hospital provides different rooms for their patients
such as 2-people, 3-people and even 4-people-to stay. In Figure 3, there are 2 people staying
at the same room after the eye surgeries. In order to provide privacy in the room, there are
numerous solutions for this issue. For example, they can use a room for only 1 patient.
However, considering economic problems, there are other possible solutions as well. It
might have a partition, curtain or some other elements like that in order to divide place into
two. By dividing the place into two parts, patients may feel more comfortable than the
existing situation and it is better for their companions to stay at the same room. However,
providing full opaque divider also makes people to feel uncomfortable because the one who
is resting next to the window has more sunlight than the other patients. Another solution for
privacy might be sliding panels. In need of privacy, people may close the partitions whereas
FIGURE 2: Positive ExampleforPrivacy,Location:FatihSultanMah.2719 Cad. No:10A/1-2-, 10B
Date andTime:16/11/2017, Daytime.

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if there is no need of privacy or there is only 1 patient in a room they may open and benefit
from the sunlight. Basically, for the ones stay in that room, it may not be a problem because
they are married with each other but it is a problem for people who do not know each other,
especially for rooms that designed for 3 patients and 4 patients to stay.
FIGURE 3: Privacy Negative Example Location: Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Göz
Hastalıkları AnabilimDalı/ Cebeci Time: 22/06/2017, Daytime.

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2.2. Crowding
According to Lang (1987) “Crowding is associated with a feeling of lack of control over
the environment.” (p.147) Crowding is subjective term because it differs due to personal
experiences, personality, culture, mood, gender, expectations, preferences, psychiatric
status. (Gifford, 2002, p.195-198) However, the term density may confuse with the
crowding but there is a clear difference between two terms. Daniel Stokols defines
density as “a measure of the number of individuals per unit area”, means that it is an
objective term. The feeling of crowding may changes due to the density. High density
causes lack of control in many times. However, people do not feel crowding despite high
density in some situations because of the good design qualities, occasions takes place, or
having common aims.
In Figure 4, the number of people in the concert hall is too much. Despite the high
density, people do not feel crowding because of design quality and common aim. For the
design quality, the height of the ceiling is important because high-rise ceilings have
impact on the feeling of crowding. (Figure 5) Another design quality of the concert hall is
artificial light used in the place. Since the light is task-ambient, in that case the stage is
illuminated, and the rest of the concert hall is darkened, the focus is directly to the stage.
Also, people feel comfortable because where people sit is design by the numbered
seating units. Considering the factors, we can say that Bilkent Concert Hall is a positive
example for crowding despite high density because of the design qualities and common
aims of the listeners.

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FIGURE 4: CrowdingPositive Example Location:BilkentConcertHall Date andTime:11/11/2017,
Night.
FIGURE 5: CrowdingPositive Example, Location:BilkentConcertHall,Date and Time:11/11/2017,
Night.

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The other example for crowding with high density is from a hospital. In the Figure 6, the
indoor density is high and all people have different aims. The design of the space is not
well-defined by the architectural terms. All the functions (waiting zone, sitting,
circulation etc.) are overlapped and there is not a clear field for different functions.
Some solutions might be offered in order to use the place more efficiently such as the
sitting area may be divided by panels considering seating eye height because they need
visual connection with the reception desks and circulation. Furthermore, the floor
material for the circulation and queuing might be different because even defining
periphery makes a difference in people behaviors. Another solution might be the rising
the ceiling height likes in the positive example in crowding. Thus, the feeling of crowding
in negative way might be overcome with the suggestions above.
FIGURE 6: Crowding Negative Example, Location: Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Ibn-i
Sina Hospital, Talatpaşa Blv. No:82, Date and Time: 11/11/2017, Daytime.
Time: 11/11/2017, Daytime

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2.3. Territoriality
The definition of territoriality is “a pattern of behavior and attitudes held by an individual
or group that is based on perceived, attempted, or actual control of a definable physical
space, object, or idea that may involve habitual occupation, defense, personalization,
and marking of it” (Gifford, 2002, p.150). The territoriality has numerous types and
systems. For the example below (Figure 7), the type of territoriality is “public” according
to Altman System (Gifford, 2002, p.151) whereas the type of territoriality is “supporting”
according to Hussein El-Sharkawy (Lang, 1987, p.150). The cashier desk itself defines the
territoriality limits. Basically, the idea behind public and supporting is same because the
cashier desk is in the public space where everyone can see it but cannot enter behind the
cashier desk.
FIGURE 7: Territoriality, Location: ArkadaşBookstore inGordion ShoppingMall,Date andTime:
13/11/2017, Night.
Time: 11/11/2017, Daytime

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2.4. Personal Space
Sommer defined the personal space as “it refers to an area with an invisible boundary
surrounding the person’s body into which intruders may not come” (as cited in Lang,
1987, p.147). The term is interpersonal and if anyone intrudes the personal space of
anyone, person feels uncomfortable or unsecure. Also, Edward Hall is described the
personal zones such as intimate distance (0-45cm), personal distance (45-120cm), social
zones (120-350cm) and public zones (350-700cm) (Gifford, 2002, p.124). For the Figure 8,
people were leaving the cinema by using the moving elevators. There is an order in the
stairs such as some people are very close with each other whereas the others leave a
step between each other. Most probably, the group at the middle of the stairs is close
friends because their angle of orientation gives the clue about they know each other.
However, the first person in the row is acquaintances with the group, so that they have a
clear distance. Thus, the distance between friend group is classified as personal distance
and the relation between the first person and the group is social zones. Another crucial
thing is about the landing at the top and how people behave instinctively. “The personal
space can be stretch and shrinks with circumstances.” (Gifford, 2002, p.122) Since the
moving stairs is electronic and not stable, people wait in the landing to provide space
among people. By just waiting a few seconds, their personal space is changing.

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2.5. A Sociopetal Seating Arrangements
There are two different types of seating arrangements: sociopetal and socifugal. According
to Humphrey Osmond, sociopetal seating is “setting that facilitate social interaction” (as
cited in Lang, 1987, p.141). In Figure 9, angle of the seating encourages people to interact
with each other whether they know them or not. People are facing one another, so that they
can easily communicate. Also, the arrangement of chairs is placed to increase the social
interaction among people. For the Figure 10, the circular seating units encourage people to
communicate, but they do not know each other, they use mobile phones, read newspaper.
FIGURE 8: Personal Space,Location:MovingStairsinGordion(People leave the cinemaafterthe
film),Date andTime:13/11/2017, Night.
Time:13/11/2017, Night

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FIGURE 9: Sociopetal SeatingArrangementExample, Location:SeatingUnitsNexttoTchiboin
GordionShoppingMall,Time:13/11/2017, Night
Date andTime:
FIGURE 9: Sociopetal SeatingArrangementExample,Location:BilkentCenterEntrance Time:
26/12/2017, Daytime.

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2.6. A Sociofugal Seating Arrangements
According to Humphrey Osmond, sociofugal seating is “setting that discourage social
interaction” (as cited in Lang, 1987, p.141). In Figure 11, the position of the seating is only
facing to the window shops. Also, it has a small armrest between each seating. If someone
wants to interact with another person verbally, they need to turn their body to the person
they want to talk. As it is shown in the Figure 11, two people touch with each other,
however; the armrest does not let them to feel comfortable.
FIGURE 11: Sociofugal SeatingArrangement Example,Location:Date andTime:13/11/2017

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3. CONCLUSION
As a conclusion, one of the most important influences on human behaviors in an
environment is design. As it is discussed, the privacy has both positive and negative
examples. In the negative example, people feel unsecure and uncomfortable whereas the
positive example is proper way to makes people feel privacy. Crowding is another issue and
people feel very stressful most of the time. However, if the design is well-solved by
considering the height, color, light in the environment, it makes people to feel more
comfortable. Territoriality has huge impact on people behaviors. People cannot enter that
territory unless the field belongs to them. Otherwise, the limits of territory do no let people
to come. Personal space is a way to people to protect them. It only exists when two people
come together and the distance between two individual shape their behaviors. Also, seating
arrangements makes people behave accordingly because the angles, orientations, design
quality of the seating furniture can either encourage the interaction or discourage. By just
using simple solutions such as panels, height, lighting and peripheries, the way people
behave will be changed. To sum up, the way people behave in interior environment is
changing according to design itself and how people will be behave can be assumed.
According to assumptions, designer can shape behaviors of people before construction of
the design.

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4. REFERENCES:
Gifford, R. (2002). Environmental psychology: Principles and practice (3rd ed.). Colville,WA:
Optimal Books, 149-170.
Lang, J. (1987). Creating architectural theory: The role of the behavioral sciences in
environmental design. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.