This document discusses the concept of privacy from an architectural perspective. It defines privacy as the ability to control unwanted interaction and communication. Privacy is influenced by several factors, including the five senses, individuality, space distance, and culture. Architectural elements like walls, doors, and furniture can be used to regulate privacy visually, acoustically, and spatially. Different cultures have varying concepts of privacy as seen in Japanese and Hausa styles of housing. Overcrowding can threaten privacy when a space cannot meet occupants' needs. Privacy is also more limited in public spaces due to surveillance, though laws aim to preserve human rights.

1. PRIVACY
INAR 514
P r e s e n t e d b y :
ANUOLUWA B. AYINDE, 135894
DAN N. KOLO, 135188

3. Contents
• Meaning of privacy
• Factors affecting privacy
• Degrees of Privacy
• Visual Privacy
• Acoustic Privacy
• Privacy and Culture
• Spatial arrangement of buildings
• Overcrowding / Crowding
• Privacy in public spaces
• Conclusion

4. Meaning of privacy
 Privacy is a fundamental human right used to control
unwanted interpersonal interaction and communication
 Privacy is an idea of choice, free will or freedom to
control not to control flow of information at individual,
group, social levels.
Control
Choice
Human right

5. Factors affecting privacy
• Mechanism of the senses
• Individuality
• Space distance
• Architectural Elements of a space
• Culture

6. Mechanism of the senses
All five senses affect the way human beings perceive
their surroundings and accordingly the mechanism by
which they control privacy. (related to body gestures)
Sense of Touch (hands & feet) ………………. Proximity
Sense of sight (Eyes) ………………………....... Visibility
Sense of Hearing (Ears) ………………………… Acoustics
Sense of Smelling (Nose) …………………….. Olfactory
Sense of Kinesthetic (Muscles & Skin)…... Accessibility

7. Individuality & Privacy
- Sense of individuality, self evaluation & Identity:
(Personal values, beliefs, opinion & expression)
- Selective interpersonal communication (in varying context)
- interaction level achieves a desired privacy level
(subjective ideal amount of interaction)

8. Privacy creates a choice between isolation and interaction,
and can create a perception of being alone.

9. Space distance & Privacy
Privacy is influenced or created in various spatial distance.
The distinct distance between humans as defined by Edward
T. Hall are categorised as;
Intimate space ……… most private area
Personal space……… allow interaction with friends
Social space…………. Contact on a temporary basis
Public space …………. No expected direct contact but if
any, it is usually resisted

10. Levels of space: intimate, personal, social, and public
As space distance increases, privacy increases.

11. Degrees of Privacy
There is isolation, in-between, & public amount of interaction.
Isolation (in a public space):
Restricted communication
- No Visibility communication (don’t want to be seen)
- No Vocal communication (don’t want to be heard)
- No Accessibility communication (can’t share personal info)
- No Proximity communication (don’t want to be touched)
- No Olfactory communication (no nearness allowed)

12. In-between states: (an instance)
Semi-restricted communication
- Visibility communication
- Low levels of Vocal communication
- No Accessibility communication
- Proximity communication
- No Olfactory communication

13. Public (in a private space):
Unrestricted communication
- Visibility communication
- Vocal communication
- Accessibility communication
- Proximity communication
- Olfactory communication

14. Architectural Elements of a space & Privacy
“Within the architecture discourse,
privacy is seen as something to be
provided or withheld” (Witte,
2003, p. 23)
Architectural elements act as
regulators of privacy both visually,
acoustically and spatially.
- furniture, walls, fences, doors,
furnishings, tinted glass, windows

15. • The type and size
of window used in
a building helps
increase or reduce
the privacy level.
• Moveable barriers
used to close the
entrance to a
building, room,
closet.

16. Visual Privacy
Visual privacy addresses the ability to limit other's view
of oneself through the use of furnishings, partitions, walls
and doors.
Walls and partitions serves as screens
from external to internal spaces providing
privacy

17. Privacy Behavior in Public spaces
• angles of vision they maintain while talking – concentration or
uninterested.
• physical distance or closeness maintained between individuals
• seats besides walls are the first to be taken
• sense of time appropriate for communicating

18. .
Acoustic Privacy
Effective treatment of components like ceiling, partitions,
furniture, equipment, and floor, creates speech privacy -
shielding conversations to be unheard beyond participants.

19. Maintaining residential standards for privacy
This dimensions relates with habitable rooms with windows
facing each other.

20. Privacy is maintained when houses are situated far apart.

22. MINIMUM SET BACK BETWEEN WINDOWS TO WALLS FOR PRIVACY
This dimensions relates with habitable rooms with windows to
walls.

23. Privacy and Culture
Culture affects the boundary of what is regarded as private.
the Japanese house
In Japan, walls are movable
and rooms are multipurpose.
In the Japanese country inns
(the ryokan), the guest
discovers that things come to
him while the scene shifts.
He sits in the middle of the
room on the tatami(mat)
while sliding panels are
opened or closed.. (Hall,
1969, p. 141))

24. Privacy in Hausa culture (Nigeria)
In traditional Hausa settlements, the house plan follows
the traditional African pattern with rooms arranged
within, or around, a courtyard and enclosed by a high mud
wall. It is developed to provide segregation of the sexes.

25. Overcrowding
Is a psychological
experience of
discomfort which
normally arises from
individuals
perception that the
amount of space
available is
insufficient to meet
occupants
needs.(stokols,1972)
It is perceived when a space -
 functions ineffectively
 has excess and undesired social contact

26. Its perception relies on
 cultural norms,
 social factor / social
setting,
 personal attributes
 conditions of the
physical environment
Sport events
Parties
At this spaces, privacy is reduced
concerts
Crowding

27. Examples of settings where crowding is not acceptable
INDIVIDUALS STUDYING
LIBRARIES
BEDROOM

28. Threat to Privacy in public spaces
 our expectation of privacy in public
spaces is lower than in private places.
 A threat to privacy in public spaces is
surveillance technology in a bid to provide
public security and safety.
 Privacy laws in many countries usually
helps individuals not to be subjected to
privacy invasion such that our human rights
are still preserved.

29. References
• Ann Cavoukian (2013): Surveillance, then and now: securing privacy in
public spaces.
• Edward T. Hall: The Hidden Dimension (Garden City, NJ: Doubleday &
Co., 1990), pp. 122-125.
• Hall, E.T., (1969) “the hidden dimension, man’s use of space in public
and private”, the bodley head, London, Sydney, Toronto
• J. C. Moughtin(1964): The Traditional Settlements of the Hausa
People. The Town Planning Review, Vol. 35, No. 1. Liverpool University
Press
• Michael Georgiou (2006): Architectural privacy: a topological
approach to relational design problems
• Susan Kent (1990): Domestic architecture and the use of space; an
interdisciplinary cross-cultural study
•USACE Design Guide for Interiors (1997)
• Witte Nathan (2003): “Privacy: Architecture in Support of Privacy
Regulation”, University of Cincinnati, Architectural Thesis

30. THANK YOU