Assignment 4

Environmental Psychology in Building Design

Workability: (Bloom 1977). An observation of working environment of a psychotherapist. Two settings, one is an informal layout with posters on the wall. The second is typically more professional, formal layout and diplomas displayed on the wall. Interestingly, a female was considered more credible in the formal setting and males more so in the informal setting.

There is a glance at the history of mental illness and its treatment. Firstly, mentioning righteous cleansing of evil spirits to ensure access to heaven. Then high walls, cells to confine the patient and misunderstanding of the mind and body which causes a misguided reaction toward the illness. Finally, modern advances in medicines and therapy, aiding the recovery of patients, providing refuge rather than confinement.

“A building’s nature can be determined by society’s attitude to what its function should be.” John Brebner

This is an interesting point which could be researched into depending on the circumstance of the build. Finding a general consensus of a particular part of society i.e. hospitals – a place for medical attention, rest and recuperation. I have noticed that depending on the severity of illness or circumstance people’s attitudes change in relation to being there or even having to go there.

Osmond (1957) Sociopetal and Sociofugal Spaces: Sociopetal space is one that attracts promotes its interaction while sociofugal space isolates people from one another. Sharing space is a situation which involves these two properties. In a space such as a waiting room, the primary form of contact is reduced with people sitting side by side – sociofugal. This further halts any more development of communication. Hall’s observation: Behavioural variables include eye contact, non verbal communication and expressive gesture. Spatial variables include orientation, distance and relative height. Intuition can be applied without knowing Hall’s Observation.

“I would not like to see buildings designed with personal space as some kind of standard or unit of measurement.” Somner

“Generally” crowding with the exception of leisure pursuits reduces social activity. More rapid social development happens within smaller spaces and less people per unit. Family living satisfaction will be greater in dwellings with a density of no more than one unit.

Baldasare’s observation of residential density: 14-story apartment block discouraged secondary interaction i.e. relative strangers, those living close by and meeting new people. In comparison to three stories apartment blocks where sociopetal attributes are evident. Observation of this principal can greatly affect factors of group sociology – social and cultural to age and interest.

Flexibility: Maximises sociopetal characteristics, a flexible space increases its group use in social circumstances.

A person’s capacities to work can be determined by their association with a particular environment.

Szokolay’s approach to ergonomics in the design process of buildings – space, light, sound, resources, and some human ecology.

Space and interaction of people: i) the physical effects of the user.

ii) The control of those effects exerted by the design of the building.

iii) The control of those effects through spatial installations which can be brought into use if needed.

Liveable Cities?

Chapter 3

Collective action towards a sustainable city by Hsin-Huang Michael Hsiao and Hwa-Jen Lin

Ching Cheng, middle class community fighting against construction of department store ‘Taipower’. Kang-Le, slum community previously a cemetery under Japanese colonial control. The slum was surrounded by five star hotel building, later bulldozed to create an “international” park” hosting foreign celebrations.

Contradictions in urban environmentalism in Taipei. Class bias – middle classes immediately have more ability to defend ideals. The urban poor are primarily uneducated and cannot fight against regulations and powers with a financial bias.

3.1 Urbanisation and environmental crisis in Taipei

A city beginning its “developmental career” is one that faces an environmental degradation. Taipei was free from industrialisation avoiding pollution however, faced a population jump from 800 000 to 6.1 million. This caused a huge demand for urban infrastructure.

Expansion to the mountains put people who moved there at risk. Many reports of collapsing buildings during wet season.

An interesting point – this expansion caused many geographical disruptions: soil erosion, deforestation, flooding and air pollution. “Paid for by the suffering of ordinary citizens.”

This relationship should be observed. Immediately, you can see how one affects the other. Our involvement in the surrounding environment should be almost be as if none at all. Over compensation for one aspect of urban development must work as efficiently and unobtrusively as possible or both will suffer.

Excessive construction changed the appearance of the city; cultural heritage sites were “illegally damaged” and if not became “strange juxtapositions” beside highways etc. I see cities in general as “juxtapositions” with the landscape. They are the visual element of human presence on the landscape, utility and cost, even perspective causes this. Bringing utility, ergonomics and cost together within a city for the benefit of people and environment will then continue to help the two.

3.2 Local resistance of Taipei the profile of Taipei’s environmental movement

Prominent issues for the poorer communities include low incomes, inadequate housing and locally unwanted land usage (LULUs). Even for the affluent there is always the possibility of wet season landslides.

Air pollution disregards wealth causing respiratory disease to all generations of all backgrounds. Recreational space is then minimised to make way for the demand for office space. Here I see priorities changing in order to cope with the near future of business rather than a more wholesome development of the infrastructure. His extreme example shows office space is above the needs of the citizens. Disregarding these people’s poverty you see a disregard for people’s livelihood. However it is difficult not to think that this gives more reason to evict in the name of development.

Protesters demand a “city for citizens”

3.5 Community interest, sustainability and social justice

How do protests relate to long term sustainability? Middle classes oppose a highway construction near a residential area to ease congestion yet personal transport use continues to intensify.

Are local communities using environmental concern to aid their own interests at the expense of others? Ultimately failing to uphold their concern.

One of the agreed points of sustainability is that it protects the future generations from an exhausted planet.

Conclusion

The two parts I have chosen to study reveal areas of social and spatial interaction and environmental concern parallel to liveability. I have discovered several interesting points from each view. Zooming into the working environment, the ergonomic and social elements of the individual or smaller groups. Then, the international aims of a city in its crucial stages of development, yet at the disregard and cost of its poor. How do we cope with the need to be connected globally and build up those still living substandard lives?

Even when we become concerned about sustainability and strongly opposed to the obvious problems facing the environment, we must look into our own situation much more. As seen in the opposition to the highway in Ching-Cheng part of the solution is our responsibility. Designing to heighten awareness on a home scale for instance could give the power of knowledge needed. And in some ways those who need this knowledge the most are those in the poorest areas. How do you make this knowledge freely available and accessible? Is there a way to admonish and improve slum areas until they become an accepted and functional part of society?

Just as eating well proves to help you in the long run over self indulgence, constant use and even reliance on personal transport seems not only to affect the user but everyone around them. Rather than the rebellion against a highway that will temporarily accommodate the need for personal transport, why not remove the need? One issue with this is that a whole community must change their ways rather than individuals. As in the example of the 14 stories vs. three you can see a potential solution. The very way in which our homes are designed could influence our tendencies towards individualism at an unsustainable rate. Learning to subconsciously connect people may allow for the social barriers to be broken and co operation to commence at a less selfish level.

Bibliography

Brebner John, 1982, Environmental Psychology in Building Design, Applied Science Publishers LTD

Levens Peter, 2002, Liveable Cities? : Urban struggles for livelihood and sustainability, University of California Press

"Maths meets nature in a geodesic tree house": WIRED Magazine

I was impressed by these structures designed by the architect Buckminster Fuller. His structures are now appearing across Hollywood. These geodesic domes are created and suspended in trees which do not require drilling into the tree and so move with the tree. One structure totals at $20,000 and as the architect says "there's lots of creative people - with lots of money" so there has obviously been plenty of freedom within the design process.

This is simply a glorified tree house as was it's original purpose for wildlife spotting. However, this by no means loses any of its interest to me. Having access to a market this wealthy and interested could give you the freedom to really push the materials, structural complexity and scale. There could be more affordable adjustments and re purposing involved afterwards. I would hope to have this luxury someday in order to push the boundaries and then reign in according to key design and contextual issues.

Todmorden, West Yorkshire, UK

Part of a selection of "green" examples of community living from 'New Scientist' include this interesting use of community space for growing vegetables and other organic produce. The community have used all possible areas including schools, the town centre and even the cemetery to provide a freely available public larder. The fact that this initiative is made free to all within the community is what strikes me most. What better way to encourage the support of healthy eating and local food consumption rather than support of the super markets etc.

I could see this as something to be nurtured within each home and even provide an identity and certain responsibility between each area of town. Since the plan for this town is to use every free bit of space within it suggests the movement will at least visually suggest community spirit. The power of context comes to mind from "The Tipping Point" in the relation between environment, identity and behavior.

There is something in a community spirit that I enjoy. The particularly individualistic encouragement we receive today always seems like a good idea but I strongly feel there is great power in community even as an individual within a community. So, the communal use of space all over town could be the beginnings of an infectious identity that brings smaller communities more together again.

I wonder what other forms of identity can be used to this effect?

Childhood memories and into the future: LEGO

I have been seeing a lot about Lego recently. I found a brilliant article in WUW (Whatever you Want magazine) using Lego bricks to point walls or fill in gaps in old masonry by Jan Vorman. He takes and ordinary and particularly bland wall surface and constructs a new and particularly striking area of familiar colour. I can remember creating spaces and objects with Lego as my medium if you like. I wonder why I "grew out of it"? I am considering purchasing some more soon. I would love to rekindle that basic creative spark I remember feeling with a homogonous mass before me at my disposal!

Not the most sophistocated of modeling materials but something about it makes me want to use it in some way. Could there be a practical use for its structural integrity or geometric asthetic. As shown by Vorman negative space can be highlighted very effectively.

The official Lego website has a new programme which allows you to create your own digital model and then have it assembled, priced and sent to you. Other than it being an entertaining application and marriage of virtual design it is a simple way to realise ideas in a particularly recognisable and attractive way.

http://www.designedmyme.lego.com/en-US.default.aspx

Assignment 3

Bechtel Robert B, 1997, Environmental and Behavior: An introduction, Thousand Oaks; London: Sage Productions

A cross-disciplinary look at environmental environmental psychology and points on addressing human-environment problems.

Brebner John, 1982, Environmental psychology in building design, Applies Science Publishers LTD

How the built environment affects human psychology and human interaction with each other and it's self.


Evans Peter, 2002, Livable Cities? Urban Struggles for livelihood and sustainability, University of California Press


Henry P J, 2009, A theory for understanding the role of status in cultures of honor, De Paul University, Chicago


Johnson Sarah, 2009, Improving the school environment to reduce school violence: A review of the literature.


Ross N A, 2009, Double burden of deprivation and high concentrations of ambient air pollution at the neighbourhood scale in Montreal

Effects on health due to socioeconomic and physical characteristics of neighbourhood environments


Walker D, 2009, Setting up and managing interactive learning centres for young children, Class Act, Australian Education Index


http://www.treehugger.com/


The Guardian
guardian.co.uk

New Scientist
http://www.newscientist.com/


Focus Magazine
http://www.bbcfocusmagazine.com/

Over Grown in New York

This roof in New York has been left to grow on it's own! This is taking the idea of a green roof to the extreme but also quite logical to just let it grow, possibly a bit of pruning now and again. Lovely. I would love to try this with a town and see what happens over the years. Developing habitats that are more "alive" would be interesting as to cope with the destructive effects natural growths have on most ridged and imposing buildings.

Treehugger.com

Actually, Check this website out anyway.

"Clear Cut Robot"

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/05/giant-robot-fights-forest-fires.php?dcitc=TH_rotator I was told by my flat mate to check this new concept out for fighting forest fires. Basically, this is a huge 30 foot machine designed for clear cutting swathes of forest down to prevent more from catching fire. As far as I can tell this design has not properly taken shape and I cant find a small prototype anywhere. However, the idea behind this is so ambitious I loved it anyway, it looks like a transformer for a start so I was immediately bought.

There is a double edged view of something like this for me. In one sense it could be a fantastic step forward in robotics, engineering and safety. Or, it could be used to simply remove more forests at an unsustainable rate. Or even be used as a weapon, cutting down buildings or mounted with ballistics etc. This is all very fantastical however. But I am exited to see the push for this sort of thing and we as humans will use it in as many ways as we can - look at the nuclear bomb for instance. Nuclear power made as an energy solution and used as an end to so many lives.

The Folding Chair

That folding chair really was something! I watched the start of the video like a performance more than a display of functionality. And then - to my surprise - two people sat down and it seemingly supported them. I found it interesting to see such a low quality video and setting had little effect on my first impression of this intriguing solution. Most likely it was just because it was on the design studies blog. Still, I liked the fact there seemed to be some performance and even choreography involved. How exiting! Makes me wonder.

The Power of Context Following from Group Discussion

Going through this mind map I found a trend of how context effects people through culture surroundings and groups. Understanding this influence seems essential to understanding interior design, the context of a space within a space or area should be understood to provide the best solution. This need reveals an enormous calling to discover the world to achieve this to whatever level. There are sociological and physiological elements to discover within the actual aesthetic and physical design solution. As you can see in the mind map there is so much inter-connection within contexts that require a level of initiative and real interest in each area to truly understand issues within.

Personally, I feel an understanding of this subject can help me to grow in my thinking in general - rationality and logic, respect and tolerance etc. These qualities seem to fit very well with the full consideration and appreciation of context. How can I use these qualities to then influence others and create change and connection in the world around me?

Our last project has been incredibly difficult because of the new task of working in a group. As a designer I know my discipline involves working with others in every area of the design process from research to the trades and engineering and then clients. This is so important and to learn to work as a component in a functioning design machine is both exiting and daunting. We are both relational and individualistic beings after all. Cool stuff.

Dyson - The Game

Dyson is a fantastic new indie game which I have really enjoyed recently. It is a beautifully simple and elegant population game involving the colonisation and growth of planets.

The aim of the game involves the complete consumption of a system of orbits and consiquently the removal of all enemy seedlings on the map. Starting with an initial planet or two and some dyson trees from which your seedlings are born you begin to scout and then conquer.

This is one of my favorite games at the moment despite being surrounded by all the biggest and most sophisticated titles and graphics. The simplicity of the game and it's interface makes it very relaxing and enjoyable with curious beastly sounds from your colonies as you zoom in to see the orbit and growth. There is a real sense of life to the whole game. Every movement from the dyson trees to the transit and orbit of the seedlings is convincingly natural and smooth.

Visually, this game is one of my top favorites. Partly because I enjoy the crisp and simple design and layout of the 2 dimensional maps. The organic growth of each planet involves the rooting of dysons to the centre of each planet. Each level gives you a different team colour but a neat story line of empire and collectivity which gives you the impression of identity within a seemingly large and diverse species.

In general I enjoy the thinking behind this game because it proves and encourages the creation of simple and highly enjoyable entertainment - quite therapeutic as well. The colour is used sparingly and tastefully. White is predominant and to me, suggests a blank canvas or sketch pad page which I love the look of anyway. These creations using programs accesible to most people give an exiting outlet for design creativity and at an affordable pricebecause of this genre's humble source.

Proffessor Tom Inns: Service Design Lecture

Service design is an interesting perspective that I have only been properly aware of recently. To some extent I have never really thought of it a something of interest and possibility to me. The lecture was a good opportunity of me to realise more of this side of design.

As a fledgling designer I have typically thought of myself as a student designing concepts and realities in form and functionality. In a sense this is often a part of service design also. A bus service is a transport service involving the bus - a piece of design and engineering - to the ticket and drivers attitude, training and uniform. However, the more elusive aspect of service is the service it's self. I picked the Internet as my lecture activity choice, it made sense to rationalise it into a service as I do not see it as a product on it's own but a collection of elements. A service, as it's name suggests requires it to have some interaction with a user or users.

The Internet was my service of choice for the lecture. It was so difficult to separate the different elements of its design and to think of each part. There is the computer or other device that gives you access in the first place. Before you even use the service you need this interface, within that there are other interfaces like the keyboard, mouse and monitor known as the touch points. These touch points are the more obvious ones as I would say that the website it's self is in fact a key touch point, the only difference is that it is virtual. The Internet is a service which houses an infinite amount of other services. Online shopping, research, forums, communication etc are all housed in this vast sea of information. Following on from this obvious observation, I see that the main services that come to mind all originate from the real world translated into a screen based version. This provides immediate convenience and lack of physical material needed to utilise our everyday services.

On the other hand I see it as an exessively convienient tool for self indulgance and re making of ones self as I see in so many people. This upsets me. We have access to almost everything we need - and more. This exess is unavoidable and simply down to personal choice and self control. Shopping, gaming, talking, seeing are all elements of this service that are abused from trivial flippancy to curiosity and addiction. I use Facebook in a way that would seem as if I actually NEEDED it which I don't. I simply enjoy the comminicative and social boost it gives me instead of a real face to face conversation.

I do not think the Internet is inherantly bad or good but it is down to the supplier, user, service and so on that gives us the view we have of it. How do we impact something so integrated, powerful and elusive as modern designer? The key could be within the service but more so in how we act as people outside, personally as a designer.

Sat down to eat my lunch outside the Tower building today and began talking with a mature student called David. He was speaking about programing and language systems which learn through input principles and use these to come to logical conclusions. One of his concerns involved the loss of questioning and the embrace of assumption. In his line of work he found experts with knowledge and expertise requiring their skills to be placed into programs for others without this level of knowledge to use. The problem seemed to be that there was no encouragement to actually comprehend and then question the current expert opinion.

In "The Tipping Point" I was reminded of the rule of one hundred and fifty. When the distance between each person with a certain skill is reduced there is a closer and more interlinking relationship between skills and understanding in a much broader and more accessible way. Hierarchy was a word we discussed and how it fits into the problem David saw in the recording of knowledge and experience. The word came from the Greek hierarkhia relating to the religious order from high priest downwards. This hierarchy seemed to cause the reliance on assumption and obedience without the encouragement to question or rationalise.

I am glad I decided to sit outside to wait to pay my materials fee, I left 90 pounds lighter but with a little bit more information and and a slightly broader perspective on the way we learn and think.

"Childhood is known as the leaving age, teenage hood is known as the knowing age and maturity is known as the hoping age" - David from the bench outside the Tower building.

Tipping Point Mind Maps Assignment 1

General mind map Of the Tipping Point

Specific map of Chapter five. The "magic" number 150 has been interesting to read about. The psychology and reasoning behind the brain's channel capacity helped to see limits of memory and more importantly, how to take advantage of our relational natures. Within this number a great deal of benefits arise such as "transactive memory" -Daniel Wegner. A sharing of roles and responsibilities strengthen relationships and encourage interdisciplinary growth. There loses the need to have a hierarchy of superiors and as seen in Gore Tex peer pressure is even more potent a motivator than a "boss".

District 9

I am very impressed with this production. Directed by Neill Blomkamp and presented by Peter Jackson. Yesterday night I went along to see it at the cinema with little expectation and almost no knowledge of it's story or genre. I was going to see some scifi action and brilliant special effects. I got more than I expected from the visuals but something I did not expect was it's connection to real world affairs in discrimination and misunderstanding.

A mysterious alien vessel appears above Johannesburg, South Africa. An alien race is discovered on board and moved to the surface. This new area is known as District 9. The aliens are living in slums and brutally policed. The style of the film is like a documentary with interviews and footage of disturbing scenes within District 9. These scenes include the main character aborting an egg found in one of the shacks and abuse of many "prawns" as they are known to most humans.

This film is about racial hatred and ignorance through fear and a craving for power. The alien race simply provide a more digestible way to see this sort of human behavior towards the unknown. On top of this powerful message is the fact that it if full of the usual cliches yet achieves something different in my eyes. I have to say that the inclusion of spaceships, alien weaponry and realistic CGI helped the "digestion" of the film as well.

Ing The Thing

"We are not designing a chair but a sitting experience" - Mike Press

Our class is currently working on a group project designing a hypothetical exhibition space named 'Juteopolis' in the DCA. Aptly named after Dundee's jute textile heritage it is interesting to view an exhibition as an experience, it becomes something other than a display. It could be made real to whatever degree you wish.

Mike Press: Think BIG

Today's lecture held by Mike Press, the Dean of Design In DoJ was an inspiring one to say the least. And quite frightening. The title - 'Design in the Age of Knowlege, Experience and Terror' opened my eyes to a very new, exiting and daunting challenge to think BIG.

He set the scene with examples of this scale of thinking, introducing Isambard K Brunel - a large scale designer of the idustrial age photographed here infront of enormous shipyard chains. It was indeed inspiring to even hear of minds that go to these lengths to achive an outcome so large.

Being told that we were to be designers of the World was something that seems obvious but aslways convienient to ignore from my own personal experience. I felt compelled to look to the world in a new and much more urgant way. I hope that will continue. It is up to me to to change as well as making change happen in this world.

Press put an interesting point across about the fact that design bacame "small." I did not realise the emphasis placed on detail and "artefacts" in order to sell and to be consumed. Through the day I began to wonder how things could turn out if design bacame bigger again. with this added layer of detail and consumerism I wonder how the future can be moulded.

"If we think big we design big." An exiting fact about how to behave in this world of increasing diversity and ideas. How do I think big and therefor design big? All of his examles screamed at me to seek and nework with the world!

Visual Communication With Jonathan Baldwin

This Lecture has been an interesting and challenging activity. I typically arrived "just in time." I was immediately caught out. One of the first things addressed was this attitude - thanks Jonathan. This habbit is something I want to address and, being in second year I need to be on time and prepared more than ever. Not only that but I want to take a deeper interest in everything to do with design from lecture subjects to life situations. I have a lot to learn.

Our first actual activity given was a bit of a laugh and and educational example of course. The game chinese whispers was used as a good image for the path of communication. It revealed with some success how the origional information (encoding) became misinterpreted as it was decoded.

An element within this process include "noise." This was said to be technical which I found to be an obvious one - a failure to succesfully address a deign issue. However, a new one for me was semantic noise - the interference of language and culture. Technical noise seems similar to this in a way - the failure to communicate. Semantic noise reminded me that as a designer we have to become literate in the global language of design. Then, to actively address this semantic noise. Technical noise seems to be a problem but semantic is something of interest and opportunity aswell as the interference in a clear signal of communication.

We were asked what a series of objects mean (shampoo, a car, baked beans etc.) to which the answer was "nothing" every time. This challenged my associations between colour and meaning. The red stop sign means stop. But red in it's self does not mean stop, it means nothing. This idea of conditioning is interesting and it is quite exiting to be aware of it. As we were told "context gives meaning" not the other way around. The meaning is created by the reciver (decoded). However, I think context is a factor that can be used by the sender to whatever advantage.