By: Farida Mahgoub Maya Kazamel Reham Hamad Esraa Khalil Heidi Allam ElDin Sara AbdelSamei

Spring 2011

AENG 334 – Human Factors in Architectural Design Dr. Nagwa Sherif Dr. Zeinab Shafik

Arch. Rasha El Sayed

Outline of Presentation

Research Question

Significant Results from the Questionnaire

Criteria of Design

Investigation of Plans; The original plans

Modified Plans; Suggested solutions

Inspiration Examples

Conclusion

Research question

The research question was meant to clarify what we would investigate in the

questionnaire and later in the re-design of the dorms.

At first, when designing the questionnaire, we were

investigating two pairs of design factors

Socialization/ privacy

Efficiency/ flexibility

How do factors of socialization associate with factors of

privacy?

After carrying out an initial trial questionnaire and analyzing the results, we

decided to carry out another more detailed questionnaire, based on our

initial results.

From the results of this second questionnaire, we generated a list of design

criteria, for both design factors.

However, in our re-design, we felt that socialization/ privacy was a greater

problem and so we focused on that aspect of design.

Research question cont’d

Significant Results from the

Questionnaire

Factors that affect the user’s privacy

Would a partition in a double room increase your

sense of privacy?

19%

7%

26%

34%

6% 6%

2% Outdoor windows looking into

roomLocation of door

Noise through walls

Common bathrooms

Insufficient number of bathrooms

Presence of room-mates

Other: Workers coming to work

on floor w/o previous warning

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Yes No

Are you able to have visitors in your room?

Where do you prefer to sit with visitors?

0

5

10

15

20

25

Yes No

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Room Cafeteria Upstairs

commons

Downstairs

commons

Courtyard

Significant Results from the

Questionnaire

Is the location of the study area appropriate?

Yes

42%

No

58%

Cafeteria

Study

Courtyard

Study is surrounded by glass walls

(too distracting)

Significant Results from the

Questionnaire

There is cross-circulation cutting through the ground floor common area to reach the security offices.

Socio-fugal seating arrangement

Significant Results from the

Observations

Courtyard gives identity to place and acts as a strong social

space

Significant Results from the

Observations

Double room design (good balance

between privacy and features of a

shared space)

Privacy

screens

Significant Results from the

Observations

Results of observations

Factors that most affect the users’ privacy are the limited

number of bathrooms, lack of acoustic privacy followed by

outdoor windows looking into room and the location of the

doors.

Users were divided on the use of privacy screens.

Most of the students preferred to sit with visitors in their

rooms

Students thought that the glass study room and its location

adversely affected its function.

Criteria of Design

Entrance

ENT

Common Area

Office

Office

Office

Office

Reception

Social Spaces Furniture needs to be socio-petal

Small cluster of furniture instead of one large bundle

A clearly defined space (for semi-public = segregated common rooms) either by a temporary or permanent partition

Study In zoning should be placed far away from distracting and busy spaces

Criteria of Design

Bedrooms Door swings should be considered; not reveal the bed-side of the room

when opened.

Should accommodate seating for visitors.

Should be acoustically-isolated.

Bathrooms Should be clustered in small groups rather than one large section for

bathrooms.

Criteria of Design

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

1 2Good Bad

The original plans Overlayed

GF

FF

SF

Original

The original plans

GF

FF

SF

Original

Students have to pass

through reception to get

to commons

Elevators should

be accessible from

outside

The original plans

GF

FF

SF

Original

Bathrooms are

all in one place

Handicapped room

does not have

toilet

Door reveals

private side of

room

Each seating

area has TVs-

this is very

distracting

Bathrooms are

all in one place

Supervisor’s

room is too big

Doors open

inwards, revealing

bed-side of room.

The original plans

Original

FF

SF

GF Bathrooms are

all in one place

Bathrooms are

all in one place No toilets for

handicapped rooms

No quiet zone for

studying

Switched to a segregated

common room in order

to create a semi-private

social space

Suggested solutions

GF

FF

SF

GF

FF

SF

Original Solutions

Alternative entrance created for

everybody- stairs directly lead to rooms or

students move to commons Outdoor area added

for socializing

GF

FF

SF

GF

FF

SF

Original Solutions

Suggested solutions

Roof garden

added

Toilets

split up

Toilets

split up

Social spaces put

in room

Toilets

split up

Supervisor’s room split into private and semi-public area for visitors

Social areas are given a semi-

defined boundary, creating

identity Private girls’ common

room added

GF

FF

SF

Original Solutions

Suggested solutions

FF

GF

SF

Separated quiet study areas for both

individual and group study. Privacy

established by plants not rigid screens.

Toilets

split up

Toilets

split up

Verandah added for

outdoor socializing

Inspiration Examples Privacy

Plants also achieve a sense

of privacy

Private/semi-public zone wall

Enough

natural

light

Sociopetal

arrangement

to encourage

social

interaction

Everyone

seated is

oriented

towards a

central space

(TV is visible)

Central so it is

easily accessible

and will be often

used

Colours are neutral

Inspiration Examples Socialization space

Inspiration Examples Study space

Conclusion

A hierarchy of privacy levels are available in the dorms ranging from public common areas, semi-public common rooms to bring together each floor, a semi-private segregated common lounge as well as private bedrooms that in themselves require a space to accommodate social activities yet enforce elements of privacy.

The activities within the space govern the level of privacy/socialization required. But there is always a need for a mix between them within each space.

Courtyards are a significant and unique environment for socialization.

These re-designed dorms are much better suited in achieving both privacy and socialization. Toilets are split up instead of being grouped in one place only.

The girls have a private common room.

The study room is separate from the rest of the areas.

References

http://www.roomdividerstore.com/IVG2/Y/CatID-2264-Dorm-Room-Dividers-Dorm-Room-

Mirrored-Three-Panel.htm

http://www.interiordesignonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/living-room-designing-

ideas.jpg

http://architecturelab.net/loducca-sao-paulo-by-triptyque-1425/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/binglib/2365941989/

http://lib.law.washington.edu/news/2008/Sept22.html

Thank you!