Madlen Simon

Conviviality is a term which is used widely in sociology (Ivan Illich 2002, Deegan 1989, Bonnett 2010, Flanagan 2010), but not as much in urban planning and design. Various scholars of urban space have identified a lack of interaction (Gehl 2011, Peter Hall 2011), absence of life in the streets (La Cecla 2012, Scully 2003), loss of social capital (Putman 1996, Olenburg 1989), and disminishing equity (Zukin 2010, Harvey 1997) in public spaces. We view this as a need for conviviality (Simon & Belran 2015). This paper continues our ongoing research, identifying a set of factors of conviviality and proposing metrics for post-occupancy evaluation of existing public spaces. Three broad branches are identified as necessary conditions for convivial environments: physical spaces that are flexible, changing and adaptable; processes and outcomes based in equity, integrity and democracy; and urban uses and solutions that correspond to people’s needs and desires. Within each branch we propose ke...

Design involves constant decision-making. The decision process is influenced by sets of conditions or parameters; some controllable, such as the context, and some unpredictable and uncertain, such as stakeholders’ preference. Design decisions related to user’s perceptions and emotional response to sustainable features (daylight and green space) and aesthetic value (look and feel) are generally hard to evaluate and quantify. Typically, user response is solicited following construction, in post-occupancy evaluation studies. However, decisions with long-term impacts are often irreversible after implementation; therefore, decision-makers must seriously evaluate the design proposals(alternatives) before arriving at a decision. This paper presents an experiment conducted combining an immersive virtual environment and electroencephalogram (EEG) as a promising tool to evaluate design options during the early design stage of a project. More precisely, the objective is to (a) develop a datadr...

ARCC 2017: ARCHITECTURE OF COMPLEXITY ABSTRACT: The authors survey design decision making in architecture and related design professions, setting forth normative practices and identifying important proposals for innovative methods to navigate the complex constraints of design problems. First the authors set forth conventional decision making methodology in the engineering and architecture design process. Then the authors survey typical decision making processes in related design fields such as industrial design, engineering design, and product design and identity their different approaches. The paper compares decision making strategies in engineering and architecture design. The authors conclude by analyzing strengths and gaps of systematic decision making methods in the context of architectural design. This literature review will lay the theoretical foundation for researchers in the area of architectural decision-making and evaluation. The authors will apply these findings to their...

What can the entrepreneur’s version of design thinking teach architects practicing globally in an era of disruption? A literature survey and comparative analysis of design thinking in architecture and the business community leads to a set of recommendations for architectural educators preparing students to enter a rapidly changing, globalized practice environment. Two aspects of design thinking particularly relevant to this endeavor are teamwork and problem definition. Architectural projects often begin with a defined problem that embodies its solution. Typically, a client seeks an architect when the organization has determined that it needs a building. The architect’s design challenge contained within that solution space. Programming process refines that design challenge by defining elements, qualities, and performance requirements of any potential solution. Programming may be performed by the design architect, but often by a consultant, and considered additional services. Conseque...

... Gerrit Knaap, Amy Gardner, Ralph Bennett, Madlen Simon, and Cari Varner ... Gottfried's idea for a US green building rating system drew upon the BREEAM rating system previously established in the UK and the BEBAC system established in British Columbia, Canada. ...

Even though people spend the majority of their time indoors, the role of buildings in shaping human experience is still not well understood. The objective of this experimental project is to develop, test, and validate a data-driven neuroscience approach to understand the built environment’s impact on occupant cognitive function and mental health. The present study utilized virtual environments and electroencephalogram (EEG) and event-related potential (ERP) approaches, to provide objective neurophysiological information about how sustainable buildings (SBs) impact people’s affective and cognitive functioning differently compared to conventional building (CBs). The long-term goal is to assess the validity of sustainable building design protocols in promoting and increasing mental health and well-being and the mechanism used to accomplish these increases. The findings showed test subjects demonstrated increased visual system engagement and modulated attentional focus and control proce...