The last time Sweden did face a major housing shortage was during the 1960’s. As a solution to the housing shortage, The Million Homes Programme was initiated. The programme did manage to get rid of the housing shortage, but has received a lot of criticism concerning its architecture and environment since its completion. At the time for this study, Sweden is experiencing yet another housing crisis. In order to manage the housing shortage in a more successful way this time, it is important to not down-prioritise the exterior architecture. The exterior architecture plays an important role in creating both an aesthetical appealing and a social sustainable built environment. But the scarcity of housing makes it easy to sell the produced apartments, especially in the larger cities, which reduces the incentives for the developers to prioritise the aesthetics. There is an ongoing debate in Sweden concerning a dissatisfaction with the exterior architecture and there is an absence of research regarding the end-users preferences.  The identified problem that is addressed in this thesis concerns the down-prioritised aesthetics of the exterior architecture in multi-family residential areas in Sweden. The purpose with the study is to identify how housing developers can accomplish an exterior architectural design that is considered aesthetical attractive by its end-users. The study investigates preferences concerning exterior architecture, perceptions of the existing housing supply in Stockholm and how the housing developers can meet the identified preferences. A questionnaire was used as a method to identify peoples’ preferences and perceptions of four multifamily residential housing areas in Stockholm. Interviews were conducted with a housing developer to identify how housing developers can cost-effectively meet the preferences.  The majority of the housing supply, built in what is generally considered to represent a contemporary style, did not satisfy the identified preferences concerning exterior architecture. As the title of this report indicate, the questionnaire respondents considered contemporary areas in general to look more or less like identical boring boxes. It was only the supply built in traditional style that satisfied the identified preferences. That is, the studied housing supply does not meet the end-users demand fully satisfactory. However, the interviews revealed that housing developers can satisfy the identified preferences cost-effectively by accompanying some suggestions of improvements. / Senast Sverige upplevde en bostadskris var under 1960-talet och som en lösning initierades Miljonprogrammet. Miljonprogrammet reducerade bostadsbristen men har sedan det färdigställdes fått motta mycket kritik för sin exteriöra arkitektur och sin byggda miljö. Vid tiden för genomförandet av den här studien, genomgår Sverige ännu en bostadskris. För att hantera bostadsbristen på ett mer framgångsrikt sätt den här gången är det viktigt att den exteriöra arkitekturen inte nedprioriteras. Den exteriöra arkitekturen spelar en viktig roll i skapandet av en byggd miljö som är estetiskt tilltalande och socialt hållbar. Men den stora efterfrågan på bostäder gör det relativt enkelt att sälja de nyproducerade lägenheterna, särskilt i landets större städer, vilket reducerar initiativen för bostadsutvecklare att prioritera det estetiska. En pågående mediedebatt i Sverige vittnar om att det finns ett missnöje rörande dagens exteriöra arkitektur. Dessutom saknas det forskning om hur slutanvändarna faktiskt vill bo.  Problemet som behandlas i den här rapporten rör den nedprioriterade exteriöra arkitekturen i bostadsområden med flerfamiljshus i Sverige. Syftet med studien är att identifiera hur bostadsutvecklare kan uppnå en exteriör arkitektonisk design som anses vara estetiskt attraktiv av sina slutanvändare. Studien undersöker preferenser rörande exteriör arkitektur, hur det befintliga utbudet av bostadshus i Stockholm uppfattas och hur bostadsutvecklare kan möta de identifierade preferenserna. En enkätundersökning användes som metod för att identifiera människors preferenser och uppfattning gällande fyra olika bostadsområden i Stockholm. Intervjuer genomfördes med en bostadsutvecklare för att identifiera hur de kunde möta de identifierade preferenserna kostnadseffektivt.  Majoriteten av det undersöka bostadsutbudet, som är byggt i vad som generellt anses vara nutida stil, tillfredsställde inte de identifierade preferenserna rörande exteriör arkitektur. Precis som rapportens titel indikerar, ansåg enkätundersökningens respondenter att bebyggelsen i våra nutida bostadsområden generellt ser mer eller mindre ut som identiska tråkiga lådor. Det var endast bostadsutbudet byggt i en traditionell stil som tillfredsställde de identifierade preferenserna. Det betyder att den studerade bostadstillgången inte möter slutanvändarnas efterfrågan till fullo. Likväl, intervjuerna visade på att bostadsutvecklarna kan tillfredsställa de identifierade preferenserna kostnadseffektivt genom att följa ett antal förbättringsförslag.

Urban landscape, especially parks, mainly provide a wide range of disciplines, such as physical recreation, social interaction to urban residents. It has been associated with physical features of environments and nature. Today, urban parks are perceived as far more than just recreation or scenery. Urban park also constitutes social and cultural value at city level. This study seeks to investigate and challenge how to understand landscape perception and dialog between urban park and community through the interpretation of photographic social media (Instagram). The study also draws further discussion on reciprocity between urban landscape and photography as well as environmental psychology, focusing on cognitive map and environmental meaning. It also suggests possible strategies of future urban intervention and policy, in particular, promoting well being and pro-environmental behavior.

Based on a targeted literature review, this vision paper emphasizes the importance of dementia-sensitive built space. The article specifically focuses on supporting spatial orientation and wayfinding for people living with dementia. First, we discuss types of wayfinding challenges, underlying processes, and consequences of spatial disorientation in the context of dementia of the Alzheimer’s type. Second, we focus on current efforts aimed at planning and evaluating dementia-sensitive built space, i.e., environmental design principles, interventions, evaluation tools, strategies, and planning processes. Third, we use our findings as a starting point for developing an interdisciplinary research vision aimed at encouraging further debates and research about: (1) the perspective of a person with dementia, specifically in the context of wayfinding and spatial orientation, and (2) how this perspective supplements planning and design processes of dementia-sensitive built space. We conclude that more closely considering the perspective of people with dementia supports the development of demographically sustainable future cities and care institutions.

Sveriges meteorologiska förhållanden genererar kalla och mörka perioder under stora delar av året. Utifrån dessa naturliga årstidsväxlingar finns ett behov för svenska städer att i större utsträckning än vad som görs i dagsläget anpassa stadsplaneringen efter samtliga väderförutsättningar som råder. Detta för att skapa aktiva utemiljöer och en levande stad för invånarna att använda och åtnjuta året om.Studien syftar till att ge läsaren en övergripande bild över hur vistelse i offentliga utemiljöer kan bidra till att främja Malmö som en aktiv och attraktiv stad året om och oberoende av säsong eller väderförhållanden. Ett tydligt resultat från studien visar att det finns både intresse och en önskan hos Malmös stadsplanerare att öka aktiviteten och attraktiviteten i staden året om också under mindre tilltalande väderförhållanden. Den bakomliggande idén som uttryckts är att medborgarna ska kunna ta tillvara på stadens fulla potential oavsett årstid och genom detta bidra till en socialt hållbar stadsutveckling. Två huvudsakliga uppfattningar om åtgärder kan identifieras hos Malmös stadsplanerare och forskare i stadsplanering för att få till ett ökat folkliv i staden året om. Det första är en uppfattning som handlar om fysiska förändringar av utemiljön så som evenemang, arrangemang, aktiviteter, installationer samt sammanlänkande stråk. Den andra uppfattningen handlar om att ändra invånarnas beteende och attityd kopplat till utomhusvistelse.Som en följd av det intresse och behov som har identifierats hos studiens informanter vad gäller att öka kunskapen om stadsplanering och ökad utomhusvistelse året om, har studien resulterat i en konkret företagsidé, Smart Seasonal Solutions. Smart Seasonal Solutions syftar till att bidra med kunskap till framtida stadsplanering för att främja och öka utomhusvistelse och ett aktivt stadsliv året runt. / Swedish meteorological conditions generate a changing climate throughout the year, including rather long, cold and dark periods. There is a great potential for Swedish cities to adapt this aspect in urban planning to a wider extent than what is currently being done. By doing so, the cities will become more attractive to their citizens in terms of being able to enjoy active outdoor spaces all year around.This report aims to give the reader an overall view and understanding of how public outdoor spaces better can be used throughout the year in Malmö to foster and encourage outdoor activity in the city regardless of weather or seasonal conditions. This is to allow citizens to take advantage from the city's full potential and to contribute to a socially sustainable urban development. A clear scope of the study is that there is both a will and an interest by city planners in Malmö to increase the activity and attractiveness of the city all year around. Conclusions to be drawn are that two main approaches can be identified by Malmö's city planners to increase a richer city life all year round. The first approach constitutes by physical and concrete elements, such as events, activities, installations and interconnecting pathways. The second approach is more about changes in attitude and behavior linked to outdoor stay.The interest and need to fill the knowledge gap that the research report is aiming to do, this theoretical study has resulted in a concrete business proposal, Smart Seasonal Solutions. Smart Seasonal Solutions aims to contribute with knowledge for future urban planning to increase outdoor activity and city life all year around.

We present an overview of the evidence of how nature benefits mental health, popular theories used to explain the effects, and the development potential of these theories. A large body of evidence highlights the beneficial effects of nature on mental health, with observed outcomes ranging from alleviating the symptoms of psychiatric disorders to improvements in cognitive abilities. The theoretical backbone for these salutary effects of nature consists of a set of models, mainly the attention restoration theory (ART), the stress reduction theory (SRT), and the Biophilia hypothesis. However, these high-level models are only loosely related and lack a pronounced biopsychological basis. While biopsychological measurements have been used widely in recent years, these efforts have not sufficiently been reflected in theories aiming to explain the benefits of nature contact for mental health. This paper seeks to encourage interdisciplinary work and further theory development to guide both research and practice toward strategically green and healthy living conditions. / Der Beitrag bietet einen Überblick über Forschungsbefunde zu positiven Effekten von Naturkontakt auf die psychische Gesundheit, über gängige Theorien zur Erklärung dieser Effekte und das Entwicklungspotenzial dieser Theorien. Es gibt zahlreiche Belege für die positiven Auswirkungen der Natur auf die psychische Gesundheit, wobei die beobachteten Ergebnisse von der Symptomlinderung psychischer Störungen bis zur Verbesserung kognitiver Fähigkeiten reichen. Die theoretische Grundlage für diese gesundheitsförderlichen Effekte der Natur besteht vor allem aus der Attention Restoration Theory (ART), der Stress Reduction Theory (SRT) und der Biophilie-Hypothese. Diese relativ abstrakten Modelle stehen miteinander nur in losem Zusammenhang und haben keine ausgeprägte biopsychologische Grundlage. Während biopsychologische Messungen in den letzten Jahren zunehmend in der Forschung eingesetzt wurden, steht eine Integration dieser Erkenntnisse in den genannten Theorien noch aus. Dieser Beitrag soll die interdisziplinäre Arbeit und die weitere Theorieentwicklung fördern, um Forschung und Praxis in Richtung grüner und gesunder Lebensbedingungen zu lenken.

No description available.

En utilisant des approches qualitative and quantitative cette thèse démontre que les aspects intangibles des espaces architecturaux influencent le bien-être humain. Le but est de faire savoir que les espaces intérieurs ont un impact sur le bien-être et que l’architecture peut être considérée comme une solution pour satisfaire les besoins des usagers. Dans la première étude, l’approche qualitative est explorée en utilisant la narration pour identifier les aspects intangibles des espaces intérieurs qui affectent le bien-être. Une discussion s’articule autour du Modèle de Réponses Expérientielles des Humains (Model of Human Experiential Responses to Space) et de son importance comme outil pour déterrer les caractéristiques environnementales qui influencent le bien-être et qui peut être utile pour les professionnels du design. Les résultats démontrent que 43 catégories sont interprétées comme étant des aspects intangibles et servent de canevas pour trois autres études. Les résultats démontrent que certaines caractéristiques environnementales similaires dans les résidences et les bureaux augmentent le sentiment de satisfaction et de bien-être. Dans la deuxième étude, une approche quantitative est explorée en utilisant les neurosciences et l’architecture afin de mesurer comment les espaces architecturaux affectent le bien-être. Le concept de neuroscience / environnement / comportement est utilisé où huit corrélats neuroscientifiques (Zeisel 2006) sont investigués afin de mesurer les effets du cerveau sur les espaces architecturaux. Les résultats démontrent que l’environnement peut affecter l’humeur, le niveau d’attention et le niveau de stress chez les humains et peut également augmenter leur performance. Les deux études contribuent aux connaissances que les caractéristiques environnementales affectent l’humeur et le niveau de satisfaction de la même façon dans les espaces résidentiels et dans les espaces de bureaux. Un bon environnement qui énergise les employés peut affecter leur performance au travail de façon positive (Vischer 2005). / This research uses qualitative and quantitative approaches in order to demonstrate how intangible aspects of architectural spaces influence human well-being. The goal is to increase awareness that interior spaces do impact human well-being and that architecture can be regarded as a solution to satisfy space users’ needs. In the first study a qualitative approach is explored through narrative inquiry in order to identify intangible aspects of residential and office spaces that affect human well-being. A discussion is built around the Model of Human Experiential Responses to Space and its purpose as a tool to unearth environmental characteristics that enhance well-being and can be of value to design professionals. Results show that 43 categories are interpreted as being intangible aspects of architectural spaces that influence human well-being. These categories are then used for three other studies to find out if there are any underlying regularities in environmental characteristics that affect user moods and feelings. Results show that similar environmental characteristics heighten sense of satisfaction and well-being for both residential and office space users. In the second study, a quantitative approach is applied to neurosciences and architecture in order to measure how architectural spaces influence human well-being. Neuroscience and environment / behaviour concepts are used where eight brain-based neuroscientific correlates (Zeisel 2006) are investigated in order to measure brain effects on architectural spaces. Neuroscientific outcomes reveal that the environment can affect human moods, ability to focus attention and stress levels and may also heighten task performance. Both studies contribute to knowing how space users feel environmental characteristics affect their mood and satisfaction. They reveal that people’s moods may be affected similarly in residential or office space settings and that a good environment that energizes employees will affect their work performance in a positive way (Vischer 2005).

Ce mémoire présente et discute d’une problématique importante qui s’inscrit dans un contexte actuel, autant sur le plan international que local, puisqu’elle touche 1 enfant sur 68 (CDC, 2010). On parle ici du trouble du spectre de l’autisme (TSA). Plus spécifiquement, cette recherche se concentre sur les jeunes adultes autistes, qui du jour au lendemain, se retrouvent face à une interruption de services. Elle suggère qu’une adaptation adéquate de l’environnement soit davantage explorée en vue d’offrir des centres de jour adaptés à cette clientèle. La question de recherche est la suivante : Quels sont les éléments du design intérieur qui peuvent améliorer la qualité de vie des adultes autistes? Il est essentiel de s’y attarder, puisque les personnes TSA sont entre autres caractérisées par leur hypersensibilité et leur hyposensibilité face à l’environnement. Bien que le sujet de l’autisme soit richement documenté par le domaine des sciences médicales, il est apparu qu’il l’est moins par celui de l’aménagement. La stratégie méthodologique de cette recherche repose sur des analyses de précédents, des observations participantes ainsi que la tenue d’entretiens semi-dirigés auprès de parents d’enfants autistes. Cette étude vise simultanément l’amélioration de la compréhension de la pratique émergente du design comme moyen d’intervention ainsi que l’identification des facteurs (éclairages, couleurs, matériaux, division de l’espace, etc.) pouvant améliorer le bien-être des adultes autistes. Sur la base des données collectées, il a été remarqué qu’effectivement, plusieurs moyens peuvent être entrepris pour concevoir des environnements améliorant le bien-être de ces adultes. Les résultats extraits du terrain mènent à des propositions d’aménagement claires : rendre l’abstrait le plus concret possible, aménager des zones de retrait social, offrir une variété d’ambiances, et finalement, offrir un encadrement sécuritaire. / This thesis presents and discusses an important issue that is part of a current context, both international and local level, since it affects 1 child in 68 (CDC, 2010). We are talking about the Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). More specifically, this research focuses on young autistic adults who suddenly find themselves facing a lack of services. It suggests that an adequate adaptation of the environment should be explored in order to provide adapted day Centers to this clientele. The question of the research is the following: What are the elements of interior design that can improve the quality of life of autistic adults? It is essential to linger over it, since ASD people are characterized by hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity to the environment. Even if the subject of autism is richly documented by medical science, it appeared that it is less studied by the interior architecture domain. The methodological strategy of this research is based on analysis of precedents, participant observation and the conducting semi-structured interviews with parents of autistic people. This study aims simultaneously to improve the understanding of the emerging practice of design as an intervention and the identification of factors (lightings, colors, materials, spatial organization) that could improve the wellbeing of autistics adults. Based on the data collected, it was noticed that, indeed, several means can be undertaken to design environments improving the well-being of adults. The results extracted from the field study lead us to clear layout proposals: making the abstract as concrete as possible, develop areas of social withdrawal, offer a variety of atmospheres, and finally provide a safe environment.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:39:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MarciaCorrea.pdf: 2238115 bytes, checksum: cb83bc823382c539181e6ed7bca3d532 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-04-18 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The objective of the present study was to investigate characteristics of the interactions between children and the garden of a children s hospital located in the city of Sao Paulo, identifying referring aspects to the quality of life and well-being. We used functional analysis, verifying the behaviors in terms of the contingency model and adopted the Environmental Psychology view that uses the interrelation person-environment as object of study. 14 children between 5 and 11 years old, from both genders, interned in the children s hospital had participated of this research. Three instruments had been used: half-structuralized interview, observation and behavioral mapping in the garden and application of a Quality of Life Scale. The combination of these three instruments allowed knowing important aspects in each child in their moment of internment in the hospital. The data had been presented in agreement with the principles of the behaviorism, through descriptive analysis. About the interviews, we detach that 12 of the 14 children had chosen the recreation place as their favorite space and 5 told they believe that making recreation activities improve their health. About the observation in the garden it can be affirmed that it was possible to identify the behaviors of the children that are functionally related and we detach the suggestions of inclusion of toys, but also more plants and flowers, denoting that the children do not only want to play, they also want to have a prettier natural environment. All the children had showed behaviors that denoted well-being during the observation in the garden and valued plants, flowers, the temperature and luminosity of the place. With the quality of life scale, we evidence the interaction necessity, because the majority of the children told they are unhappy when they are playing alone. Through the scale we can also reaffirm that the garden of the hospital is valued, therefore all the children told they are "happy" or "very happy" in it. The analysis suggests continuity to this work, we believe it s able to extend it to public hospitals, with the implementation of natural elements in those that don t have it / O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar características das interações entre crianças e o jardim de um hospital infantil localizado na cidade de São Paulo, identificando aspectos referentes à qualidade de vida e bem-estar. Foi utilizada a análise funcional, verificando os comportamentos em termos de tríplice contingência e adotada a visão da Psicologia Ambiental que tem como objeto de estudo a inter-relação pessoa-ambiente. Participaram desta pesquisa 14 crianças entre 5 e 11 anos, de ambos os sexos, internadas no hospital infantil. Foram utilizados três instrumentos: entrevista semi-estruturada, observação e mapeamento comportamental no jardim e aplicação de uma Escala de Qualidade de Vida. A combinação desses três instrumentos permitiu conhecer aspectos relevantes em cada criança no seu momento de internação no hospital. Os dados foram apresentados conforme os princípios da psicologia comportamental, através de análise descritiva. Em relação às entrevistas, destacamos que 12 das 14 crianças elegeram a sala de recreação como ambiente favorito e 5 relatam acreditar que fazer atividades de recreação as ajuda a melhorar de saúde. Sobre as observações feitas no jardim pode-se afirmar que foi possível identificar variáveis das quais os comportamentos das crianças eram funcionalmente relacionados e destacamos as sugestões de inclusão de brinquedos, mas também mais plantas e flores, denotando que as crianças não querem apenas brincar e sim também ter um ambiente natural mais bonito. Todas as crianças apresentaram comportamentos que denotavam bem-estar durante a observação no jardim e valorizavam plantas, flores, a temperatura e luminosidade do local. Com a escala de qualidade de vida, constatamos a necessidade de interação, uma vez que a maioria das crianças relatou ficar infeliz ao brincar sozinha. Através da escala também podemos reafirmar que o jardim do hospital é valorizado, pois todas as crianças relataram estar feliz ou muito feliz nele. A análise sugere que esse trabalho tenha continuidade podendo estendê-lo à hospitais da rede pública, com a implementação de elementos naturais nos que não o possuem

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T20:21:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Myrt Thania de Souza Cruz.pdf: 1638665 bytes, checksum: daba94bb90ca2caf5224730795b080fc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-03-12 / The objective of this thesis is to comprehend the process of disarticulation threat and dissolution of communities in the semiarid region of the Chapada Diamatina plateau. A systematic study was made, using as an example an area denominated Cercado, situated on top of the Serra do Cigano, following the horse trail that leads to the San Francisco River. The study seeks to reconstruct the history of the colonization of that region, strongly marked by despotism, materialized through the phenomena of bossing and coerced votes. From the local residents, tales of the fight for existence and life maintenance in that region were retrieved. Eminently verbal, the narratives were based on the memory of those still in the region and others that have left. The social relations reproduction process under the shelter of the merchant world has brought serious consequences to the rural communities of the Chapada Diamantina plateau which live in a mere subsistence agrarian economy, degrading their way of life and not rarely leading to their dissolution. The continual struggle of these people in search of ways to satisfy their needs promotes solidary practices that make viable to live in the semiarid nature, although this does not guarantee the preservation of their ways of life in the face of the transformations generated by modern times. As a consequence of the difficulties imposed by the disarticulation process, the singularity of their life experience makes them active historical agents in their settlement, in working the land, in putting together their tasks and in the resistance to maintain their knowledge about medicinal plants, folklore costumes and their religiousness / Esta tese objetiva compreender o processo de ameaça de desarticulação e dissolução de comunidades do semi-árido da Chapada Diamantina. Foi feito estudo sistemático tomando como exemplo uma localidade denominada Cercado, situada no topo da Serra do Cigano, às margens da trilha cavaleira que dá acesso ao rio São Francisco. O estudo procura reconstruir a história do processo de povoamento da região, fortemente marcado pelo coronelismo materializado através dos fenômenos de mandonismo e voto de cabresto. Junto com seus moradores, recupera narrativas sobre a história da luta pela existência e manutenção da vida no lugar. De cunho eminentemente oral, as narrativas foram viabilizadas a partir da memória dos que lá vivem e também dos que migraram. O processo de reprodução das relações sociais, sob a égide do mundo da mercadoria, tem trazido sérias conseqüências para as comunidades rurais da Chapada Diamantina que vivem numa economia agrária de subsistência, degradando seu modo de vida e, não raro, conduzindo para sua dissolução. A incessante luta das pessoas em busca da satisfação de suas necessidades fornece consagração de práticas solidárias que viabilizam a convivência com a natureza semi-árida, mas não garante a manutenção dos modos de vida face às transformações decorrentes da modernidade. Frente às dificuldades impostas pelo processo de desarticulação, a singularidade de suas vivências os inscreve como agentes históricos ativos na construção de fazeres, no enraizamento e lida com a terra e na resistência pela manutenção dos conhecimentos das plantas medicinais, festejos, costumes e religiosidade