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How do people construct comfort within their interior spaces? : a study of objects and circumstances between clothes and the building skin that influence comfort and the use of energy

This interdisciplinary PhD-by-practice examines how people construct comfort within their interior spaces through the study of objects, structures, membranes, situations and circumstances between clothes and the building skin. (In)tangible efficiencies of comfort and movement are problematised in this research. It provides new insights into the desire-lines of comfort, which are the habitual routines and interactions that individual’s practice to control their everyday energy use. The audience for this research includes academics, professionals, and those interested in how objects and circumstances influence physical, physiological and psychological interior comfort. The research methods that were applied included novel experimental interior design techniques of data gathering, demonstrated in the GYRO, AMNIOTIC SAC and COSY workshops. Co-researcher responses were generated in text, image and three-dimensional form. These immersive workshops examined specific interior sites, including: the conceptualisation of a product based structure that utilised gyroscopic principles; the prenatal spatial interior of the amniotic sac membranes were studied to posit how this space of origin influences our lifelong comfort desires. In addition, a range of lifecycle scenarios were created to facilitate the understanding of comfort through various objects and circumstances e.g. a cot, pram, loftbed, train, wheelchair, lounge, ambulance, and coffin. Analysis of the data evidenced representations and patterns of comfort desire-lines. Relationships with animate and inanimate objects were identified, connecting with differing dependent and autonomous comfort aspirations. The outcomes of this research can aid investigations into energy use, relocating efficiency discourses from the building skin to interior interstitial space.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:721282
Date January 2017
CreatorsOji, Obioma Elizabeth
ContributorsHollis, Edward ; Uduku, Nwola ; Martin, Craig
PublisherUniversity of Edinburgh
Source SetsEthos UK
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
Sourcehttp://hdl.handle.net/1842/22909

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