Session 11  

Readings:Chapter 12 

The following chapters describe some applications of environmental psychology. Environmental psychology can be described as the study of the relationship between human behavior and experience in the built and natural environments. Compared to some of the environmental variables described in the earlier chapters, we have some control over the variables we will study in the next two chapters. The focus here is on the "built' environments. More specifically, this chapter examines the effects of institutional design and fit between the user of the designed environment and the environment itself. 

 A variety of environments and the institutional designs for these are examined in some detail. The institutions examined are hospitals in general, residential care facilities for the elderly, prisons and educational environments. 

Given the population trends and the projections for the future, institutional designs for the elderly is an important area of study for environmental psychologists, planners and designers. Your book presents some special needs of this population and examines how closely these built environments such as residential facilities match these needs. 

Some important aspects in the design of inside and outside areas are considered. These include issues of privacy, color schemes and lighting. There have also been several studies examining the relationship between prison designs and variables such as population density. Some of these studies are briefly described. 

Finally, some educational environmental designs are examined including the classroom and the dormitory. The authors also describe a number of steps and specific criteria that could be used in the institutional process. 

In the next chapter the features of residential design is considered from a historical and current perspective. The authors distinguish between primitive human architecture, modern vernacular architecture and the present day architectural designs.  

You may be familiar with concepts such as job satisfaction and customer satisfaction. Researchers have also come up a construct of residential satisfaction to measure a variety of attitudes about one's residential institution. This is a very complex multi-faceted variable and has become an important indicator for developers, analysts, and policy makers apart from environmental psychologists. 

The authors go on to describe some basics of interior design and several kinds of plans and layouts are also illustrated. You may find many similarities to your own home. This chapter also briefly discusses the support systems involved in institutional design such as lighting and heating, 

Finally future issues of residential design are considered. Possible future trends may include the megastructure and the plug-in home. 

Essays 

1. Take what you know about such concepts of privacy, territoriality, personal space, and what you know about the effects of such environmental variables as sunlight, noise, and temperature, and apply this to the knowledge you have regarding energy issues to develop a plan for the type of "homes" you envision for humankind. Be specific in your vision and back it up with information contained in your text. 

Activities 

1. Outline the major components of the design cycle model given in your text and then show how this model either may or may not be applicable to the behaviors of students affected by the construction of a new classroom builiding. Since our university is so new you will not have any problems finding a new classroom. Summarize your answers in a page or less. This assignment is due by April 5th.
2. Draw a plan of dream home. Compare the elements of you designs to the specific design features of residences discussed in the text. Compare your drawings and identify "closed" vs. "open" plans and think about which you prefer one design over another. Summarize your answers in a paragraph or less. This assignment is due by April 5th.