Applying HCI Methods and Concepts to Architectural Design (Or Why Architects Could Use HCI Even If They Don’t Know It)

Abstract

The act of designing a building is indirectly, but conceptually very closely, linked to the user experience of its final outcome. It is this experience which often constitutes a major criterion for assessing the quality of the architect's work. And yet, it would be a gross overstatement to suggest that architectural design is a user-centered process.On a more generic level, designing any physical object acting as a catalyst for the final experience can be viewed as an act of designing a human-artifact interaction where the 'artifact' (be it a building or a computer device) serves as an interface for the ultimate behavior or emotional reaction. This chapter argues, that the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) can be viewed as a source of inspiration for architects wishing to incorporate, or enhance, user-centric planning routines in their creative workflows.Drawing from the methodological toolbox of HCI, we demonstrate how usercentric planning can be placed in a structured framework, with tested and easy-toapply methods serving as the vehicle for holistic user-centered planning processes.The chapter proposes a formal model for understanding usability and user experience in the architectural context, demonstrates a number of methods suitable for its application, and concludes with a case study of an attempted use of one of such methods in an award-winning (yet, not necessarily user-friendly) public library project.

Occupant-Facade interaction: a review and classification scheme

“…� The holistic effects of interactive scenarios on occupant satisfaction are yet to be fully-captured: The research gaps reported in Table 4 highlight the need for more research on the holistic effect of interactions on occupants. Methods from Human-Computer Interaction and Human-Building Interaction could help designers to meet these new demands [140]. In the design stage, the use of "Personas" and techniques for mapping the spatial context of interaction identify means to improve usability [141].…”

“…The level and mode of interaction should vary with the context, user and function. Krukar et al [140] have already tried to extend the concept of "Usability" from HCI studies, redefining it as "user experience", which better embraces the large number or occupant needs when interacting with Intelligent facades. Use of novel interfaces in the built environment is still underdeveloped.…”

Implications of immersive technologies in healthcare sector and its built environment

“…To avoid the need of physical movement, distances could be manually manipulated in a controlled scenario that was a replication of the actual built environment.” This appears like the way HCI is translated into HBI by architects as a theoretical framework to understand “Usability” and “User-centric Experience”. In other words, both architect and HCI scientist have the same interpretation that “usability is ultimately about avoiding frustrating the user” ( 133 ) (see Figure 9 ).…”

An immersive performative architectural design tool with daylighting simulations: a building information modeling-based approach

“…In the field of AEC, UX studies were also conducted to test, validate and evaluate the efficacy of supporting tools. Krukar et al (2016) examined the conceptual approaches to integrate human-computer interaction methods to architectural design practices and presented a model for interpreting UX in IEs in the frame of architecture. Westerdahl et al (2006) investigated the usability of IEs as a tool for decision-making and conducted a comparative case study to understand UX differences over virtual and real design.…”