An Integrated User-centered Approach to Architectural Design for Library Study Spaces

• Author / Creator

  Jureidini, Jad

• This thesis proposes a method for assessing the indoor environment of a library—more specifically, how conducive a library’s indoor environment is to studying. The method involves the integration of tree analysis and the tallying heuristic function. A tree model is necessary in order to establish relationships between the primary interior architectural features and their subdivisions, as well as to provide an illustration for the research. A heuristic function, tallying, is used to count the number of times each feature is mentioned favourably. The tallies’ weights for each respective feature are uniform, such that the features differ based on the number of times they are referenced in the scientific literature. In this way, the features are identified according to their respective counts, thereby allowing a greater understanding of which interior architectural features should be considered when designing a library space that is mindful of those who occupy the space for studying: primarily students. The proponent is meant to support and facilitate decision making, i.e., which features to implement based on their respective quantitative tallies. This overcomes the inherent difficulty of comparing features with qualitative differences from one another.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Architectural Design
  • Decision-making
  • User-centered
  • Tally Heuristic
  • Tree diagram
  • Tree analysis

• Graduation date

  Fall 2017

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R39K46663

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.