No abstract

No abstract

This article investigates the differences in aesthetic preferences on external facades on nonarchitects. A combination of a card sorting technique, a semi-structured interview, and a Mind sketching technique is employed. Data analysis was carried out using the qualitative techniques of content analysis. Findings reveal that non-architects were able to identify what they like and dislike regarding their preferences on façade designs. It reveals that among the conceptual properties, Originality Meaningfulness, Clarity, Simplicity were the most used properties by nonarchitects. However, non-architects' aesthetic preferences and their suggestions for change to the given facades were found to be inconsistent. It can be concluded that involving potential users in the architectural process must be assisted by a design professional.

No abstract

Background: Nursing stations are important features of medical centers that are constantly in use. As nursing is an inherently stressful occupation, nursing stations should be designed to minimize stress on those who must spend time there. Aim: This study evaluated the effect of environmental design factors on mitigating the stress levels on nurses in nursing stations by determining the environmental factors that most influence the perceptual senses that affect physical and psychological comfort. Methods: A quantitative approach was used to evaluate the parameters that affect the sensory perceptions of nurses in nursing stations at four hospitals in Tehran. A survey was conducted to identify environmental design parameters that affect the visual, auditory, tactile, kinesthetic, and olfactory senses. Results: The results revealed that the olfactory category scored highest, followed by the auditory, visual and tactile categories, which had similar scores, and kinesthetic was ranked last. Conclusion: A connection was revealed between the educational level of the nurses and environmental factors affecting their sensory perception in terms of materials, aesthetics and the appropriate number of windows as a visual sense, and ergonomics as a kinesthetic sense. Significantly, the gender variable differed in the Furniture variable based on comfort of seating with respect structure. Based on the results of this study, a combination of olfactory, visual, and auditory factors should be required at the nursing stations to decrease the stress level of nurses.