User Input in Housing Design: The Interdisciplinary Challenge

Abstract

A consortium composed of home economists, architects, engineers, and horticulturists at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln undertook a project to develop housing designs that would respond to the current and future needs and desires of people living in Nebraska. The consortium hoped to reduce the considerable gap between the thinking of designers and that of the people for whom they design (users) by linking designers with professionals in social sciences. This article contains a discussion of the user evaluation of the designs and the implications of these and other findings.From the housing designs created in response to user input, two were selected for user evaluation. A third design (that of a manufactured modular home currently on the market in Nebraska) was also included. The results show that the two designs created in response to user input were not, in general, acceptable to these users and that the modular home currently on the market was more acceptable. The findings raise some important questions and challenges for housing and design professionals.

On the necessities to analyse the thermohygrometric perception in aged people. A review about indoor thermal comfort, health and energetic aspects and a perspective for future studies

“…As a matter of fact living in a non-energy efficient house implies not having good financial conditions (Burholt & Windle, 2006) and old people represent a high percentage of this part of the society (Sefton, 2005). The necessity to have a heated house is an important matter among old people because they spend there more time during winter, hence the functioning hours of the heating system (cost) are higher than other ranges of age (Baltes, Mayr, Borchelt, Maas, & Wilms, 1993;Baltes, Maas, & Wilms, 1999;Gabb, Lodl, & Combs, 1991;Healy & Clinch, 2002). All those factors require certain regulations providing help to old people who are not in a good position financially and socially speaking (Chard & Walker, 2016).…”

Consumer receptiveness to universal design features

“…Special programmes that target remodelers already are being offered by groups such as the National Association of Home Builders with their Certified Aging in Place certificate that focuses on universal design and the specifics of marketing to and serving older clients, and emphasizes good business practices (http://www.nahb.org/caps). Gabb et al (1991) found that consumers had trouble visualizing and evaluating house plans. New three-dimensional computer technologies will enable consumers to better visualize universal design features in their current home or in their selected house plan by bringing them to life on the screen.…”