Perception of privacy in a university building: The transparency paradox

Bentinck, S.A.; van Oel, C.J.; van Dorst, M.J.

doi:10.1016/j.foar.2020.03.004

Perception of privacy in a university building

Title

Perception of privacy in a university building: The transparency paradox

Author

Bentinck, S.A. (TU Delft Real Estate Management)
van Oel, C.J. (TU Delft Design & Construction Management)
van Dorst, M.J. (TU Delft Urbanism)

Department

Urbanism

Date

2020

Abstract

Informal face-to-face communication and chance encounters encourage knowledge sharing. This Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) examines how well a new building of a Dutch University Institute (DI) supported interaction and perceived privacy among faculty members. The study is designed as a qualitative research project with in-depth interviews among faculty members before and after relocation into the new building. The transparent and centrally organized floor plan supported face-to-face communication but generated a lack of privacy for faculty members. Not all perceived affordances of the design were planned. Lack of visual privacy and the sense of being controlled by others were related to the hierarchical position of teachers in this Higher Education Institute (HEI) between students and the dean, which caused tension and diminished their well-being.

Subject

Affordance
Architectural design
Knowledge sharing
Post-occupancy evaluation (POE)
Privacy

To reference this document use:

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:6b38db5f-279d-43c1-b159-7b62b67542c9

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2020.03.004

ISSN

2095-2635

Source

Frontiers of Architectural Research, 9 (3), 579-587

Part of collection

Institutional Repository