Anatomy of the visitor
From measured norm to lived experience
C.C.L. De Win (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
C.A. van Wijk – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
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Abstract
This history thesis investigates the relationship between the human body, perception, and exhibition design by analysing anonymous, undated archival drawings from the Faculty of Architecture at TU Delft. Positioned within the theoretical shift of the 1970s and 1980s, the research explores how these drawings move beyond the static standards of Dreyfuss, Neufert, and Haak towards the dynamic approaches of Prak and Alexander. By contextualizing the drawings through architectural theory and a contemporary critique by Maarten Wijk, the study shows the tension between measured norms and lived experiences.
The results reveal that while the drawings employ a more dynamic and perceptive approach, they still rely on idealized abstractions. By synthesising the findings of this research, a manual of spatial strategies for exhibition design was developed and visualized as a triptych of posters, bridging historical analysis and contemporary design. Ultimately, this research concludes that the human measure is an evolving hypothesis.