Assigment 2 research mapping final

Survey Research Design—Observations A Holistic & Sustainable Care Center Tatiana Acosta | Thayse Darzi | Elisabet Lyon | Esperanza Muino

FIU Department of Interior Architecture Research Methods October 10, 2016 Group #1 Assignment # 2 Prof. Newton D’Souza

Table of Contents

Introduction & Background…………………………………………….

Data Collection Process………………………………………………….

Behavioral Mapping Cognitive/Activity Mapping Trace Observations

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3 General Conclusions & Recommendations………………….... 4 Maps & Sketches………………………………………………...............5 References………………………………………………………………………6 Results & Analysis……………………………………………………………

Introduction & Background In our everyday lives, we live in spaces that are active, changing, and dynamic.

When we as designers create interior spatial designs for various types of uses and experiences, we consider both the aesthetic qualities of a space and how people experience interactions and sensations within the spaces. However, people’s experiences are subjective. These are experiences people have in the moment of living, both consciously and unconsciously, in interaction with the space and others in the space. User experience is the basis of a form of knowledge that is useful for designers.

The purpose of this survey research paper is to gather background information about the behavior of the users in our Case Study (holistic center and spa) in order to gain knowledge on how to design better interior spaces that are aesthetically pleasing and at the same time meet all the users’ needs.

To complete this survey research, we applied three different methods of observation: behavioral mapping, cognitive/activity mapping and trace observations.

Behavioral Mapping allows researchers to determine how participants use a designed space by recording participant behaviors and/or tracking participant movement within the space itself. Behavioral mapping can be useful to help identify underlying patterns of participant movement and behavior within a given environment.

Cognitive maps are mental representations of physical locations. People use them to find their way and to help recall important features of the environment.

Activity mapping is the process by we can know about a place identity. Through activity mapping we can know the types of activities happening, type of users, number of visitors and the physical settings of a place.

Trace observations involve observing physical traces. This means we systematically look at interior environments for evidence of earlier activity or other indicators that people were there and interacted with one another or with the environment.

This method is used to see how people actually use a space. This type of research is critical to the designer because it gives us an opportunity to know what often goes unsaid by clients and users.

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Data Collection Process

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Behavioral Mapping

Procedure •

To make a place-centered mapping, first, we took a casual stroll around the building and created a list of different behavior and activities. We made a key for these observed behaviors.

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With multiple copies of the building plan and tracing sheets, we marked all the architectural/environmental features such as chairs, tables, bulletin boards, wall clocks, and information signs.

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Taking another tracing sheet, we started walking around marking people. Using colored dots (different for gender and age).

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Simultaneously we recorded different behaviors with the key we had prepared earlier (Si= sitting, St= standing etc.).

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We recorded these in the observation chart simultaneously (see activity mapping).

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We conducted these observations for 3 different times and days.

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Finally we overlaid all the behavior and made aggregate maps. (see activity mapping).

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Behavioral Mapping Key table of different behaviors

At the Holistic Clinic Si= sitting St= standing Wk= walking Tk= talking to others TkPh= talking by phone Tk-N= talking to nurse Tk-D= talking to doctor Tk- P= talking to patient Wa= waiting Ld=laying down Cl=cleaning R= reading Sp= sleeping Bth= restroom time Ea= eating Rs= resting Mg= massaging Ch-T= chiropractic therapy Sw= showering Ac-T= acupuncture therapy Cu- T = cupping therapy NM= neuro muscular therapy Mx-T= moxibustion therapy Hb-P= at herbal medicine pharmacy H/C-T= hot and cold therapy Es-T= electro stimulation therapy Y-T= yoga therapy Md-T= meditation therapy Gi+p= giving treatment indications+prescription D= patient discharge VRg= visiting the relaxing garden

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Behavioral Mapping

Key table of different behaviors At the Spa Hotel: Si= sitting St= standing Wk= walking Wc= writing at the computer Tk= talking to others TkPh= talking by phone Wa= waiting Ld= laying down Cl=cleaning Pcl= pool cleaning R= reading Ch-T= chiropractic therapy Sw= showering Md-T= meditation therapy CH- P= coaching patients Ac-T= acupuncture therapy Y-T= yoga therapy Pt= pilates Sp= at the spa treatments Bs= at beauty salon treatments Bth= restroom time

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Behavioral Mapping Holistic Primary Care Floor plan

Standard Hotel & Spa Floor plan

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Behavioral Mapping Analysis

Behavioral mapping allows the researcher to directly observe phenomena in their natural settings, with very limited or no influence on the observed subjects (Moore and Cosco 2010). Also, this method allows researchers to empirically evaluating possible correlations between the studied behavior settings and individuals’ types of actions and physical activity levels (Cosco, Moore and Islam 2010).

Various factors—including the time of day, the day of the week, the season, weather conditions, special events and calendar holidays—may have a dramatic impact on the number of participants observed and the types of behaviors displayed. To reduce or otherwise account for these uncontrollable variables, multiple visits to the site, perhaps even over the course of a full year, may be required to accurately capture a site’s usage patterns. We try to be as accurate as possible according to the time designated for this assignment.

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping

Procedure Cognitive mapping: •

The idea of the cognitive mapping is to make users participate by asking them to draw a plan of their space, marking the most important spaces they use.

Unfortunately, because of time and some business regulations we were not allowed to obtain this information from the users (providers/clients/patients).

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Instead we made some verbal questions and we made individual and extra observations of each user to try to collect this information.

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We chose different types of users by gender, age and race.

Activity mapping: • Next, we took the base maps and sat on a comfortable corner with high visibility.

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We chose one individual and followed their movement throughout the building.

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Using a trace paper and a marker we marked lines which showed movement of the user in space.

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We noted down time spent and number of visits to mark intensity and frequency of space usage.

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We chose different types of users by gender, age and race.

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping-Holistic Clinic PLACE CENTERED MAPING CHART Name of the physical setting: Holistic Primary Care Treatment Room 1

Treatment Room 1

Description of the physical setting indicating architectural/environmental features such as chairs, tables, bulletin boards, wall clocks, and information signs: This is a small treatment room used for different treatments. At the time of the mapping, the setting was used for neuromuscular therapy. This therapy can help alleviate pain due to trigger points in the muscles that block the tissues from getting the proper blood and nourishment. The therapist addresses musculoskeletal imbalances that may be creating poor postural alignment, as well as working with injuries, repetitive stress, and chronic pain and stiffness. The room has a stretcher on a side, a dimmer lamp to control the intensity of the light, a window for the natural light, a music speaker system and all the tools and products necessary for the implementation of this therapy.

Description of the person in charge of this activity/age and gender: Dr. Wells is one of the owners and providers. She is an acupuncture physician, certified in functional medicine and member of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine. She is in her 40s, she is very friendly and physically she looks very healthy.

Time/Description of the Behavior: The service at this clinic is by appointment.

This observation was made in the morning at 10:00 a.m. The duration of this appointment was one hour.

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping-Holistic Clinic Dr. Wells Activity in order of development (St) (WK) (NM) (Hb-P) (Wa) (Gi+p) (D) (Bth)

(30 min) (15 min) (15 min)

Dr. Wells at the Herbal Medicine Pharmacy & at the Relaxing Garden

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping-Holistic Clinic PLACE CENTERED MAPING CHART Name of the physical setting: Holistic Primary Care Treatment Room 2

Treatment Room 2

Description of the physical setting indicating architectural/environmental features such as chairs, tables, bulletin boards, wall clocks, and information signs: This is a small treatment room used for acupuncture and electrostimulation treatments. At the time of the mapping, the setting was used for acupuncture therapy. This therapy involves the use of very fine, high-quality needles inserted into specific points along acupuncture meridians (channels or pathways that carry energy through the body). The goal of the doctor at that time was to restore the balance to the body of his patient. The room has a stretcher on a side a dimmer lamp to control the intensity of the light, a window for the natural light, a music speaker system and all the tools (needles) and products necessary for the implementation of this therapy.

Description of the person in charge of this activity/age and gender: Dr. Eisenman is one of the owners and providers. He is an acupuncture physician and neuromuscular therapist. He is certified in acupuncture and oriental medicine. He is in his 40s, he is very friendly and physically he looks very healthy.

Time/Description of the Behavior: The service at this clinic is by appointment.

This observation was made in the morning at 10:30 a.m. The duration of this appointment was one hour.

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping-Holistic Clinic Dr. Eisenman Activity in order of development (Hb-P) (WK) (Ac-T) (Hb-P) (St) (Wa) (Gi+p) (Tk-P) (D) (St)

(30 min) (15 min) (15 min) (20 min)

Dr. Eisenman at the Herbal Medicine Pharmacy

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping-Holistic Clinic PLACE CENTERED MAPING CHART Name of the physical setting: Holistic Primary Care Waiting room/Treatment Room 1/ Relaxing Garden.

Treatment Room 1

Reception Area

Relaxing Garden

Description of the physical setting indicating architectural/environmental features such as chairs, tables, bulletin boards, wall clocks, and information signs: This is a small waiting area without any reception desk. It has four waiting chairs a furniture counter for display information, magazines, books and flyers and a floor mirror. After the previous setting, the patient went to a different setting. The small treatment room is used for different treatments. At the time of the mapping, the setting was used for a neuromuscular therapy. This therapy can help alleviate pain due to trigger points in the muscles that block the tissues from getting the proper blood and nourishment. The therapist addresses musculoskeletal imbalances that may be creating poor postural alignment, as well as working with injuries, repetitive stress, and chronic pain and stiffness. The room has a stretcher on a side a dimmer lamp to control the intensity of the light, a window for the natural light, a music speaker system and all the tools and products necessary for the implementation of this therapy. After the treatment the patient went to the relaxing garden approximately for 20 min for a relax time. This garden has a sea view, and a couple of water fountains, wood benches and a lot of natural vegetation.

Description of the person in charge of this activity/age and gender: Patient A, a female in her 40s.

She arrived on time for her appointment (10:00 a.m.)

Time/Description of the Behavior: The service at this clinic is by appointment. This observation was made in the morning at 10:00 a.m. The duration of this appointment was one hour.

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping-Holistic Clinic

Patient A. Activity in order of development (Av) (St) (Wa) (WK) (NM) (Ld) (Wa) (Tk-D) (D) (VRg)

(5 min) (30 min) (10 min) (10 min)

(Aprox. 20 min)

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping-Holistic Clinic PLACE CENTERED MAPING CHART Name of the physical setting: Holistic Primary Care Waiting room/Treatment Room 2

Reception Area

Treatment Room 2

Description of the physical setting indicating architectural/environmental features such as chairs, tables, bulletin boards, wall clocks, and information signs: This is a small waiting area without any reception desk. Have four waiting chairs a furniture counter for display information, magazines, books and flyers and a floor mirror. After the previous setting, the patient went to a different setting. The small treatment room 2 is used for different treatments. At the time of the mapping, the setting was used for acupuncture therapy. This therapy involves the use of very fine, high-quality needles inserted into specific points along acupuncture meridians (channels or pathways that carry energy through the body. The room has a stretcher on a side a dimmer lamp to control the intensity of the light, a window for the natural light, a music speaker system and all the tools (needles) and products necessary for the implementation of this therapy.

Description of the person in charge of this activity/age and gender: Patient B, a female in her 30s. She arrived on time for her appointment (10:30 a.m.)

Time/Description of the Behavior: The service at this clinic is by appointment. This observation was made in the morning at 10:30 a.m. The duration of this appointment was one hour.

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping-Holistic Clinic

Patient B. Activity in order of development

(Av) (St) (Wa) (WK) (Ac-T) (Ld) (Wa) (Tk-D) (WK) (St) (Tk-D) (D)

(10 min) (30 min) (10 min) (10 min)

(10 min)

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping-Spa Hotel PLACE CENTERED MAPING CHART Name of the physical setting: Standard Hotel and Spa First Floor

Reception area

Seating area

Membership coordination area

Bar area

Concierge area

Restroom area

Description of the physical setting indicating architectural/environmental features such as chairs, tables, bulletin boards, wall clocks, and information signs: This is the Lobby Area located on the 1st Floor of the Standard, and there you will find the reception desk (with 3 workers, but we just map one of them), some seating areas (where guests wait or sit for relaxation), a concierge (which answer more important questions), a Membership coordination (with only one person working there, but this person switch shift with other two different people), an entrance to the bar restaurant, and an entrance to the bedrooms and the garden (with the pool, different relaxation areas, etc).

Description of the person in charge of this activity/age and gender: As a Group we divided this area into different spaces and with different colors we showed what each person’s path is. In the photo on the bottom we can see the description of the Reception Lady and which paths she did during the time we were observing, the Concierge Lady, the Valet guy, the Membership Coordination Man, and Some of the Guests (for the Guests we mainly map their paths, but were different guests all the time, we couldn’t follow them).

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping-Spa Hotel

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping-Spa Hotel PLACE CENTERED MAPING CHART Name of the physical setting: Standard Hotel and Spa House Keeping Area

Rooms area

Description of the physical setting indicating architectural/environmental features such as chairs, tables, bulletin boards, wall clocks, and information signs: Maintains the care and use of supplies, equipment, etc. and the appearance of Housekeeping areas, and performs regular inspections of resident areas and rooms for sanitation, order, safety and proper performance of assigned duties.

Description of the person in charge of this activity/age and gender: Director of Housekeeping , man in his 30s.

The Director of Housekeeping position is responsible for the planning, organization, development and direction for the overall operation of the Housekeeping Unit in accordance with and federal, state, and local standards and guidelines, and as may be directed by the Director, Facilities Management, to assure that the highest degree of quality resident care is maintained at all times.

They are between 24 to 50 years of age.

Time/Description of the Behavior: 9:00 am to 4:00 p.m

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping-Spa Hotel

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping-Spa Hotel PLACE CENTERED MAPING CHART Name of the physical setting: Standard Hotel and Spa House Keeping Area

Rooms Area

Description of the physical setting indicating architectural/environmental features such as chairs, tables, bulletin boards, wall clocks, and information signs: Housekeeping in a hotel is a very physically demanding job that includes many, varied tasks. Typically, in this case study, housekeepers were responsible for cleaning 16 rooms per shift. The actual amount of work depends on the size of the room and the number of beds. A housekeeper needs between fifteen and thirty minutes to do one room.

Description of the person in charge of this activity/age and gender: Housekeeping, woman in her 40s. The primary function of the housekeeping department is keeping the venue clean and sanitary as part of customer service. Maids and cleaners vacuum rugs and furniture in hallways, rooms and public areas. They collect trash and empty wastebaskets, change the sheets and make the beds. The refill soap and toilet paper dispensers in public restrooms and put toiletries and supplies in guest rooms.

They are between 25 to 60 years of age.

Time/Description of the Behavior: 9:00 am to 4:00 p.m

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping-Spa Hotel

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping-Spa Hotel PLACE CENTERED MAPING CHART Name of the physical setting: Standard Hotel and Spa Lobby & Reception Area

Lobby & Reception Area

Description of the physical setting indicating architectural/environmental features such as chairs, tables, bulletin boards, wall clocks, and information signs: The bellboy is often the first person with whom an arriving hotel guest has a direct interaction. His customer service responsibilities include helping guests out of vehicles, unloading their luggage and transporting it into the hotel and on to their rooms, helping them find their rooms, teaching them to operate door locks and room lights and assisting with roll-away beds or cribs.

Description of the person in charge of this activity/age and gender: Bellboy, a man in his 30s. A bellboy, often called a porter or bellhop, is responsible for making a good first impression on hotel guests, moving luggage, showing guests to their rooms and acting as a concierge. Bellboys must be friendly, responsible and have superior customer service skills.

They are between 30 to 40 years of age.

Time/Description of the Behavior: 7:00 am to 4:00 p.m

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping-Spa Hotel

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping-Spa Hotel PLACE CENTERED MAPING CHART

Name of the physical setting: Standard Hotel and Spa Lobby Area

Lobby Area

Description of the physical setting indicating architectural/environmental features such as chairs, tables, bulletin boards, wall clocks, and information signs: Located in the check-in lobby, a concierge is on hand seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to answer questions about hotel activities.

Description of the person in charge of this activity/age and gender: Concierge, a woman in her 50s. A concierge's responsibilities will vary based on the level of service provided by their employer. In high-end, or luxury, hotels and apartment buildings, a concierge may act as a butler; booking dinner reservations, transportation and generally making the impossible, possible are all par for the course. Concierges use hotel contacts and businesses to fulfill any request a guest may have during the course of their stay.

They are between 24 to 40 years of age.

Time/Description of the Behavior: 7:00 am to 4:00 p.m

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping-Spa Hotel

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping-Spa Hotel PLACE CENTERED MAPING CHART

Name of the physical setting: Standard Hotel and Spa Reception Desk Area

Reception Desk & Lobby Area

Description of the physical setting indicating architectural/environmental features such as chairs, tables, bulletin boards, wall clocks, and information signs: This is a corner area just in front of the main entrance of the building near to the elevator area, with wood organic elements such a desk and storage unit. Focal point illumination natural plants as decorations. Answer phones and operate a switchboard, Schedule meetings and conference rooms, Answer inquiries about company Description of the person in charge of this activity/age and gender: Receptionist, a woman in her 50s. Responsible for handling front office reception and administration duties, including greeting guests and offering them a beverage, answering phones, handling company inquiries, and sorting and distributing mail.

They also schedule meetings and travel for executives.

This area has three people working at the same time, two women and a man.

Positions are the reception manager, receptionist assistant and a bellboy.

They are between 24 to 50 years of age.

Time/Description of the Behavior: 1st shift of the day 7:00 am to 4:00 p.m.

Time elapsed: 10:00am to 12:00 noon

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping-Spa Hotel

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping-Spa Hotel PLACE CENTERED MAPING CHART Name of the physical setting: Standard Hotel and Spa 3rd Floor Spa, Relaxing Garden & Beauty Salon

Reception

Hallway

Retail

Hamam| cold rain shower

Salon

Hamam| thermic benches

Description of the physical setting indicating architectural/environmental features such as chairs, tables, bulletin boards, wall clocks, and information signs: This is the Spa Located on the Third Floor, and there you will find the reception desk (with 3 workers, but we just mapped one of them, the one that actually gave us a guide), a retail area, another small Retail for Yoga, a Salon, a Hallway to go to the Spa area (we were able to see all the spaces listed on the mapping, but the Massage and Yoga rooms).

Description of the person in charge of this activity/age and gender: As a Group we divided this area into different spaces and with different colors we showed person’s path. In the photo on the Bottom we can see the description of the Reception Lady and which paths we did with her during the time she walked us through the spa, the other guests were coming from different areas within the spa.

Time/Description of the Behavior: About 15 to 20 minutes during the time frame of 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping-Spa Hotel

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Cognitive/Activity Mapping Analysis

Activity mapping is the process whereby individuals acquire, code, store and recall information about the relative location and attributes of the physical environment.

We made an analysis of the activities in each facility to determine the importance for each user. Simple movements of the individuals (walking, grasping, reaching, sitting) gave us some clues. Certain activities may require special attention because of the characteristics of each facility being considered, such as long corridors, stairs, common spaces, limited spaces, distracting operations and hazardous areas. Some other activities gave us clues about spaces that can cause stress, fatigue, boredom, or confusion as well as detailed, demanding, or critical functions. Lack of support for such spaces will adversely affect convenience, safety and security.

After we identified the individual and group activities, we determined also the relationships between users, their activities and the immediate environment.

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Trace Observations

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Trace Observations

Procedure •

Using the Environment-Behavior Attribute checklist we defined and created an annotated plan mapping with these attributes.

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Then we sorted some personal digital photographs of some behavior traces and we wrote a commentary on each of them.

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We made comments on why certain environment behavior factors are present and why others are absent.

Environment-Behavior Attribute checklist 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

Personal Space Sociofugal/Sociopetal Space Privacy Solitude Sociality Territoriality Crowding Focal Point Prospect and Refuge Complexity Monotony Mystery Delight Wow Factor Stimulation Restoration Comfort Autonomy Control Safety Performance Adaptability Legibility Identity Branding Wayfinding Affordance

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Environment-Behavior Attribute Personal Space Refers to an area with invisible boundaries surrounding a person’s body into which intrudes may not come. The dynamical spatial component of interpersonal relations.

Description The concierge in the standard hotel is a personal space where one person works in a small space and interacts which guests in friendly manner.

Sociofugal/Sociopetal Space Sociofugal: To describe settings that discourage social interaction.

Sociopetal: To describe settings that facilitate social interaction.

Description The Standard has many places in the center and the main entrance of the hotel, which brings people together. It stimulates interaction and allows for a relaxing environment.

Privacy The state of being apart from other people or concealed from their view; solitude and seclusion. The state or condition of being free from being observed or disturbed by other people.

Description The privacy in the rooms is achieved by adding curtains in each Patio so guests can have their own personal space to relax in a Bath tub.

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Environment-Behavior Attribute Solitude The need to be alone and free from observation by others.

Description In the holistic garden there are places where you can feel solitude and have a peaceful and relaxing environment. You can also feel the breeze of the ocean to feel the beauty of nature and have a place to reflect.

Sociality/Social space Social space is physical or virtual space such as a social center, online social media, or other gathering place where people gather and interact.

Description One of the places in the standard is the pool where people swim, gather and interact with one another. It has many spaces where people can socialize such as the restaurant. In the swim lounge people can meet and have drinks. The fire pit is a place allows for people can unite in a circle and sing or just talk.

Territoriality Involves the need to control a fixed geographical location by laying claim to it in a variety of ways.

Description In the holistic center, the office space is for specific use of the doctors’ who have their personal items where they can prepare the natural medicine.

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Environment-Behavior Attribute Crowding Psychological response to overstimulation caused by too much interaction with others within a giving space.

Description In the salute circle in the standard Hotel people gather to participate In yoga classes.

It feels that there Is too much people and everyone Is close to one another.

Focal Point A focal point, in its simplest definition, is a point where lines converge together.

The focal point of a room is the place where the lines of the room meet. Since our eyes tend to naturally follow lines, this will be the place that our attention will first be drawn to in a room.

Description This whole room has a circular shape involving this circular marble and lighting fixture, what gives it the idea of focal point, where they place water and fruits for the clientele while they are experiencing the spa features.

Prospect & Refuge The theory of “prospect and refuge� seeks to describe why certain environments feel secure and thereby meet basic human psychological needs. Environments that meet such needs will often provide people with the capacity to observe (prospect) without being seen (refuge). Prospect and refuge may result intuitively in the work of an architect who seeks to control the manner in which open and bright spaces are framed spatially. They are some variation of this theory that analyses ceiling heights, the size of terraces, and the spatial complexity of a design.

Description This space is located outside of the first floor bedrooms, which can be opened or closed by curtains, giving the guests a prospect and refuge.

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Environment-Behavior Attribute Complexity Large variety of elements in a setting display. Being involved immediately. Scenes capacity to keep an individual busy. How many elements, features, or changes an environment contains- in turn, affects the perceived environmental load.

Description Lobby seating area with games for the guests entertainment. There are a pingpong table, chess, cards, and other games.

This room shows a little bit of complexity because of the furnishing and materials used on the interior space.

Monotony Lack of variety and interest on the space; tedious repetition and routine.

Description Repetition of the curtains and vegetation, empty path, without any interesting view.

Can give to this space some kind of monotony.

Mystery Characteristic that provide the opportunity to learn something that is not obvious or apparent when we first perceive the space.

Description Because of the vegetation, once we go to the opening space of the spa, you don’t know what is happening there, it is like a labyrinth with different spaces within it.

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Environment-Behavior Attribute Delight . A space or setting that produce pleasant feelings.

Description This space gives all users a pleasant feeling because of its setting and location, it is an open area, with a pool and seating, it also has beautiful landscaping.

Wow Factor A quality of a space that is extremely impressive.

Description This is definitely a “Wow View.� This space is extremely impressive because of the relationship between the facility and its environment.

Stimulation The act of increasing levels of activity. Part of perception.

Description Location, views and relationship with nature at the Standard Spa make the building to increase levels of activity.

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Environment-Behavior Attribute Restoration Provides the opportunity to recover from a personal social injury or injustice or loss of selfesteem and to make plans for future social interactions.

Description The relaxation Garden at the Holistic Care Center provides to patients the opportunity to recover energy and fill some kind of restoration.

Comfort A space that provides physical well-being or relief.

Description Some spaces in the Standard provide additional comfort bringing some of the activities on site. As it is the case of some rooms that have outdoor individual Jacuzzis & bathtubs.

Autonomy Personal autonomy is the capacity to decide for oneself and pursue a course of action in one's life, often regardless of any particular moral content. Provides the opportunity for self-discovery and to experiment with new behaviors without judgement of others.

Description The doctors at the Holistic Care Center have their own holistic pharmacy where they can dispense natural and homeopathic medicines and remedies according to their prescriptions.

This space give the doctors and the patients some kind of autonomy avoiding the trip to another pharmacy.

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Environment-Behavior Attribute Control Places that have the power to influence or direct people's behavior or the course of events.

Description The reception counter at the Standard Spa is a space designed to control the access to the activities. Providing information on how to use the spaces inside of the facility.

Safety A Safe Space is a place where anyone can relax and be able to fully express, without fear of being made to feel uncomfortable, unwelcome, or unsafe.

Description This fire pit seating area gives this space a feeling of welcome and comfort, making it a safe and friendly place.

Performance The relationship between an environment and how that environment affects the behavior of its inhabitants, with the aim of maximizing the positive affects of this relationship.

Description These hanging chairs on the garden area at the Standard Spa and Hotel make this space more pleasant and establish a comfortable relationship between the space and the environment affecting directly the users performance and behavior.

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Environment-Behavior Attribute Adaptability It refers to the ability of an existing design to be adapted to create a new or modified space based on new requirements or needs. The idea is to increase the functionality of a space through its modification.

Description At the Holistic Care Center, an outdoor space that use to be a regular outdoor lounge terrace, was transformed into a relaxation garden. The main purpose of adapting this space was to meet the need of patients for a time to meditate, incorporating benches surround them by nature and water fountains, using the existing exterior space with it beautiful view.

Legibility Is a term used to describe the ease with which people can understand the layout of a place.

Is a method of analyzing legibility based on five elements: paths, edges, districts, nodes and landmarks.

Description When entering to the Lido Restaurant at the Standard Hotel, the path prepares guests before arriving. The path is he main circulation that leads the users into a centered entrance. This way of design is very legible and helps guests to easily find the restaurant. The same happens with the Spa entrance.

Identity It refers to the visual aspect that form part of the overall brand. Elements such as color and graphics, establish character and identity to the space.

Description The color of the Standard Hotel is Yellow. This color can be seen throughout the whole space.

Having this element in a repetitive way, it helps the facility to tell a unique story and also helps the users to create a visual connection with the brand itself.

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Environment-Behavior Attribute Branding Creating a unique name and image in the consumers mind that can stand for something and be different from others.

Description Brands matter because they endure. In both, the Standard Hotel and the Holistic Care Center, the use of the logo is utilize in the entrance of both spaces, in order for people to see it before getting involve in the experience inside the space. In that way, they will create a relation between the brand and the environment.

Wayfinding Signs and numeric systems. Forms that identify the building and space environment.

Description Guests inside the Standard Hotel would be able to understand the environment by the signs that the hotel provides. Good wayfinding promotes healing, since it help users of the space to easily find areas in a space with no stress or anxiety.

Affordance “A model of perception in which an organism perceives its environment in terms of what opportunities the environment provides, based on both the features of the environment as well as the qualities and capabilities of the organism.� Gibson’s Theory Description The Standard Hotel provides its users with enjoyable spaces to have a moment of tranquility. These are features presented in the environment, which users perceived as an affordance element in the space.

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Environment-Behavior Attribute Localization Restoration

Holistic Primary Care

Solitude

Adaptability

Territoriality Autonomy

Branding

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Environment-Behavior Attribute Localization Standard Hotel & Spa Affordance Privacy

Control

Performance

Sociofugal/Sociopetal

Social space

Safety Stimulation

Personal Space

Comfort Crowding

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Environment-Behavior Attribute Localization Standard Hotel & Spa

Focal Point

Branding

Wow Factor

Mystery Delight

Wayfinding

Complexity Legibility

Prospect & Refuge

Monotony Identity

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Trace Observations Analysis

Observing these physical traces allowed us to look at the physical surroundings of these two spaces and find reflections of previous activities. Most of these traces have been unconsciously left behind.

These traces will help us to infer how the environment of these facilities got the way they are, and how people actually use them, how they feel toward their surroundings and how the environments meet the needs of their users. Also we can begin to form an idea of what people are like who use the facilities: their culture, their affiliations, the way they present themselves.

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Survey Research Design—Observations Results & Analysis According to the Survey/ Observations results we can determine: Facilities Spaces • • •

• • • •

Visually overlaying the paths that participants took may help us to determine heavy traffic zones versus underused areas.

Some spaces are used in a flexible manner where multiple activities can occur in the same place, like in the case of the examination rooms in the holistic clinic.

Both of the places we mapped trying to bring the outdoor in, creating a sense of the outdoors indoors by using waterfalls, bamboo and stone.

Natural elements such as calming waters and meditative gardens intrigue these places visitors as they experience the environment along with their treatments. We can see this direct intervention of nature with the building in both facilities, reflected on the relaxing gardens.

Natural light it is very important for the performance of the majority of the activities in both facilities.

The interior spaces must be created with an atmosphere of peace, harmony and relaxation. Some type of noise reduction Interior designers have to work on eliminating environmental stressors.

Spaces have to provide positive distractions.

Users: • According to users and providers, doctors and nurses use complementary and alternative medicine—for themselves—more than workers in other fields.

• This type of service can be used by the whole family including children.

• Employees vary in gender and age. Ages are between 20 to 50 years old.

• The staff in this type of facilities should be cordial, friendly and nice people that show interest for users / patients.

• The majority of the patients use the services to treat any pain or discomfort related to stress.

• Technology is a very important part of the development of the activities in each facility. As well as for the development of specific activities and for the comfort of users and providers.

• These type of facilities need enable social support.

• Users need to have some sense of control.

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General Conclusions & Recommendations

Every design is a hypothesis and a practical experiment. By its very nature, design aims at solving problems by intervening in a particular way. Both the design hypothesis and intervention need to be articulated and together they are the foundation for research. Many designers may find it difficult to verbalize design because much of the design process is intuitive and non-conscious, relying on metaphors and implied knowledge rather than explicit and logical thinking.

So, for Interior Architects/Designers research it is important part of the design process, because it will help in the improvement of the environment not only in its aesthetics but also on functionality and productivity.

Research and analysis merged with creativity. Good interior design can make a qualitative impact on any project.

While a variety of issues are critical to design, the most important type of information to be gathered, analyzed and synthesized is that concerning people in a given interior facility.

We are focusing our research on investigating the attitudes and psychological needs of users with a real-world case study (Holistic Clinic/Spa) forming the basis of our thesis project. By using research techniques such as Behavioral Mapping, Cognitive/Activity Mapping and Trace Observations the present assignment is exploring issues that are most critical to our specific design.

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Maps & Sketches

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References/Figures References Cosco, Nilda G., Robin C. Moore, and Mohammed Z. Islam. 2010. Behavior mapping: A method for linking preschool physical activity and outdoor design.

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 42, no. 3: 513–19 Gibson, James J. 1977. The theory of affordances. In Perceiving, acting, and knowing: Toward an ecological psychology, ed. Robert Shaw and John Bransford.

Hillsdale NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Gifford, R. (2014). Environmental Psychology: Principles and Practice (5th ed.). Colville, WA: Optimal Books.

Moore, Robin C. and Nilda G. Cosco. 2010. Using behaviour mapping to investigate healthy outdoor environments for children and families: Conceptual framework, procedures and applications. In innovative approaches to research excellence in landscape and health, ed. Catharine Ward Thompson, Peter Aspinall, and Simon Bell. London: Taylor and Francis Sommer, Robert, and Barbara B. Sommer. 2001. A practical guide to behavioral research. New York: Oxford University Press.

Stewart-Pollack, J. & Menconi, R. (2005). Designing for privacy and related needs. New York: Fairchild.

Figures The Holistic Care Center floor plan was drawn by the Holistic team # 1.

The Standard Hotel & Spa floor plan from Standard website. Source at: http://www.standardhotels.com/miami/spa All the pictures are digital photographs taken by the Holistic team #1.

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