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This book is about building evaluation in the broadest sense and it transcends the meaning and conventional boundaries of the evolving field of "post-occupancy evalu ation" by focusing on evaluation throughout the building delivery process. This process is seen not just as being linear with a product in mind, i. e. , the completed and occupied building, but rather, it is seen as a cyclic evolution which has as its goal the continuous improvement of the quality of buildings. This goal can only be accomplished if evaluation occurs throughout the building delivery process, and if: 1. the evaluation that does occur is systematic and rigorous, 2. the data that is obtained can be fed into data bases and clearinghouses for use in future generations of buildings, and; 3. there is continuity in information flow. The idea for this book originated with a symposium that was part of a conference held at the Technical University in Delft, Netherlands, in July of 1988, i. e. , lAPS 10, the tenth biannual conference of the "International Association for the Study of People and their Physical Surroundings. " Authors presented papers based on their book chapters, and discussions ensued about the expanded boundaries of the field, about theoretical, methodological, and practical issues, as well as applications in building evaluation. Other relevant topics were identified and several additional authors were invited to participate in order to round out the contents of this book.

This book is about a new and different way of approaching and studying the history of the built environment and the use of historical precedents in design. However, although what I am proposing is new for what is currently called architectural history, both my approach and even my conclusions are not that new in other fields, as I discovered when I attempted to find supporting evidence. * In fact, of all the disciplines dealing with various aspects of the study of the past, architectural history seems to have changed least in the ways I am advocating. There is currently a revival of interest in the history of architecture and urban form; a similar interest applies to theory, vernacular design, and culture-environment relations. After years of neglect, the study of history and the use of historical precedent are again becoming important. However, that interest has not led to new approaches to the subject, nor have its bases been examined. This I try to do. In so doing, I discuss a more rigorous and, I would argue, a more valid way of looking at historical data and hence of using such data in a theory of the built environment and as precedent in environmental design. Underlying this is my view of Environment-Behavior Studies CEBS) as an emerging theory rather than as data to help design based on current "theory. " Although this will be the subject of another book, a summary statement of this position may be useful.

Environment-Behavior Studies for Healthcare Design explains how environment-behavior (EB) studies can contribute to healthcare design research and explores how evidence-based theories can be applied and integrated into the healthcare design practice. Drawing on EB theories and the latest research in environment-behavior studies, this book shows how the healthcare environment can positively impact patients' and caregivers' well-being and healthcare organization's efficiency by modifying environmental attributes, such as space configuration, color, lighting, signage, acoustics, and artwork. It addresses a range of healthcare facilities including children's hospitals, long-term care, acute care and outpatient care facilities, and uses a range of evidence-based design research methods, such as interviews, focus groups, observations, surveys and space syntax. The author also explains how research evidence and evidence-based design can be integrated into healthcare design more cohesively in a redefined design process. This book provides a solid conceptual structure that informs a clear map for understanding the EB theories and their applications in healthcare design. This research guide for healthcare design helps students, academics, designers and architects reconsider how to create environments that support patients’ healing and well-being whilst considering efficiency and safety.

Domestic Architecture and the Use of Space investigates the relationship between the built environment and the organisation of space. The contributors are classical and prehistoric archaeologists, anthropologists and architects, who from their different backgrounds are able to provide some important and original insights into this relationship.