Through Human-Centered Spaces and Experiences
In a world that is rapidly urbanizing itself, architecture holds immense power to shape the lives of individuals and how they experience the public space. Yet, architectural design often neglects the various needs of the community it is supposed to serve, leading to alienation and exclusion, particularly for marginalized populations. This thesis explores the concept of designing for empathy through architecture, investigating how built environments can become inclusive and empowering spaces for all.
Focusing on wearable technologies and immersive experiences, the research examines how tools like sensor-based devices and user-centered design principles can be leveraged to bridge the gap between architecture and human experience. By redefining traditional design frameworks—to incorporate diversity and accessibility, this study explores new models for inclusive public spaces that actively respond to the needs of individuals, from the homeless to the disabled.
Through prototyping and speculative design, this thesis argues that empathetic architecture and body-centered design is not only possible but essential for fostering equity, but most importantly insuring dignity and connection in our urban environments. The ultimate goal is to demonstrate how design innovation begins with the human body, and it can be used to challenge systemic alienation and enable more inclusive interactions between people and the spaces they inhabit. This work advocates for design that prioritizes human-centric adaptability, transforming public spaces into empathetic environments that reflect the richness of human diversity.
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Introduction & Context
Main issue: architectural alienation and hostile design
Impact: marginalized groups, particularly the homeless in urban settings
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Research question:
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How can body-centric architecture redefine spaces to address the alienation of minorities while fostering connection, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging for all?
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Hypothesis:
By centering the human body as a foundational element of architectural design and prioritizing empathy-driven frameworks, it is possible to create innovative inclusive spaces that respond to emotional, social, and physical needs, thereby addressing the alienation of minorities and fostering deeper connections, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging within urban environments.
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Aims
- Challenge and denounce hostile and alienating architecture
- Reimagine inclusive public spaces for all
- Explore concepts like wearable design and the human body in relation its environment
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Research framework:
Understanding comfort
1. Architectural Alienation
1.1.Hostile design
Hostile Design: design elements in public spaces that are intentionally created to discourage certain behaviors or groups of people, such as the homeless, from using those spaces.
Forceful measures:
Mildly defensive measures:
1.2. Architectural Alienation: a layered issue
- Hostile architecture impacts all users, not just the homeless
- Prioritizes discomfort
- Erodes the communal nature of public spaces
- Promotes gentrification
- Public spaces become tools of control
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2. Modernism & One-size-fits-all metrics
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2.1. Where “form follows function” falls short
- Rooted in modernist design principles
- Design should prioritize functionality above all else
- Hyper-focuses on efficiency = overlooks deeper human complexity and its needs for versatility
- Good design must consider its impact on human behavior, cognition, and identity.
2.2. One-size-fits-all metrics: The modulor
Modernism and the Modulor:
- “idealized human form”
- Standardization
- Ableism
What would the Modulor look like today?
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2.2.1. The Equalizer: understanding diverse human needs
2.2.2. The Equalizer (2.0): One-Size-Fits-None
An inclusive Python algorithm that allows you to enter your personal measurements as parameters in order to calculate recommended living space dimensions tailored to your own needs.
2.2.3. Becoming the modulor: comfort is what you make it
What if we could turn ourselves into the Modulor and measure our comfort levels in a space according to our lived experiences? By tracking environmental factors as well as emotional ones (such as a fast heartbeat and sweaty palms) we can gather data to transform living spaces into homes that embrace you like a second skin.
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3. Proxemics
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3.1. Edward Hall’s Proxemics
Proxemics: Edward Hall’s concept of spatial zones
3.2. Trans-Proxemics: comfort is beyond surface-level
As technology evolves at an unprecedented pace in an increasingly interconnected world, we must adapt by rethinking its role and the space it occupies in our lives during the design process. The COVID-19 quarantine revealed just how unprepared our environments were for such a shift, highlighting the need to create spaces that seamlessly integrate technology while fostering connection instead of isolation in the face of rapid change.
3.3. The emotional scale: Form follows emotion
Using the concept of proxemics as a foundation, we can create a diagram that captures the intricate relationship between human emotions and the architectural context. Proxemics, which explores how humans perceive and use space, provides a framework for understanding how spatial design influences emotional states. Architecture shapes our experiences by framing the way we interact with our environment and each other, whether through the intimacy of a cozy corner, the openness of a public square, or the alienation of a hostile urban space.
This diagram represents the connection between emotional responses (such as comfort, anxiety, or connection) and architectural elements, illustrating how environnement affects our feelings. For instance, Awe and Curiosity create Excitement, wich is reflected in spaces such as museums. Awe and Security create a feeling of Solace and peace which spaces like gardens evoque. However, when pushed to the extreme, these feelings become invasive and start to affect us negativaly: too much Security turns into surveillance, and too much Awe becomes overwhelming, resulting in feelings of intimidation, similar to what we would feel in a courthouse for example.
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4. Human-centric Design
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human-centric design: Meeting the physical and social needs of individuals while recognizing the emotional complexity of the human experience.
4.1. Human-centric design begins with understanding the other: The case of homelessness
Homeless individuals are on the front lines of the impact caused by public space design choices
- Homelessness itself is a form of punishment
- Victimization of the homeless
- Social isolation and trauma caused by homelessness
Homelessness, like many other societal issues, could be addressed by fostering greater empathy and awareness of the human experience.
4.2.1. The Human Bench: A radical response to hostile design
An exo skeleton that rules hostile urban furniture out of the equation completly, and turns the human body itself into urban furniture. You are now free to sit wherever you want, whenever you want. Wearing it becomes a quiet act of resistance and a powerful symbol of protest, taking a stand against the exclusionary principles of hostile design.
4.2. Hidden inclusivity bench: Turning the tools of harm into tools of inclusivity
Another approach would be to design a bench that is entirely tailored to the human body, offering a powerful counter to the exclusionary intent of hostile design. If decision-makers aim to enforce quiet animosity through their designs, we can instead embrace “hidden inclusivity,” a concept where aesthetically pleasing design choices subtly integrate inclusivity and accessibility. For example, a bench designed to follow the natural curves of the human body in various positions (lying down, lounging, sitting, etc.) would provide comfort and adaptability for all users. Such a design would not only meet functional needs but also challenge the norms of hostile architecture, proving that inclusivity can coexist with elegance and harmony in public spaces. By embedding inclusivity into the design itself, we can quietly subvert exclusionary practices and foster spaces that reflect humanity’s diversity and shared needs.
The inclusive bench prototype was handcrafted from modeling clay, then 3D scanned and digitally scaled. This process captured the essence of human touch and intuition, sculpting the bench as if shaping it to cradle the body with care.
4.2. Hidden inclusivity bench: the art of resting
4.3. The new tent: Freedom you can wear
Designing a wearable tent combines innovation, practicality, as well as empathy to address the needs of individuals who require portable shelter. This concept involves creating a cloak that not only provides protection from rain and cold when worn but can also transform into a full-sized tent when deployed. Lightweight, weatherproof materials would ensure durability and comfort, while collapsible and modular components would allow for easy portability and setup. Such a design could serve as a life-changing tool for the homeless, outdoor enthusiasts, or individuals in disaster-stricken areas, offering both mobility and reliable shelter. By integrating functionality with human-centered design, a wearable tent embodies the potential of design to address urgent needs with dignity and versatility.
4.4. SHELL-ter: a nature inspired approach to mobility
This speculative prototype draws inspiration from the simplicity of nature. Rooted in the efficiency of a bird’s nest and the nomadic life of turtles, it offers a portable shelter that can be carried effortlessly. Lightweight and designed for movement, it provides a safe and comfortable refuge. This retractable design redefines mobility and shelter, allowing users to carry their space with them wherever they go.
Conclusion
This research aims to challenge the exclusionary nature of public space design by moving away from fear-driven design to promote empathy-driven and adaptive solutions that celebrate human diversity. By reimagining architecture as a catalyst for inclusion rather than alienation and grounding design in the human body, we can create a new architecture that offers a holistic approach to human needs. In doing so, public spaces can be transformed into places of connection, belonging, and, most importantly, of dignity for all.
