Can Architectural Delight Improve Concept Design and Human Sensory Response in Schools

STUDENT PAPER. Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) is an established process for assessing the thermal performance of buildings already constructed and in use. But POE tends to focus on assessing whether the technical requirements have been met and rarely assesses the sensory experiences of the building users and their perceptions of how well a space works for its intended function. Architects need additional feedback to that which is already provided by POE and that is user sensory ‘feelings’, which is informed by sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste. The first author (FA) of this paper is an architect with 35+ years’ experience, is award winner for his school design in Wales and works for a leading architectural practice in Cardiff, UK. This paper introduces a doctoral research project that investigates the sensory experiences of users in some of the schools that the FA has designed and is in use in 2020. Data generated by this project will be used to enlighten future school designs by Stride Treglown (the company hereafter) for schools in Wales. A new approach to sensory POE evaluations will enhance the services that the company can offer its clients. It is anticipated that the company’s clients may better understand their buildings, and perhaps, their users will not only be are more productive and happier, but also appreciate the architectural delight of the spaces designed.