INTEGRATING HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN METHODS IN EARLY DESIGN STAGE: USING INTERACTIVE ARCHITECTURE AS A TOOL

Abstract

During the early-1980s the term Human-centered design (HCD) evolved and since then it started to achieve a rapidly-growing attention. It is considered to be a user-incorporated design and development process. This is achieved by primarily understanding the users" needs in buildings, communities, services, systems and products. HCD methods aim to achieve an ideal space emerging using the human centered interaction scheme. Interactive Architecture is thought to have a great potential in achieving HCD benefits. Therefore, this paper discusses the phenomenon of Interactive Architecture as well as defining the behavior of the human body in order to document and examine the buildings. The research"s main aim is to incorporate the phases of the Human-centered design into the early design stage of architectural buildings using Interactive Architecture. The methodology is composed initially of a literature survey discussing the Human-centered design in general and then focusing on the methods of creating an Interactive building space. This is then followed by analyzing both aspects in relevant examples. Finally, a matrix is concluded reaching the optimum guideline methods of design in architecture, through integrating HCD methods with Interactive Architecture analyzed examples.