Back to the User

Shaping the user experience of architecture through evidence-based design

Master thesis (2024)

Authors

Šimon Knettig Architecture and the Built Environment

Contributors

R. Cavallo Theory, Territories & Transitions (mentor)
Stefan Christiaan van der Spek Urban Design (mentor)
P. Medici Teachers of Practice / AE+T (mentor)
Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment, Architecture and the Built Environment
More Info
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Published Date

28-06-2024

Language

English

Reuse Rights

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Faculty

Architecture and the Built Environment

Abstract

‘Back to the User’ addresses a critical issue in contemporary architectural practice: the dissociation from the user. In the software industry, 10% to 40% of a project’s budget is allocated to ‘User Experience (UX) Research’, which focuses on assessing and fulfilling users’ needs and experiences throughout the entire design process. This investment not only doubles sales but also nearly triples user satisfaction. Despite its proven value, UX Research is significantly underrepresented in architecture. This paper explores how to better integrate and utilize UX Research in architectural practice, proposing a new methodology.

The methodology closest to UX Research in architecture is ‘Post-Occupancy Evaluation’ (POE), but only 5% of architectural firms in the EU offer (and even fewer conduct) it during the design phase. Architects may talk closely with clients, but not with users. Additionally, most UX Research involves 1:1 prototype testing with users to ensure that the design meets its intended benefits. In architecture, ‘prototyping’ usually consists of 2D plans, visualizations, or scaled models, which are often not comprehensible, accurate, or immersive enough. While constructing a full 1:1 prototype is possible, it is not economically, spatially, or sustainably feasible for large projects—or is it?

With the rise of Virtual Reality (VR), we can now test virtually unlimited 1:1 designs, leading to more objective, evidence-based conclusions. This paper explores this approach through participatory qualitative sessions using VR, where multiple design variations are tested and rated by users based on their satisfaction levels. The data collected informs design decisions, resulting in a final proposal to address the challenges of post-Soviet, concrete-prefab panel construction in the ‘Jižní Město’ district of Prague, Czech Republic. This ‘Back to the User’ methodology, is in fact a practice’s step ‘Back to the Future’.