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The business case for wellbeing is now an influential agenda in the built environment. Increasing demand for user-centred environments means evidence-based design proven to deliver wellbeing outcomes for end users is essential. The challenge is to effectively capture and disseminate this evidence to a range of expert and non-expert audiences. Furth...
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The main objective of this essay is to illustrate the state-of-the-art on ‘mental health-sensitive’ open space design in the built environment. Urban Green Blue Infrastructure can contribute to urbanites’ mental health and wellbeing as well as healthy aging, while providing co-benefits balancing the negative impacts of climate change, through the p...
docomomo International is a non-profit organization dedicated to the documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the Modern Movement. It aims to: • Bring the significance of the architecture of the Modern Movement to the attention of the public, the authorities, the professionals and the educational community. • Identif...
Construction and demolition waste (CDW) is one of the major environmental problems, and thus, should be considered as a significant component of sustainable built environment. The process of construction, renovation, and demolition of buildings and structures causes a mass amount of CDW. Therefore, many countries have implemented CDW management pol...
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... To assess the psychological impacts of stigma, levels of depression, anxiety, and stress were measured with reference to seven strategically selected spaces within the facility (n=7) using the DASS 21 (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995). Additionally, participants' wellbeing in relation to the studied spaces was evaluated using the SACRA 15 (Watson, 2018) 3 Data was collected on the perception of the Architectural characteristics and elements of the selected treatment center through anonymous respondents. Subjects' perceptions on the selected mental health treatment center (n=36: 18-30-yearolds) were recorded. ...
... Based on their responses, word clouds were generated to identify and analyze the most common problems highlighted by participants, as well as the most frequently proposed solutions. SACRA-15 building wellbeing scale (Watson, 2018) was adopted to evaluate the subjects' psychological wellbeing while DASS_21 (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995) scale was used to evaluate their depression, anxiety and stress levels with reference to the spaces within the building complex. ...
... The scores from SACRA-15 building wellbeing scale (Watson, 2018) with reference to the selected spaces within the premises are as follows. Wellbeing levels across all seven spaces studied were generally low, with the 'old ward interior' recording the highest percentage of low wellbeing scores (81%), followed by the 'new ward exterior' (70%), 'admin building façade' and 'old ward façade' (61%), 'entrance lobby' (55%), and 'specialized departments' and 'main corridor' (53%). ...
Abstract: In the modern Sri Lanka context, despite frequent awareness programs and increased access to information, an inherent stigma associated with mental health disorders and treatment methods prevail. The Architectural characteristics and elements of existing mental health facilities have been found to amplify these negative perceptions hindering patients' access to effective mental health care. Within this backdrop, this study looks into the Architectural parameters that contribute to the stigmatization of mental health facilities, adopting a mixed-methods approach taking the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in Mulleriyawa as a case study. Participants’ perceptions (n=36) on seven selected spaces [; admin building facade, old ward facade, specialized departments, new ward exterior, old ward interior, entrance lobby and main corridor] within the facility were gathered through an author designed online questionnaire survey, while their corresponding levels of well-being and depression, stress, and anxiety levels were evaluated using SACRA-15 Building Well-Being Scale and the DASS-21 scale respectively.
A majority of the participants reported severe levels of depression, anxiety, and stress across all the spaces studied, with the highest percentage of participants relating to ‘old ward interior” [86%,72%,75] followed by new ward exterior [97%,55%,61%]. Consistent with this finding, the majority of participants demonstrated low levels of wellbeing scores across the spaces tested, out of which ‘old ward interior’ and the ‘new ward exteriors’ were significant with highest percentages of participants with low levels of wellbeing [81% and 70%]. The main corridor of the facility was the only space showing a moderate level of well-being due to significant attributes of natural light, ventilation, nature connectedness and spaciousness. The participants identified the Architectural quality of NIMH as “‘prison-like’, ‘unwelcoming’, ‘scary’ and ‘gloomy’, contributing to an oppressive atmosphere which reinforced stigma. Restricted visual and physical access, lack of visual connections, limited access to green spaces, inadequate natural lighting and color, unbalanced solid-to-void ratios and underutilization of vistas were found to contribute towards the existing and monotonous ambience with sense of containment, leading to the stigmatization of this mental health establishment. Based on these findings, the study recommends incorporating courtyards and green spaces, improving the use of color, removing visible demarcations while maintaining functional and psychological boundaries, and optimizing material choices and spatial volumes as supportive Architectural interventions to help de-stigmatize mental health treatment centers.
Keywords: Prison-Like Architecture, new age mental health, Stigma, Social Acceptance, Asylum Architecture
... Regarding the way the answers are collected, most technologies use quantitative methods, which impacts the speci- Figure 6. Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale [Watson, 2018] ficity of the evaluations, since it does not allow the user to expose, in a detailed way, how their experience was. Considering the study by Ren et al. [2019], this is not positive, since in his research he states that for a chatbot usability assessment it is necessary to consider the context of the use of the system and in which situation it will be applied. ...
Many studies present and evaluate daily-use systems ranging from information to conversational systems. Chatbots, either text-based or voice-based, have attracted the attention of researchers. In particular, User eXperience (UX) has been pointed out as one of the chatbot's leading aspects of evaluation involving pragmatic and hedonic aspects. Pragmatic aspects deal with the usability and efficiency of the system, while hedonic aspects consider aspects related to the originality, innovation, beauty of the system, and the user's psychological well-being. Even with existing research on usability evaluation and human-computer interaction within conversational systems, there is a clear shortfall in studies specifically addressing the hedonic aspects of user experience in chatbots. Therefore, this paper presents a Systematic Mapping Study that investigates various UX evaluation technologies (questionnaires, methods, techniques, and models, among others), focusing on the hedonic aspect of chatbots. We focused on studies with chatbots that are activated by text, although they may be able to display click interactions, videos, and images in addition to the text modality. We discovered 69 technologies to evaluate hedonic aspects of UX in chatbots, and the most frequent aspect found is the General UX . Our study provides relevant data on the research topic, addressing the specific characteristics of human-chatbot interaction, such as identity and social interaction. Moreover, we highlight gaps in the hedonic aspect evaluation in chatbots, such as a few works investigating the assessment of user emotional state.
... The final section incorporated a multi-item scale for evaluating eudaimonic well-being concerning the building, developed by Watson [14]. This well-being scale for buildings is grounded in the SACRA model, encompassing five components: Satisfaction, Affect, Competence, Relatedness, and Autonomy. ...
... The metric includes 22 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree). Its formulation was guided by the definition of wellbeing as flourishing, featuring statements like "I have purpose when I'm in this building" and "I feel valued when I'm in this building" [14]. ...
With humans spending approximately 90% of their time indoors, contemporary architectural design prioritizes the creation of spaces that promote health and well-being. Despite the growing academic discourse, questions persist about the parameters that define occupants’ well-being in buildings. The objective of this paper is to explore well-being criteria in office buildings through fieldwork. The research methodology involved
conducting a survey encompassing 359 occupants from 8 LEED-certified office buildings in Chile. The questionnaire comprised various sections. One section explicitly prompted respondents to evaluate a specific set of parameters based on their significance for well-being within an ideal office environment. Another section
addressed occupants' satisfaction with various aspects of their current office environment, while a final section
incorporated a multi-item scale for evaluating eudaimonic well-being. The results indicate that, beyond the
typical Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) parameters, other crucial aspects include Security, Privacy,
Connecting with Nature, Universal Accessibility, and Ergonomics (Furniture and Desk Space). Respondents accord
great importance to Security, a local concern related to crime. Privacy is gaining significance due to the rise of
open-plan office layouts at the expense of individual offices. Conversely, aspects considered important for
occupants’ well-being in the literature, such as environmental control and opening windows, are not deemed
significant by the respondents
... Several studies have discerned that positive environmental interventions correspondingly induce positive well-being in occupants [3,4]. The recent surge of User-Centered Design (UCD) in the construction sector has reshaped mainstream thinking, emphasising the design of spaces and buildings based on the needs and experiences of their inhabitants [5]. This approach is crucial for enhancing the well-being of occupants, also presumed to enrich the user experience, leading to improved productivity, superior working conditions, and heightened user satisfaction [3,6,7,8]. ...
... The phrase "User-Centered Design" was first coined in 1977 by Kling [9] and later utilised by Vischer to enhance people's experiences with the products they use which subsequently bridged the gap between micro-level user experience data and the macro-level process of producing and delivering a built environment [10]. The growing emphasis on "well-being" via UCD in various built environment facilities is apparent [5,11,12]. However, juvenile institutions that serve as a facility for remand and rehabilitation of adolescent occupants, arguably lack such considerations. ...
... The first section gathered the demographic details of the respondents, specifically their gender and place of origin. The second section employed and adapted the Building Wellbeing Scale (BWBS), originally proposed by Watson [5]. Iterative validity evidence for the BWBS was provided in the original paper, utilising the Rasch model. ...
Good health and well-being have been established as one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) criterion by the United Nations. Since this designation, the well-being of building occupants has garnered increased attention within the discourse of the built environment. While User-Centered Design (UCD) contributes to the well-being of building occupants, the application of this approach across varying types of facilities remains an area for further investigation. Recognising that juvenile institutions are home to a vulnerable population of adolescents, this study attempts to gauge their satisfaction as building occupants using Building Well-Being Scale (BWBS). A cross-sectional survey was carried out at the entire juvenile institutions in peninsular Malaysia, comprising seven Probation Hostels (Asrama Akhlak-AA) and six Approved Schools (Sekolah Tunas Bakti-STB). It was discovered that a quarter of the respondents reported experiencing negative well-being while residing in Malaysian juvenile institutions. This equates to 26% of the responses suggesting dissatisfaction with the current built environment settings in the affected institutions. This discovery implies that certain aspects of the building design or environment are not conducive to the well-being of Malaysian adolescent occupants residing in the juvenile institutions.
... "Wellbeing" has been defined in different ways. Watson described wellbeing as embodying "thinking, feeling and functioning" (Watson, 2018). It has also been described as a byproduct of satisfying Maslow's hierarchy of needs, a subjective result of contextual comparison, and the freedom to flourish (Fleuret, 2007). ...
Architecture is no stranger to challenges, and the tropical regions have their own share due to urbanization and climate change. High temperatures plus humidity and solar radiation that can be likened to a prickling pain all stand against the promotion of human comfort through architectural designs that take into account traditional approaches-they fail at countering these factors. This research is about applying biological imitation strategies in building design to see wellness fostered in the light of nature's adaptive and efficient capabilities, aiming at extracting good practices from biological models for tropical architecture. The approach includes reviews of literature touching on various issues ranging from thermal comfort to daylighting, ventilation, and moisture management, among others-through case studies. Even as we acknowledge the promise that biomimetic innovations hold, we do not turn a blind eye on their limitations: they should integrate culture, be accepted by communities, come about through collaboration between architects (engineers environmentalists' sociologists), others working with local people. Some notable examples include passive cooling systems (inspired by termite mounds) or self-cleaning surfaces (imitating lotus leaves) or spatial designs like those receiving light and air openings from rainforest canopies' tiered structure-but these also pose technological cultural challenges that act as barriers unless mitigated; in such case only can their full potential be realized. Biomimetic architecture, particularly useful for architects working in tropical zones where environmental factors dominate design considerations and therefore the primary use of those principles, is also presented as a response. It paves way for a creative leap: buildings developed through this approach not only stand as sustainable structures but additionally support user comfortability. The significance of using biomimicry in achieving healthy built environments is discussed in this paper to highlight how nature-based design promotes both occupant wellness and energy conservation. We look at biomimetic design principles alongside successful case studies that give practical lessons on what to implement when dealing with biomimetic architecture, providing an insight on what should be expected as outcomes from such projects.
... However, one could argue that students need to adapt to challenges faced due to the school environment, too [70]. The concept of "comfort", which is closely associated to research on the built environment, was also associated with the word well-being [18,71]. According to Hanc, McAndrew and Ucci [18], 42 studies out of the 59 eligible ones in Hanc, McAndrew and Ucci [18] review, mentioned the theme of environmental quality, satisfaction and/or comfort when referring to the concept of "well-being". ...
... The framework was first devised by the Roberts Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) in the 1990s [44]. To date, the methodology is regarded as one of the most complete social assessment tools, mainly for its capability in proposing a robust set of applicative steps for reporting results, "using 'return on investment' language that is familiar with investors and commissioners" [45]. ...
Cities are facing challenges in adaptation to, and mitigation of climate change. Urban Green Spaces (UGS) have a pivotal role in this transformative process and are almost always coupled with digital tools. The deployment of digital solutions, encompassing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the Internet of Things (IoT), seeks to increase awareness of UGS benefits across a wider range of users. This study is part of a Horizon 2020 project that aims to measure the social impact of Visionary Solutions (VS), i.e., combined Nature Based Solutions (NBSs) and Digital Solutions (DSs), in UGSs located in seven European cities. The project proposes a novel application of the Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology to forecast the impact of VS implementation in the case of an Italian demonstration. The three main objectives are: (i) establishing a causal chain for transformation through the Theory of Change (ToC) tool; (ii) quantifying the expected change by developing two monetary alternatives; and (iii) comparing these alternatives to assess which is more influential in stakeholders’ decision-making. The authors reviewed a range of financial proxies of social outcomes from other SROI case studies. The result of the Italian demonstration is that, for each euro invested in project solutions, two euros of social return are generated. The analysis reveals these monetized intangible outcomes.
... Secondly, to reduce the negative effects of using the VR gear on the participants, such as headache. Data was collected through the "Building Well-being scale" questionnaire filled by the participants (Watson, 2018). For each group, participants experienced the environments while sitting on a chair and were free to explore all 360-degrees of each environment. ...
... The questionnaire was based on previous studies by Kelly J Watson, which introduced a novel well-being evaluation approach consisting of a multi-item scale to measure and quantify the well-being outcomes of the building users (Watson, 2018).The building well-being scale is made out of five components: Satisfaction, Affect, Relatedness, Autonomy and Competence. It was developed in reference to two existing, academically developed and validated, multi -item scales for measuring well-being in individuals or groups, not in relation to the built environment. ...
The topic of well-being in the built environment has garnered substantial attention in recent years. Particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people were confined indoors and had limited access to nature, the importance of spaces allowing some level of outdoor interaction was more recognized. This study aims to investigate the potential impact of incorporating vegetation in the design of high-rise residential building balconies on well-being. Immersive Virtual Reality Environment (IVRE) was utilized, and an experiment was conducted with 45 participants. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the three distinct groups, each group consisted of two different VR environments. The balcony with no vegetation was kept the same in all three groups. The second environment was one of the three version of the balcony with certain volume of greenery added to its design (Low-Medium-High). Participants were then interviewed based on a standard questionnaire assessing well-being in the built environment. The questions aimed at determining which balcony design was more effective in enhancing well-being. The results indicate that greenery on the balcony has the potential to influence people’s well-being. The findings indicated that balconies featuring greenery demonstrated significant impact on individuals’ well-being. In such environments, individuals reported increased happiness, satisfaction, a sense of connection to others, greater independence, and an improved ability to accomplish tasks successfully, ultimately contributing to improved mental health. Further analysis demonstrated that the volume of greenery on the balcony does not significantly impact well-being. In other words, well-being can be enhanced even with a small amount of greenery, such as a few potted plants. Moreover, the results revealed that the reported positive impacts were not significantly moderated by participants’ differences in age and gender.
... Secondly, in order to reduce the negative effects of wearing the VR device on the participants, such as headache, this way can reduce the wearing time of the VR Environment simulation. Data is collected through the "Building Well-being scale" questionnaire which was asked orally [19] . For each test, the environments were shown to the users while they were sitting on a chair and were free to explore all 360-degrees of each environment during the trials. ...
... The questionnaire was based on previous studies by Kelly j Watson, which introduces a novel well-being valuation approach consisting of a multi-item scale to measure and quantify the well-being outcomes of building users [19] .This Building Well-being scale, a combination of two questionnaires named, represents an accessible and effective method to quantify the well-being experienced by the end users of a built environment, including well-being scores for each individual user, an overall well-being score for the building, and a score for each measure of well-being. In this study, the participants were asked orally. ...
The issue of well-being in the built environment has received considerable critical attention in recent years. Especially during COVID-19, when people had to stay indoors and stay away from green spaces, the importance of balconies increased. The paper will in particular focus on the potential to design balconies with sufficient greenery in buildings that contributes to people’s well-being. To test this hypothesis, virtual reality (VR) technology and experiments were conducted with 45 participants. Virtual reality is a tool that provides the conditions for users to immerse themselves in their surroundings. Participants were randomly assigned to three separate groups, each consisting of two different VR environments and asked them oral questions based on a standard questionnaire (well-being in the built environment) to test which balcony is more effective in increasing well-being. The importance and originality of this study is that it evaluates well-being on balconies via virtual reality. The results show that greenery on the balcony could affect people’s well-being. The most obvious finding to emerge from the analysis is that greenery on balconies has significant differences in well-being. In such balconies, people feel happier, satisfied, connected to others, have independence and have the ability to do something successfully, which leads to better mental health. Further analysis showed that the amount of greenery on the balcony makes no difference. In other words, with a small number (for instance, number of pots), the well-being can be improved. Moreover, the tests revealed that individuals of different ages and gender have no major significance in well-being on balconies.
... It is commonly divided into two types: hedonic well-being, which focuses on subjective happiness and life satisfaction, and eudaimonic well-being, which emphasizes purpose and functioning. Hedonic well-being involves positive affect and satisfaction with life (Carruthers & Hood, 2004), while eudaimonic well-being relates to self-determination and flourishing (Watson, 2018). Evaluating factors such as competence, relatedness, autonomy, satisfaction, and positive affect through appropriate well-being models helps measure hedonic and eudaimonic well-being and overall psychological well-being. ...
This study aimed to investigate the impact of indoor greenery on occupants' well-being and design preferences. Previous research on outdoor greenery has left a gap in understanding the relationship between interior greenery and well-being. Using a sample of 36 final year Architecture students, the study tested four interior conditions in varying green coverage ratios and varying observing distances through a 3D simulated setup and virtual methods. The results showed that a high ratio of indoor greenery, regardless of observing distance, was consistently more beneficial than low greenery conditions. Specifically, a high amount of greenery at a far distance delivered the highest levels of psychological well-being, with 61.11% of participants reporting high well-being. In contrast, low greenery at a far distance was the least beneficial combination, resulting in lower well-being (38.89%-low, 2.78%-very low), personal satisfaction, negative feelings, and weaker connection to the indoor space. Most participants preferred indoor courtyards with 50% exposure to natural light due to the sense of naturalness and vibrant shadows they provided. The study recommends that Architects, Interior Designers, and Landscape Architects consider incorporating high indoor greenery at a distance and partial exposure to natural light to promote psychological well-being in future indoor green spaces.
