AR3005 Human Behaviour and Built Environment Syllabus:

AR3005 Human Behaviour and Built Environment Syllabus – Anna University Regulation 2021

OBJECTIVES

 To introduce the relationship between human behaviour and the built environment.
 To give familiarity about theories and frameworks related to human behaviour and built environment.
 To give knowledge about methods and techniques to study human behaviour in the context of specific situations.
 To give theoretical and practical basis to approach architectural design through the understanding of human behaviour

UNIT I INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

Introduction to the term environmental psychology as relation between human behaviour and natural and built environment. Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary aspect of environmental psychology. Outline of history of study of human behaviour with respect to context.

UNIT II ENVIRONMENTAL PERCEPTION AND COGNITION

Theories of environmental perception. Gestalt Theory. Perception and cognition of natural and built environment. Cognitive maps and way finding in larger built environment.

UNIT III ENVIRONMENT AND BEHAVIOUR

Proxemics, Personal space. Defensible space. Territoriality. Privacy. Ambient Environment. Stress. Density. Crowding. Behaviour Setting. Patterns and activities. Archetypical spaces. Place identity and place attachment. Human behaviour in different contexts- nature, residential, work, urban public space, city, etc., Human behaviour and geometry of spaces/ buildings.

UNIT IV ENVIRONMENT BEHAVIOUR STUDIES AND DESIGN

Environment behaviour studies. Methods of study such as physical traces, observation, interviews, self reporting, experimental methods, mock up, post occupancy evaluation. Methods and case studies to apply environment-behaviour studies in design.

OUTCOME

 An overall understanding of the relationship between human behaviour and built environment.
 Knowledge about various terms and aspects related to human behaviour.
 An ability to study physical situations with respect to human behaviour.
 Sensitivity to apply knowledge of human behaviour in design situations.

TEXTBOOKS

1. Francis Andrew, ‘Environmental Psychology’, Wadsworth, 1993.
2. John Zeisel ‘Enquiry by Design: Tools for Environment-Behaviour Research’, Cambridge University Press, 1984.
3. Robert Bechtel, ‘Enclosing Behaviour’, John Wiley, 1977.
4. Clovis Heimsath, ‘Behavioural Architecture’, McGraw Hill, 1977.
5. Gwen Bell, Edwina Randall, ‘Urban Environment and Human Behaviour’- An Annotated Bibliography’, Dowden Hutchinson Ross, 1973.

REFERENCES

1. Robert Gifford, ‘Environmental Psychology: Principles and Practice’, Optimal Books, 2007.
2. RikardKuller, ‘Architectural Psychology’, McGraw Hill, 1978.
3. Robert Sommer, ‘The Behavioural Basis of Design’, Englewood Cliffs, 1969.
4. Christopher Alexander, ‘A Pattern Language’, Oxford University Press, 1977.