Hiyasat, R; Sosa, M and Ahmad, L (2023) Use of work-space at home under COVID-19 conditions in the UAE. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 30(8), pp. 3142-3159. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: The study assesses user satisfaction of workspaces modified at home in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, thereby analyzing the flexibility of modern homes in the twenty-first century in the United Arab Emirates. Design/methodology/approach: Data was collected using a structured online survey from 113 participants about their home office created to accommodate working/studying from home. Analysis of survey revealed the importance of type of residence in affecting satisfaction of functionality and well-being. Findings: The collected demographic variables played a crucial role in affecting satisfaction with various elements, from indoor air quality of the working space to the amount of natural light received by the space. Finally, participants who felt the need to add color and change furniture layout, experienced feelings of productivity, commitment and motivation by working from home. The same participants decided to keep the amended changes to their living spaces, even after they return to working from their offices. The study concludes by presenting implications of this experience on future home designs; thereby offering suggestions of authorities, and designers to produce more flexible and resilient houses. Research limitations/implications: A relatively small sample with limited professions was considered. Further research recommendations include increasing the sample size to target more categories of the residents of the UAE. Future research can expand the criteria used to evaluate satisfaction and include noise levels as well as accessibility. Practical implications: The study offers suggestions to authorities and designers to produce more flexible and resilient homes, taking demographics into consideration. Roof gardens, shading devices and privacy needs are crucial elements for the future home. Originality/value: The research provides enough information to inform designers about the future of space interiors, how well they are configured, serviced and how adaptable they are, in order to enhance user satisfaction. Highlights: Satisfaction was affected by individual differences. Those who changed furniture layout showed least average satisfaction. Females reported higher satisfaction with indoor air quality and lighting than males.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | COVID-19; interior design; living space; pandemic; satisfaction; working space |
| Index terms: | productivity, sample size, workspace, designer, accessibility, pandemic, satisfaction, demographics, roof, profession, commitment, functionality, survey, demographic variable, motivation, interior design, COVID-19, United Arab Emirates, natural light, shading, methodology, well-being, indoor air quality, user satisfaction, privacy |
| Subjects: | building performance, specialized design, demography, environmental health, professional ethics, research methods, inclusive design, health risk and incident analysis, management, design practice, building design, Geography, design features, psychology, project delivery, research design and methodology, mental health and wellbeing, client relations, data collection methods, profession, institututions |
| Topics: | Human Resources, Urban Studies, Legal Issues, Design Practice, Organizational Design, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Project Management, Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Sustainability, Stakeholder Management, Roles and Professions |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here