Post-occupancy evaluation and design quality in Brazil: Concepts, approaches and an example of application

Ornstein, S W and Ono, R (2010) Post-occupancy evaluation and design quality in Brazil: Concepts, approaches and an example of application. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 6(1), pp. 48-67. ISSN 1745-2007

Abstract

This article aims to describe the origins and evolution of post-occupancy evaluation (POE) activities in Brazil. This methodology was consolidated in the Brazilian academic field in the mid-1990s. Whenever possible, parallels between activities carried out in this country and abroad are pointed out. Emphasis is given to the possibility of using POE to improve design quality, especially in architecture, and its use in the management of designing processes. In this sense, the article shows the benefits of POE studies applied in different types of occupancies. Specifically, a case study of school building is presented. Finally, a number of conclusions are drawn regarding prognoses as to the limits of its use in the professional practice of architects, urban planners and designers. The POE's potential to provide feedback for positive design practices, benchmarks, and for updating building codes and standards is also discussed.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: best practices; Brazilian design quality; building performance; design quality; post-occupancy evaluation; school buildings
Index terms: design practice, design quality, case study, Brazil, post-occupancy evaluation, building performance, designer, school building, evolution, best practice, methodology, planner, architect, building code, professional practice
Subjects: professional practice, environmental science, evaluation methods, data collection methods, profession, construction type, business, regulatory law, quality assurance, research methods, Geography, professional development, design process
Topics: Design Practice, Legal Issues, Quality Management, Business Strategy, Information Management, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Sustainability, Construction Technology
Descriptive scope: 4 PCTE

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