CHAPTER 5: ENVIRONMENT-BEHAVIOR STUDY

CASE 01
Case 01 features a male student typing on his laptop in the fourth floor corridor of the
CICT/CON building during morning around 7:42 a.m.; around 7:52 a.m., he switched from
333typing to watching a film.
SPACE:
Bag
Chairs

Fourth

floor

corridor

of

CICT/CON Building
Charger cord

STANDING PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR:

Performing desk work

Watching a film

ACCEPTED BEHAVIOR:

Circulation

Using space as waiting area

Chairs

CRITICAL PHYSICAL FEATURES:

Walls provide
visual privacy

3.00 meter width of corridor

Monobloc chairs (taken from the

Deans office ante-room at the end of the

hallway)

Electrical outlet

Abundant amount of light

Open space

Wall

Case 01 creates an intimate space as he

expects no interaction with other individuals in

the area; however, it shifts into a personal space when few individuals (friends or
acquaintance) approach him to make conversation. Although from that very action, the task
is impeded. He takes approximately 1.50 square meters of the said area which is
conceptually marked by his bag, the chairs he use, and the cord of his laptop charger. There
are sets of benches in close proximity to his area; however Case 01 chose to position himself
against a wall close to an electrical outlet to provide him with electrical connectivity as it is
vital for the accomplishment of his task. Positioning himself against the wall also gives him
visual privacy.
One can observe that because of the time period, there is not many people roaming around
the area, due to this he is able to accomplish his task. Although
being in a position near to the stairs and the comfort rooms, it
is a usual path for other users. Prior observations are made
about how people always traverse a path closer to a wall or
edge; because of this other users tend to take a route around the
subject of Case 01 to avoid convergence with him.
The subject is also wearing earphones so that he could hear
the film clearly. Because of that his hearing is blocked so as his
awareness of the environment or areas beyond his sight. As
mentioned above, certain individual approach the subject; it
follows that he is not aware of these individuals up until he was
approached by them.
Standing flow of circulation

CASE 02

Case 02 features a group of female nursing students brushing up for a practicum in the
second floor corridor of the CICT/CON building during morning around 9:03 a.m., around
9:19 a.m. they switched position and created a circle among themselves.

SPACE:

Second floor corridor of CICT/CON Building

STANDING PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR:

Reviewing for practicum

ACCEPTED BEHAVIOR:

Circulation

Using space as waiting area

CRITICAL PHYSICAL FEATURES:

3.00 meter width of corridor

Benches

Abundant amount of light

First set up

As a territorial
marking

In Case 02, the subjects are occupying an intimate space as they expect no interaction
and a maximum privacy to review thoroughly. This space shifts into a personal space when
interaction is neededwhen one needs to ask a question and the other answers. The group
occupies approximately 10.8 square meters. They occupy the
whole section of the floor close to the fire exit. One can
observe that especially during this time of the day, only a few
people pass by this area; it is somehow isolated because it is
close to two sets of stairs and there is only one classroom
along the occupied space.
Two of the users have their bags placed on one seat, and
even if one of their acquaintances had arrived the bags were
still kept on place. One can view this as marking their
territory or a way of achieving a larger space bubble.
Second set up

Around a few minutes into the observation, the subjects

changed their positions and formed a circle. From a review

set up, they have shifted into a peer tutorial set up. They now occupy half of the previous
area. With this set up interaction with individuals outside their group became more limited.
The interaction is restricted within the group.
It is also observed how people outside the group traverse the area occupied by the
group. One instance is with an instructor; being a dignified personality she confidently
traversed the area. However, with other students; they tend to move aside or change
direction to avoid converging with the group.

As a territorial
marking
Intimate Space

As a territorial
marking

This group moved aside to

avoid collision

Personal
Space

CASE 03

Case 03 features a group of alumni and nursing students huddling up for a conversation
while waiting for their professors on the first floor corridor of CICT/CON Building, around
noon. Several minutes later they entered their respective classroom.

SPACE:

First floor corridor of CICT/CON Building

STANDING PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR:

Social interaction

ACCEPTED BEHAVIOR:

Circulation

Using space as waiting area

CRITICAL PHYSICAL FEATURES:

3.00 meter width of corridor

Railings

The subjects create personal space wherein they allow only selected friends (I this case:
each other) to converge with their personal bubbles. Anyone outside their circle and the
interaction with them shall be treated as nuisance. Since they are staying in front of their
room for the following period, it can be said that this area is their territory during the same
time and day every week. They may claim the area whenever they are around.
The group huddles up so that no outsider can intrude their interaction with each other,
and to keep their conversation to themselves. This action is a defensive mechanism
protecting their privacy.

CASE 04

Case 04 features a group of male students waiting for the rain to cease on the entrance
porch of the CICT/CON Building around noon. The group waits for the rain to cease so
that they could go to a nearby computer caf.

SPACE:

Main entrance porch of CICT/CON Building

STANDING PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR:

Waiting area

ACCEPTED BEHAVIOR:

Circulation

Entrance way

CRITICAL PHYSICAL FEATURES:

A huge idle area

Roof supported by two massive columns

An org fair is being held in front of the building during the day of observation,
additionally it is a rainy day. Due to this, a large number of individual is present during this
observation. This group in particular had chosen to wait for the rain to cease in the entrance
porch of the said building. We can infer that their reason to stay in this area of the building
is to take shelter from the rain. Due to its formidable distance from the Activity Center, it
would be risky to traverse the distance given that it is raining. But they can use an
umbrella; however in our culture, some men dont like carrying umbrellas with them.
The group creates a personal space wherein the only expected interaction is just among
them. There may not be a sense of territoriality as they are only staying in the area
transiently. Furthermore, the group lacks awareness of whatever is happening behind them,
other individuals may intrude their privacy without their knowledge. The openness of the
area impedes privacy (both visual and acoustical). Their placement in the area however
isolates them, as a ramp and a set of stairs are located a few meters behind them.

CASE 05

Case 05 features a group of female

students waiting for their next class in the
first floor of the CICT/CON Building during
an afternoon.

SPACE:

First

floor

corridor

of

CICT/CON Building
STANDING

PATTERN

OF

BEHAVIOR:

Using the space as a waiting

area
ACCEPTED BEHAVIOR:

Circulation

Using space as waiting area

CRITICAL PHYSICAL FEATURES:

3.00 meter width of corridor

Benches

Wall

In case 05 the subjects occupy a personal space wherein the interaction is limited to
them.

CASE 06

Case 06 features a group of female students doing their homework in the first floor
corridor of the CICT/CON Building one afternoon.
SPACE:

First floor corridor of CICT/CON Building

STANDING PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR:

Doing homework

ACCEPTED BEHAVIOR:

Circulation

Using space as waiting area

CRITICAL PHYSICAL FEATURES:

3.00 meter width of corridor

Benches

Abundant amount of light

The subjects in case 06 occupy an intimate space with a few shifts into a personal
space. Doing homework requires a great deal of concentration which can be achieved by
detaching oneself from other individuals, thus having an intimate space. However when
questions about instruction or anything else have to be asked, the space they are occupying
immediately shifts to a personal space wherein only selected friends are allowed for
interaction.
One may think that a busy corridor is not a good place for doing homework;
however it may be due to the strict schedule of the subjects that this time may be the only
one convenient. The ample amount of light is advisable for the accomplishment of such task.
Being faced against the railing may provide the subjects with visual privacy, defining it as a
temporary territory for the subjects.

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION

We know that architecture relies on the very complicated phenomena of human

interaction. The way we position ourselves in a space, the way we move, or what we do
greatly influence how a space works in the span of time. However, the concept of human
behavior controlling architecture is barren. We should move forward and have architecture
shape how we live. It is possible, it is merely an observation, understanding and giving
solution based from what is usual. Architecture can dictate how we live, act, move, or
behave within a space. This is to be the goal.
We shape our building, and the building ends up shaping our lives.