You are on page 1of 2

”Human Factors in a built

environment.

Office design is challenging in terms of diversity


of people that work in an environment. It varies

from generation, gender and culture.

There is

diversity observed in the work tasks, functions


and hierarchical structure. Hence, office design
needs to be addressed in away that provides the right
environment for the employees as well as visitors
to ensure improvement in spatial performance.
However, that cannot be accomplished entirely until
and unless comfort is addressed and all human

factors are considered

A work environment that recognizes human


needs as both sustainable and inclusive is needed.
As a workspace cannot perform in isolation.

For spatial planning, it is essential to understand the


relationship between the interactions of humans
with their environment and behavioural responses.
This leads to human factors. Human factors are the
understanding of how humans relate, function

and interact with the physical space.

Amongst various factors, privacy, personal space,


proximity and ergonomic balance for comfort
are considered as primary concepts. Based on
these concepts, the theories of Proxemics and
ergonomics are considered most important
while planning an office space. They consist of all
the primary concepts of human factors and are
theories which summarize the way humans relate

to the world around them.

- Proxemil: and its impact on


performance

spatial

Proxemics is a study used to define relationships


between humans within the space concerning
proximity. It's the study of how people interact
with each other as well as the space and relates to
social, physical and psychological aspects of the
space as well as the way spaces are planned. It helps
to design spaces in which there can be comfortable
movement in physical as well as psychological sense.

The theory of proxemics talks about proximity in


relation with space and humans which directly
affects the spatial planning in a space. The following
principles of layout determine the way people

interact based on proximity:


(i) Socio Fugal space

Here, the furniture is arrangedinalinearorganization Flg 2_3_1_ Sam fags, my


”mum”, a,
or a solo seating such thatinteraction isdiscouraged fun-1mm: Such that n
discourages Warsaw”;

You might also like