91 items
Underlying the development of inclusive design approaches seems to be the assumption that inclusivity automatically leads to good design. What good design means, however, and how this relates to inclusivity, is not very clear. Heylighen, A., Bianchin, M. (2013). How does inclusive design relate to good design?. Design Studies, 34, 93-110.
The relationship between the built environment and the human body is rarely considered explicitly in contemporary architecture. In case architects do take the body into account, they tend to derive mathematical proportions or functional dimensions from it, without explicit attention for the bodily experience of a building. Heylighen, A., Van Doren, C., Vermeersch, P. (2013)…. Read more »
In Flanders housing for people moving into old age is evolving towards small-scale facilities and better quality of life, yet the ageing of the population strains the means to achieve this to the limit. In this article, we investigate whether and how Flemish large-scale facilities, despite their negative image, can adapt to meet contemporary and… Read more »
With the growing number of older people, architects face the challenge of designing appropriate residential environments for current and future generations of older people. Too often they live in houses that are not adjusted to their needs and desires, with few spatial and social qualities of a real home. Amongst architects and professional care givers… Read more »
The physical environment holds great potential to improve the well-being of people with dementia when designed appropriately. However, when designing environments for them, architects are faced with a lack of adequate design knowledge. Van Steenwinkel, I., Van Audenhove, C., Heylighen, A. (2012). Spatial Clues for Orientation: Architectural Design Meets People with Dementia. In: Langdon P.,… Read more »
This study investigates the use of electroencephalography (EEG) as a method to understand how the brain engages with natural versus urban settings – in tandem with subjective preferences. Roe, J., Aspinall, P., Mavros, P. and Coyne, R. 2013. ‘Engaging the brain: the impact of natural versus urban scenes using novel EEG methods in an experimental… Read more »
Researchers in environmental psychology, health studies and urban design are interested in the relationship between the environment, behaviour settings and emotions. In particular, happiness, or the presence of positive emotional mindsets, broadens an individual’s thought-action repertoire with positive benefits to physical and intellectual activities, and to social and psychological resources. Aspinall, P., Mavros, P., Coyne,… Read more »
The ACT on Alzheimer’s Dementia Capable Communities Toolkit helps your community become dementia capable – a community that is informed, safe, and respectful of individuals with the disease, their families, and caregivers and that provides supportive options for quality of life.
Part of the University of Edinburgh’s ‘Research in a Nutshell’ series of short films. Addresses the question of how digital devices help us tune in to our environment, and to each other.