Privacy (architectural behaviour)

PRIVACY

INAR 514

P r e s e n t e d b y :ANUOLUWA B. AYINDE, 135894

DAN N. KOLO, 135188

Contents

• Meaning of privacy

• Factors affecting privacy

• Degrees of Privacy

• Visual Privacy

• Acoustic Privacy

• Privacy and Culture

• Spatial arrangement of buildings

• Overcrowding / Crowding

• Privacy in public spaces

• Conclusion

Meaning of privacy

Privacy is a fundamental human right used to control unwanted interpersonal interaction and communication

Privacy is an idea of choice, free will or freedom to control not to control flow of information at individual, group, social levels.

Control

Choice

Human right

Factors affecting privacy

• Mechanism of the senses

• Individuality

• Space distance

• Architectural Elements of a space

• Culture

Mechanism of the senses

All five senses affect the way human beings perceive their surroundings and accordingly the mechanism by which they control privacy. (related to body gestures)

Sense of Touch (hands & feet) ………………. Proximity

Sense of sight (Eyes) ………………………....... Visibility

Sense of Hearing (Ears) ………………………… Acoustics

Sense of Smelling (Nose) …………………….. Olfactory

Sense of Kinesthetic (Muscles & Skin)…... Accessibility

Individuality & Privacy

- Sense of individuality, self evaluation & Identity:

- Selective interpersonal communication (in varying context)

- interaction level achieves a desired privacy level (subjective ideal amount of interaction)

(Personal values, beliefs, opinion & expression)

Privacy creates a choice between isolation and interaction, and can create a perception of being alone.

Space distance & Privacy

The distinct distance between humans as defined by Edward

T. Hall are categorised as;

Intimate space ……… most private area

Personal space……… allow interaction with friends

Social space…………. Contact on a temporary basis

Public space …………. No expected direct contact but if

any, it is usually resisted

Privacy is influenced or created in various spatial distance.

As space distance increases, privacy increases.

Levels of space: intimate, personal, social, and public

Degrees of Privacy

Isolation (in a public space):Restricted communication

- No Visibility communication (don’t want to be seen)

- No Vocal communication (don’t want to be heard)

- No Accessibility communication (can’t share personal info)

- No Proximity communication (don’t want to be touched)

- No Olfactory communication (no nearness allowed)

There is isolation, in-between, & public amount of interaction.

In-between states: (an instance)Semi-restricted communication

- Visibility communication

- Low levels of Vocal communication

- No Accessibility communication

- Proximity communication

- No Olfactory communication

Public (in a private space):Unrestricted communication

- Visibility communication

- Vocal communication

- Accessibility communication

- Proximity communication

- Olfactory communication

“Within the architecture discourse, privacy is seen as something to be provided or withheld” (Witte, 2003, p. 23)

Architectural elements act as regulators of privacy both visually, acoustically and spatially.

Architectural Elements of a space & Privacy

- furniture, walls, fences, doors, furnishings, tinted glass, windows

• The type and size of window used in a building helps increase or reduce the privacy level.

• Moveable barriers used to close the entrance to a building, room, closet.

Visual PrivacyVisual privacy addresses the ability to limit other's view of oneself through the use of furnishings, partitions, walls and doors.

Walls and partitions serves as screens from external to internal spaces providing privacy

Privacy Behavior in Public spaces

• angles of vision they maintain while talking – concentration or uninterested.• physical distance or closeness maintained between individuals• seats besides walls are the first to be taken• sense of time appropriate for communicating

.

Acoustic Privacy

Effective treatment of components like ceiling, partitions, furniture, equipment, and floor, creates speech privacy -shielding conversations to be unheard beyond participants.

Maintaining residential standards for privacy

This dimensions relates with habitable rooms with windows facing each other.

Privacy is maintained when houses are situated far apart.

MINIMUM SET BACK BETWEEN WINDOWS TO WALLS FOR PRIVACY

This dimensions relates with habitable rooms with windows to walls.

Privacy and Culture

Culture affects the boundary of what is regarded as private.

the Japanese houseIn Japan, walls are movableand rooms are multipurpose.In the Japanese country inns(the ryokan), the guestdiscovers that things come tohim while the scene shifts.He sits in the middle of theroom on the tatami(mat)while sliding panels areopened or closed.. (Hall,1969, p. 141))

Privacy in Hausa culture (Nigeria)

In traditional Hausa settlements, the house plan follows the traditional African pattern with rooms arranged within, or around, a courtyard and enclosed by a high mud wall. It is developed to provide segregation of the sexes.

OvercrowdingIs a psychological

experience of

discomfort which

normally arises from

individuals

perception that the

amount of space

available is

insufficient to meet

occupants

needs.(stokols,1972)

It is perceived when a space -

functions ineffectively

has excess and undesired social contact

Its perception relies on cultural norms, social factor / social setting, personal attributes conditions of the physical environment

Sport events

Parties

At this spaces, privacy is reduced

concerts

Crowding

Examples of settings where crowding is not acceptable

INDIVIDUALS STUDYING

LIBRARIES

BEDROOM

Threat to Privacy in public spaces

our expectation of privacy in public spaces is lower than in private places.

A threat to privacy in public spaces is surveillance technology in a bid to provide public security and safety.

Privacy laws in many countries usually

helps individuals not to be subjected to

privacy invasion such that our human rights

are still preserved.

References

• Ann Cavoukian (2013): Surveillance, then and now: securing privacy in public spaces. • Edward T. Hall: The Hidden Dimension (Garden City, NJ: Doubleday & Co., 1990), pp. 122-125.• Hall, E.T., (1969) “the hidden dimension, man’s use of space in public and private”, the bodley head, London, Sydney, Toronto• J. C. Moughtin(1964): The Traditional Settlements of the Hausa People. The Town Planning Review, Vol. 35, No. 1. Liverpool University Press• Michael Georgiou (2006): Architectural privacy: a topological approach to relational design problems• Susan Kent (1990): Domestic architecture and the use of space; an interdisciplinary cross-cultural study •USACE Design Guide for Interiors (1997)• Witte Nathan (2003): “Privacy: Architecture in Support of Privacy Regulation”, University of Cincinnati, Architectural Thesis

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