Improving Multi-Unit Residential Building design features using Photovoice and virtual reality

Qualitative research investigating desirable space attributes that promote resident well-being in multi-unit residential buildings through a survey and then using virtual reality for assessment and presentation of new designs.

Status: Current

Research themes: Health and comfort

Research areas: Building design and retrofits for performance improvement; Wellbeing and comfort in the built environment; Human-Building Interaction

Project Objective

Approach

A nationwide Photovoice survey is being used to understand which housing features contribute to or detract from resident’s wellbeing. A literature review will then be conducted to establish a reliable methodology for the development and assessment of simulated interior environments using virtual reality. Once established, human-factor studies using immersive visualizations will be performed. Analyses of private and shared spaces with different sets of features and environments will provide qualitative feedback for the production and simulation of multi-unit residential units and shared spaces.

Findings

This project seeks to establish the most important features that make MURB housing more appealing. Further, this study will develop accessible and reliable simulation methods for interior environments of multi-unit residential buildings to develop data-driven suite and community spaces designs.