HETEROTOPIA WORK. Correlation between the domestic built environment and home offices during COVID-19 confinement

Authors

  • Maria Jose Araya Leon University of Santiago de Chile. Elisava Research, ELISAVA, Barcelona School of Design and Engineering. Universitat Internacional de Catalunya.
  • Ainoa Abella ELISAVA, Barcelona School of Design and Engineering, Department: Elisava Research. Barcelona, Spain.
  • Ricardo Guasch ELISAVA, Barcelona School of Design and Engineering, Department: Elisava Research. Barcelona, Spain.
  • Alberto T. Estévez iBAG-UIC Barcelona, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya.
  • Javier Peña ELISAVA, Barcelona School of Design and Engineering, Department: Elisava Research. Barcelona, Spain.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4013/sdrj.2020.133.25

Abstract

The new COVID-19 context has transported work to a domestic setting. These new locations, heterotopic, do not always adequately respond to user needs.

This paper explores the relationship between the domestic built environment and certain elements that shape it, the perception, emotional state and productivity of the users.

A pilot case study was carried out with 11 volunteers who evaluated their home offices for seven work days using physical environment tools, two tests -fixed data and daily evaluation-. Also, environmental parameters of the territory were monitored.

Among the main findings, we observed that the perception of size does not relate to actual size; a balcony is associated with happiness and calm. We have verified how biophilic elements promote well-being. Happiness and calm are related to hight and low levels of lux. There is a tendency of happiness associated with collaborative tasks, and calm with individual ones. 

This article opens up a path for exploratory research on resilient situations in which physical barriers force people to seek creative solutions and offers tools to empower users. Current trends in data-driven design and teleworking support research proposals like this one, with a focus on well-being, productivity.


Author Biographies

Maria Jose Araya Leon, University of Santiago de Chile. Elisava Research, ELISAVA, Barcelona School of Design and Engineering. Universitat Internacional de Catalunya.

Architect and graduated in Ergonomics (2006) by the University of Santiago de Chile. She also holds a Master in Design for Industrial product development by the Polytechnic of Milan, Italy (2012). Her main research areas are ergonomics and cognitive processes in different built environments and their phenomenological systems. The above contributes to human being well-being, from research in design to their application. In 2006, simultaneously with her professional development as partner architect of the "Factos, Architecture and Design" study. She is currently an academic and researcher in the Technology in Industrial Design and Architecture Degree of the University of Santiago de Chile and Associate Researcher at Elisava Research. The subjects of her main publications are “Perception and emotion in the built environment”, “Aging and domestic environment” and “Forms and spaces for learning”.

Ainoa Abella, ELISAVA, Barcelona School of Design and Engineering, Department: Elisava Research. Barcelona, Spain.

In 2015 she obtained her Degree in Industrial Design Engineering (ELISAVA), specialized in product engineering. During her studies, she spent half a year in Turin (Italy), where she focused on recycling material techniques, management of industrial quality and industrial design. She was nominated to the Ei! Awards (4th edition).

In 2015 shetookthe Master in Training TeachersforSecondary and Sixth-formTeaching, Vocational Training and LanguageTeaching (Universitat Ramon Llull).

In 2017 shestartedher PhD at theDepartmentofStatistics and OperationsResearchoftheUniversitatPolitècnica de Catalunya, activitywhich combines withherresearch at ElisavaResearch. Herresearchfocusisonemotionaldesign, statistics, kanseiengineering, statistics and perceptionof materials

Ricardo Guasch, ELISAVA, Barcelona School of Design and Engineering, Department: Elisava Research. Barcelona, Spain.

Ph.D. in Architecture, fromthePolytechnicUniversityofCatalonia (UPC), since 2011. Hisexpertiseareas are Interior Design; User-centredDesign; Dwelling, Workspace, and Hospitalityenvironments.

He has beenlinkedtoElisavasince 1994 withthefollowingacademicresponsibilities:Directorofthepostgraduatecourse in "Designoftheworkplace" and ofthe Master in Interior DesignforHotels, Bars, and Restaurants. Co-directorofthe Master in "Interior design" since 2005 and AcademicDirectorofElisavabetween 2011 and 2014.

Memberofthe "DecodingWell-being" research line.
Director ofthePostgraduatecourse in "Designofthestrategichabitat. Mobility and temporality "and Co-DirectoroftheMaster'sDegree in Design and Habitat", from 2010 to 2015.
AssociateLecturer at theDepartmentofArchitecturalComposition, at ETSA Vallès - UPC, since 1993.

Alberto T. Estévez, iBAG-UIC Barcelona, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya.

UPC Architect, 1983, Ph.D. ofarchitecture. ofSciences UPC, 1990, Art Historian UB, 1994 and Art HistoryPh.D. ofArts UB, 2008. With a professionalarchitecture and design office in Barcelona. He teaches at differentuniversities, in theareasofknowledgeofarchitecturaldesign, architecturaltheory and art history, until he founded ESARQ, UIC, 1996, where he served as itsfirstDirectorbetween 1996-2005. He alsofoundedtwolinesofresearchwithtwomaster'sdegrees and a doctorate. Programs: «GeneticArchitectures / BiodigitalArchitecture» and «History, Architecture, and Design». He has writtenover a hundredpublications and has participated in a largenumberofexhibitions, congresses and conferences in Europe, America, and Asia. Perhapsmostimportantly, it has createdtheworld'sfirstLaboratoryofGeneticArchitectures UIC, Barcelona, 2000.

Javier Peña, ELISAVA, Barcelona School of Design and Engineering, Department: Elisava Research. Barcelona, Spain.

Ph.D. in Chemical SciencesfromthePolytechnicUniversityofCatalonia, Javier Peña has beenthe General Director of ELISAVA since 2016, aninstitution in which he was Head ofStudiesoftheDegree in Industrial DesignEngineeringbetween 2010 and 2016, and co-director and professorofthe Master in GraphicProduction and Packagingbetween 2004 and 2008.Universityprofessor and scientificdisseminatorsince 1998

Founder and ScientificDirectorofMaterfad. Materials Center of Barcelona since 2006, Javier Peña combines histeachingactivitywiththepublicationofarticles in internationaljournals and as a materials and technologyconsultant in private sector projects.

Javier Peña ispassionateaboutenergy, frequency, and vibration as anexpressionoftheuniverse and themattercontained in it.

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Published

2020-12-23

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2020): Sep/Dec

Section

Psychological, emotional and experiential aspects

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