Status : Verified
Personal Name Cabel, Elmer C.; Chua, Merry-Charm N.; Santiago, Carmen III L.
Resource Title The Environment values approach towards a new office design: the SM corporate headquarters
Date Issued 1995
Abstract The design process is the manner in which one generates an idea towards arriving at a design solution. There are many ways in which a design solution may be arrived but all work towards one goal-- to achieve a "fit" between an individual and his environment. Although we desire a "fit", one cannot achieve an "exact" fit, however, one can ateast reduce the stress of having to adapt or adjust too much to the built environment.

Numerous theories have been developed and studies undertaken about the design process towards achieving the "fit" which is also known as "congruence". This has let to research regarding the psychological and physiological needs of the users. These formed the limitations of acceptability in which the appropriateness of a built environment was determined. The thesis The Environment Values Approach Towards a New Office Design expands these limits of acceptability to include the socio-cultural factors that surround the design problem. Values, as an aspect of culture, are used as a tool for achieving congruence. Values play an important part in influencing man's response to his environment. They reflect our aesthetic tastes, the relationships we form and the quality of our interactions. These relationships, interactions and reactions do not occur independent of a medium, instead, they occur on a "physical" plane which also comprises the architectural or built environment.

To understand the relationships between architecture and culture in including the abstract concepts of values into the design process, it is necessary to analyze the various factors that are involved -- design,, the design process, culture, and architecture. The discussions of the issues fall under the various parts that comprise this book. Part 1 discusses the act of designing, the nature of design and its various concepts. Part 2 is comprised of an design process derived from the various had theories that surround the study and from interviews and research of the design process as practiced by the architects. The study is brought further with the discussion of the various movements towards achieving congruence and the "tools" that were used. Part 3 establishes the relationships between architecture and culture and the nature of the socio-cultural aspect of values. Part 4synthesizes all these into forming a new approach in the design process that incorporates the aspect of values. The five phases of intention, integration, design, decision and development are elaborated along with indications as to the manner in which the values are incorporated into the process.

The book ends with the application of the design process for the SM Corporate Headquarters. This discussion gives a step-by-step example of the application of the design process and how the values that surround the design problem are identified, selected and translated into an architectural concept and tool.
Degree Course Bachelor of Science in Architecture
Language English
Keyword Office buildings -- Designs and plans.; Shoemart Corp., Inc. -- Buildings.
Material Type Thesis/Dissertation
Preliminary Pages
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