Windows: a study of residents’ perceptions and uses in Sweden
(2021) In Buildings and Cities 2(1). p.467-486- Abstract
- What are inhabitants’ perceptions and uses of windows in multi-dwelling buildings? This paper reports on a field study that explores daylight, the visual connection to the outside and the role of windows in the home during the day and night. Qualitative interviews were held with 20 participants living in multi-dwelling buildings. The thematic analysis identified two main components as characteristic of residents’ experiences with their windows. The first, ‘perceived dwelling comfort’, consists of different types of comfort qualities, for example, keeping the body sufficiently warm or cool, blocking exterior noise, enabling visual tasks, perceiving the room to be adequately daylit, visually pleasant and spacious, obtaining visual privacy,... (More)
- What are inhabitants’ perceptions and uses of windows in multi-dwelling buildings? This paper reports on a field study that explores daylight, the visual connection to the outside and the role of windows in the home during the day and night. Qualitative interviews were held with 20 participants living in multi-dwelling buildings. The thematic analysis identified two main components as characteristic of residents’ experiences with their windows. The first, ‘perceived dwelling comfort’, consists of different types of comfort qualities, for example, keeping the body sufficiently warm or cool, blocking exterior noise, enabling visual tasks, perceiving the room to be adequately daylit, visually pleasant and spacious, obtaining visual privacy, and having an outside view to provide information and engagement. The second, ‘preferred exposure to external elements’ (e.g. air, sound, light, people outside) expresses a desire for personal control and reflects variability over time (momentary, daily, seasonal, ageing) and between individuals or groups. Windows represent an enjoyment of the home and fulfil much more than physical needs. They must allow sufficient personal control over fresh and cool air, sound, sunlight, streetlighting and privacy.
Practice relevance
An enabling home environment affords residents opportunities to regulate the visual openness to the outside in order to satisfy individual needs for privacy or social connection. Preferences vary within and between household members, so window treatments must be easy for inhabitants to adjust. Housing designers and developers are advised to include exterior shading devices in the design and optional indoor window treatment to facilitate durable shading and privacy solutions. Further adjustments could be offered by landlords to tenants when they move in. Fenestration and shading devices offer the possibility to make full use of the available daylight, reduce electricity demand for indoor lighting and provide inhabitants with increased control of their comfort. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/6b1222a4-37d8-4545-8a25-6490db62e06f
- author
- Maini Gerhardsson, Kiran LU and Laike, Thorbjörn LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2021-05-11
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Buildings and Cities
- volume
- 2
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 20 pages
- publisher
- Web Portal Ubiquity Press
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85125401793
- ISSN
- 2632-6655
- DOI
- 10.5334/bc.120
- project
- Rise and Shine! Health benefits as drivers for energy efficient light in Swedish homes
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 6b1222a4-37d8-4545-8a25-6490db62e06f
- date added to LUP
- 2021-05-14 21:13:59
- date last changed
- 2023-11-14 14:37:35
@article{6b1222a4-37d8-4545-8a25-6490db62e06f,
abstract = {{What are inhabitants’ perceptions and uses of windows in multi-dwelling buildings? This paper reports on a field study that explores daylight, the visual connection to the outside and the role of windows in the home during the day and night. Qualitative interviews were held with 20 participants living in multi-dwelling buildings. The thematic analysis identified two main components as characteristic of residents’ experiences with their windows. The first, ‘perceived dwelling comfort’, consists of different types of comfort qualities, for example, keeping the body sufficiently warm or cool, blocking exterior noise, enabling visual tasks, perceiving the room to be adequately daylit, visually pleasant and spacious, obtaining visual privacy, and having an outside view to provide information and engagement. The second, ‘preferred exposure to external elements’ (e.g. air, sound, light, people outside) expresses a desire for personal control and reflects variability over time (momentary, daily, seasonal, ageing) and between individuals or groups. Windows represent an enjoyment of the home and fulfil much more than physical needs. They must allow sufficient personal control over fresh and cool air, sound, sunlight, streetlighting and privacy.<br/><br/> Practice relevance<br/>An enabling home environment affords residents opportunities to regulate the visual openness to the outside in order to satisfy individual needs for privacy or social connection. Preferences vary within and between household members, so window treatments must be easy for inhabitants to adjust. Housing designers and developers are advised to include exterior shading devices in the design and optional indoor window treatment to facilitate durable shading and privacy solutions. Further adjustments could be offered by landlords to tenants when they move in. Fenestration and shading devices offer the possibility to make full use of the available daylight, reduce electricity demand for indoor lighting and provide inhabitants with increased control of their comfort.}},
author = {{Maini Gerhardsson, Kiran and Laike, Thorbjörn}},
issn = {{2632-6655}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{05}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{467--486}},
publisher = {{Web Portal Ubiquity Press}},
series = {{Buildings and Cities}},
title = {{Windows: a study of residents’ perceptions and uses in Sweden}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.5334/bc.120}},
doi = {{10.5334/bc.120}},
volume = {{2}},
year = {{2021}},
}