Carole Després

The Significance of Architectural Theory for Environmental Design Research

The main thesis of this chapter is that the environment—behavior research must, if it is to be seen as relevant to architectural design, incorporate not only empirically based theory derived from the social sciences but architectural theory as well. The intention of the chapter is to explore the nature of architectural theory and how it can be usefully integrated in environment—behavior research.1 This thesis is supported by a sequence of three interrelated arguments.

Implementing Transdisciplinarity: Architecture and Urban Planning at Work

In the chapter “Implementing Transdisciplinarity: Architecture and Urban Planning at Work”, Carole Despres, Genevieve Vachon and Andree Fortin develop the aforementioned argument that architecture and planning are predisposed disciplines and professions for implementing transdisciplinarity. They argue this by describing how GIRBa (Interdisciplinary Research Group on Suburbs in Quebec City, Canada) has managed to make operational this mode of knowledge production by issuing back and forth between practice-based research and evidence-based design through collaborative processes, in order to identify strategies for countering urban sprawl and its negative consequences on sustainability. This chapter relates how a transdisciplinary program of research and action gradually and almost naturally emerged as GIRBa’s understanding of the complexity and multidimensionality of this space-related problem accumulated. The group went from the distinct production of interdisciplinary research, architectural and urban design schemes, and contractual applied research, to an integrated program of research and action where each type of knowledge nourishes each other in a truly transdisciplinary manner. The limitations and strengths of GIRBa’s work are highlighted; namely its limited power within academia to implement design solutions and policies, in contrast with its assured capacity to empower decision-makers and future generations of architects, planners and social scientists with an understanding of the complexity of urban problems, and a concrete experience of how to operate within a transdisciplinary mode of knowledge production to identify solutions. Challenges facing both academic programmes and professional organisations in terms of revising teaching models and training methods conclude the chapter.

Retrofitting Postwar Suburbs: A Collaborative Design Process

This chapter reports on the transdisciplinary process initiated, structured and orchestrated by the Interdisciplinary Research Group on Suburbs (GIRBa) between September 2002 and November 2003 with the goal of redefining the future of postwar neighbourhoods in the City of Quebec.

Choosing between staying at home or moving: A systematic review of factors influencing housing decisions among frail older adults

Background Most older adults wish to stay at home during their late life years, but physical disabilities and cognitive impairment may force them to face a housing decision. However, they lack relevant information to make informed value-based housing decisions. Consequently, we sought to identify the sets of factors influencing the housing decision-making of older adults. Methods We performed a systematic literature search for studies evaluating any factors influencing the housing decisions among older adults over 65 years old without cognitive disabilities. Primary research from any study design reported after 1990 in a peer-reviewed journal, a book chapter or an evaluated doctoral thesis and written in English, French or Spanish were eligible. We extracted the main study characteristics, the participant characteristics and any factors reported as associated with the housing decision. We conducted a qualitative thematic analysis from the perspective of the meaning and experience of home. Results The search resulted in 660 titles (after duplicate removal) from which 86 studies were kept for analysis. One study out of five reported exclusively on frail older adults (n = 17) and two on adults over 75 years old. Overall, a total of 88 factors were identified, of which 71 seem to have an influence on the housing decision-making of older adults, although the influence of 19 of them remains uncertain due to discrepancies between research methodologies. No conclusion was made regarding 12 additional factors due to lack of evidence. Conclusion A wealth of factors were found to influence housing decisions among older adults. However, very few of them have been studied extensively. Our results highlight the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork to study the influence of a broader range of factors as a whole. These results will help older adults make the best possible housing decision based on their unique situation and values.

Linking People-Environment Research and Design. What Is Missing?

In the context of the immeasurable challenges associated with sustainability in its social, environmental and economic dimensions announced by the twenty-first century, this chapter advocates the need to renew and enrich collaborations between researchers in People-Environment (P-E) relations and designers. The argument developed is based on the authors’ combined 40 years of teaching and research in a school of architecture. The first section traces back the contribution of P-E knowledge in terms of the concepts and methods most commonly taught to designers during their academic training. The next section discusses the design process itself to show how and where P-E researchers can best make a contribution to the future of the built environment. The last section attempts to interpret why environmental psychologists and designers have moved away from each other, and to identify avenues by which it is possible to strengthen the links between design and research. Although this chapter considers the field of P-E research as a whole, where possible it highlights the particular contribution of environmental psychology.