What is the value of BREEAM Communities? An exploratory study of post occupancy evaluation of the certified urban open space in MediaCityUK in Manchester, United Kingdom. The benefits of utilising assessment tools and user experience.
Authors
Gorska, Anna Maria ; Materna, Agata Justyna
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2017
Abstract
Offentlige byrum spiller en central rolle for social integration, men fungerer kun godt, hvis de matcher brugernes behov. Dette speciale undersøger værdien af BREEAM Communities ved at gennemføre en efterbrugerundersøgelse (post-occupancy evaluation, POE) af det certificerede udendørs byrum i MediaCityUK i Salford, Storbritannien. Undersøgelsen spørger, om byrummet som designet imødekommer brugernes behov, og hvordan brugeroplevelser kan bruges til at forbedre både stedet og selve certificeringsordningen. Metodisk kombineres on-site observationer struktureret efter Gehls 12 kvalitetskriterier, systematiske aktivitetsregistreringer med SOPARC, intercept-spørgeskemaer blandt brugere samt interviews. Resultaterne peger på, at byrummets kvalitet påvirker både brugernes komfort og deres aktivitetsniveau, og der identificeres potentielle forbedringer, der kan gavne planlæggere, miljødesignere og developere. Specialet anbefaler, at BREEAM Communities indarbejder systematisk efter-evaluering efter ibrugtagning med fokus på brugertilfredshed for at sikre, at bæredygtighedsstandarder også skaber velfungerende offentlige rum. Desuden diskuteres forhold som borgerinddragelse og ejerskabsforhold, der kan præge udformning og brug af offentlige rum.
Public open spaces play a key role in social integration, but they work well only when they align with users’ needs. This thesis examines the value of BREEAM Communities by conducting a post-occupancy evaluation (POE) of the certified outdoor public space at MediaCityUK in Salford, United Kingdom. It asks whether the space as designed meets users’ needs and how user experience evidence can improve both the place and the certification process. The study combines on-site observations structured by Gehl’s 12 quality criteria, systematic activity mapping using SOPARC, intercept surveys with users, and interviews. Findings indicate that the quality of the urban space affects users’ comfort and activity levels, and point to potential improvements that can benefit city planners, environmental designers, and developers. The thesis recommends integrating systematic post-construction, user-focused evaluation into the BREEAM Communities scheme to ensure that sustainability standards also deliver successful public spaces. It also considers the roles of public participation and land ownership in shaping public space outcomes.
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