“What makes a house a home?”: A theoretical model for the architectural design of homes based on human psychological needs to support and promote users’ psychological well-being

The current PhD thesis investigates the relationship between the Architectural design of homes and inhabitants’ psychological well-being. Psychological wellbeing is understood to be achieved by addressing human psychological needs. In fact, while there are many guidelines and policies that inform the architectural design of homes, there is a lack of consideration for the satisfaction of human needs through design. People spend most of their lifetime inside their homes compared to any other form of built environment, However, most of existing literature on psychological well-being within the built environment focuses on non-residential buildings such as; offices, schools, elderly homes, hospitals, etc. and there is a general lack of literature on well-being in homes specifically. This research combines the two fields of architecture and psychology, by investigating theories of psychological needs as these are the key nutriments of psychological well-being.The aim of this research was to develop a theoretical model of the architectural design of homes based on human needs to support and promote users’ psychological well-being.A mixed methods approach was adopted to address and achieve the research aim. First, a quantitative survey questionnaire was distributed online and around Bristol, UK (n=101) to explore if there was a link between residents’ perceptions of their homes and their psychological well-being. Second, a series of qualitative semi-structured interviews took place in Clifton, Bristol (n=13) to investigate, in-depth, the results of the survey.The results of the quantitative study demonstrated a direct link between residents’ satisfaction with their home and satisfaction with life in general. Further, the survey showed the importance of the physical structure of homes and of perceived opportunities for personalisation in the overall satisfaction with a home and subsequently, well-being and life in general. The qualitative phase results identified five key themes which were perceived to affect the experience of homes; physical structure, memories embodied in the home, security, transformability, and cultural preference.The main contributions to knowledge that this PhD thesis offers are:• An assessment of well-being in the built environment focusing on homes.• A study of human needs to identify the architectural needs for a healthy home.• A theoretical model of the architectural design of homes based on human needs to support and promote users’ psychological well-being

BIM macro-adoption:phenomenological insights into the uptake and use in the Uruguayan Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Industry

BIM application in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) sectors has received attention particularly in most Global North countries. However, there is a dearth of literature on its application in the Global South context. This research explores insights into the uptake and use of BIM in the Uruguayan AEC sector and proposes recommendations for accelerating its adoption. The study adopted the phenomenological research design. Through interviews with experts, the study relies on a phenomenological analysis from a purposely sampled group of (n=7) experts in BIM in the Uruguayan AEC industry. The discoveries and findings confirm that BIM is still at an early stage of maturity, and many practitioners still need to be convinced of its benefits. Therefore, pilot projects and the development of BIM guidelines are essential to align industry procedures and demonstrate the benefits of implementing BIM to convince hesitant professionals and increase levels of adoption. Furthermore, organizations' main implementation drivers are external forces like client requirements or the need to acquire a competitive advantage. The study's findings imply that BIM diffusion dynamics in Uruguay are more aligned with a top-down approach, thus highlighting a design for 'push' by authorities such as Government. Overall, this study fills a research gap in the Uruguayan AEC industry and provides an academic reference background for policymakers for future actions. The paper is of value as it contributes to the current state-of-the-art BIM research by drawing insights from the AEC industry in a typical developing country context.</p

BIM macro-adoption:phenomenological insights into the uptake and use in the Uruguayan Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Industry

BIM application in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) sectors has received attention particularly in most Global North countries. However, there is a dearth of literature on its application in the Global South context. This research explores insights into the uptake and use of BIM in the Uruguayan AEC sector and proposes recommendations for accelerating its adoption. The study adopted the phenomenological research design. Through interviews with experts, the study relies on a phenomenological analysis from a purposely sampled group of (n=7) experts in BIM in the Uruguayan AEC industry. The discoveries and findings confirm that BIM is still at an early stage of maturity, and many practitioners still need to be convinced of its benefits. Therefore, pilot projects and the development of BIM guidelines are essential to align industry procedures and demonstrate the benefits of implementing BIM to convince hesitant professionals and increase levels of adoption. Furthermore, organizations' main implementation drivers are external forces like client requirements or the need to acquire a competitive advantage. The study's findings imply that BIM diffusion dynamics in Uruguay are more aligned with a top-down approach, thus highlighting a design for 'push' by authorities such as Government. Overall, this study fills a research gap in the Uruguayan AEC industry and provides an academic reference background for policymakers for future actions. The paper is of value as it contributes to the current state-of-the-art BIM research by drawing insights from the AEC industry in a typical developing country context.</p