People with visual impairment often rely on their residual vision when interacting with their spatial environments. The goal of visual accessibility is to design spaces that allow for safe travel for the large and growing population of people who have uncorrectable vision loss, enabling full participation in modern society. This paper defines the…

An award from the 23rd P/A Awards Program for a research report that analyzes the activities around seven Boston community schools and recommends ways to create usable open spaces. (Author/MLF)

This bibliography and paper provide a brief overview of empirical studies that attempt to apply the insights of modern psychology to architecture. Items are discussed under headings of scientific research, methodology, perceptual studies, the use of space, interpersonal distance, personality development, learning, decision-related research, and…

The concept of order-seeking is presented as characteristic of school management and related to adaptability as a strategy for design. The actual patterns of management in four schools are presented from survey data. A proposal for a measure of adaptability is made and illustrated in a hypothetical example. (Author)

An evaluation of various plan forms for primary schools analyzes school activities in terms of their acoustic characteristics. The acoustic properties of different teaching spaces and the extent to which these meet the needs of the various types of activity are discussed. (Author/MLF)

This report is intended to supply an objective data base that states the amount of existing space and its utilization in the school district in order to enable decision-makers to impartially allocate building space. All the school buildings were visited by teams that measured the dimensions of every room and noted its usage. Each building is…

A computerized research technique for measuring the space utilization of public library facilities provides a behavioral activity and occupancy analysis for library planning purposes. The library space utilization (LSU) methodology demonstrates that significant information about the functional requirements of a library can be measured and…

Suggested guidelines for designing indoor lighting and outdoor play space for child care centers are outlined in this booklet. It is recommended that, by focusing on the psychological and physiological needs of the children, decisions as to lighting, color, and playground design will evolve naturally. The guidelines were prepared based on the fact…

Excellence in design of child care and other preschool facilities is an emerging issue in the architectural profession. This bibliography is intended to aid architects and other designers, child-care directors, policy makers, and researchers to locate the most up-to-date and best sources of design-relevant information. The bibliography is based on…

This book presents results of a three-year study of children's living and play areas in three cities (one large, one medium, and one small) in Yugoslavia. A total of 1,200 families living in 240 buildings in six developments built between 1961 and 1971 were included in the study. A variety of facilities were evaluated for both formal and informal…

This paper analyzes the implications of a school's physcial environment for children's development. Its purpose is to draw the attention of educators to the implications of the physical environment for the child's development and to invite them to participate in the process whereby the design program of schools is formulated. The paper presents…

In an applied facility experiment, two early 1900s conventional laboratory/classrooms were converted to an experimental setting designed to support educational programs. The two areas were cleared of all fixed benches and cabinetry and then renovated into a highly variable and flexible, open plan facility. A panel system was used to define areas…

When designing schools, one should assign space for athletic fields, arrange halls so that traffic will not disturb classrooms, separate grade levels, provide playgrounds exclusively for younger children, and provide lighting and ventilation. Unit plans should be designed so that all educational and domestic activities can be executed in the…