The spatial configuration analysis of a high school through a participatory approach

ABSTRACT

School change is a degree of shift which require to respond to learners’ needs and new conditions. Schools’ climate is influenced by political, economic, social, and technological factors as well as educational methods. Due to the complexity of the factors affecting spatial configuration, new design approaches are needed. The research problem is how the spatial configuration of a school can be determined in a specific context from the perspective of stakeholders? To answer this question, a participatory approach and a pattern language have been used. Five groups of three participants took part in the process, each group consist of an architect, a student, and a teacher. In this research, the participatory process was performed in the data collection stage using the spatial matrix, group discussion, open-ended questionnaire, and pattern language. Changing the spatial configuration of a school was the final goal of this approach. The spatial configuration was analyzed through DepthmapX0.30 software implementing the space syntax method. Qualitative data also analyzed using Atlas-ti software through the coding method. The results of the research present that the current school's model is not appropriate and the new learning environment should be redesigned based on collaboration, communication, and motivation of users.

KEYWORDS:

• Participatory approach
• school design
• pattern language
• spatial configuration
• space syntax

Notes

1 These patterns are available on http://designshare.com/patterns.

2 Architects have ‘Master of Architecture’ degree.