Towards a Metatheoretical Basis of an Activity Approach to Architectural Programming Research

Human activity is analyzed in numerous ways within the social sciences, as well as within applied areas such as ergonomics, management, marketing, and education. However, these conceptualizations of human activity are not intended for, nor do they contribute to the productive study of the socio-spatial interactions regarding planning and programming of facilities. The goal of this project is to develop methodological foundations for activity analysis and modeling within the area of architectural programming. Our objective is to contribute to the development of a perspective for analyzing activity systems and to facilitate the creation of activity models that may be used to examine socio-spatial interactions. Specifically, this proposal examines the structures of activity that emerge in the process of interactions between people and the built environment in respect to the conditions and resources necessary for efficient performance. The viewpoint proposed establishes the foundations of a “conditions and resources” perspective on activity