Smart technologies in buildings: exploring the conflicts and opportunities for health and wellbeing

Throughout architectural design practices, processes and research, there is motivation to develop a greater understanding of the interactions between people and their environments. Learning from previous built environments is vital in creating buildings that better respond to the needs (e.g. thermal, visual, acoustic, respiratory comfort) of its users. However, Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE), the process of obtaining feedback on a building's performance in use), has major limitations in regards to understanding human building interaction (HBI) and User Experience (UX). There is a recognised need for tools, methods and techniques of user engagement in architecture. How do we evidence success in building design? Where do the conflicts and opportunities lie in order to ‘future proof’ buildings? In the field of human computing interaction (HCI), the development of user experience techniques to support practice and industry are continually evolving. The built environment is increasingly being designed to include context-aware automation (such as Smart-lights, Chromecasts Smart elevators and powered assisted doors). With a lens of HCI, a research question has emerged for design evolution of built environments: What tools, methods and techniques of user engagement could be adopted from the digital realm to enable architects of the physical world, to understand user experience. This paper focuses on analysis of emerging ‘smart’ care environments, specifically designed for a dynamic and diverse population. It will link research and practice across these contexts by creating a basis for moving forward, were themes of common interests, methods and techniques will be uncovered. Methods of site visits, observation, and interviews with the client and designers of the building are presented. Discussion interrogates the potential of Digital Technologists and Architects working together towards developing methods for better understanding Health, Wellbeing, Enablement, Experience and Technology in buildings