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"Living rooms Design"
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How our homes impact our health: using a COVID-19 informed approach to examine urban apartment housing
PurposeThe COVID-19 global health crisis is undeniably a global housing crisis. Our study focuses on quality of life in urban mid- and high-rise apartment housing, the fastest growing housing types in many cities around the world. This housing typology presents unique challenges relating to connection to nature, daylight and fresh air.Design/methodology/approachThis multi-disciplinary literature review analyzes more than 100 published papers from peer-reviewed sources from environmental psychology, building science and architecture relevant to quality of life in high-rise housing, as well as more than 40 recent newspaper and magazine articles about the possible impacts of COVID-19 on housing. We identify synergies between passive design strategies and health-promoting architecture or “restorative environmental design” principles.FindingsPost-pandemic, health-promoting apartment housing design must prioritize (1) window placement and views that support stress recovery and restoration; (2) lighting levels based on spaces that can satisfy multiple uses and users; (3) bedrooms designed for restful sleep that contribute to circadian regulation; (4) living rooms with better indoor air quality, with a focus on natural ventilation; (5) access to nature, through the purposeful design of balconies and (6) unit sizes and layouts that enable physical distancing and prevent crowding.Originality/valueWe identify new social and environmental design priorities in the form of evidence-based design principles to inform and promote healthy and restorative living environments for residents in apartment housing.
Journal Article
Interactive room design as a tool for understanding form and style preferences
Given the substantial time people spend indoors, it is crucial to understand how aesthetic decisions in interior design are made, both to inform psychological research and guide practical applications. Recent studies show growing interest in form preferences, often suggesting a general preference for curved over angular shapes. Unlike previous research using predefined stimuli, our study allowed individuals to freely express their preferences in a living room through an interactive 3d web application. In an online experiment, participants (
N
= 196) furnished a virtual living room according to their personal preferences, using a controlled set of furniture items that varied systematically in form (angular vs. curved) and style (modern vs. classic). Contrary to prior findings, we observed a small but significant overall preference for angular furniture. This effect was mainly driven by male participants, who selected more angular than curved items, while female participants showed no form preference. We found no general preference in terms of style. Additionally, we explored associations between design preferences and personality traits (BFI-2), but no significant relationships emerged. Overall, this study demonstrates the value of interactive 3d environments for investigating aesthetic preferences in a controlled yet flexible setting, allowing personalised design decisions beyond predefined conditions.
Journal Article
A comparative study of patients’ activities and interactions in a stroke unit before and after reconstruction—The significance of the built environment
Early mobilization and rehabilitation, multidisciplinary stroke expertise and comprehensive therapies are fundamental in a stroke unit. To achieve effective and safe stroke care, the physical environment in modern stroke units should facilitate the delivery of evidence-based care. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore patients' activities and interactions in a stroke unit before the reconstruction of the physical environment, while in a temporary location and after reconstruction. This case study examined a stroke unit as an integrated whole. The data were collected using a behavioral mapping technique at three different time points: in the original unit, in the temporary unit and in the new unit. A total of 59 patients were included. The analysis included field notes from observations of the physical environment and examples from planning and design documents. The findings indicated that in the new unit, the patients spent more time in their rooms, were less active, and had fewer interactions with staff and family than the patients in the original unit. The reconstruction involved a change from a primarily multi-bed room design to single-room accommodations. In the new unit, the patients' lounge was located in a far corner of the unit with a smaller entrance than the patients' lounge in the old unit, which was located at the end of a corridor with a noticeable entrance. Changes in the design of the stroke unit may have influenced the patients' activities and interactions. This study raises the question of how the physical environment should be designed in the future to facilitate the delivery of health care and improve outcomes for stroke patients. This research is based on a case study, and although the results should be interpreted with caution, we strongly recommend that environmental considerations be included in future stroke guidelines.
Journal Article
Is Pesticide Use Related to Parkinson Disease? Some Clues to Heterogeneity in Study Results
Background: Previous systematic reviews have indicated that pesticide exposure is possibly associated with Parkinson disease (PD). However, considerable heterogeneity has been observed in study results. Objective: We aimed at providing an update of the literature published on PD and exposure to pesticides by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis. In addition, we investigated whether methodological differences between studies could explain the heterogeneity in study results. Methods: We identified studies through a systematic literature search. We calculated summary risk ratios (sRRs) for pesticide exposure and subcategories using random effects meta-analyses and investigated sources of heterogeneity by meta-regression and stratified analyses. Results: Thirty-nine case-control studies, four cohort studies, and three cross-sectional studies were identified. An sRR of 1.62 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.40, 1.88] for pesticide exposure (ever vs. never) was found. Summary estimates for subclasses of pesticides indicated a positive association with herbicides and insecticides, but not with fungicides. Heterogeneity in individual study results was not related to study design, source of control population, adjustment of results for potential confbunders, or geographical area. However, results were suggestive for heterogeneity related to differences in the exposure assessment. Job title-based exposure assignment resulted in a higher sRR (2.5; 95% CI: 1.5, 4.1) than did assignment based on self-reported exposure (e.g., for self-reported ever/never exposure, sRR -1.5; 95% CI: 1.3,1.8). Conclusions: This review affirms the evidence that exposure to herbicides and insecticides increase the risk of PD. Future studies should focus on more objective and improved methods of pesticide exposure assessment.
Journal Article
Daylighting Performance Simulation and Optimization Design of a “Campus Living Room” Based on BIM Technology—A Case Study in a Region with Hot Summers and Cold Winters
In the context of green building development, the lighting design of campus living rooms in hot summer and cold winter areas faces the dual challenges of glare control in summer and insufficient daylight in winter. Based on BIM technology, this study uses Revit 2016 modeling and the HYBPA 2024 performance analysis platform to simulate and optimize the daylighting performance of the campus activity center of Hunan City College in multiple rounds of iterations. It is found that the traditional single large-area external window design leads to uneven lighting in 70% of the area, and the average value of the lighting coefficient is only 2.1%, which is lower than the national standard requirement of 3.3%. Through the introduction of the hybrid system of “side lighting + top light guide”, combined with adjustable inner louver shading, the optimized average value of the lighting coefficient is increased to 4.8%, the uniformity of indoor illuminance is increased from 0.35 to 0.68, the proportion of annual standard sunshine hours (≥300 lx) reaches 68.7%, and the energy consumption of the artificial lighting is reduced by 27.3%. Dynamic simulation shows that the uncomfortable glare index at noon on the summer solstice is reduced from 30.2 to 22.7, which meets the visual comfort requirements. The study confirms that the BIM-driven “static-dynamic” simulation coupling method can effectively address climate adaptability issues. However, it has limitations such as insufficient integration with international healthy building standards, insufficient accuracy of meteorological data, and simplification of indoor dynamic shading factors. Future research can focus on improving meteorological data accuracy, incorporating indoor dynamic factors, and exploring intelligent daylighting systems to deepen and expand the method, promote the integration of cross-standard evaluation systems, and provide a technical pathway for healthy lighting environment design in summer-hot and winter-cold regions.
Journal Article
Evaluation of the Integrated Therapy Model in Preschool Education for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in China
The Integrated Therapy Model is a practice framework designed to promote multi-disciplinary collaboration to accommodate the holistic needs of children with special education needs. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the model adopted in a pilot preschool in China on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A single-case, ABAB reversal design was employed with three children with ASD, and data were collected using direct observation and semi-structured interviews. The results demonstrated that while the model piloted in China was effective at improving fine motor ability, gross motor ability, imitation and problem behavior, it had mild to questionable effects on self-care and independent living capacity. The implications for the practice and for research on preschool interventions in mainland China is discussed.
Journal Article
Using Video Modeling with Augmented Reality to Teach Students with Developmental Disabilities to Solve Mathematical Word Problems
Improving the ability to solve mathematical word problems is one of the most critical issues facing students with developmental disabilities, because it is directly related to their independent living skills. The purpose of this study was to propose a teaching model that implements augmented reality (AR) and video modeling (VM), and to validate its effectiveness, including its immediate, maintenance, and generalization effects on improving the percent accuracy of solving mathematical word problems. The research design of this study adopted single-case multiple probe across students experimental design. The independent variable of this study was the VM with AR teaching model, and the dependent variable was the percent accuracy of the test subjects in solving mathematical word problems. All three test subjects showed an immediate effect, with two showing maintenance and generalization effects. This VM with AR teaching model provides an alternate way for classroom teachers when teach students with developmental disabilities to solve mathematical word problems. This teaching model allows students with developmental disabilities to improve their mathematical word-problem solving skills.
Journal Article
Learning Outcomes and Student Preferences with Flipped vs Lecture/Case Teaching Model in a Block Curriculum
Objective. To assess the impact of using a flipped classroom instructional approach on Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students’ learning outcomes and instructional preferences in a pharmacotherapy course within a block curriculum.
Methods. Select topics in a gastrointestinal and liver pharmacotherapy course were taught using a flipped classroom method that required students to view lecture modules and respond to self-assessment questions prior to class. Classroom time included quizzes, application exercises, and discussion. The following year, teaching of these topics was switched back to a lecture/case format, and different topics were taught in the flipped classroom format, Student performance under each teaching method was examined, and student preferences and study habits were collected via a survey administered before and after experiencing the flipped classroom.
Results. Combined mean formal assessment scores were higher for all four topics taught using the flipped classroom format compared to the lecture/case format. This pattern persisted when topics were examined individually, except for scores on one review topic. Survey responses reflected acknowledgement by about half of the students that the flipped format was more beneficial than traditional methods, but they still clearly preferred live lectures over prerecorded lectures. The majority of students reported that the amount of preparation time required for the flipped classroom was appropriate and that they had a positive or neutral experience with the flipped classroom overall.
Conclusion. This study supports use of the flipped classroom method for teaching standard pharmacotherapy topics within a block curriculum, but underscores some of the resistance expressed by students despite understanding the potential benefits of the flipped format.
Journal Article
Spatial Constraints and User Adaptation: A Mixed-Methods Study of High-Density Students Dormitories
This study employs a mixed-methods approach to investigate the current use and evolving needs of dormitory environments through a cross-analysis of existing research and user experience. A two-phased PRISMA-guided systematic literature review for both global and China-based content was conducted, which was then linked to an examination of eight high-density dormitory spaces in Shanghai. The case studies were analyzed using qualitative content analysis methods, incorporating both spatial analysis and netnography to provide a comprehensive understanding of dormitory use. The cross-analysis highlights a persistent design–use gap: efficiency-driven layouts underdeliver on privacy and comfort, prompting compensatory user modifications. Findings also reveal that most rooms fell below suggested standards; circulation was mainly limited to a single central aisle with no entrance buffer, constraining flexibility and privacy. Students responded to these limitations with small-scale personalization, such as bed curtains, mattress toppers, chair swaps, lighting, and storage hacks, to mitigate acoustic/visual exposure and comfort deficits. With the rising demand for dormitories and based on these insights, we identified three critical dimensions for future dormitory design: privacy, equity, and personalization. These findings underscore that current designs fail to fully satisfy even basic functional requirements, making it essential to develop strategies that respond to evolving needs and integrate considerations of well-being, comfort, and user autonomy.
Journal Article