case study examples architecture

Case Study: Tribeca Penthouse by Min Design

The penthouse apartment in the converted 1874 warehouse in New York had soaring ceiling heights, an abundance of daylight, and ...

Case Study: Vermont Farmhouse by ART Architects

If anyone knows how to design the quintessential New England farmhouse, it’s the Boston-based firm of Albert, Righter & Tittmann ...

Case Study: Bahamas Cottage by Max Levy Architect

Harbour Island in the Bahamas is an enviable place to design a getaway house, and Max Levy, FAIA, is uniquely ...

ARCHITECTURAL INTERIORS

The penthouse apartment in the converted 1874 warehouse in New York had soaring ceiling heights, an abundance of daylight, and…

Case Study: Two Gables by Wheeler Kearns

The aptly named Two Gables residence in Glencoe, Illinois, might appear premeditated, but its symmetrical form emerged organically to serve…

Case Study: Tudor Redux by Cohen & Hacker Architects

The 1913 Tudor Revival would need more than gallons of white paint to turn it into a welcoming, light-filled home…

Case Study: 519 Indiana by Studio 804

Urban lots are not for the faint of heart, especially when surrounded by existing dwellings that predate zoning codes. Such…

RURAL / SECOND HOMES

If anyone knows how to design the quintessential New England farmhouse, it’s the Boston-based firm of Albert, Righter & Tittmann…

Harbour Island in the Bahamas is an enviable place to design a getaway house, and Max Levy, FAIA, is uniquely…

Case Study: Academy Highlands by Risa Boyer Architecture

Designing a full-time residence for retirees can be particularly rewarding for architects. By the time most clients reach that milestone,…

Case Study: House for a New Beginning by Nielsen:Schuh

Building in California’s wine country is a risky proposition and has been for the last decade. Given the predictable occurrence…

Case Study: Barrera House by Cotton Estes Architect

We all have a different idea of what our last, best house might look like and where it might be.…

Case Study: Presidio Heights Residence by Nick Noyes Architecture

Not far from the Presidio—a national park and Historic Landmark District at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge—San Francisco’s…

Case Study: West Lynn Residence by A Parallel Architecture

The sensitive renovation of a historic house can take many directions, and the possibilities are compounded when a wing is…

Case Study: Old Yacht Club by Elliott Architects

There are many reasons to rescue an old building—because you have to is one of them, because you want to…

Case Study: Farm to Table by McInturff Architects

It turns out that a dairy barn can become a family getaway without much ado, design-wise. Consider this rural Virginia…

ON THE BOARDS

Parti Shot: Silver Cloud by Studio B

Slicing across a rocky ridge where two valleys converge, Silver Cloud accommodates a young family and its many passions and…

Parti Shot: Stacked Moor by Flavin Architects

Most homeowners feel they could benefit from just a little more space. In an older house, that need for space…

Parti Shot: Lake Tahoe Cabins by RO | ROCKETT DESIGN

Humans have a primal desire to live by the water, even if it means assuming some hardships to do so.…

Parti Shot: Rolling Hills Residence by Clayton Korte

When your site has a steep vertical rise, no part of the design or build comes easily. Brian Korte and…

Sponsored Case Study: Simple Comfort in an Oregon Home

When architect Nahoko Ueda set out to design a family home in the rolling terrain outside Salem, Oregon, her goals…

Sponsored Case Study: A Private Lake Side Retreat in Texas

When you first see the 2,600sq ft lake house in Riverside, Texas, it looks like a glass box floating on…

Sponsored Case Study: Echo Hills Residence by Robert Gurney

Architect Robert Gurney leverages a site’s steeply sloped terrain to transform a suburban Maryland home into a tranquil oasis that takes its cues from nature.

Sponsored Case Study: Sanctuary House by Tai Ikegami

When he was brought in to design a modern home in Palo Alto, California, Tai Ikegami knew he’d have to…

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Architecture Precedent Study Guide

• Updated: December 31, 2023

Architecture is not just about designing buildings; it’s about creating spaces that work well and look great. One way architects do this is by learning from the buildings that came before. In this article, we’ll explore how architects study old buildings, why it’s important, and how it helps make better designs.

Think of it as learning from the past to make the future better. We’ll see what these studies are, why they matter, and how architects do them. We’ll also look at some examples and the challenges that can come up. Plus, we’ll share where architects can find information to do these studies well.

So, let’s jump into the world of architectural precedent studies to discover why they’re a big deal in the world of architecture.

What is an architecture precedent study?

According to the Merriam Webster dictionary a ‘ precedent ‘ can be defined as “ something done or said that may serve as an example or rule to authorize or justify a subsequent act of the same or an analogous kind”, and a ‘ study ’ as “ a state of contemplation ”

So when defining the term and meaning of a ‘precedent study’, it can be classed as the sourcing and contemplation, of related and relative, past and present influences, that aim to serve and provide inspiration and help with the justification of an idea.

These examples often come in the form of visual aides, and form vital parts of a projects foundation and overall concept, with many projects finding their initial starting points from one singular precedent.

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What is the difference between a case study and a precedent study?

Case studies and precedent studies are related but have distinct purposes and focuses within the fields they are commonly used.

Case Study:

• General Overview: A case study is a detailed examination and analysis of a specific project, event, situation, or instance. It can be applied to various disciplines, including business, medicine, law, and architecture.
• Focus: Case studies typically center around a single, unique occurrence or project. They aim to provide an in-depth understanding of the particular subject under investigation.
• Purpose: The primary purpose of a case study is to gain insight, gather information, and draw lessons from a specific instance. It often involves a detailed narrative, describing what happened, why it happened, and the outcomes.
• Application: Case studies are used to examine real-world scenarios and provide a comprehensive examination of various factors, including context, processes, and results.
• Examples: In architecture, a case study might focus on a particular building, discussing its design, construction process, challenges faced, and its impact on the surrounding environment.

Precedent Study:

• General Overview: A precedent study is a research and learning method commonly used in architecture and design. It involves the investigation of existing buildings, designs, or projects that share similarities with the one being planned.
• Focus: Precedent studies concentrate on studying existing examples that are relevant or analogous to the design problem at hand. The emphasis is on extracting design principles, concepts, and ideas from these precedents.
• Purpose: The primary purpose of a precedent study is to inform and inspire the design process by examining successful or innovative solutions in similar contexts. It provides a source of reference and a foundation for creative problem-solving.
• Application: Precedent studies help architects and designers understand how others have addressed similar challenges, integrated design elements, and achieved desired outcomes. They guide the design process by offering valuable insights and ideas.
• Examples: In architecture, a precedent study might involve researching and analyzing buildings with similar functions, climate conditions, or cultural contexts to inform the design of a new project. It focuses on design strategies, materials, and spatial arrangements rather than documenting a specific project’s history.

In summary, while both case studies and precedent studies involve in-depth examinations, case studies typically delve into a single, specific occurrence or project, aiming to understand it comprehensively. Precedent studies, on the other hand, focus on extracting design inspiration and lessons from existing examples to inform the creative process in architecture and design.

How are precedent studies used when designing buildings?

Precedent studies (similar to case studies ) form the backbone of a projects creation and remain just as relevant at its inception as they do during its construction, aiding with:

Inspiration – From seeking initial design inspiration, through to sourcing the right material finishes, precedent studies provide an excellent resource and visual library of thought provoking media.

Design concept generation – Studying past and present examples of work in and around the arts and architecture, helps to develop an understanding of the thought process that lead to a projects creation and its underlining driving force, ’ the design concept ’.

Sometimes directly, but most likely indirectly, this will inspire and open up alternative lines of thinking towards your own concept development , adding depth and justification to your design process .

Justification – No matter what stage you are in your learning, or what level of creative thinker you, we all need justification that our ideas and approaches will ultimately work and be successful.

This is particularly important for architecture, where not only must it be physically possible to build, it in most instances must also outlast its creators.

Finding examples of similar design and construction approaches, provides us as designers with a degree of confidence in knowing that we are pursuing the right direction.

Explanation and Communication – Precedent studies can be used to explain and communicate the vision of a project, for example from how a building might house its occupants, through to material choices and its finished appearance.

Peers, tutors, and clients have confidence in what they can understand, and if you can provide examples of what already exists, then it becomes far more difficult to misinterpret the designers vision.

How to find precedent studies

As listed below in the resources section, there are a few key places to find good precedents, however ultimately its just research, and relevant precedents can and will come from anywhere, and will always be bespoke to a particular project. They are rarely carried over from one to another.

For architecture in particular, you should focus on breaking the project and brief down into segments and create sub categories for your research. This way each category will influence the next and help to form an overall vision.

Trying to find a singular precedent to cover everything is extremely difficult, and will only lead to frustration.

These categories may include:

• Building use
• Building occupants
• Type of site
• Building location
• Building plan
• Building elevation
• Building section
• Building typography
• Building type
• Building size
• Sustainable strategies
• Construction strategies

Choosing an appropriate precedent study is important, as it allows you to derive relevant lessons and insights for your current project or situation. Here are some steps to consider when choosing a precedent study:

• Identify Your Purpose : Understand why you need a precedent study. Are you trying to learn new techniques, understand the possible outcomes of a decision, or get inspired by past work? The answer to this question can help guide your selection process.
• Criteria : Determine the criteria that your precedent study should meet. These criteria might be related to your project’s context (e.g., geographical, cultural, social), the scale (e.g., size, complexity), the specific issue or problem you’re focusing on, or the type of solution you’re seeking.
• Search for Potential Precedents : Begin a systematic search for potential precedents. This might involve looking at academic articles, case law, architectural journals, design portfolios, historical records, or other resources depending on your field.
• Review and Select : Review the potential precedents you’ve found and assess them based on your criteria. Choose the precedent study or studies that best meet your needs.
• Justification : Be prepared to justify your choice. Whether you’re presenting your work to a supervisor, a client, or a review board, you might need to explain why you chose a particular precedent and how it’s relevant to your project.

Remember, the goal of a precedent study is to learn from the past. A good precedent is not necessarily a perfect match, but one that provides valuable lessons or insights that can inform your current project or decision-making process.

What to look for in a precedent study

Similar to the above you should aim to collect pieces of the bigger picture, which for example can include:

• Representation and presentation styles and techniques
• Architectural model styles and finishes
• Architectural diagrams
• Form and massing
• How a building interacts with light and shadow
• Window openings
• Interior finishes
• External finishes

Analyze your architectural precedents

The direction in which you analyze your precedent studies will be dependent on the nature of the precedent study itself, for example is it addressing the overall design concept, or is it a particular study into how access and circulation can be instigated and designed?

Below are a few key areas to look at:

01 Materiality – look at examples of how a building finishes work with one and another and their surrounding context, what influenced the architects decisions, how do different materials meet and interact with each other, how are junctions detailed?

02 Details – Materiality merges with and plays a large role in how a building is detailed, but aside from this you can use your precedents to influence how connections between structures and the site are made.

Look at how openings are formed, and how wall, floor and roof junctions meet each other, how a staircase connects two floors, and how it interacts with them, and how window sills are formed etc. This can be investigated on both a macro and micro level.

03 Structure – Structural strategies form the foundation (literally) of a buildings design, and so study how your precedents are supported and span over their open plan spaces, how columns and beams are sized, and is the structure exposed or hidden.

04 Scale and volume – Put simply a building must fit, and so a scale and volume precedent study would look at how buildings and sites of a similar size to your proposal interact with their surrounding environment. Are they successful, are they overbearing and if so why, and how could you avoid this? If they work well, then how do they achieve this? what can you learn?

05 Access and circulation – There are many ways to address access and so study the variations of how buildings attract their inhabitants, how do people know where the entrance is? and how do they know where to go once inside?

06 Light shadow – light and shadow play an extremely important role in how a building is experienced, and so look at how each of these are addressed; how has the architect brought light into the building? How are elements accentuated? and what does this feel like?

07 Concept development – A precedent study can often lead to and influence concept development. Study the fundamentals of how your precedents were formed and where they started, how were the volumes and spaces created, what influenced design decisions, and what was the driving force behind the project?

08 Proportions – Architecture is built upon proportion and often a buildings success is dependent on it. So study how volumes and forms interact and sit next to each other, how large and small openings sit within an elevation, how floor levels influence a buildings height and the proportions of its openings, how different materials break up massing.

09 Atmosphere – It can be particularly difficult to communicate atmosphere and emotion through a sketch or 3D model , and so using examples to demonstrate this becomes crucial.

…These are of course just a few examples of how this can be approached, and in reality each study is bespoke to a particular project and brief, and so should be tailored accordingly.

The below video further breaks down how analyze architectural precedents by examining a collection of Maggie’s centers in the UK:

Create your own precedent library

Collecting information and inspiration, has never been easier, gone are the days of scanning magazine and journal pages and collecting a vast quantities of back issues. Particularly with Pinterest , it has never been more simple to collect and build your own private libraries of resources and precedents.

In fact there is not a tool more perfect for it than the platform Pinterest provides; from multiple board and category creation, through to shared boards and group conversations, for architecture in particular Pinterest provides an extremely vast resource.

For an example of how this can be organized, visit our page here , and for guide on how to use it, click here .

That’s not to say however that this is the only method of building your own library, literature still sits firmly at the top of the list, and a private collection of books featuring your favorite architects and architecture, is an invaluable resource to have, that should be slowly built over time.

The underlying message here is to collect and keep everything, don’t throw old precedents away …add them to your library for when you next need them.

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How to Present Architectural Case Studies like a Pro

Design is arbitrary. Design is subjective , and there is just no way of getting around the fact, and architecture in many ways is the art of convincing people that one’s design was the right move and one of the ways you can convince people is through case studies. There is no way to avoid that reality, and case studies are one of the methods to persuade others that your design choices are sound. In many respects, architecture is the art of persuasion. Architectural case studies act as a shield that, when properly presented, can be a very effective way for one to defend your design viewpoints , especially if anyone chooses a project that has already been successful and was completed by a well-known architect. This can help one establish a strong foundation for design strategies because it can be much more difficult to critique something that has already been shown to be effective.

Architectural case studies should be presented in an educational, interesting way, and can build a strong case for your project. While performing a case study, one could learn many different things. Still, when giving a presentation, one must highlight the elements one will use in their design, diagram the visuals, and remember that visual continuity is important.

“Every great design begins with an even better story.”

Which case study to choose?

The first step is to determine the type of structure to be developed. Consider whether your project is within the categories of a residential project , a public building, a private mixed-use project, etc. By doing so, you may focus your search and locate projects with similar outlines. This does not imply that a structure that is unconnected at all will not be useful. A building’s components may be more significant than its function.

For instance, Correa stayed away from high-rise housing options, emphasizing low-rise ones that, when combined with amenities and common areas, highlighted the human scale and fostered a feeling of community. This is how case studies help us to view the projects with a certain inspiration to be used in our projects.

The next important point is to confirm that the case study and your project have parallel elements. This may be the atmosphere or climate , anything analogous that you can connect to. You can always decide to include some in your project if there aren’t any. Remember that they are there to help you and frequently have more expertise about various structures. Better still, if your brief mentions any interesting buildings, you may always start there.

What points are to be kept in mind?

• Attractive elements-

One feature of the building may appeal more than any other aspect. To make a building into something much more fascinating , for instance, the usage of a specific sort of beam or steel structure, or even the materials that were utilized for the design, might be crucial. Focus on the space’s fantastic structural features if their intended use is irrelevant, and you can still make use of them.

• Balancing form and function-

Extreme aesthetic aspects in some structures may be more challenging to plan and implement. Utilizing your own smaller test models, ascertain how these shapes were developed and then apply them to your system. The purpose of a architectural case studies is to improve any project. Without using the research , it is pointless to do it.

• Area requirements-

Study the building’s utilization in further detail, including how each room is used. Depending on a project or brief and what precisely one wants to learn from the case study, it can be as detailed as one likes. Try making a physical visit if it’s feasible, and write as many notes as possible on the experience. Consider the interior areas and their functions thoroughly.

• Technicalities-

Concentrate on the case study’s technical components if necessary. The HVAC or other concealed systems may be of interest if the concerned project is geared toward domestic areas.

Last but not least, be sure to provide several important case study photographs . Instead of choosing basic front elevations, examine closer and pay attention to details.

What are the best ways to present?

After conducting a tonne of research and compiling this information, one must figure out how to incorporate it into a portfolio.

• Site analysis-

The most effective way to communicate your results is via a site analysis . This type of page might be a straightforward construction diagram with comments outlining the noteworthy elements you discovered and why they are significant.

• Images and graphics –

No matter how big your page size is, don’t overstuff it. Choose four to five main photos that may be expanded on later. When printing them, make sure the quality is good. It should be required to use text.

Always look for quality over quantity.

• Models and Iterations-

Put these in if you decide to conduct any experiments using physical or digital models . It demonstrates engagement with the undertaking and effort in making decisions on any building. These might be of great use when creating subsequent sketches.

•       SWOT Analysis-

Analyzing the strength, weaknesses, and opportunities, threats of the concerned project can be of great help. An opportunities and limitations diagram can be created for architectural case studies and site analyses. Although it’s not necessary, one may undoubtedly construct one if it’s essential.

• Crisp and clear data –

The best way is to use pictures or diagrams to accompany all the data you have acquired, including any historical details. Try to limit the amount of text on the page to what is necessary to convey the main ideas.

In addition to this, bear in mind that using the right color schemes, grids, tags, and human figures, as well as their surroundings, adds valuable information and serves as the cherry on top.

References-

• https://toscaleblog.co.uk/analysing-architecture-case-studies-for-beginners/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0c_BzpLUYM&t=19s&ab_channel=ArchiHacks

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Introduction and Acknowledgements                          Overview and Summary of Best Practices Conclusion Case Studies  

Introduction and acknowledgements.

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) initiated Four Case Studies Exemplifying Best Practices in Architectural Co-design and Building with First Nations  as a resource for designers, clients, funders, and policymakers.

As the leading voice for excellence in the built environment in Canada, the RAIC believes that architecture is a public-spirited profession with an important role in reconciliation – addressing injustices by giving agency back to Indigenous people.

The document builds on the success of the RAIC International Indigenous Architecture and Design Symposium held in on May 27, 2017. At this ground-breaking event, Indigenous speakers from Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the United States presented best practices in co-design with Indigenous communities and clients. Co-design is a collaborative design process between architects and the Indigenous community as client.

The symposium was a project of the RAIC Indigenous Task Force which seeks ways to foster and promote Indigenous design in Canada.  Its members include Indigenous and non-Indigenous architects, designers, academics, intern architects and architectural students.

The four case studies presented here further explore and exemplify best practice themes, specifically in the context of three First Nations and one Inuit community in Canada. 

Ottawa consultant Louise Atkins carried out the research and writing. Special thanks are extended to the Department of Indigenous Services Canada for funding the case studies, and to the 15 individuals interviewed for the projects who generously shared their time, insights and inspiring stories.

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Overview and summary of best practices.

The four case studies set out to explore best practices in architectural co-design in the context of three First Nations and one Inuit community in Canada. One case study was selected from each of four asset classes – schools, community and cultural centres, administration and business centres, and housing. These asset types would be of special interest to First Nation, Inuit, and other Indigenous communities and to the Department of Indigenous Services Canada as they consider the architectural design, building, and funding of new community infrastructure facilities and housing. 

Best practice insights from these studies can inspire communities and help shape government funders’ policies and practices.

Summary of Best Practices

Interviews were conducted with architects and designers, Indigenous chiefs and community leaders, Indigenous government employees, contractors, and construction company officials, academics, and government funders.  Questions posed in interviews built on best practice themes from the RAIC International Indigenous Architecture and Design Symposium as well as value-added considerations such as Indigenous employment. Best practice findings are divided into four groups.

Project Initiation

The impetus for each project was different. Some were replacement assets. The Six Nations of the Grand River were replacing one-room schools dating from the early 20th-century.  When the Splatsin te Secwepemc lost their “Log Cabin” convenience and artisan craft store in a fire, they replaced it with a much larger business hub, artisan marketplace, and offices. The Squamish and Lil’Wat First Nations leveraged the opportunity of the 2010 Olympic Games to create a cultural centre as a showcase to the world in their shared traditional territory of Whistler, BC. In Nunavik, the major stakeholders came together to design, build and monitor a pilot duplex house that could be a prototype for sustainable northern housing that is culturally responsive, better adapted to climate change, and highly energy efficient.  

Co-design Process

Co-design is the collaborative design process between the architects and the Indigenous community as client. In the four case studies, best practices included architects listening carefully to understand the community’s vision, and working closely with the client throughout the design phase. The resulting building designs were anchored in Indigenous peoples’ connection with the natural world and reflected who they are as people – their traditions, culture, values and lifestyles, and their aspirations.

Co-design is not a formula. In each case study, co-design took its own distinct form. In one project, the architect worked with a large steering committee of Indigenous chiefs and stakeholder officials. Another included Elders as well. A third used a design charrette with a cross-section of Indigenous tenants and a fourth added community open houses to the process. Two of buildings were designed by Indigenous architects, and two were by architects and designers with experience working in Indigenous contexts.

For all four projects, Indigenous respondents underlined the importance of architects who listen well to the community vision and engage in ongoing dialogue. Through an iterative process, the architects brought design options and solutions until their clients were satisfied that their vision developed into a tangible design that met functional requirements and reflected their values, culture, traditions, lifestyles, and aspirations.

Designs referenced ancestral building forms and Indigenous peoples’ reverence for and relationship with the natural world. In every case example, the buildings were anchored to their natural surroundings and most integrated traditional materials, particularly wood. Each project maximized energy conservation through mechanical means, insulation, and designs that utilized natural heating, cooling, and air circulation systems.

The buildings were further enhanced through siting, orientation and natural light. In keeping with Haudenosaunee traditions, Emily C. General School is oriented to the cardinal directions, tracking the sun through the days and seasons. Following Squamish and Lil’Wat traditions, entrances to their cultural centre face east. For the Nunavik pilot duplex, reversible front entrances are an architectural innovation that allows optimal positioning of every house for solar gain and bright living spaces.

Architects and designers and their clients carefully shaped the interior spaces, commissioned artists' installations and added historical and contemporary artifacts to convey the cultures and facilitate traditional practices and teaching.

For example, visitors to the Quilakwa Centre and band members alike can sit and enjoy their Tim Hortons coffee among massive log posts and beams carved with images of bald eagles, salmon, fish, and scenes of traditional Splatsin life.

Building Process

Each community took a hands-on approach to the building process. Strong Indigenous community capacity was demonstrated in project oversight and management. Indigenous construction firms and entities employing Indigenous workers in a broad range of skilled trades built major portions of the projects. Leaders stayed involved and committed the necessary resources to ensure project completion. These best practices could be formulated into a guideline enabling First Nation funders to recognize and assess capacity and shift control of capital projects to qualified First Nations.

Steering committees continued to play an important oversight role, guiding development and consulting with architects, designers, and construction managers, right through to project completion. 

These buildings and facilities were built by Indigenous people. Project management and the majority of the construction was done by Indigenous-owned entities employing local Indigenous tradespeople, exemplifying best practices in employment, skills development, pride in the work and a sense of community ownership of the completed buildings. In every case, these buildings are highly-valued by Indigenous community residents and continue to be well-maintained.

First Nation leaders interviewed for the case studies believe that for communities with proven track records in building projects which are on-specification, on-time, and on-budget, the funding agencies should objectively assess and recognize this capacity and pass control to the First Nation for all aspects of their building projects.

Two case study projects involved First Nations who were large or sole funders of their buildings. The Quilakwa Centre was completely self-funded by the Splastsin First Nation through a combination of insurance and trust funds and loan financing. Large cultural complexes are expensive to build, and despite contributions from all levels of government and the private sector, a large funding gap remained for the Squamish Lil’wat and Squamish Cultural Centre. Both First Nations contributed their own band resources and business know-how to get the projects done.

For all four projects, Indigenous leaders were determined to complete their projects to reflect community identity and become a base for cultural reclamation and growth.

Indigenous respondents all felt that the impact of their co-designed buildings was significant, with positive, far-reaching outcomes. They appreciated the role the architectural co-design process played in creating buildings that resonate with the community and will be of lasting value.  Architectural innovations exemplified in these projects have since been applied more broadly to other building projects.

After 20 years in operation, the IL Thomas and Emily C. General Elementary Schools at Six Nations of the Grand River continue to serve as positive teaching environments and community spaces and are well-maintained. The children are aware and proud that their grandparents, aunts, and uncles built the schools, and vandalism does not occur. The co-design process with the Indigenous architect and project manager, Brian Porter, MRAIC, enabled steering committee members to develop fluency in design and construction processes – knowledge they have applied through a dozen subsequent building projects. Six Nations members continue their tradition as skilled builders and tradespeople. They are respected and employed in their home community, other First Nations and in major North American cities. Read case study

Cultural Centre

For the Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre in Whistler BC, the two First Nations sought out and hired an Indigenous architect, Alfred Waugh, MRAIC. Their goal was to give this large and complex project to an Indigenous architect to develop, innovate and become a role model for Indigenous youth. Today the Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre is a spectacular showcase for the two cultures, welcoming visitors from around the world and inspiring understanding and respect among people. It is also preserving and transmitting architecture, traditional knowledge, culture and spiritual teachings through the generations. Indigenous Youth Ambassadors employed at the centre are enjoying good careers in the tourism and hospitality industries. There are broader outcomes as well. Following construction of the cultural centre, the Squamish established a large Indigenous trades school. The cultural centre has deepened the bonds between the Squamish and Lil’Wat tribes, who are undertaking new joint projects. Architect Alfred Waugh has adapted innovations exemplified in this project to some of his subsequent major design projects. Read case study

Administrative and Business Centre

The Quilakwa Centre , located on Highway 97A in the BC interior attracts many travellers and tourists. With a Tim Hortons restaurant, convenience and craft store, and gas bar, the Splatsin Development Corporation has doubled the number of retail employees and payroll. Due to greatly increased sales of artisan crafts in the new space, traditional basket making and beading are flourishing, and new art forms are emerging. Visitors are enjoying this unique building and showcase for Splatsin culture, history, arts and business acumen. As a favourite local gathering place for people from the reserve and from nearby Enderby, it is strengthening connections between the two communities. Read case study

In Nunavik, traditional ways of life are important to identity and wellbeing. Tenants in the  Nunavik pilot duplex houses  expressed great satisfaction with their physical comfort and the capacity of their homes to support cultural practices. Owing to warm and cold porches and the large flexible kitchen and living space, a hunter and his family can store and butcher game, and hold traditional country food feasts on the floor. Another unit, occupied by a mother and her adult daughter, is an ideal environment for them to sew mitts and boots in the bright sunlight of south-facing windows, and to store sealskin pelts on their outdoor balcony. For these pilot homes, architect Alain Fournier, FIRAC, designed reverse entrances – a true innovation which allows optimal positioning of every house for solar gain. As a prototype, this pilot duplex is being monitored for physical and socio-cultural performance, a best practice that will contribute to sustainable northern housing design.  Read case study

BACK TO TOP

These four case studies illustrate that through a collaborative co-design approach, architects were successful in taking the visions, ideas, and preferences of their Indigenous clients, and turning them into designs that resonate with the community and are technically sound. These designs and building projects reflect Indigenous identity and become a base for cultural reclamation and growth.

In this way, architecture has an important role in giving agency back to Indigenous people and promoting their aspirations. 

BACK TO TOP  

Case studies:.

Case Study 1: First Nation School Emily C. General Elementary School and IL Thomas Elementary School Six Nations of the Grand River, Ontario Architect:  Brian Porter, MRAIC

Case Study 2: First Nation Cultural Centre Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre Squamish and Lil’Wat First Nations, British Columbia Architect:  Alfred Waugh, MRAIC

Case Study 3: First Nation Administrative and Business Centre Quilakwa Centre Splatsin te Secwepemc First Nation, British Columbia Architect:  Norman Goddard Designer:  Kevin Halchuk

Case Study 4: Inuit Housing Pilot Nunavik Duplex Quaqtaq, Nunavik, Quebec Architect:   Alain Fournier, FIRAC  

Funding for this study was provided by the Department of Indigenous Services Canada.

Information on the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Indigenous Task Force and its membership may be found  here .

Architecture Student Chronicles

How to conduct a Case Study?

When students begin studying  Architecture at a University, the first thing that they are supposed to become excellent at, is doing a documentation or a case study . It could be a case study of a small village, town, a villa, a bus-stop, or a high-rise commercial or residential building. A case study is an in-depth investigation of a single individual, group, incident, or community. Other ways include experiments, surveys , or analysis of archival information

What is the purpose of conducting a Case Study?

As the term Case Study suggests, it is the study of a particular case that is similar to your topic of design project. Doing a case study will help you understand the various aspects that you have to consider while designing.

Literature Case study

Before you start with your live case studies, first of all do a complete literature case study. Literature case study consists of reading everything you can find on the subject. You can refer books in a library, use Google to look up research papers, check out Standard Code books and statutory laws or from technical journals.

A literature case study would give you a vague idea about your topic. There will be various questions arising in your mind after you are done with your literature case study. To find the answers to those questions, you will have to go for minimum two live case studies….

Always possibly go for more than two different case studies, because a comparative case study of two or more different cases is very important and helpful.

• While you are doing your first case study, say a Villa, go for a smaller Villa first so that you can figure out the basic minimum requirements.
• In your second case study, go for an extremely lavish Villa so that you are aware of the maximum requirements you could give.

(Being able to provide maximum or minimum requirements in your design is very important)

If there are some requirements that you haven’t come across while doing your case studies but you went through it while you were doing a literature case study, then try implementing those requirements  in your design.

Eleven most important things to analyze in any Case Study

• Environment and micro-climate Analyzing the surrounding environment and the micro-climate of that place will help understand the reason of the orientation of the structure, the kind of roof chosen and the materials used in its construction.
• User behavior and requirements Studying the functioning of a particular place, say a Hospital, is very important; without which you will not be able to figure out the requirements and the area that should be allotted for each of the requirements.Talking to people working at that place (Hospital), will help you figure out if the requirements that are provided are adequate and he area that is allotted is sufficient for its efficient working.
• Utility and space enhancement Study of Utilitarian facilities of a particular case is also important. Various measures taken to enhance a particular space should be analyzed.
• Form and Function Analyzing the reason behind the form of that particular building…and how it merges with the surrounding environment. Form and Function go hand in hand. The form of the building should be able to convey the function of the building. A lot of Architects say “Form follows Function”.As an example, an institutional building should not end up looking like a museum or a disco.Some other Architects might disagree with that philosophy. They’d say that the function of a structure keeps changing but changing the form of the building everytime its function changes is not possible. They say, Adopt a “Universal Design Scheme”.
• Horizontal and vertical circulation Horizontal circulation consists of elements such as the corridors and lobbies. Vertical circulation includes elevators, staircases, ramps etc. The efficiency of the placement of these services should be analyzed.
• Site Planning and Landscape detailing Refer to the Article on the blog “ A Guide to Site Planning “, which deals with different aspects considered in site planning in greater detail.
• Structural details such as Column and Beam Design, Steel  and Composite structures Understanding and analyzing the structural details is also important. For example, large span structures such as Auditoriums use trusses or heavy I-section steel beams and sometimes shell-roofing that involve construction of Ring beams whereas in small span structures, RCC construction is used.
• Building Services such as Fire Alarm system, HVAC, Water supply systems The working of Fire Alarm system, HVAC and Water supply systems should be examined and their space requirements are to be analyzed.
• Design detailing considering the Barrier-free environment Implementation of the Barrier-free architecture for comfortable access to disabled people. Most public buildings have mandatory accessibility systems for the disabled. Check out Guidelines to the Disability Standards for Access to Premises 200X. (Australian law)
• Socio-economic profile of user group It might also be important to find out the socio-economic profile of the people using the services so as to determine their requirements and available resources.
• Parking details and standards Measure the allotted parking area on site, say for ten cars, then calculate the average area for each car and compare it with the areas specified in TSS (Time Savers Standards).

Conducting a case study is hard work. Sometimes, it is so small, it could be done in days, but on other occasions, it takes weeks to document and compile all the data. It involves going on-site, meeting and taking to people, lots of traveling, plenty of photography, and some fun. It is the most important of assignments you might get as an architectural students.

This is where you learn from reality, actual stuff, as opposed to only theoretical knowledge. When I was learning law I took every chance I could get to learn from people actually doing the work I was aiming for, yes I did “donate” many hours to Winters & Yonker, P.A. , but in the end is was worth every minute. Looking at places first hand  and documenting information would give you many insights and ideas and let you peek into the minds of professional architects and designers who have used years of experience and improvisation to design and create incredible structures.

Case studies of some of the famous Structures mentioned below:

 SPA – Delhi

VNIT – Nagpur

Thiagaraj Convention Center

TKM College of Engineering (Chennai)

42 thoughts on “How to conduct a Case Study?”

We want to design an oldage home how u can help

You live in Delhi and I am in Hyderabad, so I might not be of much help, unless you want my father (Architect Javed – http://www.architectjaved.com/ ) to design it for you.

If you want more info on Old age homes, see http://architecture-student.com/design-guide/guide-to-designing-old-age-homes/

The hardest part is looking for related literature especially when your research topic is new. It may be that difficult but it is surely unique when done and published.

I’m an attorney and when studying law we spent the bulk of the time reading what is called caselaw which is existing decisions that forms our law. We are to find cases that support our clients’ fact scenario so that the decision is our clients’ favour.

The parallel with architecture is uncanny as architects use existing structures and environments to form the basis for a new project. As the saying goes, “no need to reinvent the wheel” but it’s good to evolve from existing structures. Likewise, the law evolves.

Case Study is itself a very necessary work to be done before appearing to anything to be done. It’s just a sample report before appearing for any cases to get it solved properly.

A good blog to read on and to be shared amongst all…..

For me, Case Study is really important on anything you are planning in order to have a well planned and a successful outcome. Doing a Case Study on anything gives you an idea for the pro’s and con’s of that. I’m glad there’s such an article like this!

Case studies are a great way to plan lots of things, not just architectural projects. It’s almost like doing the work without actually doing the work, so you can identify sticking points, potential problems and lots more.

thank you that really helped….!! im a first year b.arch student….

Hello Nanda, We are glad our site has been of help to you. Do keep visiting. We wish you all the best for your future!

will do 🙂 thanku 🙂

it’s really helpful!! thx a lot!

i am beginning my thesis in B. arch. n so m requiring a hypothetical site of about 3 acres here in india with the climate warm and humid. topic is performing arts centre in kerala. how do i find and fix a hypothetical site?

Hello Resbi, The best way to find an appropriate site for your project could be done by using Google Earth.

i would like to know the steps and what case studies to do about for a multispeciality hospital

As im in 2nd year of b.arch

I have not much studed about much detailed

Like casestudy,site analysis’

It will help me

Thanks u again

U can see our 1st year architecture 1st month exibition video on youtube

hi !!!I’m a 1st year b.arch and v hav 2 do a case study on an architect’s firm . cud u tell me wat all i shud include in my case study???v hav to do a case study on a bungalow also…

Hello Joan,

The following links will be of help to you.

Guide for conducting a casestudy for a villa

Also check out: Cafeteria Design

i am a first year b.arch student..i have got a case study to do..can u please guide me by teling how many sheets should i present..please guide me..as soon as posible..ur site helpd me to knw how to do case study but i also want to know how many sheets should it include..please guide me..

tanx for this good work.pls do continue.

Number of sheets doesn’t matter until you pin down your inferences correctly …… for a first year student i guess a max of 1 or 2 A1 sheets or a ppt of less than 20 slides should be enough in terms of quantity …. make sure you put the point across 🙂 🙂

This was really helpful. Thank you very much. Just about to go for a case study on 2 schools.

What r all things I should see for bedroom attached bathroom casestudy.

Thank you for some other wonderful article. The place else could anyone get that type of information in such an ideal manner of writing? I’ve a presentation next week, and I am on the search for such information.

this really helped alot Thankyou

love your articles ,wld love to b part of this, was just surfing the net and found this…….good work to u guys

Hey, this really helped I’m goin for a case study on resorts tmrw Would appreciate any pointers to observe there thanq ????

hello,i am second year b.arch student,i have to do case study on luxury primary school . cud you please tell me what all should i include in my case study ???and also case study for the kids school…………

For a project like that, you should visit a minimum of two schools. One would be a high profile school and the other one could be a private low budget school or a government school. After you casestudies you will be able to draw comparisons between the two and that should help you come up with your list of requirements. let me know if you have any other questions.

I am doing by 3rd year b arch n this time our project is based on housing for artist Wht all shld I keep in mind while designing for artist n der family member who are non artist

Hello Monisha, I recommend you to read this article: http://architecture-student.com/case-studies/design-of-an-artist%E2%80%99s-house-guide-for-conducting-a-casestudy-of-a-villa/

Nice bolg. Thank you. I am barch student. I would like to know how to do comparison study of any two building. Now I have done with case study of a gallery (ngma Bangalore). I have done sub case study as well as literature study. But I want to know how exactly should I do comparitive study. More than write up comparison, How well can I present it

I am doing thesis on Orphan children and oldage home combining both generations together so as to create marvelous socially conceptual design. Help me with bestest case study from which I can learn alot to create spaces for both.

I am final year in srm rampuram school od architecture and doing thesis on township. So could anyone help with sum reference for case study and literature study as soon as possible

Hello Revathy,

When you say township… what kind of township. Give us some description of your thesis project so that we could give suggestions as to how you could proceed.

thanks a lot it is great information has answered some of my questions

hello.i have taken up the topic EMBASSY(any country) Design for my final year thesis. i was wondering if you could help me out with the plans for casestudies,since i hear it will be quite a problem with all the security.

It is not an excellent topic for design. You should have chosen something that would let you explore your ideas. Embassy building would look like a commercial block…nothing interesting… this is not something people havent seen. I do not think you will get permission for a livecasestudy of any embassy. No one would let you in. So if you still have time, i would suggest you choose a more design oriented topic.

hey i am doing thesis on low cost building materials and technology.i wanna do commercial project on this topic. can you suggest me project name or case study on this topic.

I have taken service apartment complex for tourist as my final year thesis. Help me to find the best case study for thesis.

Hello. Im studying b.arch 4th year. Im supposed to do a thesis case study, on Automobile industry i.e a car manufacturing plant. Can you please help me regarding this, as what all i should include and what steps i need to follow to complete my case study. Please reply me asap. Thank you.

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A case study is a research strategy that uses "an empirical inquiry that investigates a phenomenon or setting" in its real life context. (Adapted from Groat, Architectural Research Methods , 346).

Check out these books from the library for further guidance on case studies:

• Flyvbjerg, Bent. "Five Misunderstandings About Case Study Research." Qualitative Inquiry, 12, no. 2 (April 2006): 219-245.

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CASE STUDY AS A TOOL FOR ARCHITECTURAL RESEARCH

Research has been part of human activity as man remains an inquisitive animal. So many methods are employed in the field of research which case study is one of them. Case studies are widely used in most professions, including medicine, law, engineering, business, planning and architecture. The use of case study as a method of inquiry is becoming increasingly common in the study and practice of architecture. The primary body of knowledge in architecture is built up through written and visual documentation of projects. It is imperative for architects to think about case study research within a performance-based framework that links design decision to measurable outcome. Therefore, this paper shall reveal information on how to conduct a facility-based case study that will yield useful information for architectural study and practice. The objective of this paper is to argue for a standardized approach for case studies, present a framework and methodology providing guidance on how to conduct case studies. A desired end goal of case study research is to develop a framework of facility database that could be used to inform the development of design guidelines and provide necessary information for study and best practice.

Related Papers

In Flux: Design education in a changing world (Proceedings of the 5th International DEFSA Conference, 3-5 October 2007, Cape Town, South Africa, ISBN 978-0-620-39561-8), cd-rom.

Mike Christenson

This paper describes the results of an academic assignment given to a group of undergraduate architectural design students, in which each student was required to conduct research and compose case-study reports on selected works of architecture to support individual identification of each of these works as “good”, “bad”, or “ugly”. Each student was free to select whichever works of architecture they wished as subjects for their research, and to illustrate these works by whatever means they found appropriate. Each student selected several buildings as examples, and each student composed a multi-page illustrated and written report summarizing their research and concluding with specific attributions for each selected work.

Bob Giddings

This Research Roadmap aims to establish the principal issues in Architectural Design and Management. It is an advance for architectural research to be organised in this way; and addresses six themes: Conceptual Framework State of the Art Future Scenario Development Strategy Research Contribution Research Agenda It sets out the scope for research and innovation, and suggests how this may receive more prominence on the international stage.

Mirjana Devetakovic

Abstract In this paper the authors discuss challenging interrelations between the contemporary architectural practice and the expanding facility management (FM) sector. After defining FM and determining the part of it that is directly dependent on an architectural expertise, the authors identify possible interests in combining knowledge between the two fields, both dealing with the built environment. The empirical part of the research is a study of the current development of FM concepts and strategies in Serbia, and examination of the position and a possible impact of the local architectural practice. A systematization of local real-estate from the point of FM includes three different groups of objects: the ones with integrated FM strategy in the early design stage; the ones with imported FM strategy from international firms; and the last incomparably largest group of objects that esperately need an appropriate FM concept. The methodology of tracking the FM related knowledge has been applied with the aim to recognize key actors in the FM knowledge exchange on the national level, as well as to understand current position and propose possible activities for the local architectural community. Keywords: Facility management, architectural practice, Serbia Citation: Devetakovic, Mirjana, and Radojevic, Milan. "Facility Management: A Paradigm for Expanding the Scope of Architectural Practice," in ArchNet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, vol. 1, issue 3 (2007).

European Journal of Engineering and Formal Sciences

Leyda Sarmiento

Renewable Energy

Dean Hawkes

e-Design in …

Danniel Roumian

Peter Andreas Sattrup

As Architectural Research is in the process of re-establishing itself as a research discipline according to university standards, it may appear as if the pool of knowledge generated by more than three millennia of experimental research and its internal systems of evaluation are being grossly devalued and colonized by attitudes to research that are imported or even imposed from the outside. Does architectural research have to rely on imported theory from philosophy, the social or the natural sciences in order to meet societal acceptance of its relevance? What constitutes architectural research as a particular research discipline, what are its main characteristics and how can its paradigms, methodologies, strategies and tactics be described? What should be essential aspects of doctoral curriculae in architecture? Discussing Groat and Wang’s Architectural Research Methods in the light of Reflected Practice, and Organizational Knowledge Creation, a framework is presented that includes e...

Rapit Suvanajata

ARbD (book of Abstracts)

João D E V E R N A Bilstein

Research by design is a broader concept that includes “practice-based research” and “practice-led research” which means that we are talking about two kinds of methodologies of research: one involves research through practice and the other involves research about practice. The difference is methodological, because one is research where the inquiry is leading to new understandings about and within the processes of design conception while the other is research about something that does not yet exist and which uses architectural practice as the research method. In terms of the general concept of architectural research, this conference adopts the definition given in the EAAE Research Charter (2012), which we helped to develop: “Architectural research is original investigation undertaken in order to generate knowledge, insights and understanding based on competences, methods and tools proper to the discipline of architecture. It has its own particular knowledge base, mode, scope, tactics and strategies.” And in turn, research by design is defined as “any kind of inquiry in which (…) the architectural design process forms the pathway through which new insights, knowledge, practices or products come into being. It generates critical inquiry through design work.”

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Software Engineering Institute

Case Studies in Software Architecture

December 13, 2017 • collection.

More and more organizations are realizing the importance of software architecture in their systems' success in areas such as avionics systems, network tactical systems, internet information systems, architecture reconstruction, automotive systems, distributed interactive simulation systems, scenario-based architectural analysis, system acquisition, and wargame simulation systems. 

The SEI can provide information and guidance about architecture-related questions and problems. Please contact us . Below are published case studies of real-world applications of architecture-centric engineering. They include case studies using

• architecture evaluation, analysis, and design
• the Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method (ATAM)
• the Quality Attribute Workshops (QAW)
• architecture reconstruction

Collection Items

A principled way to use frameworks in architecture design, november 30, 2012 • article, by humberto cervantes (universidad autonoma metropolitana–iztapalapa) , perla velasco-elizondo (autonomous university of zacatecas) , rick kazman.

In the past decade, researchers have devised many methods to support and codify architecture design.

Developing Architecture-Centric Engineering Within TSP

April 1, 2013 • brochure, by software engineering institute.

This information sheet describes the Bursatec project.

Relating Business Goals to Architecturally Significant Requirements for Software Systems

April 30, 2010 • technical note, by paul c. clements , len bass.

The purpose of this report is to facilitate better elicitation of high-pedigree quality attribute requirements. Toward this end, we want to be able to elicit business goals reliably and understand …

System Architecture Virtual Integration: An Industrial Case Study

October 31, 2009 • technical report, by peter h. feiler , jörgen hansson (university of skovde) , dionisio de niz , lutz wrage.

This report introduces key concepts of the SAVI paradigm and discusses the series of development scenarios used in a POC demonstration to illustrate the feasibility of improving the quality of …

Evaluating Software Architectures: Methods and Case Studies

October 22, 2001 • book, by paul c. clements , rick kazman , mark h. klein.

This book is a comprehensive guide to software architecture evaluation, describing specific methods that can quickly and inexpensively mitigate enormous risk in software projects.

Scenario-Based Analysis of Software Architecture

November 1, 1996 • white paper, by gregory abowd , len bass , paul c. clements , rick kazman.

This paper presents an experiential case study illustrating the methodological use of scenarios to gain architecture-level understanding and predictive insight into large, real-world systems in various domains.

An Architectural Analysis Case Study: Internet Information Systems

April 1, 1995 • white paper.

This paper presents a method for analyzing systems for nonfunctional qualities from the perspective of their software architecture and applies this method to the field of Internet information systems (IISs).

Using the SEI Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method to Evaluate WIN-T: A Case Study

August 31, 2005 • technical note, by paul c. clements , john k. bergey , dave mason.

This report describes the application of the SEI ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) to the U.S. Army's Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) system.

Using the Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method (ATAM) to Evaluate the Software Architecture for a Product Line of Avionics Systems: A Case Study

June 30, 2003 • technical note, by mario r. barbacci , paul c. clements , anthony j. lattanze , linda m. northrop , william wood.

This 2003 technical note describes an ATAM evaluation of the software architecture for an avionics system developed for the Technology Applications Program Office (TAPO) of the U.S. Army Special Operations …

Using the Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method to Evaluate a Wargame Simulation System: A Case Study

November 30, 2001 • technical note, by lawrence g. jones , anthony j. lattanze.

This report describes the application of the ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) to a major wargaming simulation system.

Using the Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method to Evaluate a Reference Architecture: A Case Study

May 31, 2000 • technical note, by brian p. gallagher.

This report describes the application of the ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method) to evaluate a reference architecture for ground-based command and control systems.

Using Quality Attribute Workshops to Evaluate Architectural Design Approaches in a Major System Acquisition: A Case Study

June 30, 2000 • technical note, by john k. bergey , mario r. barbacci , william wood.

This report describes a series of Quality Attribute Workshops (QAWs) that were conducted on behalf of a government agency during its competitive acquisition of a complex, tactical, integrated command and …

Architecture Reconstruction to Support a Product Line Effort: Case Study

June 30, 2001 • technical note, by liam o'brien.

This report describes the architecture reconstruction process that was followed when the SEI performed architecture reconstructions on three small automotive motor systems.

Architecture Reconstruction Case Study

March 31, 2003 • technical note.

This report outlines an architecture reconstruction carried out at the SEI on a software system called VANISH, which was developed for prototyping visualizations.

Use of Quality Attribute Workshops (QAWs) in Source Selection for a DoD System Acquisition: A Case Study

May 31, 2002 • technical note, by john k. bergey , william wood.

This case study outlines how a DoD organization used architecture analysis and evaluation in a major system acquisition to reduce program risk.

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Real estate developments in residential architecture: a case study of Jeddah

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• Published: 08 May 2024

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• Alaa M. Shatwan   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-6887-341X 1  

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Home should be a place for social activities that satisfy both physical and social needs. Real estate developers in Jeddah currently show little consideration for cultural and social patterns of users in residential interior layouts. Therefore, this study aims to investigate apartments released by real estate developers in Jeddah from users’ perspectives. Qualitative and quantitative approaches are applied through in-depth interviews with 21 participants. The interviews investigate participants’ satisfaction, desire to make changes, reasons for making changes, and reasons for not making changes. This study finds that the majority of participants want to make changes to the layout of their homes owing to social activities. The SPSS analysis shows that most participants are less satisfied with the home layouts of RED than homes that are self-built, with a statistical significance of P = 0.002. This study recommends that RED companies should consider open spaces when designing apartments for sale so as to allow users to divide the interior layouts of reception and living zones according to their needs. In order to achieve this by RED, the study recommends more study by electrical engineer for electricity switches location, architects for window location, and construction engineers for column arrangement.

Article Highlights

This study investigates satisfaction with apartments bought in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The study discusses finding in comparison between self-builder and Real estate- developer.

The study conducts 21 interviews with residents and applies a mixed qualitative– quantitative approach for the analysis.

The study discussed privacy, safety and room size or layout as factors for making changes.

In this study a self-builder refers to an owner who deals with a contractor to build a home on their land.

RED refers to Real estate developers

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Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.

1 Introduction

Home is the most important place for all people, as it is where they perform most of their activities, such as sleeping, eating, relaxing, cooking, and working. In the Middle East, major, economic and social changes have occurred over the last 10 years, with major shifts in the cities of most countries [ 1 ]. As a result, noticeable changes in economy and culture have occurred, reflecting people’s behaviors and lifestyles, including those related to housing [ 2 ]. Based on these changes, the Saudi 2030 vision aims to increase the number of Saudis who own homes, a common dream in Saudi Arabia [ 3 ].

Many studies have discussed the provision of affordable housing design. They have highlighted insufficient housing as a major issue in many countries [ 4 , 5 ]. For instance, Mulliner and Algrnas [ 6 ] investigated whether housing design fulfill residents’ need and results in housing satisfaction. Ali [ 7 ] argued that home design quality requires further investigation. Other studies, stated that professionals do not focus on thermal comfort or sustainability as much as they care about finishing, building quality, internal layout, and design [ 4 , 8 ]. Meanwhile, many studies have asserted that internal layout and residents’ needs at home are not considered in current design in different countries [ 4 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. In Saudi Arabia, public-private partnership is established to increase the involvement of private sector in order to help in financing and providing affordable house [ 13 ].

2 Factors influencing home purchases

Al-Nahdi, Nyakwende [ 11 ] studied the factors that influence the purchase of homes in Saudi Arabia. He asserts that attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and finance are the major factors guiding Saudi consumers to purchase real estate. Many studies agree that attitude is a major factor influencing people ’s home [ 11 , 14 , 15 ]. Attitude is defined as a person favoring or disfavoring an action [ 16 ]. It is also defined as the way in which a person reacts to an object [ 17 ]. Therefore, customers compare the available service with what they expect; if they feel that the provided service does not meet their expectations, it would dissatisfy them. However, if customers meet their expectations and feel satisfied, they purchase from a service provider [ 18 ]. This is in line with [ 19 ], who asserted that purchasers’ feelings are a factor affecting those who buy prefabricated houses. This indicates that the psychological mechanisms underpinning human needs must be considered in home design to fulfill essential human needs [ 20 ]. Meanwhile, many studies have discussed how cultural values and changes in social lifestyles affect people’s preferences for home [ 21 , 22 ] as home reflects social changes [ 2 ].

2.1 Society and culture

Some studies have claimed that a residence is an image that shows the connection between the built environment and cultural values. Therefore, the residence is a window that shows the relationship between culture and the built environment according, create community identity[ 23 ].

This does not end as a building face; it also continues to the interior layout as culture can be recognized from the home layout [ 24 ]. The interior Layout of a residence is a major indicator of its culture and lifestyle [ 22 , 25 ]. Shehab and Kandar [ 21 ] found a strong relationship between home layouts and social changes in Jordan. According to Yazdanfar and Naserdoost [ 26 ] homes are places where people perform their social activities, but there is a noticeable ignorance of the behavioral, cultural, and residential patterns of users in the contemporary design construction industry. Many studies have discussed the relationship between the home and sociocultural values that affect user activities. These factors vary from social norms, cultural values, lifestyles, social status, social network, hospitality, gender segregation, safety, and privacy [2, 9, 21, 22, 24, 25].

The governments of some countries, such as Nigeria, have started to encourage optimal housing design to accommodate user preferences, leading to the production of homes that consider the sociocultural attributes of residence [ 27 ]. According to Mnea and Zairul [ 4 ] architectural design that fulfills social needs in Saudi Arabia is called “ socially based design, ” as many studies have confirmed the importance of home, health, and social factors that reflect home design housing [ 4 , 28 ]. Abed, Obeidat [ 12 ] found that sociocultural factors play a major role in residents’ satisfaction and unit layout transformation. The author asserts that sociocultural factors lead people to change their home layouts. The four main reasons for layout transformation are gender segregation, privacy, social networking, and safety. The quantitative and qualitative analyses in this study revealed that privacy is a major social factor in the internal layout.

The issue of privacy has been addressed in many studies, as it plays a major role in spatial design. It is one of the reasons why residents change their interior layout after renting or buying a home [ 2 , 9 ]. Although privacy is important to all humans, it is highly connected to religion and culture in the Middle East [ 29 , 30 , 31 ].

2.2 Layout transformation

Layout transformation differs from rearrangement. rearrangement changes the color of walls or furniture. Meanwhile, structural transformations, such as breaking or adding walls, result in home layout transformation, which can occur over time in a series of processes [ 32 ] . Others have defined residential layout changes as the process of expanding or modifying interior or exterior layout arrangements. These changes can occur in small or large parts of a home, leading to structural changes. This is done for various reasons such as social, growth, and self-expression [ 33 ]. Similarly, Makachia [ 34 ], van Griethuijsen [ 35 ] concurred that this transformation is a result of the physical, behavioral, and cultural needs of residents. Therefore, understanding residents’ social and physical needs helps create relationships between the motivational factors for users and the housing layout. According to Abed, Obeidat [ 12 ] layout transformation is a common phenomenon that require s” identification in terms of cause and effect ”.

Other studies have discussed cultural changes and home layouts in the Western and Eastern regions [ 2 , 12 , 24 , 31 ]. Additionally, Rapoport [ 36 ] states that home layouts can be supportive or disruptive of residents’ social and cultural needs. Therefore, changes in culture

should be considered in housing design, as it is an important determinant of residents’ satisfaction [ 22 ]. Coming along with Farhat and Alaeddine [ 37 ] claimed that respect for users’ needs should be considered in many aspects, including psychological and economic aspects. Privacy is considered a major psychological and physical aspect affecting residents’ comfort. Privacy is either visual or physical and is a major part of cultural and religious beliefs [ 2 , 30 , 31 ]. This is in line with other studies that have found that ignoring cultural needs, such as privacy, leads to residents’ dissatisfaction and making changes in their home layout [ 2 , 12 ]. Privacy requires gender segregation between the same family or between the family and guests [ 2 , 12 , 31 , 38 ]. Tomah, Ismail [ 29 ] assessed home layouts in Amman to discover how new domestic designs affect users’ privacy in their homes. He analyzed different home layouts in terms of privacy and functional zones. This study found that the number of zones and privacy increased in the homes. He asserted that there is a real need to study different space layouts to achieve a high level of privacy, which will result in an increase in the quality of life.

Avogo [ 39 ] highlighted that transforming the layout of public homes is an essential part of human life. In the same context, a study by Obeidat, Abed [ 9 ] highlighted the importance of creating levels of flexibility in public residential layouts. He asserted that if architects consider residents' satisfaction and spatial flexibility in their design, they can help stakeholders understand these points during the planning and design stages. Minami [ 10 ] investigated layout changes in different types of apartments in Japan and found that the room layout changed in most cases to increase the size of living rooms or private rooms. He also found that most layout changes occur after children become older and leave home. They moved the partitioning wall to separate the two rooms to adapt to the changing needs of the residents. Similarly, Agyefi-Mensah S [ 40 ] asserted that most residents modified their home layout after moving home to fulfill their needs.

The concept of flexibility in home design involves creating movable parts or open plans [ 41 ]. For example, in traditional Malay housing, social and religious values are reflected through the application of spatial flexibility. Flexibility refers to an open plan with fewer walls and boundaries to create open spaces [ 42 ]. Flexible domestic practices provide an opportunity for users to participate in their home design, such as arranging their living areas according to their needs and life changes. This indicates that flexible housing helps users develop a sense of belonging to their living space, as they can adapt it according to their different demands [ 41 ].

Studies have investigated the concept of layout transformation from a historical perspective, such as [ 2 ] or from socioeconomic, cost, and price policies [ 3 ]. Other studies in Japan, Jordon investigated the phenomena of home layout transformation according to their culture needs [ 9 , 10 , 24 ]. Despite the importance of such studies, little attention has been paid to home layout transformations in Saudi Arabia. Mohanna [ 43 ]studies housing preferences across Saudi Arabia in Dammam. The study found that of the three types of homes–villas, detached duplexes, and semi-detached duplexes–detached duplexes are most preferred for nuclear families. However, the statistics show that apartments are the most purchased type of residence in Jeddah. Therefore, this study focuses on home layout transformation, particularly in Jeddah City, which is the second most important city in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In addition, the

city has faced a boom in apartments designed by real-estate developers over the last 10 years. The high cost of houses in Jeddah has led people to buy apartments.

2.3 Domestics in Jeddah

Jeddah City is located on the west coast of Saudi Arabia and experiences hot and humid weather [ 44 ]. It is the second largest urban area and an important commercial center in the Kingdom [ 45 ]. The Population in Jeddah has grown rapidly over the last 10 years, reaching an estimated 3,712,917 million. The number of people who owned apartments in Jeddah was 109, 870, and 39,464, respectively. Meanwhile, the number of people who own a house is 65,184 and 24, 426 rent a house [ 46 ]. This shows that Apartment is more preferred by people in Jeddah even if they dream of owning a house due to high cost of living [ 47 ]. This made the release of apartments a trend in Jeddah City, as finance is a major factor affecting customers’ decisions when purchasing housing. Similarly, Paço [ 48 ] claims that finance is sometimes the most influential purchaser decision when buying a home. In Saudi Arabia, most reports assert high demand in the real estate market for real estate units, especially residences, write the number of home needs [ 49 ]. To help Saudis own their homes by providing funds. This fund is called the Real Estate Development Fund (REDF). It reached 500, 000 SR with no interest. The condition for this fund, which takes a maximum of 25 years to return, is to be above 21 years old and did not receive the fund before, so it was once per life. However, people seek homes that fulfill their needs; therefore, it is important to investigate the factors guiding people to buy a home in the Saudi market [ 11 ]. Therefore, this study aims to investigate satisfaction with apartments bought in Jeddah from users’ perception in relation to type of builder either self-builder and Real estate-developer as little studies have been conducted to discuss this subject. In order to fulfill this gap in Knowledge, the study conducted 21 interviews with residents and apply a mixed qualitative– quantitative approach to analyze reasons for making changes in home is such as privacy, safety, and room size or layout, and obstacles for not making changes.

3 Methodology

This study applied a mixed-method qualitative and quantitative approach to investigate participants’ satisfaction with their purchased apartments. It also discusses participants’ desire to make changes and reasons for making changes or for not being able to make them. Face-to-face, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with space owners (only females). Spatial architecture plans of the participants' apartments were discussed through interviews to help them discuss the issues in the apartment plan; however, most plans could not be displayed here, as most participants requested.

3.1 Interviews

The research explained study objectives, aim, and role of participants in the study. A verbal consent upon starting interview was obtained from all participants. The researcher conducted in- depth semi-structured interviews with 21 residents who owned apartments in Jeddah to collect the data required for the study. The interview questions were presented in Arabic because most

participants spoke Arabic only. All Interviews were conducted face-to-face, and the participants brought a printed copy of the apartment floor plan. The interviews lasted 30–45 min. The aim of these interviews was to understand why residents changed the layout of their apartments either before or after they lived in it. NVivi 12 software was used to analyze the data and identify the main points from the participants’ discussions. Interviews were conducted after obtaining permission from participants. the following axes are addressed:

First axis: Demographic questions, gender, age, family members, and type of home.

Second axes: years living in the apartments, type of builder.

Third axes: satisfaction with the apartments.

Fourth axis: The three major factors for layout transformation are privacy, safety, room size, and flat layout.

Fifth axes: obstacle that stops them from making the change.

A previous study discussed the reasons for layout changes, such as privacy, safety, hospitality, and social values, as shown in Table 1 . The reasons discussed in this study are safety, privacy, room size, and flat layout.

3.2 Study sample

A total of 21 female were interviewed to represent the study sample. Table 2 organizes participants according to their demographic information, age, family members, and type of home.

3.3 Data analysis

Analysis of the interview transcript theme organization was performed using NVivo 12. NVivo helps the researcher to categorize, count, and organize the number of participants who discussed certain themes or gave similar answers. The analysis was performed in five steps as shown in Fig. 1 . First, participants were asked whether they were self-builders or real estate developers. It discussed the participants’ desire to make changes (whether they did or did not). Subsequently, the changes made by the participants and the reasons for these changes were analyzed. Subsequently, we discuss the reasons for these changes. It is important to highlight whether these changes were related to the type of builder used. Also, the author’s observation of current floor plans for RED that is for sale is analyzed.

Source: Author (2024)

Steps of data analysis.

3.4 Statistical analysis

To support the interview findings, a statistical analysis of the 21 participants was performed to determine whether the type of builder or years of living in the flat created any significant differences in terms of the need for layout transformation or participants’ satisfaction. SPSS software was used to perform statistical analysis (version 27). A chi-square test was used to examine the participants’ satisfaction and type of builder or years of living in the flat, which resulted in any significant differences needed for layout transformation. The data presented in the results are frequencies. Statistical significance was set at be statistically significant.

4 Results and discussion

4.1 type of builder.

Table 3 illustrates that the majority of participants (6%) had bought their homes in the last 5 years through a real estate development company. Only 47% of participants had self-built. It is important to note that 28% participant out of 47% owned a home 10 years previously. This indicates that real estate developers were more likely to be major sellers in the last 5 years. It was also found that the most common age for buying a home was 40 years and older. This could be because time was needed to save money, as participants mentioned. It is also found that 13 out of 21 own home in east and south zone of Jeddah. This is because homes in these zones are less expensive than those in the northern or western zones of the city. This is in line with the two most influential factors affecting buyer decisions to own a house: location and price (Nowilaty and Saci [ 50 ]). Finance is a strong factor affecting home purchases in Saudi Arabia [ 11 ].

4.2 Layout transformation

Previous studies have revealed that the lack of sociocultural considerations in designing houses’ internal layouts limits residents’ satisfaction [ 2 , 22 , 30 ]. Users change their residential interior layout in public housing because of a lack of flexibility [ 51 ]. Other studies have revealed that gender segregation and privacy are two major factors for layout transformations in residence [ 9 , 12 ]. Previous studies have discussed reasons for layout changes, including privacy, safety, hospitality, and social values [ 9 , 12 ]. Safety affects housing layout, as it makes residents cover balconies and add new entrances [ 12 ].

In this study, Fig. 2 shows compares the desire to make changes in relation to years of residence and type of builder. The majority of participants (50%) who bought homes from real estate developers wanted to make up to four changes within less than 5 years of living. Meanwhile, only 20% participants who had built their own homes wanted to make changes. Fig. 3 Privacy was the main reason, with 63% citing this as the reason for changes, followed by apartment layout and room size (44%) and safety (40%). Participants discussed that the room size is much larger if it is built by a self-builder, especially before 10 years. Regarding safety, Fig. 4 illustrates that 45% of participants claimed that in real estate developer apartments, windows had no safety iron on the outside to protect children, as in the past for self-built homes. Furthermore, an open kitchen was an issue for 31% of participants, as they found that it was not safe for children. In addition to safety, Fig. 5 shows that,18% of participants found that open kitchens were not private if there were guests.

Reasons for making changes.

Number of changes participants want to make at their home in relation to years of residence and type of builder.

Safety issues in participants home design.

Privacy issues with participants’ home design.

In the last 5 years, flat layout and room size have decreased. This is in line with Minami [ 10 ], who found that in Japan, residents change their home layout to increase the size of living rooms or private rooms. In align with Minami, observation in this study indicates that breaking walls to make one large room from two rooms was a common change among the participants. Participants made this change in the reception and dining rooms. Table 4 shows the observation of architectural and constructional Issues at participants' floor plan. It highlights that distance between two columns is small, which will not help if residence want to open two rooms to become one big room. It also shows that the number of doors can be an issue when arranging furniture. Additionally, big façade window with no safe balcony for cleaning needs more study by architects. One of the most important observations that roof apartments do not have big window for view, which is also recommended by residences. Hence, the internal design does not provide enough space for domestic Worker room, storage spaces for machines such as Vacuum, and laundry room. Bedroom must have enough space for closet to store clothes. Therefore, Specialists in designing interior spaces must intervene in the design, meaning that the plans can be presented as competitions in architecture colleges in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to come up with the best design that is compatible with the needs of the Saudi family.

The SPSS analysis in Table 5 shows the main causes of the changes in houses. Among safety, privacy, and number of rooms, only privacy was statistically significant (P=0.02). For individuals who made changes in their houses, privacy scored the lowest at 2.8± 1.6 whereas for individuals who did not apply changes, privacy scored higher at 4.2±1.1.

4.3 Data presented as mean and stander division

Table 6 presents the relationships between satisfaction, years of living, and type of builder. General satisfaction was not related to years of living or the type of builder. A statistical significant correlation was observed between satisfaction with distribution and type of builder, where individuals who bought their homes from real estate developers had a lower satisfaction score of 1.8± 1.2 compared with self-builders, who scored 3.9± 1.3 (P=0.002).

4.4 Reasons for not making changes

As Al-Nahdi, Nyakwende [ 11 ], Paço [ 48 ], Abd Rahman, Sulong [ 52 ] showed, finance is the main reason users buy houses or flats. This study found that financial reasons were a major reason for not making changes in the participants’ homes after purchasing, as shown in Fig. 6 . This indicates that 59% of participants claimed that they could not make changes because of financial reasons. Then, 50% cited building rules for making external changes, such as making a balcony because a window was large and could not be cleaned from the outside, necessitating a small balcony. Time and leaving home were cited least often as the reasons at 27% and 13%, respectively.

Reasons for not making changes.

The SPSS analysis in Table 7 represents the barriers to not making changes to the house. Although there were no statistically significant differences between individuals who made changes and those who did not (P>0.05), the financial barriers for not making changes scored highest at 4.2±1.4, followed by building rules 4±1.6, going out 3±1.6, and time 2.6±1.5.

5 Conclusion

The Saudi 2030 vision aims to increase the number of Saudis who own home, a common dream in Saudi Arabia [ 3 ]. This makes home ownership an important investment for Saudi families, as most people spend a considerable amount of time at home. Thus, home design should consider residents’ needs [ 12 ]. Mulliner and Algrnas [ 6 ] investigated whether housing design fulfills residents’ needs and results in housing satisfaction. Ali [ 7 ] argued that home design quality requires further investigation. Meanwhile, many studies have asserted that internal layout and residents’ needs at home are not considered in the current design of homes in different countries [ 4 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. In aligned with the above studies, this study revealed that participants; needs should be considered by real estate developers in Jeddah. This study discussed participants’ need for layout transformation in their own apartments in Jeddah. A qualitative approach was employed to conduct interviews with 21 female residents. The study found that the majority of participants wanted to make changes to their homes owing to considerations of privacy, safety, and room size or layout. However, this is another expense on top of the high cost of buying a home. The study found that financial reasons were the main reasons constraining the study participants from making changes to their homes. Residents were not fully satisfied with the layout of most apartments designed for sale in Jeddah. The were differences in satisfaction of house distribution between homes bought from real estate developers and self-built homes, where self-builders were more satisfied than those who bought from real estate developers.

In Conclusion, it is important to highlight that this study is only limited to on city, which is Jeddah. Further studies need to be conducted in different cities of Saudi Arabia. Also, the study recommends that real estate development companies should consider open spaces in the design of apartments for sale to allow users to divide the interior layouts of reception and living zones according to their needs.

6 Recommendations

This study also recommends Stakeholders more survey about open space sale apartments.

Further research by construction engineers to study column arrangement, as this is one of the obstacles to making changes.

Study by electrical engineers is recommended as switches location for open space is important.

Availability of data and materials

Data are available upon reasonable request from corresponding author.

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Shatwan, A.M. Real estate developments in residential architecture: a case study of Jeddah. J. Umm Al-Qura Univ. Eng.Archit. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43995-024-00059-z

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Visual and Design Changes: Examples showing the evolution of marketing design choices

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Quick Case Study #1: How IV safety company changed from stock photo to real images that communicate its value proposition, moved conversations with prospective customers from a sales context to a clinical one

ivWatch claims to have ‘the world’s only solution to detect IV infiltrations and extravasations early.’

BEFORE: Traditional medical marketing

Medical marketing has traditionally been very conservative, and the team’s initial approach was no different. The company’s booth was designed with typical colors for healthcare marketing – blue and white – and stock-like photos of a variety of patient archetypes.

Creative Sample #1: IV safety company tradeshow booth (before)

“We could see there was a great runway to lean into the most important thing about a healthcare brand, which is the human aspect, and not with static images without any real meaning,” said Erin Wendell, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, ivWatch .

Before being hired at ivWatch, Wendell had a 14-year tenure at Under Armour. She saw an opportunity to bring the kind of compelling storytelling that is de rigueur in the consumer world to the heavily regulated – and often very constrained – medical marketing space.

The change in messaging began with a shift in ivWatch’s market focus from the U.S. to Europe and the U.K. “In the U.S., we were making slower inroads than we should have been because of clinicians’ fear of admitting their hospital or unit even had a problem in this arena. In the U.K. and Europe, governmental entities and private hospitals alike are not afraid to admit that IV injuries are happening given that 50% of IVs fail, often through no clinician's fault,” notes Wendell.

To deepen the company’s customer focus in the new market, Wendell organized multiple 10-to-15-day European ‘roadshow tours’ in 2023, visiting eight countries and meeting with numerous potential customers and distributors a day, exhibiting at trade shows, participating in speaking engagements, and traveling daily to another city or country.

During one of these roadshows in Utrecht, The Netherlands, the team visited a children’s hospital where two passionate experts in IV safety were located.

During the visit, the team noticed that there were four nurses surrounding a single incubator. Says Wendell, “You honestly could not make out that the baby was even a baby because it was so young and so small. It took two of the nurses to keep the baby warm at all times while a third and fourth alternated attempts to insert an IV. They were sweating, contorting themselves into painful positions, and failing repeatedly. They were doing everything they could to get a lifesaving IV into this tiny baby. It was heartbreaking, and you could feel the struggle and the pain.”

With this experience fresh in their mind, the team set about revamping its marketing. The initially focused on the company’s trade show presence, since it exhibited at more than 15 trade shows in 2023 alone.

AFTER: Taking a cue from the art told to humanize IV injuries

“Our new marketing campaigns seek to move beyond the artifice of medical advertising and pay tribute to those who have suffered from severe IV extravasation injuries,” Wendell says.

Using graphic images of the kind of premature infants and their IV injuries they witnessed in Utrecht, the team created a gallery concept for the floor of the most influential show in their marketplace. Entitled ‘Pain Should Not Be Silenced,’ ivWatch mounted the equivalent of an art exhibition, showing the human realities and devastations of these injuries for the most vulnerable and voiceless of victims.

 “We realized the week of the show that the images might be disturbing enough in their graphic depiction of the heartbreaking truth of NICU IV injuries that we would be prohibited from exhibiting them as intended – out in the open in our booth,” Wendell says.

And sure enough, the team faced an outcry from the booth assembly crew, who objected to the images, and a tense flight from London to Portland, OR, during which they scrambled to create coverings for the photos as rumors were flying that the images might be censored or even removed. The team quickly fabricated ‘CENSORED’ graphics and brought them to the show so the exhibit could remain, even if organizers required it to be hidden from public view.

Creative Sample #2: IV safety company tradeshow booth (after)

Editor’s Note: We did not include the original, uncensored booth imagery in this article due to the disturbing nature of injuries to premature infants. But if you would like to see them for yourself, you can click here to see the uncensored booth .

RESULTS: Move conversations with prospective customers from a sales context to a clinical one

The gallery was the talk of the show. Even though it has been half a year since the concept debuted, attendees are still contacting ivWatch to discuss the exhibition's impact. One fellow marketing executive wrote to Erin after the conference: ‘I can tell you that upon going to a few other booths shortly after, there was some jealousy around how much buzz you were generating.’

Gary Warren, ivWatch’s CEO, says, “It’s not about selling a product but more about creating a movement. It’s bold. Many practicing this art fear bold and prefer a safe approach and they get lost in the noise of fitting in.”

Booth attendance nearly doubled, and the change positively impacted lead generation. The topic of IV extravasations was historically ignored for the entirety of this annual industry event up until 2023. After the launch of this campaign, key opinion leaders and executives took center stage to discuss the clinical impacts of IV extravasations, and the legalities associated with failure to monitor IVs and future research in the space were discussed.

The traveling gallery concept continues to make waves and now 10 ivWatch distributors around the world have also embraced this storytelling campaign and are seeing similar impact in their markets with commentary at regional and national shows that range from ‘This is the most important product on the show floor’ to ‘Finally, you have been so busy, I have not been able to get to your stand at all’ and ‘What’s this all about, this is the busiest stand in the whole place?’

One of the benefits of this new approach is that it moves conversations with prospective customers from a sales context to a clinical one. “It’s actually allowed us to fast forward our sales conversations, which tend to be very lengthy given the nature of capital and consumable sales processes. Because we now start the conversations at a clinical level – by showing the actual pain and distress this issue causes the most vulnerable of patients – these conversations are now had with a sense of urgency on everyone’s part around solving this problem and helping to prevent the severity of these types of injuries,” notes Wendell.

What started as a test concept has quickly bridged from a physical experience to the digital realm. On LinkedIn, the company’s primary social platform, the team has seen an 18% increase in followers over the last year, an 8.4% engagement rate on its most successful content posted, 73% increase in impressions over the course of one year, and 65% more comments over the last year.

“Perhaps the greatest impact this concept had on our end customers is the opening up of conversations around what has historically been a taboo conversation to have within healthcare environments, which is the fact that infiltrations and extravasations occur far more frequently than clinicians and administrators want to admit,” says Wendell. “Almost every single follow-up conversation we’ve had has started with, ‘I’m so glad this is finally being discussed. We can’t afford to keep sweeping this problem under the rug.’”

Quick Case Study #2: How OT cybersecurity added clarity to product architecture, increased leads 400%

Radiflow is a cybersecurity company used at 8,000 sites globally. The company seeks to reach chief security officers looking for OT/ICS (operation technology/industrial control systems) security solutions.

BEFORE: Confusing product architecture

The company’s product architecture suffered from confusing, R&D-generated names like iSID, iSAP, iCEN, iSEG, or iSIM. These names had no clear meaning or segmentation. They offered no immediate value proposition to customers or purpose that could be understood without digging deep into the product specifications. This, combined with a cluttered website, made it difficult for visitors to understand Radiflow's offerings and take action.

“Although the cybersecurity market is very saturated and has lots of strong players, we saw great potential for Radiflow to thrive and rise above the noise,” says Sarit Lamerovich, CEO and Founder, SAGE Marketing (agency that served as Radiflow’s in-house marketing team).

Understanding products was confusing because customers didn't get what each product did for them.

AFTER: Straightforward product architecture

To improve the perception, the team created a clear product architecture and visual concept to group the products into meaningful clusters. This ‘SEE, KNOW, ACT, MONITOR’ framework utilizes circular visuals to explain the benefits of each cluster and their necessity in holistic OT management:

• SEE: Gain visibility into your OT security landscape
• KNOW: Identify threats and vulnerabilities in your network
• ACT: Manage your risk with a unique framework

These clusters are all encompassed by a higher level – MONITOR. This continuous monitoring system alerts users to any suspicious activity.

Creative Sample #3: New product clusters

By associating the original product names with these clear benefit-driven clusters, the team made them more understandable and relevant to customers.

Creative Sample #4: Visual explanation of the SEE product cluster

RESULTS: Increase in leads

The new product architecture was part of an overall rebranding campaign that also included a new marketing automation setup with a more structured lead management protocol.

The overall campaign increased total leads by 400%. Additionally, there was a 2,588% increase in Marketing Qualified Leads (MQLs) and a 167% increase in Sales Qualified Leads (SQLs). These efforts also resulted in a 172% growth in business opportunities.

“The holistic approach and comprehensive activities contributed to our growth and brand credibility and increased our sales pipeline”, said Ilan Barda, CEO, Radiflow .

Quick Case Study #3: How comparison site conducted series of tests on AI-driven recommendations and UI improvements to increase conversion 30%

CasinoBernie was facing low user engagement with its games grid, underperforming conversion rates from game exploration to gameplay, and inadequate data utilization for personalized user experiences.

So the team decided to embark on a series of A/B tests. The key stakeholders in the decision-making process included product owners, the tech and graphics team, and the SEO/analysts team, who were convinced of the approach by seeing the potential ROI from enhancing user personalization and engagement thanks to the below tests.

User feedback informed these tests. “Feedback from surveys on the usability of the game pages and the relevance of game suggestions has been invaluable, leading to further refinements such as adjusting the visibility of certain UI elements and enhancing the accuracy of recommendation,” said Kasandra Grant, Head of SEO, CasinoBernie .

Let’s take a look at the tests.

TEST #1 BEFORE: Simple list

The games page featured a simple list sorted by release date. There was minimal information and no direct play options.

Creative Sample #5: ‘Most popular’ game category page (control)

TEST #1 AFTER: AI-driven recommendation engine

The team created a treatment with an AI-powered recommendation algorithm that analyzed user preferences and gaming behaviors to personalize suggestions.

The AI-driven recommendation machine was developed through a process that involved collecting detailed user behavior data, and then analyzing this data to understand user preferences and behaviors and using these insights to feed the engine.

“By implementing machine learning, we ensure that each user's experience is unique, making game discovery not just intuitive but personal,” Grant said.

This engine dynamically personalizes game suggestions by analyzing user preferences and past behaviors, alongside real-time data on game popularity and preferences of similar users. It included dynamic sorting options and rich game information tailored to user preferences.

Creative Sample #6: ‘Most popular’ game category page (treatment)

TEST #1 RESULTS: Increase in user engagement time

“We run all data in Excel and BigQuery,” Grant said.

The treatment performed better than the control:

• Average engagement time increased 24%, from 2:09 to 3:06
• Conversion rate from exploration to gameplay increased 30%, from 6.11% to 7.94%
• CTR improved 40%, from 6% to 8.4%
• Returning visitors increased 15%

TEST #2 BEFORE: Static image game previews

Static images were used as game previews.

Creative Sample #7: Game preview (control)

TEST #2 AFTER: Video game previews

The team tested short video clips as game previews.

Creative Sample #8: Game preview (treatment)

TEST #2 RESULTS: Increase in average engagement time

The treatment outperformed the control:

• 200% increase in average engagement time, from 0:45 to 1:35
• 133% increase in clickthrough rate, from 3% to 7%

TEST #3 BEFORE: Top navigation layout

The site had a traditional top horizontal navigation menu.

Creative Sample #9: Navigation layout (control)

TEST #3 AFTER: Sidebar navigation layout

The team experimented with a vertical sidebar navigation for categories.

Creative Sample #10: Navigation layout (treatment)

TEST #3 RESULTS: Quicker access to game categories

Sidebar navigation reduced the average time to navigate by 33%, according to user testing, from an average navigation time of 30 seconds to find game categories in the top nav, versus 20 seconds in the sidebar nav.

TEST #4 BEFORE: Minimalist CTA button design

Used a simple and clean button design.

Creative Sample #11: Call-to-action button design (control)

TEST #4 AFTER: Vibrant CTA button design

The team tried bright and bold button colors with dynamic effects.

Creative Sample #12: Call-to-action button design (treatment)

TEST #4 RESULTS: Higher clickthrough rate

• 33% higher clickthrough rate, from 4.5% to 6%
• 75% improvement in conversion rate to game plays, from 2% to 3.5%

TEST #5 BEFORE: Short and concise

Game descriptions for the control were short and concise, utilizing brief descriptions with bullet points.

Creative Sample #13: Game description layout (control)

TEST #5 AFTER: Detailed narrative

The team tested longer, story-like descriptions that provide in-depth information about the game.

Creative Sample #14: Game description layout (treatment)

TEST #5 RESULTS: Increase in engagement time

The average user engagement time on these pages increased to one minute from 35 seconds, a 71% increase.

OVERALL BEFORE: No focus on user preferences

Now let’s look at the impact of all this testing.

Before this testing cycle, game suggestions were purely sorted by last added date. There was no focus on user preferences, and they were not able to interact with the games either.

Creative Sample #15: Category page (before)

Creative Sample #16: Game page (before)

OVERALL AFTER: More information for users

The team added a small intro to what exactly people were going to find. They added sorting and more information to the games.

Creative Sample #17: Category page (after)

Creative Sample #18: Game page (after)

RESULTS: Increase from game exploration to game play

Conversion rate increased 30% from game exploration to game play. Returning visitors grew 15% compared to before all the changes, suggesting higher satisfaction for the visitor.

Average engagement time on the game page increased 144%, from 0:48 to 1:57.

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20 Creative Adaptive Reuse Projects

• Written by Sabrina Santos
• Published on March 17, 2016

After built structures become disused or abandoned, adaptive reuse can be the perfect way to breathe new life into an old building, while conserving resources and historic value. Whether due to environmental reasons, land availability or the desire to conserve a historic landmark, countless architectural firms worldwide are turning to adaptive reuse as a solution to some of the modern problems of the built environment.

With this in mind, we have compiled a list of 20 creative adaptive reuse projects, each of which utilizes an old structure to create a revitalized form in its own distinct way.

See how a former chapel, water tower and 19th century slaughterhouse were transformed and given new life, after the break.

1. The Chapel on the Hill ; Forest-in-Teesdale, United Kingdom / Evolution Design

Once a nineteenth century chapel, this holiday cottage conversion took a building heavily damaged by strong winds and rain, and turned it into a comfortable vacation residence for seven guests.

2. Jaegersborg Water Tower ; Copenhagen, Denmark / Dorte Mandrup Arkitekter

In 2004, Dorte Mandrup Arkitekter ApS won the competition to convert the Jaegersborg Water Tower into a mixed-use building. Now, the building is occupied by student housing on the upper floors, with a protruding crystalline structure added to each unit, offering added daylight and views of the city.

3. House of Vans London ; London, United Kingdom / Tim Greatrex

The House of Vans London is situated within the 150-year-old brick arches of the railway lines exiting Waterloo Station, and is a mixed-use creative venue for Vans and skateboard enthusiasts, housing an art gallery, creative spaces, screening room, live music venue, a café, several bars, and a three tier indoor concrete skate park.

4. Huiini House ; La Primavera, Mexico / S+ diseño

Made from shipping containers, the Huiini House is a compilation of four stacked cubes, which come together to form a sustainable residence on the edge of the Primavera Forest. Because of its modular construction, the house can easily be expanded or adapted to new sustainable technologies.

5. Residential Building Refurbishment ; Venice, Italy / Studio Macola

Drawing from the existing urban fabric of Venice’s island of Murano, this project revitalizes a former industrial site to create two new residential complexes inside a disused factory.

6. Quarry Theater at St Luke’s ; Bedford, United Kingdom / Foster Wilson Architects

In the town center of Bedford, a Moravian church and Minister’s House has been transformed into a performing arts center, with the chapel converted into a 300 seat galleried courtyard theater, and uses original materials wherever possible.

7. Wooden Structure at Launchlabs ; Basel, Switzerland / Stereo Architektur

Although used as an event space for several years, the main assembly hall of the former Burckhardt machine factory in Basel, Switzerland was transformed into a multifunctional working environment, adaptable to a variety of uses.

8. Church Conversion into a Residence ; Chicago, United States / Linc Thelen Design , Scrafano Architects

Once a church in Chicago, Illinois, this seven-bedroom home retained original details like stained glass windows, exposed brickwork, ceiling turnbuckles, and a bell tower, all the while integrating modern conveniences and styles. 

9. Refurbishment Viaduct Arches ; Zurich, Switzerland / EM2N

In order to integrate existing infrastructure into the urban system, EM2N reprogrammed this viaduct in Switzerland to hold commercial and transitional spaces, all on a low budget.

10. The “Brain of Brian” Floating Office Barge ; Cornwall, United Kingdom / Marraum Architecture

Utilizing a disused WWII Ferro concrete barge, Marraum Architecture created a floating office space that makes use of long-lasting materials that can survive the weathering of harbor conditions.

11. An Old Breton Barn Converted into an Artist Studio ; Sizun, France / Modal Architecture

This artist’s studio was transformed from a 17th century barn in France, with the outside preserving local architectural identity, and the inside smoothed and painted white, so as to brighten the space.

12. War Bunker Refurbishment ; Vuren, The Netherlands / B-ILD

As a part of an advertising campaign for the office Famous, a dilapidated bunker in the Netherlands was transformed into a holiday home for two families that was inspired by Le Corbusier’s “Le Cabanon.”

13. Allez UP Rock Climbing Gym ; Montreal, Canada / Smith Vigeant Architects

The old site of the Redpath Sugar Refinery, Allez UP Rock Climbing Gym utilizes the main building and silos of the site to create a unique indoor climbing facility, with climbing wall formations that resemble “sugar cliffs.”

14. Professional Cooking School in Ancient Slaughterhouse ; Cadiz, Spain / Sol89

From a 19th century slaughterhouse, Sol89 created a professional cooking school by consolidating the old building under a new ceramic roof and utilizing various other materials that recall the building’s origins.

15. Refurbishment of the Old Benalua Station and Insertion of Casa Mediterraneo Headquaters ; Alicante, Spain / Manuel Ocaña del Valle

Set within the old Benalua Railway Station, the Casa Mediterraneo Headquarters utilized a low budget to create a multifunctional space for events, including exhibitions, concerts, and parties.

16. The Green Building ; Louisville, United States / (fer) studio

Based on the relationship between design and sustainability, (fer) studio utilized a 115-year-old former dry goods store to create over ten thousand square feet of mixed-use commercial space that employs sustainable technologies like a green roof, stormwater collection system, solar panels, and geothermal wells.

17. Castle-Tower Regensberg ; Zurich, Switzerland / L3P Architects

In a 21-meter-tall historic castle tower in Zurich, L3P Architects created a medieval exhibition space that recalls its original atmosphere through indirect and diffuse lighting, and displays local history from medieval times to the present.

18. Franz Kafka Society Center ; Prague, Czech Republic / Steven Holl Architects , Marcela Steinbachova (Skupina)

For the Franz Kafka Society Center, the basement of a small building formerly used for laundry storage was transformed into space for exhibitions, lectures, concerts, and Franz Kafka’s private library. Once a dark and small space, added skylights and new portioning revitalized the building, creating new visual connections.

19. Lesczynski Antoniny Manor Intervention ; Leszno, Poland / NA NO WO architekci

This project involved the restoration and extension of three former farm buildings, and the construction of one new building, to create a converted healthcare and residential building dedicated to the elderly in Poland.

20. Brothers Brewery + Juke Joint BBQ ; Auckland, New Zealand / MA Studio

With the strategy of adaptive reuse , MA Studio transformed a 1960’s warehouse into a craft brewery, restaurant, commercial kitchen, and bar, with a courtyard and outdoor dining area. In the outdoor space, timber and landscaping were added to soften the original warehouse feeling, and indoors, existing brick walls were sandblasted and concrete columns retained their distressed paint.

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Complete the form below or log in and the form will autofill. One of our sales specialists will call you within 15 minutes or on a date or time you request. Specialists are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time. We are currently experiencing delays in response times. If you require an immediate sales response – please call us 1 800-553-6387. Otherwise, a sales advisor will call you as soon as possible. * Required

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