Ergonomic Design of Private Outdoor Living Spaces

Abstract

In urban environment, as well as in individual interiors, the access to outdoor spaces is very important, especially to green and sunlit areas, and areas with a sky view. These closed functional sections are therefore complemented by public and private spaces open to the external environment. The opening of residential spaces to the natural environment is particularly preferred. In multi-family housing, it is possible mainly thanks to the use of adjacent balconies, loggias, etc., which provide the opportunity to stay outdoors, but still within a private residential area. The paper discusses such issues as: types of private external spaces, their aesthetic and structural shaping, their relationship to internal sections and other rooms, the conditions of their construction in the vicinity of already existing and designed dwellings, the advantages and disadvantages of analyzed solutions (case study) and recommended ergonomic design criteria, taking into account the general and specific housing needs (including those of people with disabilities).