The occupants' perspective as catalyst for less energy intensive buildings

Environmental and life quality low standards signal that the well-balanced relation between building
and dwelling is jeopardized. Reliable data should be combined with the evaluation given by users. In
fact, the study of occupants’ perception and behaviour supplies designers with meaningful feedback and
enables them to detect solutions which meet users’ requirements better and reduce the gap between
expected and actual building performance. This paper presents part of an operational approach that aims
to rebuild the synergy among architectural design, building management and use: an in-depth enquiry
conducted through surveys and questionnaires, that offers a new perspective aimed at validating the
actual effectiveness and suitability of design solutions. The innovative aspect of this methodology is the
contextual analysis and evaluation of objective and subjective aspects. The related outcomes concern the
definition of actual, prior areas of action and strategies that are congruent with both building physical
characteristics and people’s perception.