Browsing by Author "El-Naggar, Rehab"

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    Environmental awareness and competence in amelioration of the architectural design studios in Kenya.
    (SABS Journal of Environment, Space and Society, 2026-01) Kebenei,Judy; Karanja,Dennis; El-Naggar, Rehab; Mireri, Caleb
    The paper examinedenvironmental psychology as a field that is focused on interactions between humanbeingsand their environments. Itemphasizedhow people modify their surroundings and how those surroundings influence behaviour. The paperhighlightedthe importance of environmental awareness in developing the competence needed to address human-environment challenges in designed spaces. Using case studies of architectural design studios at the University of Nairobi (UON), Technical University of Kenya (TUK), and Jomo KenyattaUniversity of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), the study identified mismatches between user needs and design solutions that were provided by built-environment professionals. The paper establishedpatterns of userbehaviour in these design studios based on spatial survey, participant observation andobservation of physical traces. The data revealed several indicators that guided the interaction of space and the users. These included space, staffing and object inadequacies, and use of the environment for prescribed activities. Also tagged wereflawed designof space and objects in space, space modification and manipulation, and space abandonment. Spaceand object abuse as well asbehaviour modification & afforded behaviourswere also identified as critical indicators.On the basis of thesefindingsthestudy developed an appropriateframework for the application of data on environmental psychology. Such applications would in effect guide the amelioration ofthe functionality ofarchitectural designspaces(studios) and the built environment at large