Privacy Control as a Function of Personal Space In Single-Family Homes in Jordan

• Main Author: Majd Al-Homoud
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Malaya 2009-12-01
• Series: Journal of Design and the Built Environment
• Subjects: privacy control; physical control; personal space; bedroom space; single-family homes; housing; Jordan
• Online Access: http://e-journal.um.edu.my/filebank/published_article/3288/Vol%205-3.pdf

Understanding the relationship between people and the built environment requires understanding of the relationship between human behavior and physical settings. To further verify this notion, this study attempts to investigate privacy control as an effect of personal space expressed by quality and quantity of bedroom space in single-family homes. Face-to-face structured interviews were conducted to elicit the data. The location of the study was Daheyat Al--Ferdous community, Fuhais, Jordan. Respondents were requested to record to the presence of certain physical components in their personal bedroom space that may potentially increase their feel of privacy control in general. Results indicated that some physical components such a kitchenette, a TV, and an audio station in the bedroom were important. Additional factors that affected privacy control feel included shape of the room, as square rooms provided more sense of control. In addition, smaller bedroom area increased feel of control, and a corridor before bedroom was seen as a predictor of privacy control.