Experiential cognition, embodied observation and sustainability in the post-occupancy evaluation of urban environments

Abstract

This paper is based on Humberto Maturana and Francisco Varela’s insights – the observer is not independent of reality – and on Bruno Latour’s – observation and experience are constructed; knowledge does not reflect a real exterior world, but a real interior world. Based also on ProLUGAR Group’s experience on post occupancy evaluation (POE), the paper recognizes the object of investigation as inseparable from the observer – the built environment as something to be learned; suggests that observation can be consciously guided; shifts the reflexion to how the observer guides his actions during observation; recommends more attention to the “intentional knowledge” instead of on the models, rules and proceedings of the traditional know-how. It presents the experiential approach, which implies a change of the observer’s attitude regarding the environment, and its application – the embodied observation – in POE of urban environments. The reflexion incorporates the “cognitive-experiential view” in the study of parts of Corredor Cultural Project in Rio de Janeiro. The partial results indicate a contribution for the sustainable urban design field, since this approach improve technical and cognitive-behaviourist views, enriching the comprehension of a place character, on how users perceive design attributes and on how to use this knowledge for the improvement of the built environment.