Privacy in architecture: an examination of the strategies adopted, with special reference to contemporary domestic architecture

Abstract

Man's needs has different component such as physiological, psychological and sociological needs. Privacy can be considered as a psychological need as well as a sociological need common to human beings. Need for privacy does not always refer to the aural and visual separation of a person. However, one must not ignore the fact that the defining the concept of privacy is certainly not a simple matter. One group of definitions emphasizes seclusion , withdrawal and avoidance of interaction while the others emphasis concepts of control of opening and the closing of the self of others freedom of choice and options regarding self-accessibility to others. Sometimes people seek privacy as groups while some prefer individual privacy. The degree of privacy need is different from country to person, culture to culture or even from country to country. Socio-economic condition and social status also can be major contributory factors. In order to achieve different levels of privacy as required, people try to adopt various strategies. The basic phenomenon of Architecture is to satisfy human needs. This can be achieved by providing properly designed spaces for comfortable behaviors. In this study, an attempt will be made in identification and illustrating the strategies that have been used by the designers in achieving different levels of privacy in different types of selected man made spaces.