As a professional consultancy work, the project in Seattle looks at privacy and view sheds in urban space. The project involved privacy study in a heritage studio apartment building: the historic Fischer Studio Building.
The study focused on the effect on visual privacy due to construction of a new tower across a 16’ alley from the Fischer Studio Building. The study used space syntax methodology examining the relationship of the new construction and the heritage structure through a visual field analysis using human capacity of vision and a visual access analysis based on human movement.
Arguing visual privacy as a desirable urban feature and a significant element of health and wellbeing, the study concluded significant reduction in visual privacy due to the new construction.
This research project highlighted the connection between theory and practice demonstrating how research can lead to improvements in the built environment. Architecture and design matter for psycho-social health such as visual privacy. Good design can lead to improvement; bad design can harm. The study raised questions about privacy as a human right needed to make people feel safe and secure.
Luke Blair
