Definition It is the scientific study of human beings, their social interaction in the community through means such as field work. also a branch of anthropology which deals with the study of human societies. The important characteristics of ethnography are the techniques and processes involved in order to acquire the exact findings and the results. The purpose of the study is to give the outcome of holistic research methods founded on the initiative that exact elements cannot be precisely understood independently of each other. Architecture plays an important role in the topic of ethnography by shaping different human cultures.
Example 1 A building is a good example of a physical form of expression of a groups culture, giving details about specific human beings as social people as well as the community as a group. Thus the study of architectural ethnography helps to ease the growth of ideas in acquiring a certain level of understanding or insight on the traditions of various groups of people.
Techniques
1. Part one of the project requires personal observations of the site chosen, interviews are not conducted, but the investigators presence is required in the field often inspect the people and the activities taking place in the field. The study is then derived in the day to day chores of the field selected. The changes are then proposed to the architecture of the site, based on the personal observation in an effort to create a better environment and condition to human beings. The changes are then offered in the site plans and compared between the present field and the available program
2. Part two of the project requires the judgment of an informer through interviews, an informer who is a resident of the site is selected and questions are asked to obtain details of the human beings residing in the site, the informer should avoid imposing any type of personal point of view to the residents since he already has all the details from the first part of his research, because the residents might give information which is against the site. To help the researcher in this kind of approach, interview should begin with basic questions like the 4Ws (who, when, where and why)
3. Part three of the project is based on finding other informers and interviewing them to acquire more knowledge of the site and their way of living, information is gained, terms related to their way of living and the site. People are examined to give the meaning and to also clarify the terms
4. Part four of the project is based on literature review, the investigator deals with printed and electronic material like articles, books, journals, professional authors, critics and members of the public to get information of the selected site. This data is useful to the researcher since it allows him to get facts and use it adaptively. The many sources help the researcher to be more informed and have a fair view and greater understanding of the present topic
Case Study Analysis
Site Newman Hall is a unique culture of the city of Berkeley. It has different kinds of architecture, at first perceived as crude and not artistic. The make over is done after interviewing the residents and non-residents. Residents have in mind that the architectures decision is sufficient to meet their needs the only arising issue is lack of lighting, especially during the night mass. Non-residents on the other hand, consider the architecture of the church as bellow the standard of expectation. The main aisle of the church needs to be placed in line with the main entrance. Then, the altar and the walls need to be added natural lighting like stained glass windows. The two redesign processes serve as a comparison of an ignorant study and a more complete research done based on the use of ethnographic techniques.
Throughout this process, I have come to learn that complete knowledge of a site is impossible to acquire even when an extensive research has been done, new sources with new perspectives will continue to emerge.
The basic idea is that not one particular group of people can be discriminated in the process, since one particular standpoint cannot exist independently of others. When a particular viewpoint is ignored, the objective of the study is lost, especially in this redesign process, where the main intention is to create a space that accommodates the need of all the people involved, might it be insiders or outsiders.
After undergoing this process of redesign, I believe that ethnography is an effective form of research in finding a set of requirements or provisions for a building to have in order to serve its function most effectively.
As designers, architects always try to think about the needs of the users and how to accommodate those needs however, the truth is not a single one of these architects would be able to succeed unless direct involvements of the users are sought. Meanwhile, architects would also need to consult other experts in the field, perhaps through books and other printed materials, or through interviewing other professionals in order to acquire full knowledge about the needs of the site. Hence, I highly recommend the use of this method in the design of future similar sites.
Example 1 A building is a good example of a physical form of expression of a groups culture, giving details about specific human beings as social people as well as the community as a group. Thus the study of architectural ethnography helps to ease the growth of ideas in acquiring a certain level of understanding or insight on the traditions of various groups of people.
Techniques
1. Part one of the project requires personal observations of the site chosen, interviews are not conducted, but the investigators presence is required in the field often inspect the people and the activities taking place in the field. The study is then derived in the day to day chores of the field selected. The changes are then proposed to the architecture of the site, based on the personal observation in an effort to create a better environment and condition to human beings. The changes are then offered in the site plans and compared between the present field and the available program
2. Part two of the project requires the judgment of an informer through interviews, an informer who is a resident of the site is selected and questions are asked to obtain details of the human beings residing in the site, the informer should avoid imposing any type of personal point of view to the residents since he already has all the details from the first part of his research, because the residents might give information which is against the site. To help the researcher in this kind of approach, interview should begin with basic questions like the 4Ws (who, when, where and why)
3. Part three of the project is based on finding other informers and interviewing them to acquire more knowledge of the site and their way of living, information is gained, terms related to their way of living and the site. People are examined to give the meaning and to also clarify the terms
4. Part four of the project is based on literature review, the investigator deals with printed and electronic material like articles, books, journals, professional authors, critics and members of the public to get information of the selected site. This data is useful to the researcher since it allows him to get facts and use it adaptively. The many sources help the researcher to be more informed and have a fair view and greater understanding of the present topic
Case Study Analysis
Site Newman Hall is a unique culture of the city of Berkeley. It has different kinds of architecture, at first perceived as crude and not artistic. The make over is done after interviewing the residents and non-residents. Residents have in mind that the architectures decision is sufficient to meet their needs the only arising issue is lack of lighting, especially during the night mass. Non-residents on the other hand, consider the architecture of the church as bellow the standard of expectation. The main aisle of the church needs to be placed in line with the main entrance. Then, the altar and the walls need to be added natural lighting like stained glass windows. The two redesign processes serve as a comparison of an ignorant study and a more complete research done based on the use of ethnographic techniques.
Throughout this process, I have come to learn that complete knowledge of a site is impossible to acquire even when an extensive research has been done, new sources with new perspectives will continue to emerge.
The basic idea is that not one particular group of people can be discriminated in the process, since one particular standpoint cannot exist independently of others. When a particular viewpoint is ignored, the objective of the study is lost, especially in this redesign process, where the main intention is to create a space that accommodates the need of all the people involved, might it be insiders or outsiders.
After undergoing this process of redesign, I believe that ethnography is an effective form of research in finding a set of requirements or provisions for a building to have in order to serve its function most effectively.
As designers, architects always try to think about the needs of the users and how to accommodate those needs however, the truth is not a single one of these architects would be able to succeed unless direct involvements of the users are sought. Meanwhile, architects would also need to consult other experts in the field, perhaps through books and other printed materials, or through interviewing other professionals in order to acquire full knowledge about the needs of the site. Hence, I highly recommend the use of this method in the design of future similar sites.
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