SOCIO-CULTURAL BASIS OF DESIGN IN COMMUNITIES

I. INTRODUCTION
Socio-cultural is of, relating to, or involving a combination of social and cultural factors. Sociocultural
factors are customs, lifestyles and values that characterize a society or group.

II. SOCIO- CULTURAL SYSTEM

The term "socio-cultural system" involves three concepts: society, culture, and system.
SOCIETY- the aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community. Social factors in
society include reference groups, family, role and status in society, time and available resources.
CULTURE- is the learned behaviors that are shared by the members of a society, together with the material
products of such behaviors. These Cultural aspects include concept of beauty, education, language, law and
politics, religion, social organizations, technology, values and attitudes.
SYSTEM- is a collection of parts which interact with each other to function as a whole. (Kauffman, 1980

III. METHODS: HUMAN CENTERED DESIGN

Human-centered design (HCD) is a design and management framework that develops solutions
to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process.
Human involvement typically takes p l a c e i n o b s e r v i n g t h e p r o b l e m w i t h i n
c o n t e x t , b r a i n s t o r m i n g , conceptualizing, developing, and implementing the solution.
Human-centered design is an approach to interactive systems development that aims to make
systems usable and useful by focusing on the users, their n e e d s a n d r e q u i r e m e n t s , a n d b y
a p p l y i n g h u m a n f a c t o r s / e r g o n o m i c s , usability knowledge, and techniques. This approach
enhances effectiveness and efficiency, improves human well-being, user satisfaction,
accessibility and sustainability; and counteracts possible adverse effects of use on human health, safety
and performance.

IV. PROBLEMS WITH MOST OF TODAYS COMMUNITY DESIGNS

A r e d es i g ne r s p re o c cu pi ed wi t h m aki ng a r t i st i c st at em en t s ra t h e r t ha n spaces where
people would actually want to be?
Community Architecture can be simply defined as, “architecture carried out with the active
participation of the end-users”.(Wates, Handbook 184) But a lot of people do a lot of complaining about
the architecture profession; p a r t i c u l a r l y i t s a l l e g e d p r e o c c u p a t i o n w i t h m a k i n g
artistic st at em ents rather than, t he charge goes, servi ng people. The issue at
h a n d i s n o t simply the “modern box” aesthetic. The problem is also that, these structures lack an
authentic connection to nature and the very cultures in which they exist. This, in turn, leaves
people feeling disconnected, isolated and longing for true connections to each other and to their
communities. (Benfield, 2013) While the problem is complex, the solution is simple: We must bring
nature back into architecture. According to Architect Travis Price, “We are made from nature in nature. We
miss the rhythms. We miss the hot, cold. The lack of isolation by fossil fuels, the human being
needs that, just like it needs smell and taste.” (Gray, 2014)

V. SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS IN COMMUNITY DESIGNS

1.GEOGRAPHY AND ECOLOGY
2. ANTHROPOLOGY
3.CULTURAL LANDSCAPE
A. GEOGRAPHY AND ECOLOGY
 Geography i s t h e s t u d y o f t h e p h y s i c a l f e a t u r e s o f t h e e a r t h a n d i t s
atmosphere, and of human activity as it affects and is affected by these, i n c l u d i n g t h e
d i s t r i b u t i o n o f p o p u l a t i o n s a n d r e s o u r c e s , l a n d u s e , a n d industries.

Ecology is the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical
surroundings. Basically these two are the important factors in studying the “ concept of the community
and its relationship to the environment.” (Morgan and Moss, 1965)

So how this influences the design?

1. AVAILABILITY OF LOCAL MATERIALS Most designers design with available materials. It is not
common for people to design with materials which are not available or which are difficult to obtain.
This is especially true in commercial architecture which is almost always subject to time and cost
pressures. (Dahlgren, 2012)
EXAMPLE: African materials that are used to build buildings all depend on the region. In North Africa for "stone"
they use rammed earth that is made of chalk, lime and gravel and in West Africa they use mud for
adobes. Because of the geography of these two regions of Africa, the materials are locally available. Adobes
are ideal for locations like Mexico where the climate is hot and dry. B ecause i t can di si nt egrat e qui ckl y
when exposed to regul ar moisture, it is not appropriate for areas that remain damp or rainy y e a r -
r o u n d . M a t e r i a l s t o m a k e a d o b e a n d r o o f t i l e s w e r e r e a d i l y available and suitable to the hot,
dry climate of the region. (Alston, 2013)
2.ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES M a j o r c u r r e n t e n v i r o n m e n t a l i s s u e s m a y i n c l u d e
climate change, pollution, environmental degradation, a n d resource depletion. The conservation
movement lobbies for protection of endangered species and protection of any ecologically valuable natural
areas, genetically modified foods and global warming.
EXAMPLE: InAustralia, current environmental issues are erosion from overgrazing, industrial development,
urbanization, and poor farming practices. In this case buildings and other architectural structures
cannot be built in these regions of Australia because of the problematic geography features that have happened over
time.(Alston, 2013)
3.DISASTER PRONE AREAS The word sustainable is defined as using a resource so that it is not
depleted or permanently damaged. Sustainability is one of the most significant concepts of this decade
influencing the design community planning and architecture. (Gokhale, 2005
EXAMPLE:Japan is in The Ring of Fire in the basin of the Pacific ocean, b e c a u s e o f t h i s , a l o t o f
t s u n a m i s a n d e a r t h q u a k e s o c c u r h e r e destroying homes and important buildings. People in
Japan are now coming up with a home levitation system that could protect homes a g a i n s t
e a r t h q u a k e s i n J a p a n . G e o g r a p h y i s n o w i n f l u e n c i n g t h e process of making architecture better.
(Alston, 2013) 4. DIVERSE LAND Archi t ect s desi gn on m any pl aces. And each of t hese pl aces
have unique terrain. EXAMPLE: J a m a i c a f e a t u r e s d i v e r s e l a n d . A p l o t o f l a n d m a y b e
completely flat, have a slight grade or a very steep grade. The homes are built around the land, with the
foundation contouring the elevation
IMPORTANCE OF SOCIO-CULTURAL BASIS OF DESIGN OF COMMUNITY ARCHITECTURE
Importance of Socio-Cultural Bases of Design of Community Architecture Sociocultural perspectiverefers to a point
of view that is built upon the idea that society and culture are major factors influencing personal development. There
are many sociocultural factors referring to man; some examples are religion, attitudes, economic status, class,
language, politics and law. These factors can affect quality of life, business and health, but as future architects we
will be focusing to what planning and designing architecturally a community should be.
Socio-Cultural Factors/Basis
Demographic structure(eg. size and density of population, rate of population growth, age and sex structure); Ethno-
linguistic characteristics(ie. division of the population on the basis of 'physical' characteristics, such as race, tribe,
clan or language);
Social structure(eg. leadership structures, division on the basis of class or caste, gender relations, degrees and forms
of cooperative activity);
Inheritance systems, including land tenure;
Religious beliefs and practices;Other cultural beliefs and practices (eg. particular customs, ceremonies, taboos,
prejudices); and
Individual and group attitudesto any aspect of life (including actual or proposed development activities), which
may result from any of the other social characteristics (eg. social structure, religious or cultural beliefs) and/or from
the personal views of the individuals or groups concerned

VI.

PROs AND CONs OF HAVING SOCIO CULTURAL BASIS OF DESIGN

Pros:

• Sufficient Data for Analysis, you will be able to gather great information that would help support during the
analyzing phase.

• Adaptation, so for that the community will be able to consider the development from the other neighbors and they
will not have the feeling of being alienated.

• Distinguish, any area or community will be noticed according to ambiance, people, architectural character, and etc.

Cons:

• Ideal/ Practical aspect because of modernity, as the generation goes by, the activities of man becomes more
realistic, ideal or practical.

IMPORTANCE OF SOCIO-CULTURAL BASES OF DESIGN OF COMMUNITY ARCHITECTURE

DEFINITION

Socio-cultural Factors/Basis

religion

economic

status

attitude

language

politics and law

class
VII.