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Both everyday experience and scientific knowledge have demonstrated the great power of the environment to influence not only our emotions and behaviour but also our well-being and health. There is also reason to believe that intuitive preference exerts a significant influence on choice of apartment. Environmental preferences have been studied widely in both natural and urban contexts as well as in the context of external building styles. However, considering the amount of time that people spend inside buildings, including homes, systematic research on visual preferences for architectural interiors seems to be surprisingly negligible. Therefore, studying architectural characteristics that increase visual preference for apartment interiors has to be considered relevant from the perspective of both the well-being and health of people, and also that of enhancing the quality of apartment stock. The primary aim of this thesis was to study architectural characteristics that increase the experience of the visual appeal, or pleasantness, of apartment interiors. I have striven to achieve this aim, first by exploring the literature for attributes that may influence visual preference. Based on these findings, I defined several variables that I considered possibly predictive of visual preference for apartment interiors. Finally, the influence of these variables on visual preference for apartment interiors was studied experimentally.As previous research is scarce on architectural characteristics and their influence on preference in the context of apartment interiors, I ended up searching for characteristics through a broad, interdisciplinary theoretical framework. Two concepts - visual complexity and order - were found to emerge repeatedly from this theoretical framework. In the field of aesthetics, a great number of both theoretical and experimental studies lend support to the assumption that visual aesthetic preference would in one way or another be related to visual complexity and order. Similar results have been obtained in the field of environmental psychology, mainly in the context of outdoor environments; visual elements that promote both exploration and comprehensibility of the environment have been found to increase environmental preference. Besides, several architectural characteristics that can be seen to relate to visual complexity and order are typical of traditional architectural styles, and classical architectural theories emphasize their role in the context of building aesthetics. However, it seems that these concepts have received only minor attention in present-day architectural discourse, research and theory.Based on the literature, a broad set of architectural variables that were considered to potentially explain visual complexity, order and preference of apartment scenes, was created for use in the experimental part of this thesis. Additionally, a total of forty-three test images - where the architectural variables in question obtained different values - were created for this purpose. In the experiment, 107 medical students, who acted as test subjects, evaluated the images according to their interestingness the term used in this thesis to describe the level of interest they aroused - (an operationalized measure for complexity), spatial organization (an operationalized measure for order) and pleasantness (an operationalized measure for appeal or preference). The relationships between these evaluations and the architectural variables were then analysed by using regression analysis, by comparing the similarities and differences in the evaluations of four subgroups (males, females, participants with prior artistic training and participants without prior art training) and by visually analysing the images and their ratings. In addition, the different affective qualities that might be related to different architectural characteristics were assessed by using the Circumplex model for affective quality attributed to environments created by Russell, Ward and Pratt (1981).The most important and the most reliable result of this thesis can be considered to be that the ratings for interestingness and spatial organization of apartment interiors were found to predict the ratings for pleasantness. The same finding was perceived within the whole group as well as within each of the four subgroups. This study thus lends support to the finding that has emerged in research from other disciplines: the environment should be both complex and ordered at the same time in order to be pleasant. In addition, certain physical architectural characteristics were found that predicted the majority of variance of the ratings for interestingness (83%) and spatial organization (87.6%). For instance, the total number of outward directions from the room, the amount of detail (the number of black pixels in the binary image) and the surface area of the windows were found to increase the ratings for interestingness in the regression model of the whole group and in that of at least three subgroups. In the same way, the bilateral symmetry of the room was found to increase and the number of aligned element lines to decrease the ratings for spatial organization. Together with the ratings for interestingness and spatial organization, the use of classical proportions and verticality were found to predict the majority (76.6%) of variance in the ratings for pleasantness. However, creating and defining the architectural variables used in this study was challenging, within certain characteristics in particular, and therefore the results concerning these can only be regarded as preliminary. Studying the phenomena perceived in this study further with both different subject groups and architectural variables provides interesting and important research topics for future studies.

Puu on Suomessa merkittävä, ellei merkittävin rakennusmateriaali. Olemassa olevasta rakennuskannastamme suurin osa, 45%, on rakennettu puusta. Kaikesta rakennus- ja purkujätteestä yksi kolmasosa on puuta, toisen kolmasosan koostuessa betoni- ja tiilijätteestä ja lopun muista materiaaleista. Näin puuta voidaan jopa pitää merkittävimpänä purkujätejakeenamme.Tällä hetkellä purkupuuta ei hyödynnetä lähes lainkaan materiaalina, vaan lähes kaikki siitä poltetaan energiaksi. EU:n jätedirektiivi, jonka määräykset on siirretty Suomen kansalliseen lainsäädäntöön vuoden 2011 jätelaissa, kuitenkin edellyttää, että kokonaisten tuotteiden uudelleenkäyttö on asetettava energia- ja uusiokäytön edelle. Tämä raportti tarkastelee rakennuksista peräisin olevan puretun puumateriaalin uudelleenkäytön mahdollisuuksia rakentamisessa ko. materiaalin ominaisuuksien ja rakenteille sekä rakennuksille asetettavien vaatimusten näkökulmista. Purettua materiaalia määrittää voimakkaasti se, mistä rakennustyypeistä se on peräisin. Määrällisesti merkittävin purettu puurakennustyyppi ovat pientalot. Niiden purkaminen kohdistuu erityisesti jälleenrakennuskauden ja 1900-luvun alun rakennuskantaan, jolloin pääasiallisia rakentamistapoja ovat olleet ranka- ja hirsirakentaminen. Muita merkittäviä purettuja puurakennustyyppejä ovat liike- ja toimistorakennukset, julkiset rakennukset, teollisuusrakennukset sekä varastot. Näissä rakennustyypeissä purkamisen volyymit kohdistuvat selvästi uudempaan rakennuskantaan, erityisesti 1980-luvun rakennuksiin. Näille leimallisia rakentamistapoja ovat liimapuiset pilari-palkkirakenteet sekä kolminivelkehät.Raportissa esitellään em. rakentamistapojen ominaispiirteet, niissä käytetyt puiset rakennusosat tyypillisine mittoineen sekä tavanomaiset osien väliset liitostavat. Uusista puurakentamistavoista sivutaan lisäksi massiivipuulevyrakentamista (esim. CLT), koska sen käyttöä halutaan tällä hetkellä lisätä kerrostalotuotannossa, jolloin rakennusosien purettavuus ja uudelleenkäytettävyys olisi hyvä ratkaista jo ennen järjestelmien laajamittaista käyttöönottoa.Selvityksessä arvioidaan puisten rakennusosien välisten liitosten purettavuutta ja purkamisen tuottamien rakennusosien ja puumateriaalin ominaisuuksia uusiin rakennusosiin ja neitseelliseen puutavaraan verrattuna. Lisäksi esitetään tiivistelmä rakentamista koskevien määräysten muuttumisesta, sillä normien kiristykset paitsi selittävät muutoksia rakentamistavoissa, myös asettavat reunaehtoja vanhojen rakennusosien käyttömahdollisuuksille. Alkuperäiseen rakennukseen verrattuna rakennusosien uudelleenkäyttö edellyttääkin usein muutoksia rakenteisiin tai rakennejärjestelmään, esimerkiksi eristyksen lisäämistä, jännevälin lyhentämistä tai palkiston tihentämistä.Kaikista puurakenteista on saatavissa uudelleenkäytettäviä puuosia, mutta toiset rakennejärjestelmät soveltuvat silti uudelleenkäyttöön toisia paremmin. Uudelleenkäytön liiketoimintaedellytyksiä loisi erityisesti lainsäädännön selkiyttäminen uudelleenkäytettävien rakennusosien suhteen sekä lajittelu-, laatu- ja lujuusluokitusten luominen.

Universal Accessibility: On the need of an empathy-based architecture is a PhD thesis researching the paradigm of accessible architectural design. Starting from the very first understanding of accessibility in architecture, it analyses the evolution of the concept over recent decades up to the present, in order to evaluate its current significance. The assumption of this dissertation is that all current theories concerning accessibility in architecture are not properly approached and/or they are poorly linked to architectural practice, since the main postulate of this thesis is that the quality of built environments is poor in respect to accessibility. Therefore, this thesis aims to point out the main problems that accessible designs face nowadays and, more importantly, to rationalize why this situation must be reversed while also exploring the tools for doing this. Accessibility standards were defined decades ago and are continuously being updated to more precise and restrictive regulations, aiming at higher compliance for fully accessible thus, “non-discriminating” designs. Hence, we cannot deny the existence of abundant literature concerning how to design accessible built environments. Nevertheless, the fact is that the quality of designs in respect to accessibility is doubtful on many occasions. The regulations give plenty of instructions on how to design the built environment to be “wheelchair friendly” and have also recently introduced tools for being “blind friendly”, but they have not adopted a design for all understanding, at least, not in a way that is holistically inclusive. Indeed, many current accessible designs are not designs meant for all, but just mere differentiated “designs for the disabled” that do not form a part of the whole “normal” environment. Consequently, non-disabled people rarely use them, even when they are more practical, because they do not identify themselves with such segregated “designs for the disabled”. In this respect, accessibility needs to evolve from the current simplistic view of barrier-free environments towards a more inclusive approach. Accessibility should be understood as comprehending higher existential needs such as pleasantness and identity; that is, it must take into consideration how we perceive and experience the built environment. This is crucial for the psychological wellbeing of the users. We all need belonging, to feel part of and not separated from society and our environment; we need a sense of normality. Thus, the premise of this dissertation is that an empathic approach is necessary for designing an accessible built environment that goes beyond the regular barrier-free requirements, beyond functionality and usability concerns. Empathy is essential to satisfy the “supra-functional needs”, those social, emotional, spiritual, aspirational and cultural aspects that are relevant to all of us equally. Herein lies the real pleasure, the sense of wellbeing and perception of a good life. Empathy is the key and starting point for defeating the “design for the disabled” and for success in achieving inclusive architecture. If we do so, we will be looking at long-term designs that are able to healthfully support needs that cover a human lifespan. Thus, sustainable designs which provide quality of life. If this is achieved, some standardized behaviours and prejudices against people with disabilities will simultaneously be defeated. To sum up, this thesis is a general reflection regarding the paradigm of accessible architecture, observed from different points of views, and arriving at some final thoughts. Thus, this thesis is not so much about giving instructions on how to build accessible architecture, but it instead reflects on 'why' it is necessary. This dissertation attempts to change attitudes regarding accessibility, so that is truly embraced as designing architecture for all; that is, architecture in which sustainability and social justice in all design is ensured., "Accessibilitat Universal: Sobre la necessitat d’una arquitectura basada en l’empatia" és una tesi doctoral centrada en el paradigma del disseny arquitectònic accessible. Partint de la primera comprensió de l’accessibilitat en l’arquitectura, s’analitza l’evolució del concepte des de les últimes dècades fins a l’actualitat, per tal d’avaluar el seu significat actual. La hipòtesi és que totes les teories vigents que avaluen i defineixen l’accessibilitat en l’arquitectura no estan correctament enfocades i/o no estan suficientment vinculades a la pràctica professional, ja que el postulat principal d’aquesta investigació és que la qualitat dels entorns construïts és pobre en matèria d’accessibilitat. Resulta necessari evolucionar de l’actual punt de vista simplista de l’accessibilitat entesa com a entorn sense barreres arquitectòniques, cap a un enfocament més inclusiu. Cal entendre que l’accessibilitat abasta necessitats existencials superiors tals com l’amenitat i la identitat. És a dir, cal que tinguem en consideració com percebem i experimentem l’entorn construït. Això resulta crucial per al benestar psicològic de tota persona. Per a tothom resulta important el sentiment de pertinença, el sentir que formem part de, i no que estem apartats de la societat i del nostre entorn; per a tots resulta indispensable la sensació de normalitat. És per aquest motiu que la premissa d’aquesta tesi defensa que és necessari un enfocament empàtic cap el disseny d’entorns accessibles. L’empatia és essencial per tal de satisfer aquelles necessitats ‘suprafuncionals’, aquells aspectes socials, emocionals, espirituals i culturals que són rellevants per a tots nosaltres de la mateixa forma. Aquí rau el veritable plaer, el sentiment de benestar i la percepció d’una bona vida. L’empatia és la clau i el punt de partida per derrotar el ‘disseny per al discapacitat’ i per a l’èxit d’una arquitectura inclusiva. Si ho aconseguim, estarem front dissenys duradors que són capaços d’assumir, d’una manera saludable, les diverses necessitats que sorgeixen al llarg d’una vida. És a dir, dissenys sostenibles que proporcionen qualitat de vida. Si ho aconseguim, certes conductes predeterminades i prejudicis vers persones amb discapacitat seran a la vegada enderrocats. En resum, aquesta tesi és una reflexió general sobre el paradigma de l’arquitectura accessible, observat des de diversos punts de vista, i arribant a unes conclusions finals. Per tant, aquesta tesi no tracta tant de donar instruccions sobre com construir de forma accessible, sinó que més aviat reflexiona sobre el per què és necessari Aquesta dissertació pretén canviar actituds respecte a l’accessibilitat, de manera que sigui veritablement integrada dins del disseny arquitectònic. El resultat serà una arquitectura per a tothom en la que la sostenibilitat i la justícia social quedarà assegurada.