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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Designing for privacy in the learning environment

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This thesis looks at the need for privacy in the general instructional areas of an elementary school, with the role of the architect in mind. Taking off from the open-plan school, the most recent trend in educational architecture, a case is made for building a range of private places in the school environment. A review of the literature provides a look at behavioral and environmental research on privacy, as well as background information on educational and school design issues. An investigation of a handful of schools in the Boston area gives a description of how the class spaces are used, and uncovers shortcomings and strengths of the buildings. Finally, this information is used to draw some conclusions about how the physical form can provide the necessary privacy. These conclusions are interpreted into design ideas. In focusing on the issue of privacy, several other peripheral issues such a s flexibility and educational philosophy are dealt with. Enclosure and access, issues that bear directly on privacy are discussed. It is concluded that more enclosure than has been provided in open-plan schools is needed on the grounds that more enclosure supports rather than inhibits the activities taking place in a school.

Degree

thesis:*
Department dc:contributor.department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture.
Grantor dc:publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Year dc:date.issued
1980

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Pipal, Philip George
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Sandra C. Howell.

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
Language dc:language.iso
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/69254
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/69254

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
MIT
Base URL
dspace.mit.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Pipal, Philip George. Designing for privacy in the learning environment. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1980. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/69254