Design principles of residential space to enhance children’s (3-7 years old) creativity in iran (Case study:Tehran district 4)

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Abstract

In recent years, there have been an increasing number of studies on the effect of natural and artificial environments on humans. There is much evidence that being in natural environments, or just looking at nature, promotes recovery from stress. In the residential context, it has also been suggested that views of nature from windows enhances residents’ sense of well-being. Viewing a 10- minute video dominated by natural elements (trees, vegetation, or water) after the participants were stressed by a video of industrial accidents facilitated recovery from stress, as indicated by lowered blood pressure, lowered muscle tension, and skin conductance. Young children spend most of their time at home. Although some spend a lot of their time at outside facilities such as daycare center, kindergarten, or school, most children still recognize home as their permanent space. They become attached to their home and feel safe and secure. When they are at home. They attach meanings to their home and that becomes part of their culture. Children’s experiences and images of early childhood are "the most deeply scored and enduring". Children develop interests at this environment, which helps them resolve inner conflicts, make sense of their existence, and develop self-regulation and self-concept. Cohen states that "the passionate interests of young children can be thought of as the seeds of adult creativity. Creativity has been the subject of interest and study for the past 60 years. Because of being in growth ages, activation, promoting and directing creativity in children is important. Still, creativity is mysterious! It is hard to do systematic analysis. This makes it hard to understand and explain why and how creativity happens and what elements it is related to. Furthermore, the variety of definitions of creativity among researchers makes it even more complicated to understand and study because there is no definitive meaning accepted by all. People define creativity as the ability to produce novel and original work within specific framework and limitations. Children are creative by nature. Social psychologists argue that creative people begin their creative production early in life. The focus of research on the creativity has been from psychology features to the impact of the physical environment on these features. One of the ways to promote creativity, using the impact of natural or artificial environment to create and enhance the creativity factors in children. Literature suggests that Space and environment in creativity and its quality of growth have an important role. This spaces may be natural spaces or artificial space and in other words the architecture environment. But the construction of architecture to influence the cultivation of creativity is very pale. The real question is, which features in residential space impact on the promotion of creative task. The present study seeks to achieve residential space design principles that will enhance children’s creativity. This research is developmental and research method is descriptive that is done in five main step. Then, using the survey method one of descriptive research methods, Second stage and third stage of the research community are psychology experts and architecture professionals. Fourth stage research community are 3-7 years-old children in Tehran from district 4. After selecting the sample and data collection by interview, questionnaire, using inferential statistics, hypothesis tests are proposed. To evaluate the hypothesis of descriptive statistics and statistical indicators set by the frequency and inferential non-parametric Spearman test, multiple linear regression test and Friedman nonparametric test was used. According to the findings, physical environment in residential spaces affects the development of children’s creativity and in residential space, using natural elements, creating a safe space, complex space and flexible space, through a positive impact on children’s motivation for physical activity(playing), mental relaxation, initiative and Child’s curiosity children’s creativity can be promoted. The present study seeks to achieve the design principles of residential space that will enhance children’s creativity.

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