| Title |
A Comparative Evaluation of Site Designs and Children`s Outdoor Activities |
| Abstract |
This paper reports a comparison study of children's outdoor behavior in two residential sites. The sites selected for this study represent, respectively, two different site design concepts, a loop/cul-de-sac radial type and a grid axial type. Residents survey, semi-structured observation, behavior mapping, and a children interview are conducted in order to investigate the effects of site designs on outdoor play behavior as well as to control major sociodemographic and building design variables. Findings include children's grouping behavior and the relationships of design variables to selection of place, type of play, and preferences to both place and play. It is indicated that site design affects children's choice of place and their preference to where to play, such that whether and how a place is provided make difference in the extent to which children make use of the place. Type of play however is not significantly affected by the design variables, given that one activity is found on different places of the different sites. Play instead is related more to the fit between play need and the functional properties of a place than to the explicit design intentions. These findings are thus reviewed in terms of environmental provision, the complementary effect of environment on play behavior, and environmental affordances. |