| Title |
A Comparative Study on Femininity and Masculinity Cultural Dimensions Appeared in Childcare Facilities Spatial Plans |
| Authors |
고지인(Ko, Ji-In) ; 최영준(Choi, Young-Jun) |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5659/JAIK.2023.39.10.15 |
| Keywords |
Childcare Facilities; Hofstede’s Dimensions of National Cultures; Femininity; Spatial Composition; Isovist; Visual Environment |
| Abstract |
The field of architecture reflects the culture and society of its users. Childcare facilities, where children first learn cultural and social skills,
hold a significant role in this context. Moreover, culture varies from one country to another for various reasons. When examining Hofstede’s
Dimensions of National Cultures, particularly the femininity index, which explores cultural differences among countries, the Nordic countries
exhibit the strongest femininity values. While Korea also demonstrates a relatively high index, differences become apparent when the spatial
design of childcare facilities is compared and analyzed. This study aims to identify distinctions in spatial layout and visual ambiance by
analyzing cases of domestic and Nordic childcare facilities. By scrutinizing the characteristics of Nordic childcare facility spatial designs,
which emphasize femininity, a direction for incorporating femininity into domestic childcare facilities was proposed. Six cases of childcare
facilities from both Korea and the Nordic region were selected and floor plan analyses to understand spatial composition and organization
were conducted. Additionally, visual openness and connectivity through Isovist analysis to evaluate the visual environment were quantitatively
assessed. Ultimately, this study offers a pragmatic approach to adapting domestic childcare facilities to align with a more feminine culture. It
does so by applying the insights gained from the analysis of Nordic childcare facility designs to enhance the spatial planning of domestic
facilities. |