Personal Space; Updated, The Behavioral Basis of Design [Paperback]

Robert Sommer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2008 | ISBN-10: 0954723961 | ISBN-13: 978-0954723965 | Edition: Updated

Widely regarded as the classic text on user-centered design of public buildings and spaces, this book studies how people relate to the designed space around them and how the design of that space can affect their behavior. Its contents are based on comprehensive academic research, the conclusions it draws are highly applicable in real-world projects, and the style of presentation is lucid and interesting. The author; Robert Sommer, deals with topics such as privacy, spatial invasion, small-group ecology and looks at the role of design in settings that include airports, stations, hospitals and schools. When it was first published this book went through 25 printings in English alone. Although it was written when the study of behavior and design was just beginning to be appreciated, the lessons are still deeply relevant for today's spatial designers and also important to the digital world in the design and analysis of shared digital spaces for co-operative work and multi-player games. Robert Sommer writes with authority and clarity. He has updated this new edition of his work with an introduction and detailed notes accompanying each chapter describing what has changed in the intervening years, and what has remained the same. "Your book will now become a standard at our office as it gives us added insight in design work", Charles W. Pelly (President of the Industrial Designers Society of America 1991/92).

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Bosko Books; Updated edition (March 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0954723961
• ISBN-13: 978-0954723965
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #744,380 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and informative, easy to read, January 20, 2010

By 

ogden "ogden" (Mid-Atlantic USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Personal Space; Updated, The Behavioral Basis of Design (Paperback)

I really enjoyed reading this book and found lots of interesting tidbits about human behavior in various environments. The writing style of the author made the book very easy to read.

There were a few oddities--the chapter on drinking establishments is rather weak in analysis of the built environment. The introduction to the book suggests the author has spent very little time in the presence of any kind of designer (he describes interior designers as merely salespeople focused only on commissions and architects as wanting only to 'change the world'). The author has written an epilogue to -every- chapter, which seems like overkill.

But all in all, I found the book to be very informative and I expect it to be a useful part of my reference library.