Motivations
Exploring Intimacy in Space
This project was inspired by Edward Hall's proxemics theory, which defines the invisible boundaries of human interaction through physical distance. Within this framework, I found myself drawn to the concept of 'intimate space'—that critical sphere where our senses heighten, where we perceive the subtlest of human presence: a breath, a warmth, a scent. This space, Hall argues, is fundamental to both our mental and physical well-being.
Yet this understanding led me to a compelling question: In a world where solitude is increasingly common, must intimacy always depend on the presence of another person? As I considered this question, I began to observe how we constantly exist within built environments—spaces that surround us, contain us, and shape our daily experiences. What if these spaces could do more? What if architecture itself could communicate with us, create connections, foster the intimate experiences we naturally seek?
This reflection shaped my central research question:
How could intimacy be fostered through the built environment without the involvement of human interaction?
Key Project Objectives
Investigating Spatial Intimacy
To investigate how built environments can foster intimate experiences without human interaction, exploring how physical spaces can transcend their functional role to become catalysts for emotional connection.
Prototyping Intimate Spaces
To develop and test design approaches for fostering intimacy through environmental design.
Process
The project employed design-led research to create an experience prototype simulating intimate spatial experiences. Following a user-centred design framework, user voice was integrated at every stage: initial user surveys shaped the design direction, early user feedback guided low-fidelity prototype development, and continuous user testing informed the evolution into a high-fidelity prototype. This iterative process, consistently guided by user perspectives, culminated in final user testing with results validated through mixed-method analysis.
research
Tools & Methods
Literature Review
User Testing
Questionnaire
Interview
Thematic Analysis
Statistical Analysis
Sketching
3D Modeling
3D printing
Literature Review
Understanding Intimacy Across Domains
The investigation began by examining HCI research across three key areas:
Human-Human Intimacy: Traditional technologies mediating interpersonal connections
Human-Artefact Intimacy: Emotional bonds formed with objects and technological entities
Human-Built Environment Intimacy: Spatial relationships and environmental interactions
This comprehensive review explored how technology influences intimate experiences across different interaction types, from conventional human connections to emerging relationships with artefcts and spaces.
Key Findings:
Technology as a Relationship Mediator
Current HCI research primarily concentrates on technology's role in mediating long-distance relationships—focusing on physical intimacy and maintaining awareness of distant partners.
The Gap in Non-Human Intimacy
A significant research gap exists in exploring non-human interactions, particularly for individuals without direct human connections. This unexplored territory suggests opportunities for new forms of intimate experiences.
Key Factors for Built-Environment Intimacy
From existing studies of human and non-living relationships, 3 fundamental factors emerged for creating intimacy with non-living entities:
Sensory engagement through environmental elements
Memory triggering through familiar experiences
Responsive behaviour through interactive features
User Survey
Understanding Real-World Intimacy
To ground the research in real-world perspectives, I conducted an online survey using Microsoft Forms, gathering 69 responses to explore how people perceive and experience intimacy in their daily lives.
Samples of Surveys Findings
What are factors that contribute to the sense of intimacy?
When the term of intimacy mentioned, what thoughts come to mind?
Key Findings:
Triggers of Intimate Experience
Memories are reminded (51%)
Emotions are evoked (42%)
Factors enhancing intimacy in built environments:
Cosy lighting (33.3%)
Natural elements (30.4%)
Calming sound (26.1%)
Pleasant scents (25.1%)
Identifying the Gap
While human connections dominated intimacy associations, the survey uncovered a noteworthy gap—even with lower response percentages, physical environments showed potential for fostering intimacy.
Validating Research Approaches
The findings aligned with the three fundamental approaches identified in the literature review:
Sensory engagement
Memory triggering
Responsive elements
1st Iteration
Initial Sketch
The design concept focused on creating an intimate enclosed environment that would facilitate deep personal connection. Key design decisions included:
Created an isolated, enclosed space to enhance immersion
Directed user attention inward through controlled environment
Dimensions (1.20x1.20x2.40m) carefully chosen to exceed intimate distance
Black interior chosen to minimise visual distraction
Design Strategy
Survey findings revealed varied perceptions of intimacy and experiences among individuals, supported by Lawson (2001), who stated that intimate experiences depend on personal mindsets rather than physical properties. To address this variation, the prototype's concept aimed to offer diverse settings emphasising emotions, past experiences, and responsive behaviours. The functional aspects were categorised into 3 distinct interaction modes.
Interactive Mock-up
Before developing the full-scale prototype, a 1:20 scale model was created to test core concepts and gather user feedback. This interactive mock-up featured:
Acrylic construction
RGB LED and NeoPixel lighting system
Micro:bit controls
Miniature figure for simulating user movement
Testing
1st User Testing
Testing Method
Approach: Wizard of Oz technique
Format: Semi-structured interviews
Duration: 21-33 minutes per session
Participants: 4 people (gender-balanced)
Recruitment: Convenient sampling via online survey
Testing Procedure
Initial Phase
Project introduction
Pre-test interview
(7-15 minutes)
Interaction Phase
3 settings tested: ambient, biophilic, interactive
3 minutes per setting
Randomised order
(9 minutes)
Evaluation Phase
Post-test interview
Experience feedback collection
(5-9 minutes)
User Feedback
Despite the mock-up's size limitations, testing demonstrated positive results in fostering intimacy. However, several key challenges emerged that informed the next development phase.
Immersion Barriers
Limited prototype size hindered full experience
3-minute duration insufficient for deep engagement
Physical Constraints
Central chair placement restricted movement
Difficulty interacting with miniature elements
Environmental Transitions
Abrupt changes between settings caused discomfort
Interactive mode particularly disruptive when experienced first
Excessive sound elements distracted from intimate experience
These insights provided valuable guidelines for the high-fidelity prototype development, particularly regarding spatial layout, duration timing, and the need for smoother transitions between environmental states.
2nd Iteration
Design Refinements
After collecting initial feedback during the first user testing, these insights were used to improve the development process. While the core functions remained consistent, minor adjustments were made to specific features. For instance, the duration of each setting was changed to 5 minutes, a chair was replaced with a cushion to allow more space and freedom of movement for users, and the sound in the interactive setting was removed.
Technical Development
Next, additional research was conducted to investigate the integration of existing technologies into the prototype. Subsequently, the process involved crafting comprehensive visualisations through 3D modelling to easily communicate ideas.
Full-Scale Interactive Protoype
The full-scale prototype (1.20x1.20x2.40m) was constructed from plywood and PVC pipes, featuring perforated black walls, a curtained entrance, and a dual-layer ceiling. This structure integrated multiple sensory technologies including motion-activated lighting, audio-visual systems, and environmental controls to create immersive experiences.
FInal User Testing
Testing Method:
Method: Wizard of Oz with think-aloud technique
Format: Semi-structured interviews and questionnaires
Duration: 41-52 minutes per session
Participants: 8 people (gender-balanced, ages 23-42)
Recruitment: Convenient sampling via online survey
Final Testing Procedure:
To capture authentic experiences, participants were given freedom to explore the prototype without prescribed tasks. The session progressed through three phases: initial briefing and pre-test assessment, free interaction with the environment, and post-experience evaluation, with participants encouraged to share their thoughts throughout.
Data COllection & Analysis
Data was gathered in pre and post-test sessions using mixed methods to compare experience changes.
Qualitative Analysis: Observations
During the test, the confined space of the prototype constrained visual data collection. Consequently, data was gathered through participants' verbal expressions using the think-aloud technique. These
voices were recorded, alongside handwritten notes taken throughout the testing sessions, to complement the audio interviews.
Qualitative Analysis: Interviews
Format: Semi-structured interviews (pre and post-test)
Questions based on: MEC-SPQ framework (Vorderer et al., 2004)
Focus: User presence and environmental impact
Analysis: Thematic analysis of audio recordings and notes
Quantitative Analysis: Questionnaires
The final testing incorporated 4 questionnaires: a pre-test and individual questionnaires for each setting. The questionnaires were based on the concept of semantic differentials, as demonstrated by Lawson (2001). This approach involved linking people's reactions or behaviours to observable physical attributes of space. Participants were asked to rate stimuli along a series of dimensions created by opposing adjectives, using a scale of 5. The adjectives in the questionnaire were inspired by Hassenzahl et al. (2012)'s 6 strategies to mediate intimate relationships, interpreted into 12 parametres.
An example of a filled questionnaire during the final testing.
Questionnaire Analysis Methodology:
The analysis used the Paired Samples t-Test to the means of 2 measurements obtained from the same individual under 2 different conditions.This test determined the probability (P-Value, p) of the observed difference between paired samples to assess whether the mean difference was significant.
Statistical Analysis:
Calculated Mean±SD for 12 parameters per participant
Combined Mean±SD values across all participants for each setting
Computed P-values comparing each setting to pre-test
Significant difference indicated by P-value below 0.05 (p<0.05)
Parameter impact Evaluation:
Calculated overall means and SDs for each parameter
Compared pre-test results with subsequent measurements
Assessed individual parameter significance
Evaluation & Findings
Mixed-Method ANalysis
The findings draw on a comprehensive analysis combining three 3 sources: observational notes of participant behaviour, thematic analysis of interview responses, and statistical analysis of semantic differential questionnaires. This triangulated approach provided rich insights into how different environmental settings influenced participants' experience of intimacy.
Biophilic Setting
Ambient Setting
Interactive Setting
Least Impact
The analysis revealed strong alignment between quantitative and qualitative data sources. Remarkably, 7 out of 8 participants showed consistent rankings of intimate experiences across both semantic differential questionnaires and interview responses, validating the reliability of our findings. The settings' effectiveness in fostering intimacy ranked as follows:
Overall
Ambient Setting
Biophilic Setting
Interactive Setting
Implications
Understanding Intimacy's Personal Nature
The research revealed intimacy as a deeply personal experience, varying significantly among individuals beyond traditional romantic contexts. Each person's unique history and preferences shaped their interpretation of intimate spaces, leading to diverse responses to the same environment. While this variation presented challenges in creating universally effective spaces, it also highlighted an opportunity: the potential for developing personalised environments that adapt to individual needs and interpretations of intimacy.
Design Principles for Intimate Spaces
Physical spaces can foster intimacy through careful manipulation of sensory elements like light and sound. The project revealed that combining controlled ambient conditions with natural elements creates the most effective intimate environments. Crucial to maintaining emotional connection is the implementation of gradual transitions between different environmental states, allowing users to adapt and remain engaged. Additionally, the creation of protected, enclosed spaces proved essential in fostering a sense of security and personal connection, enabling deeper intimate experiences.
Practical Applications
The research findings offer practical applications across various environmental contexts. In therapeutic settings, the principles can enhance counselling rooms and wellness centres by creating emotionally supportive spaces that facilitate healing and reflection. For personal environments, the insights can transform meditation rooms and private workspaces into intimate retreats that encourage focus and self-connection. The findings also demonstrate potential for public spaces, where creating moments of intimate experience can offer respite within communal settings. Additionally, these principles can be particularly valuable for solitary living environments, where the space itself can provide emotional support and connection for individuals living alone.
Key Takeaways
This project marked a significant milestone in bridging my interests in built environment and HCI, revealing the versatile applications of technology in everyday spaces. Through independent management of the entire project—from prototype construction to user testing—I developed crucial skills in quantitative analysis, project management, and user research. The most valuable aspect was direct user engagement through interviews and testing, which provided deep insights into user behaviour and reinforced the importance of user-centered design in HCI research.
Next Steps
The research sets a foundation for several development pathways. Immediate next steps include conducting larger-scale testing for more comprehensive validation and developing a fully functional high-fidelity prototype with enhanced features.
Looking to the future, this research opens significant development opportunities. The findings could be integrated into adaptive architecture, enabling spaces that respond to emotional needs. The concept of personalised intimate environments shows promise for mental health and wellbeing applications. Additionally, these principles could extend beyond physical spaces into virtual and mixed reality environments, creating new possibilities for digital intimate experiences.