Design for human flourishing in architecture: A theoretical framework to design spatial flourishing affordances

Abstract

Design for human flourishing (DfHF) as an architectural design approach is still in an embryon-ic stage and in need of a theoretical foundation. In this paper, two concepts are put forward on which to anchor a future DfHF approach. First is the affordance concept, which deals with how environments correspond to and fulfill certain needs users have. Stretching the affordance concept to also incorporate psychological needs leads to the development of the three-component framework of spatial flourishing affordances. The second anchor is the Vitruvian triad (an architectural quality model) because its venustas principle, which embodies the experiential aspects of architecture, offers a suitable basis for further concretizing the actual design of spatial flourishing affordances. By augmenting the weight of venustas in the current balance of the triad and design process, the sequence of action and the weight that should be given to the components in the framework is explicated. To conclude, the paper discusses the value of incorporating the framework into design practice and future research.