A conceptual model of facades meaning in the residential apartments from the viewpoint of residents (Case Study: Ardabil City)

The facade of a building is the essential element expressed by architecture. It has a significant impact on the viewer’s sensation and perception. The facade is the first component that people see when looking at a building, and they continuously “experience” it as they approach the building. Most studies about building facades have an urban planning approach to this subject, and it has not seen much scholarly attention from the perspective of architecture. Considering that there is no specific theory or model about the meaning of facades in architecture and since contextual factors such as culture, social conditions, and economic status affect the meaning of facades, the grounded theory was used to conduct this study.

This research use a mixed method. The qualitative part was performed using the grounded theory. The required data were collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews with the residents of Ardabil City. The sample population consisted of 25 individuals (16 women and nine men) who lived in residential apartments in Ardabil. Both physical characteristics (the geographical location, number of floors, and style of the buildings) and non-physical characteristics (the residents’ age and duration) constituted the selection criteria. The possibility of direct communication with the residents and performing spatial analysis were among the control criteria for choosing the sample population. The collected data were analyzed using the MAXQDA software, and the results were used to develop a conceptual model. The quantitative part was performed using correlation analysis. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire the validity and reliability of which were thoroughly examined. A total of 31 structured questions were posed to the citizens for testing the variables, and the conceptual modelchr('39')s validity was subsequently established.

In describing the appearance of their residential apartments, the participants used such terms as authentic, harmonious, grim, cheap-looking, which were used to identify the factors that determine the meaning of facades and develop a conceptual model. Facade design is influenced by cultural, economic, political, and climatic factors. Urban regulations and land lots with small widths tend to limit designers. Social networks have increased public awareness, and the resulting changes in people’s attitudes necessitate the adoption of different lifestyles and constant changes in building facades. Adhering to the principle of introversion in the Iranian architecture, installing covers and windows in the balconies to ensure privacy was found to have resulted in unbalanced facades and visual pollution, affecting the visual quality of the studied facades. Alongside construction, quality is also influential in shaping the meaning of a facade.

This research shows that facade components, physical and stylistic features, and apartment characteristics collectively lead to a unique experience of the meaning of the facade. Correlation analysis and quantitative analysis confirmed the validity of the conceptual model and the relationships of its factors. Designers can use this model to go beyond their perceptions and produce attractive and accepted designs by using desirable forms and facade components and considering the users’ mindsets. Since the sample population of this study consisted of the residents of Ardabil, it is suggested that this conceptual model be applied to different groups of people of various ages and education and be analyzed separately for each group.