Considering the role of presence in the conceptual design of interior architectural environments

This paper reports on an educational setting used to explore presence within the interior architecture discipline through an interior design studio environment. An undergraduate studio subject was developed to integrate a hybrid design approach, where the main focus was to examine a means to heighten a designer’s appreciation of experience in virtual environments. Initially the focus of the unit and its objectives will be outlined before describing the projects. Attention will be focused on the main project and the hybrid design process before discussing the outcomes, student feedback and potential for further research in the field. The outcome of the study aims to contribute to current research on presence and its potential role in the design process and end product in interior architecture. Keywords--Design, Presence, Interior Architecture.