Enhancing building performance in developing countries through user-engaged design

Fathima Sabrina Nazeer, Imriyas Kamardeen and Abid Hasan

Chapter 24 in Research Companion to Advances in the Construction Industry in the Global South, 2026, pp 581-603 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Many buildings fail to meet evolving user needs, leading to performance gaps that require costly retrofitting or rebuilding. A key reason is the insufficient involvement of end-users in the design process. In developing countries, where financial resources for such modifications are limited, it is essential to design buildings that maximise long-term value by integrating user perspectives from the outset. However, there is a lack of clear guidelines for effectively involving end-users, and user-engaged design remains underutilised. This chapter presents a framework for user-engaged building design, specifically tailored to the socio-economic, cultural, and technical contexts of developing countries. By promoting meaningful user participation, the framework ensures buildings align with both client requirements and occupant needs, enhancing functionality, productivity, and satisfaction.

Keywords: Building design; User engagement; Performance gap; User satisfaction; Developing countries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035349012
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