Exploring the Terminology, Definitions, and Forms of Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) in Landscape Architecture

Guanyu Chen, Jacky Bowring () and Shannon Davis ()
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Guanyu Chen: School of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Environment, Society and Design, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand
Jacky Bowring: School of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Environment, Society and Design, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand
Shannon Davis: School of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Environment, Society and Design, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 4, 1-41

Abstract: While the concept of Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) is widely applied in landscape architecture and other relevant fields, the term POE is not well-defined. By reviewing and analysing a representative set of POE definitions collected from existing academic and grey literature using content analysis methods, this study aims to enhance understanding of the breadth of the concept and its relevant practices. Our research found that the concept of POE was developed in architecture in the 1970s and subsequently adopted in landscape architecture in the 1980s. With the growth of the field in architecture and its adaptation to landscape architecture, the scope of POE was significantly expanded over recent decades, and with this growth, there have been considerable divergences in definitions and understandings of how to carry out POE. A range of different evaluation objects and four evaluation models were identified by this study. By surveying the conceptual terrain of POE, our research establishes the need for practitioners to be aware of the breadth of the concept and the potential ambiguity surrounding what is meant by the approach. Consequently, practitioners need to be specific and explicit about their understanding of POE. The findings also demonstrate how interdisciplinary differences appear to have been overlooked when adapting POE from one discipline to another. We, therefore, argue that it is crucial to keep shaping and trimming the concept to support the adaption of POE processes into different disciplinary domains.

Keywords: users’ satisfaction; landscape performance; conceptualisation; critique; evaluation model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:4:p:882-:d:1122709

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