The feeling of comfort in residential settings I: a qualitative model

Building science commonly studies comfort—a subjective concept—through quantitative methods. These methods are often not the most appropriate to study concepts because they struggle consider non-quantifiable factors that sometimes relevant in determination of people’s comfort. Complementing already used with qualitative ones can help illuminate some areas where former struggle, but this is an uncommon practice building science. This paper presents results a aimed at understanding comfort without constraints it being quantifiable. It introduces feeling model, which summarises what was found. model suggests models ignore more than two out three determine Additionally, shows potentially possible make sense psychology and subjectivity organised structured manner. example how be powerful addition science’s research. Practice relevance reports project sought understand occupant-centred meaning ‘comfort’ (constrained has conventionally been described as thermal, visual acoustic domains). A developed from empirical data collated study. demonstrates nature coherent ordered argues should embraced within design practice. Although meant predict quantitatively, serve theoretical basis for informing policymaking, performance analysis For instance, evaluate assumptions behind simulation (e.g. questioning whether people will truly open windows certain scenarios).