Investigation of a Generative Design Method that Enhances the Architectural Design of a Healthcare Facility Using a Qualitative Research Method

The main aim of this thesis is to study how employing a user-centric approach in architecture can affect the designers understanding of their requirements. It particularly focuses on a qualitative research using a human centred design (HCD) approach in a health care facility located in Petawawa, as an example. Whilst HCD has been applied in Industrial Design for years, architects claim to shape people's lives, yet the user is often not involved in the design process. The challenge faced translates to "how the application of an HCD approach can possibly be applied in an architectural project?" by proposing a method for architects to use, using three co-creation tools. Employing an HCD approach may decrease the gap between architects and users due to the end users hidden and unmet needs being identified, resulting in a user-centric design.