Abstract
This study explores occupant place satisfaction in two recently completed corporate atriums in the Greater Johannesburg context. The overall aim of this study is to determine whether occupants experience place satisfaction in the corporate atrium. Case studies are used to investigate this phenomenon by examining the corporate atrium space, in which a post-occupancy evaluation is conducted. The atriums are situated at One Discovery Place, Sandton and 144 Oxford Road, Rosebank.
A qualitative research approach is employed for this study, utilising a case study methodology. The post-occupancy evaluation is used as a framework to collect and organise the data to inform the case studies. The data collection included occupant interviews, walkthroughs, and field observations. The occupants of the atrium were identified as the primary focus of data collection to understand their use of the space, movement through it, and place satisfaction while ultimately understanding the atrium space itself. The findings reveal an interconnected relationship between physical and non-physical attributes influencing occupant place satisfaction. Two primary physical attributes are highlighted in the results, one, daylight, and second, the addition of interiorscapes. Two non-physical attributes emerged from the findings: social interaction and a connection to nature/outdoors.
The study's outcome reveals the impact of physical and non-physical factors contributing to occupant place satisfaction. Therefore, the corporate atrium creates a space for occupants to connect with nature whilst having social interactions, thus establishing a space where occupants can break away from the corporate environment.
Keywords: Corporate atrium; place satisfaction; post-occupancy evaluation (POE).