Learning from built projects–sources of post occupancy feedback used by architects in Victoria, Australia

How do architects know whether their design was successful and if the building performs as intended? This is important to improve the standard of the built fabric, to show the value in good design, for the architect to learn whether the spaces achieved the desired aims, and to check sustainability performance. This research investigates the types of feedback received and studied by architects in Victoria to learn from their own built works. A literature search identified possible informal and formal feedback methods and emerging feedback methods. A general pilot study was conducted by interviewing six senior architects in practice regarding their practices’ feedback sources and methods of disseminating that knowledge. Additional feedback sources identified included the defects liability period, practice specific commissioning procedures, photography visits, and architectural services interviews. Knowledge dissemination methods included feedback reported directly to design teams, management & staff meetings, staff email, formal presentations, practice intranet software and updates to practice quality assurance procedures. Concerns raised by practitioners included procurement methods that actively discourage post occupancy analysis (POA), client unwillingness to pay for POA, and impacts on building performance of client or builder cost-based decisions.