Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi Fen Fakültesi Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Science

Fen Bilimleri Dergisi (CFD), Cilt:36, No: 4 Özel Sayı (2015) Science Journal (CSJ), Vol. 36, No: 4 Special Issue (2015)
ISSN: 1300-1949 ISSN: 1300-1949

Childish Architecture look at the thoughts and psychological of childhood world

Solmaz Amir Zadeh KHEIRABAD1

1MA student of architecture, Payame Noor University unit of Bandar Abbas

Received: 22.03.2015; Accepted: 29.05.2015

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Abstract

The purpose of this research is how to design architecture for child and should completely different and specific to he himself
be done is the that by knowing full of personality and spiritually-the child and needs of he begins, because the soul is pure and
simple a child is vulnerable and affected by social factors around them, and the need for research on how to design the most
sensitive population is inevitable. After reviewing child psychology, in order to design an environment favorable to research on
issues of aesthetics favored him and the expectations of the environment by examining the colors and forms of his thinking and
identify measures commensurate with the need to be explored. In addition, library studies, field studies with the presence of the
children, especially the study of paintings are also used and results of library studies as well as practical observed, because the
expectations of the children space to play and drawings are also searched. Thus, a child's drawing can be seen as a bridge for
linking the world of childhood and children with mental expectations designer. Citizen immature child that is born clean and
feeling on top of things and his activities are not logic and argument. His world is a world of play and excitement,
disproportionate violent and unsafe environments, scary and dark forms, colors and feelings of insecurity. His time with sports,
poetry, music, painting and storytelling time and a keen interest in nature, touching the water, green space and it is fun to see
the animals. Including cases where in architectural design to achieve project success to help children include: Use the form of a
combination of creative and new, providing toys and entertainment, create curved lines in levels with an create difference level
of by clear and obvious but secure in the body of and floor for the provision of accept Adjacent to and welding and Activity
and curiosity child, create spaces cozy and private on the side of spaces game collective, the application of colors happy and
proportional to the spiritually-children in different levels, Use of materials soft and flexible and diverse for of different land
uses, observance of proportions childish, application of natural factors such as water and green space and animals in inside and
outside, creating connecting bridge transparent among different spaces internal and external, securing child in the all accept
game and activities. Beside these accept rest he also be provided, in such an environment sense of security and tranquility and
sense of belonging in he is created and with the environment familiarity takes place.

Keywords: child architecture, child psychology, child thinking

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1.INTRODUCTION

when mankind's understanding of the purpose of the architectural design has been dedicated to him, in
every society and culture methods and criteria for this purpose has been different, in our society, the
children's attention to the child and the architecture can be said is still in the beginning of the route and
only in the last few years is paying particular attention to this issue and more generally for adults shaped
cities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the character and needs of children and their
architectural design criteria and result in the design of it is obtained. A city that does not pay attention to
their children in past generations, and their future is not regarded. (Shia, 2006: 8) Children are the most
vulnerable and the most affected age group make up society. Even his society and culture can be
distinguished from others. Children with simple and clear thinking that after the family formed the basis
of personality they are into the urban environment and expect the world simply and sincerely have
designed a world-scale children's, a world of colors and forms attractive, a world of comfort and
security, not fear and anxiety, and a world of dream and imagination it is clear that the role of children
in cities that these suitable for the healthy upbringing of children in the community. Michel Mansiyo

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*Corresponding author. Email address: Solmaz.amirzadeh@gmail.com

Special Issue: Technological Advances of Engineering Sciences

http://dergi.cumhuriyet.edu.tr/cumuscij ©2015 Faculty of Science, Cumhuriyet University

 Kheirabad

believes that once the children were considered as the digestive system, and it was thought that the food
does not require anything passed. This means that the growth and development of children, but there
needs to sound human environment is required. (Shia, 26: 2006)
In order to achieve efficient design of the human environment must first understand the child and the
child's personality and after reviewing his psychology, to research the issues and expectations of child
desired aesthetics of the environment by examining the colors and forms of his thinking and identify
appropriate measures to require him to be able to design an optimal environment for this segment of
society was delicate and healthy growth and educational background to succeed. In this study, the first
all those good and pleasant for the child is psychologically and social development and help create a
better relationship with the environment and according to his mood raised and finally how to use them
in architectural design has been efficient and accurate that can be to the design failed to comply with
standards and provide functional features, the most important requirement is designed to reach children.
History and necessity of research
Due to the special design for children's issues in recent years has attracted special attention and studies
on this subject, especially in our country is at the beginning of the route and most research in the form
of books and articles have been published, is about 3 or 4 recent years, to increase awareness and
understanding of the needs of the country most affected population, more and more research is needed
that results are placed in the hands of designers and people involved, in the hope that architecture and
urban design's role is not to forget.
Research Methodology
Based on purpose of this research is a fundamental research and from theoretical methods based on
library studies and experimental method is based on field studies. Here's target population or mothers of
children (aged under 15 years) and the selected samples included 150 children from the community who
have been randomly selected. For achieving the research findings, conclusions and observations
practical studies in any part of the research library that studies conducted on the sample. Of each
selected samples were asked to individually draw a painting in which all the issues that they portray a
pleasant and lovely, because painting is his favorite children simple vision of the world and to achieve
the desired result, individual and group research by talking with them about their interests and a few
days in the Games and gatherings in various places there and have monitored their behavior and
attitudes.
Who is the child?

Several definitions explaining the meaning of the child can be seen in various countries: According to
the definition Persian culture Moein, meaning small children, minors and children who have not reached
puberty (boys or girls) or the child has been, in the American Heritage Dictionary of the child as a
person between birth and puberty is mentioned. In two the above definition means a child is the same.
(Shia, 13: 2006) Universal Declaration of the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Child on the
matter of a child who knows that less than 18 years old unless national laws recognize the age of
puberty less. Piaget described children in different age classes have different cognitive skills of space
and in terms of his mental development and mental development is analogous organs of the body as
they walk towards a balance, and this progress is gradual and each step of the step by step development
of mental balance, mental and psychological growth from birth has been completed in about 16 years. In
general, according to various definitions can be criteria for the selection of the child before the age of 15
years maturity with a different mood and characteristics.
Childish expectations from space

Human feelings and actions made by the ability of the natural environment and cultural and inner
character are limited. (Lang, 1938: 95) Always have your child's social world of adults who are willing
and rules for outer and material world, he just does not realize that it is compatible children cannot think
like adults and even their emotional needs not satisfied with the adjustments. The adults are almost
completely compatible with the environment. (Piaget, 2004: 73) This is where the architect must take
steps in the opposite direction, that is, instead of trying to adapt to the child consistent with the child's
environment, address the child's environment and its design logic and reasoning rather than emotions
take over, because children do with their lives in a world of illusion and recognize irrational thinking
and reasoning in thinking has no right and wrong. From harsh environment insecure, scary and dark
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forms and colors runs out of proportion. His life is happy with the commotion and activity. Children
interested in playing with their environment, sports, poetry, music, reading, painting, feeling character,
storytelling, seeing wildlife, open space and green, seeing the Sunnis, watching television and leisure
time to time they make up the majority. (Karimian and others, 2001: 148) Plato taught music and
physical education in children younger than 10 years of education. Aesthetics factors in the space are
designed for the child shall be such that he will encourage training. Hence environment should be a
happy and full of energy with respect to age group and by the colors and volumes created palpable.
Enjoyable environment is a key factor for children providing the clarity and readability of the
environment. Kevin Lynch says video pleasant environment makes a person a sense of security. He
also, in order to have a clear picture of the environment such as that one can easily understand the
components and put them together in your mind in terms of the relationship. In fact, the order of
psychological security of the process that feels nice to the environment. (Architecture and culture, 46:
26)
Expectations of children space to play and drawings searched. Every detail exactly what is pleasant for
children and simple way to depict their fashion, nature, animals, music, dance and play. Therefore, a
child's drawing can be seen as a bridge for linking the world of childhood and children with mental
expectations designer and researcher in the field. Most children love to draw and paint the differences
between children of different ages but are more common concept of nature can be seen in all of them.
Drawing the line, and that any activity could represent a form of primitive art and one of the game
evolved and is more creative. The reason is that with such a visible feature is the ability to provide
understanding of abstract and mental complicated scenarios. At this stage child is unconscious issues
and problems that arise in relation to adults, he suggests and true to the concept of the game and
especially for his paintings comes as a social activity. (Oliverio Ferrari, 9: 2008) Therefore painting is
not only a means of fostering creativity and maturity of the child and it should be investigated as a
means of exchange and social environment for adults and children considered as a sign of emotional
states. According to the concepts of child psychology in the design and use of light, color, texture and
helps to create innovative rhythm to help children with mental prosperity and help them to track
individual identification. (Journal of Architecture and Culture, Number 46: 17)
Child play
A- Effervescence and mobility
A child's world is the world of games and commotion, running and jumping and friendly get together.
Most healthy is always with those who move; move freely and without boundaries in large
environments and natural. But, unfortunately today the possibility of life destroyed by urbanization.
Children, in a small house without a yard and generally working for parents, they are without the
presence part of the day, homes are getting smaller, tighter and are darker and feature games and free
movement of children and parents are returned tired from work due to work pressures suffered during
the day, generally from them expected to pull together and inactivity are associated with noise and
children's play time.
Piaget, Swiss psychologists famous introduced five criteria to recognize playing: (Azmoudeh, 2011: 7)
- The game has its purpose.
- Play is voluntary, not mandatory.
- Play is nice and pleasant.
- Play lack of organization.
- Play is free from the shackles of conflict and aggression.
Gross Carl was the first time found meaning and function of children is essential not only for
refreshment. But he knew things match practice for the introduction of future activities. (Piaget, 2004:
77) Providing toys and effervescence of design requirements is a place for children. Child playing with
familiar objects and events to be repeated daily interactions in the game, and this experience led him to
wonder and to better understand the use of objects and finally the results obtained from these
experiments is that all this helps her to better mental development. Monte Surrey doctor knows a great
school game in which your child is growing and the physical, mental and social development and be
prepared for life in every way. (Azmoudeh, 2012: 6) Most children in the course of their work have a
great interest in hiding and alone and one of them is the most enjoyable Games and generally when they
are emotionally affected by a particular issue, corners and areas as a refuge for himself chooses and time
spent, and this is relaxing.
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B- Presence nature in the game

In general, children's games are along with gusto and enthusiasm and with a smile and leads to not
isolation of children in the community. If children play in the natural environment and nature made the
greatest impact on the growth of the child because he loves nature, trees, animals, birds, and soil and
water the most. (Picture 1) In terms Jean-Jacques education should be child's normal growth and
development during the streaming server and a good teacher to his nature and nature as far as possible
to the child's release. (Shia, 64: 2006)

Image 1: The interest of the child to touch the water, soil and plasticity of the first months of life and
play with it without any legal rule and maintain this interest with age but with a meaningful purpose and
design. Reference: author - forum.mahdportal.com
In the study of 150 children of all ages from 5 years to 12 years with different social emotions were
asked to do anything that is his favorite and these tend to spend their day to portray and while most of
them were isolated and away from each other, after reviewing painting and talk to them the most
important things that can be seen in the paintings and in terms of particular to explain the psychology or
the children themselves, as shown in Table 1 were determined:

Table 1: Results prioritized 10 cases of children's drawings. Reference: author

Explanation Drawn percent Object
Different animal can have difference reason and after talking children, 57 Animals
the causes are cleared and always show interest of children to animal and
to play them

Ground stability and the security indicator is Being green, the child goes 55 Green ground
back to the spirit of friendship and love of nature to comfort and safety
while the children play on the floor.

Every part of the tree draws particular interpretation of children's 54 Tree

drawings, but in this study, most children trees with medium body and
smooth, with branches regularly drawing that represents the aspirations
and ambitions in terms of the psychology of the child and represents a
highly sensitive child who simply understands the issues and is able to
communicate with others, and sustainability.
Image of the Sun represents the life, security, happiness, heat, power and 51 Sun
according to some researchers, the father symbol is desirable. In the rest
of the paintings that depict the sun was not yet fully observed signs that
the light of day, the presence of dark and the moon is not in the children's
drawing symbol.
Cloud, in paintings of children is mother and is a sign of tranquility. If 49 Cloud
the relationship is good parents, take the cloud. The numbers of clouds, if
two or more are good.

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Water is source of life and a symbol of motherhood, emotions, sensory 48 Water

perception and imagination. Lakes and the ocean needs the support of the
child's mother is specified. But if the water in the act of painting
represents have overcome with the excitement of extreme and
widespread reception of the child. But since the water slope of the land is
consistent with the expression of flexibility, compromises the moment,
daydreaming and dreams processing.
How shape and appearance of the house often in the form and returned 45 House
the child's life, but the paintings are common in the heart of nature with
open windows facing the outside of the house that represents the interests
of children a sense the presence of nature and is natural factors in any
situation.
Most of the time, children's play groups, children shows, and this type of 40 Participating in group
painting take its real position and their relationship with others in the
group and often self-children in the group, which is a sign of adaptation,
is drawn.
Mark's interest in the effervescence and jumping up and down and even 36 Joint mountain
eat least and generally non-stationary and uniform.

The allocation of part of daily time watching his mood cheerful and good 32 Television and characters
fun

Cases outlined in the table above natural factors and the presence of a child's interest in nature and tend
to it. Although not all the paintings are a common but they are definitely one of the natural factors is
drawn.
Child and color
Colors in personality, especially children, more effectively, causing emotional experience such joy,
laughter, sadness, grief, tranquility, irritability, inertia and excitement is, this attribute the rise in
children. Due to their pure and happy and vibrant spirit of its vivid colors and combined that with the
right mix placed prefer, with different colors can be small or large size and weight of a certain object,
lighter or heavier. (Hosseinpour, 2012: 83) psychologically warm colors are (red, yellow and orange)
stimulating, because activities and effervescence, inspired by the light and joy of life and productive.
While cool colors (green, blue and purple) states passive, are dead. Neutral colors (gray) represent
introversion, reasoning, autonomy and productivity attack and tend to be impregnated. Can be see the
colors in the painting deeply internal states and feelings children easily understand. (Picture 2)

Figure 2: This paintings drawn by children 4 years old and live more warm colors and it attracted my
attention. Even the use of the spectrum of cool colors such as blue and green colors to warmest and
most of them and to terms of review of social psychology, the painting represents, lively and dynamic
and effervescence interest in this character is high. Reference: author
Colors are used in two ways:
1. The natural and physical prototyping - for example, sea blue and grass green
2. Unconscious use of colors without determined law
Of course sometimes children feel that the first method is based on the colors of the elements, etc. is
like the sea change and in terms of them-selves have chosen the right way. Time passed it is possible to
understand and correct. At reviews paintings drawn by children in the study in terms of how the
painting and the use of colors, the results in Table 2 have been obtained. In fact enthusiasm of the child
to communicate with colors helps to make contact with the surrounding environment.
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Table 2: Results how to paint a painting for children, Reference: author

Explanation Drawn percent Painting mode
Represents consistent, active and 79 A variety of lively colors and bold
vibrant spirit and social life
Represents isolation and lack of 13 Use one or bicolor
communication with the outside
world
Represents introversion, reasoning, 3 Use neutral colors and spirit
self-determination and attack
efficiency
Represents emotional vacuum or 5 No coloring
sometimes because of anti-social
tendencies

Scale childish
Architecture is necessary associated with the intake childish is in direct proportion. Requirements to
ergonomics or physical characteristics of children interpreted, issues such as the physical scale of the
child and what height the world and looks around. With the scale is designed to fit the child's sense of
alienation and insecurity completely and totally space he sees his own. Of the most important cases
which in accordance with the scale in their design to create a sense of security in the child can be to
dining room and bedroom furniture and health services? Should strive be the size of a table and chairs,
toy chests, door handles and valves height couches etc. designed to suit children's sense of security and
belonging in his scale is created. (Picture 3)

Image 3: Dallas Public Library Children's Room (Lockwood branch) All chairs of the study, rest
furniture, windows and shelves of books and materials fits perfectly with the physical dimensions of
children and parents waiting room is separate from this department. Reference: msrdesign.com
Light and ventilation
Light is architectural principles in ensuring visual comfort space. The child afraid of the dark and light
enough to show plenty of passion and desire and there is enough light for eye health and vision he is
very important, his focus is increasing and later work and play tired, and her energy levels increased.
Especially if natural light is used, the more positive effects, on affect his morale. Position place skylight
openings for with course will have different effects. Especially if the place drop in proportion to his
height be designed and easy to follow light during the day and add to their experiences. Ventilation is
essential to work with minimum fatigue and health care for children. Among the actions that can be
done:

- Determine the correct location of the openings to the direction of the wind
- Use of appropriate materials in walls
- Use of plants and trees for natural ventilation environment (News, Article codes 09256488)
- attention to locate the space designed for the child is important, space away from all the noise and
environmental pollution in order to create a sense of space the child
Architectural design guidelines for children

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 Childish Architecture look at the thoughts and psychological

From start of the study to those of the child's interest and it is pleasant psychologically. But whether
what form this architecture must be respected and the results obtained in the design is especially
important.
Walter artery in his book Architecture for children translated doctor Ahmad Khoshnevis and engineer
Elmira Amir Rahimi to investigate the 37 projects approved and documented in the world for children is
designed as an aggregation of architectural design guidelines for children 1- indoor man-made, man-
made, 2- life found that compliance with these requirements for the design quality of the experience.
Architecture and design books for children written by Maryam Azmoudeh a similar is result as design
requirements. 1- Children playgrounds. 2- rooms for the child. Also, in an article entitled child nursery
design and architecture books looking at the sacred architecture of the authoring Ali Hossein-Pour and
Najafi Mohadeseh spaces for children as has been required in the design environment.
In this project aims to achieve an appropriate aggregation undertakes to study the items on each project
and the following results were obtained:
A- The requirements and design specifications environment for child:
- Common room with good light: open and clear space for meetings and joint activities, such as games
and music practice
- Niches, corners, bumps, cozy and attractive spaces for child with a sense of security in various forms
(Fig. 4)
- Small and private spaces, can be a variety of shapes, small rooms for private activities such as reading
or relaxing design
- Ability to move in height to create additional classes or use ladders and towers and tree houses in
order to create a sense of excitement and fly (Figure 5)
- The structure of the house and childish furniture design and respect for child secure and usable scale
furniture In order to comfort and style for the child and his game
- Experience in adults: use the tool to find the world of adults and particularly in cooking
- Shelves and drawer toys and library storage shelves and wardrobes and apparatuses in the presence
book as the genius and fantasized
- Establish a clear link with the outside world using attractive windows and large terrace to enjoy the
view (Figure 6)
- Transfer of nature and open space into the use of green space, water, and animal’s passion for child

Figure 4: Private and cozy atmosphere and attractive for children. Reference tapja.com

Figure 5: Create a new and interesting way to move in height. Reference: memarinews.com

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Figure 6: Typical communication between the external environment and the use of windows and large
terraces, Reference: Azmoudeh: 2012

B - Requirements and Specifications of life for child

- The use of natural factors such as water, plants, animals and wooden life: children and enjoys water
services while reducing pollution, such as animals and plants are attractive to child and their life made
the child feel tranquility.
- Create interesting and complex topography for adventure: the use of various forms and irregular, hills,
slopes, caves and attractive elements (Figure 7)
- Road and flooring and a variety of body and safe for child: Isolation path of non-violent child-floor
building with form and texture and colors, which change function depending on the color and texture to
be observed.
- Due to the presence children with disabilities: create a gentle slope and protective enclosures designed
to create a stronger connection between children with disabilities with others and their isolation.
- Location of rest: a good idea to create a zone of rest in large centers in certain intervals. If resting
places designed to be comfortable for children to lie down on the soft ground as it adds to the charm
- Familiar and legible forms and views of children exposed to the elements and form a clear contrast to
the baroque forms and new sense of pleasant and comfortable environment in which they are active and
feel safe.
- There are toys and game accessories, providing toys and equipment for child to play in the external
environment, while ensuring compliance and safety standards required of them.
- Respect factors aesthetics: Environmental Design happy and colorful and full of energy for each age
group in order to strengthen child sense of learning

Figure 7: create interesting and complex topography for adventure. Reference: ketabak.org

Conclusion
Humans and their activities are important for children over architecture, this issue originated from the
fact that states that man and his activities refer to the functional characteristics of the built environment
by human qualities that are around them. Thus background and because of this preference, the children
are not ready for a good figure and a beautiful cover operating deficits. (Coronar, 167: 2011) Providing
functional characteristics and needs of the child in terms of his own, where he can play, (collectively or
individually) to pay adventure game to see colors and shapes, according to the scale he made
environment, it is bright enough, feel the presence of nature and with all the rest of these terms is also
provided, in such an environment and feel safe and secure in his sense of belonging and familiarity with
the environment, a child's world is a world of play and excitement, a world without logic and rules of
dressing and unchangeable. The use of new forms with creative combinations while maintaining
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 Childish Architecture look at the thoughts and psychological

readability environment, providing toys and entertainment, curved lines at different levels with create
clear and obvious, but secure in the body and floor to provide active and working conditions of child,
using different colors, happy and fit the mood of children in different levels of design, use of materials
and a variety of soft and flexible for different applications, especially distinct paths of movement and
respect for the proportions of childish, including child helps to achieve successful design.
Nature is also an essential complement to the man-made environment, if the building is a mix of child
environmental context, it is unavoidable. Child with being in the natural environment is energy, seeing
the plants, animals, soil and water and, most importantly, the architect must make every effort to apply
and use of natural factors, whatever elaborate as the design and apply more creativity in this area to
achieve a more successful project. To child and communicate with them and be familiarity, so he wants
to participate in shaping and making changes to their terms and conditions of the preset and if the
architect to change things for child's participation at different levels to consider, no doubt the child's
sense of space has increased and stimulate the creativity.
Subject to all child-friendly design features a designer should not forget that security is especially
important in these areas, this issue architecture should addition to be considered in the design and
installation of structural details, because he knows and when the risk generally focuses on the issue may
not realize the dangers that are around him.

REFERENCES

[1] Azmoudeh, Maryam, 2012, architecture and design for child, Tehran

[2] Oliverio Ferrari, Anna, 1999, children's drawings and concepts, translation: Abdolreza, Sarafan,
Tehran: Hands

[3] Piaget, Jean, 2004, Child Psychology (2012), translated Zinat Tofigh, Tehran

[4] Hossein Pour, Seyyed Ali, 2012, with take care of sacred architecture in Iran, Tehran: Tahan

[5] Soltanzadeh, Hossein, 2012, children architecture, (Proceedings of the students) Tehran

[6] Shia, Esmaiel, 2006, to prepare the city for children, Tehran

[7] Coronar, Walter, 2011, Architecture for children, translated by Ahmad Mirza Koochak Khoshnevis
and Elmira Mir Rahimi

[8] Mozaffari, Masoumeh, 1998, familiar with children's paintings, Tehran: Institute for Intellectual
Development of Children and Adolescents An online magazine Hamshahri online, 2009, Article
code 09256488 Journal of architecture and culture, (46). 2011

[9] http://msrdesign.com

[10] http://memarinews.com/vdcd.90x2yt0nka26y.htm

[11] http://forum.mahdportal.com/index.php?threads/%D8%AE%D8%A7%DA%A9-
%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C.447/

[12] http://www.dadsbigplan.com/2009/11/architecture-for-kids-in-your-face-tree-fort/ playing-

spaces/kids-library-design-ideas-with-colorful-large-playing-spaces /

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