Analysis of privacy in design studios and offices: Panopticon vs. synopticon

This study evaluates the factors affecting privacy and surveillance in design studios and offices. In architectural education, students and academics spend most of their day in design studios and offices. The historical development of the concepts of "Panopticon" and "Synopticon" surveillance until their inclusion in educational models and their effects on individuals' behavior, desires, and privacy are examined. By examining the impact of this surveillance on design studios and offices, the study aims to reveal users' perceptions and attitudes towards surveillance. A field study was conducted to assess the preferred and existing conditions for the offices and three different design studios at Çankaya University, Faculty of Architecture, Department of Interior Architecture. This study was evaluated with the participation of 86 interior architecture students and academicians. The expectations and preferences of students and academicians regarding the privacy of the design studio were analyzed. However, it has been discussed how the factors of spatial privacy, transparency and surveillance models shape the perception of privacy among students and academics are discussed. Although students were generally uncomfortable with surveillance, no impact on student achievement was found. In addition, this study reveals the importance of re-evaluating the design studio by considering the concepts of privacy, personal space, spatiality and crowdedness together with the concept of surveillance.