House of quality: a method to identify landscape design requirements

Purpose

The level of live, reduction of pollution and positive human health is affected by the quality of landscape. In addition, many benefits such as aesthetic, psychological and social can be achieved. The quality of landscape is integrated with the individual’s needs. The scope of landscape must be determined according to user needs and planning methods. The purpose of this study is to propose a house of quality (HOQ) model to identify the landscape design requirements. The Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) was used as a case study. The need to implement the proposed HOQ model has been identified. Also, the male and female students’ priorities have been identified, and the weight of campus landscape design elements was extracted.

Design/methodology/approach

The male and female IUG students’ needs were identified using a questionnaire survey. The data were analyzed for testing statistical validity and reliability using SPSS. HOQ model was built using EDRAW Max program.

Findings

The ten most important student needs are “cleanliness, praying, feeling safe, feeling comfortable psychic, drinking, spaciousness and breadth, shading, quiet, rest and sitting, and fresh air.” Based on these results and needs assessment, the HOQ was constructed. The most important design elements are “group of seats, shrubs, trees, lawns, pergola, and seats chairs or benches.”

Originality/value

This study adds to the designer’s knowledge about HOQ application in design, and contributes significantly to consider public participation as a way in collecting the voice of customers.