Post-Occupancy Evaluation and Design Quality in Brazil: Concepts, Approaches and an Example of Application

This article aims to describe the origins and evolution of post-occupancy evaluation (POE) activities in Brazil. This methodology was consolidated in the Brazilian academic field in the mid-1990s. Whenever possible, parallels between activities carried out in this country and abroad are pointed out. Emphasis is given to the possibility of using POE to improve design quality, especially in architecture, and its use in the management of designing processes. In this sense, the article shows the benefits of POE studies applied in different types of occupancies. Specifically, a case study of school building is presented. Finally, a number of conclusions are drawn regarding prognoses as to the limits of its use in the professional practice of architects, urban planners and designers. The POE's potential to provide feedback for positive design practices, benchmarks, and for updating building codes and standards is also discussed.