Between measurements and perception – How Victorian scientists assessed the climatic conditions inside the Houses of Commons, 1852- 54.

The paper explores the role of the user experience in the design and performance evaluation of the first ventilation and climate control system in the House of Commons, which was developed by the physician David Boswell Reid between 1847 and 1852. From February 1852 till April 1854 the environmental conditions inside the debating chamber were continuously monitored and also underwent several scientific evaluations. In addition to measuring the physical environment using scientific instruments, particular attention was given to examining the MPs' personal experience of the indoor climate. Eyewitness accounts, scientific reports and the engineers’ monitoring log-books are used to gain critical insights into the the internal environmental conditions and how these were perceived. Moreover, it retraces how difficulties with satisfying the MPs expectations became the driving force behind several scientific examinations and technical modifications. It illustrates that the idea of involving building users in post-occupancy evaluations is not entirely modern but part of a more longstanding practice.