Beyond Functionality: Morphological Design Tools for Users’ Satisfaction in Housing

Abstract

Various factors can affect an individual’s satisfaction level. While studying residential satisfaction and assessing it, subjective perceptions have the most significant influence. An essential element in ensuring satisfaction in housing is to consider the design of spaces that cater to individuals’ specific desires and needs that change over time. Housing was frequently constructed considering the specific subjective needs of individuals, before the era of industrialization. As industrialization rises, housing gradually transformed into a commodity. Certain researchers propose that studying traditional built environments and harnessing the data gained from such analyses can be advantageous for contemporary housing production. Notably, Habraken is a prominent researcher who sought to ensure users’ satisfaction in housing by devising the “Support System” rooted in his analysis of Dutch houses. Traditional house plans in Türkiye exhibit resemblances to the morphological arrangements observed by Habraken in Dutch houses, yet with some distinctive characteristics. In modern times, designers often prioritize function as the primary consideration. However, there have been attempts, such as Habraken’s, to shift towards prioritizing morphology instead. This paper will explain links between users’ satisfaction and their ability to change their immediate environments through morphologies that accommodate diverse functions.