Higher Prices, Smaller Spaces: Correlation Between Apartment Prices and Architectural Practices in Skopje

Abstract

Problem Statement: The post-pandemic real estate market in Skopje has drastically altered apartment layouts. As apartment prices continue to rise, apartment sizes continue to shrink. The sudden appearance of unusual apartment layouts must be studied as phenomena of built space as evidence of architectural transformations as commodification (Herbert Marcuse, Commodification theory by Carl Marx According to Marx, Commodification is a process by which exchange value comes to dominate use value. Markets, money, and profit-orientation are instruments that facilitate the subjugation of use value to exchange value). The problem of this research is the reconsideration of the impact of the real estate market on architectural practices when designing apartment buildings, where a building is a product used merely in the real estate business. Purpose of Study: In the past four years, apartment prices per m2 in the Republic of North Macedonia have increased dramatically (30 - 40%) (independent variable) compared to prior years. The following has resulted to a decrease in the size of apartments (dependent variable). Even though there are regulations relating to the minimum size (qualitative methodology) of apartment spaces, it is widespread to come across apartments with a greater number of rooms in less space. This resulted in new apartment layouts determined exclusively by the real estate market. Through the examination of recently emerging new layouts of residential apartments in Skopje, this paper aims to identify, determine the correlation between real estate market and it’s impact that creates such an approach. This directional hypothesis examine quality of spatial organization as qualitative component in a relation to its size (m2) as quantitative component. Methods: The research is focused on newly constructed apartment buildings as case study. The research process will investigate and observe the size and layout of newly built and designed apartments. Findings and Results: The expected findings of this study will suggest that the design process for apartment buildings is entirely dictated by the real estate market, resulting in new apartment layouts that might or might not meet the comfort demands of users. Conclusions and Recommendations: This research re-presents architecture as one of the contemporary paradigms of the built environment based on the assumption that new apartment layouts offer new opportunities and possibilities for balancing the disparities between customer demand and customer available resources.