Apartment Research Articles

Effects of Sensory Environment and Playfulness on Cognitive Health Among Older Adults in Singapore Public Housing: Findings from Path Analysis

This study explores the association of “Sensory Environment” and “Playfulness” with Depression and Cognition (SEPDC) among older adults living in high-density public housing neighborhoods in Singapore. The research conducted cross-sectional surveys with 400 adults aged 55 and above living in 20 such neighborhoods. Path analyses suggest that sensory environment (multi-sensory richness of a place and its capacity to engage) and playfulness (personality trait that enables rendering situations as playful) are associated with reduced depressive symptoms, memory problems, and loneliness in older adults, mediated by the increased “neighborhood cohesion” and sense of “at-homeness.” Hence, sensory environment and playfulness are critical for healthful aging in place and should be considered carefully for better design and planning of aging-friendly housing neighborhoods.

Redefining active mobility from spatial to social in Singapore

IntroductionWalking is an active mobility option with health and social benefits. Many cities including Singapore are expanding pedestrian infrastructure and creating walkable neighbourhoods. But the connection of neighbourhood walkability and walking behaviour among residents, especially older adults remains less examined. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between everyday walking behaviours and neighbourhood design characteristics. MethodsUtilising generative focus group discussions with 12 participants, including older adults, this exploratory research collected personal and collective stories on residents' walks around Singapore's high-rise, high-density public housing neighbourhoods of Tampines Town, including their attitudes, aversions, and aspects of environmental barriers and enablers for walking. ResultsAll 12 participants had walked in their neighbourhoods during the 7 days preceding the focus group discussion. A key motivation for walking in the neighbourhood was everyday life activities and needs, such as to get out of the house, walking for food, groceries, work, exercise, and health, reinforcing the pivotal role of these opportunities in residents’ active mobility life space and the availability and accessibility to these local facilities. Drawing on their everyday lived experiences, participants shared their conception of walkable neighbourhood, the adequacy of neighbourhood places for walking, the environmental barriers and enablers. Older participants spoke about walkable environments helping them to reach essential destinations safely every day and contributing to not only their physical health but also social and mental health (through contact with nature and interaction with neighbours and others within the neighbourhood). Where they would walk is often influenced by their perception of the place, sense of safety, and the presence/absence of services. ConclusionsThe findings lend local priorities for walkable neighbourhoods based on what residents think and blending social consensus. The policy implication is a need to consider both place enhancement and people's experience, including experiential micro-social and psychological aspects and their interlinkages when designing inclusive walkable neighbourhood.

Development of a System Suitable for an Apartment Complex for the Collective Recovery of Solid Resources from Food Waste: A Study on South Korea

The installation of food waste disposers has been prohibited in South Korea, due to conflicts with governmental policies that are focused on resource recovery from food waste and concerns about potential damage to the city’s sewer system. However, there is a growing demand for such systems in the country. This study proposes a system for the collective recovery of solid resources from food waste tailored for apartment complexes in South Korea, using an innovative solid–liquid separation technology. In the pilot experiment, 49.60% of the solids fed into the system were recovered as solid matter, confirming its practical applicability. Ultimately, a solid resource collective recovery system suitable for the high-rise apartment residence style of South Korea was developed and applied to an actual apartment complex. The final-stage solids were discharged from the system and processed through bio-drying, subsequently exhibiting a combustible material content of 67.06%, higher heating value (HHV) of 4843 kcal/kg, and lower heating value (LHV) of 3759 kcal/kg; moreover, they have the potential to be repurposed as biomass–solid refuse fuel (bio-SFR), compost, feed, and substrate for biogas production. The proposed food waste disposal system not only aligns with governmental policies, but also facilitates the recovery of high-quality resources from food waste, while providing a sustainable waste management solution.

재건축초과이익환수제도의 존재와 폐지의 담론

According to the management status of apartment complexes in Seoul at the end of 2023, there are 960 apartment complexes that are over 30 years old, accounting for 25.4% of the total, and the number of apartment complexes that will be over 30 years old within the next 10 years is expected to reach 57.5%. Therefore, it is expected that the controversy over reconstruction will continue in the future. However, in 2006, the Act on Recovery of Excessive Reconstruction Profits came into effect, and the Reconstruction Excessive Profits Recovery System, which recovers up to 50% of development profits resulting from reconstruction, has consistently raised unconstitutional claims regarding infringement of property rights, violation of the principle of equality, and double taxation. It has been done. Under this background, the National Assembly proposed on June 5, 2024, the 'Abolition of the Act on the Recovery of Reconstruction Excess Profits', which would abolish the recovery of excess profits from reconstruction. Recently, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport also stated his position that the comprehensive real estate tax and reconstruction excess profit recovery system should be abolished. Therefore, this study examines the theoretical discourse on the maintenance or abolition of the reconstruction tax profit recovery system, which is the subject of controversy.

감염병에 따른 주거점유형태별 주거만족도 영향 분석

This study aims to verify whether there is a difference in housing satisfaction among residents of Korea’s largest Apartment Complex by residential occupancy type before and after COVID-19. As a result of the analysis, the satisfaction level of owner-occupiers was high. In detail, the satisfaction of owner-occupiers was high with the tangible factors such as physical characteristics, location characteristics, and management characteristics, and the satisfaction of renter residents was high with the intangible factors such as social characteristics, economic characteristics, and online information service characteristics. In other words, it can be seen that owner-occupiers place importance on the living environment and management, while renter residents place importance on the convenience of using the surrounding environment. The impact of residential environment characteristics of owner-occupiers on housing satisfaction before and after COVID-19 was significant in physical characteristics, location characteristics, and management characteristics. In the case of renter residents, physical characteristics and location characteristic were significant before COVID-19 and online information service characteristics was significant after COVID-19. In this way, since the type of residential occupancy affects satisfaction even in the same residential environment, it is judged that differentiated housing policies with appropriate selection and concentration are necessary.

범죄피해자 심리지원의 실태 및 개선방안

Recently, in April 2024, there was a shocking report about a teenager being stabbed by a neighbor in his 50s due to inter-floor noise conflict in an apartment complex, resulting in serious injuries and traumatic distress. The psychological shock experienced by victims of violent crimes like this is beyond imagination, necessitating a response. While the Crime Victim Protection Act is being enforced, providing financial and psychological support, it's time for proactive measures from the perspective of victims' human rights. Historically, the judicial system in Korea has prioritized the rights of suspects and defendants, often neglecting the needs of the victims. The purpose of this paper is to examine the current state of support for crime victims, particularly in terms of psychological support, and explore the problems of the crime victim psychological support system and seek improvement measures. Based on an analysis of the current state of the crime victim support system, previous research, and factual diagnosis, discussions were conducted on the problems and improvement measures of psychological support for crime victims. As a result, the following conclusions were reached: Firstly, there is a need for legal policy improvements, including shifting perceptions, focusing on psychological support, and proposing legislative amendments. Secondly, institutional improvement measures, such as enhancing professionalism, strengthening the role of centers, providing support from the victim's perspective, and preparing for remote counseling, are necessary. Thirdly, the continued development of the police's psychological system is essential.

매입임대주택 주거만족도 영향 요인의 우선순위 연구

This study aims to contribute to the improvement and revitalization of purchased rental housing by comparing perceptions between consumers and providers. Housing providers perceive 'external factors' (external noise and odor), 'administrative factors' (completeness of defect repair, ease of receiving defect repair, and connections and support from welfare services), and 'social factors' (opportunities to participate in neighborhood social gatherings) as relatively less important than tenants. Therefore, it seems that housing providers need to actively shift their priorities to customize their work in order to improve the housing satisfaction of tenants in purchased rental housing.. The policy implications are as follows: First, the government and the Incheon Metropolitan Government need to improve the system to realize the per-unit support price of purchased rental housing. Second, the significant impact of exterior noise on residents of rental housing requires a paradigm shift from the current policy of focusing on areas where housing is available for purchase. Third, public housing operators should make efforts to keep effective rents below a certain level, such as flexibly adjusting the conversion rate between security deposits and monthly rents to ensure housing stability. Fourth, it is possible to improve residents' housing satisfaction by improving 'external factors' that public housing operators can control. Fifth, iH needs to improve its management system, which is currently categorized into two regions based on the volume of goods per region, to one that can be visited once a week. Finally, iH's residential welfare service program needs to be improved, as it is mostly conducted in apartment complexes based on convenience and efficiency.

장년세대 노년생활 주거선택에 관한 연구

1. CONTENTS (1) RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study is to find out what characteristics the elderly generation exhibits when choosing a residence to live in their old age after retirement. In other words, we tried to analyze what was an effective response strategy from the perspective of housing policy to minimize the mismatch between demand and supply in the housing market as well as housing stability by appropriately supplying the most preferred housing in the location they prefer. (2) RESEARCH METHOD As a tool for empirical analysis, frequency analysis was first conducted using the SPSS 26.0 statistical program, and response distribution and sample characteristics for all questionnaires were identified. Based on the evaluation data on the matters to be considered when choosing a place of residence after retirement, variables were classified through factor analysis and reliability analysis for each factor, and significant differences in the general characteristics of the sample were found and verified through chi-square analysis. (3) RESEARCH FINDINGS About 80% of the population of the elderly generation hope to move to the Gyeonggi-do area or the outskirts of Seoul within 5 years after retirement and live in a country house, apartment, or residential complex with an area of 20 to 30 pyeong(66~99㎡) or less. It was also found that they wanted to live independently around their children. There is a need for housing policies that respond to their needs to be quickly established in the short and long term. 2. RESULTS Analysis of what is an effective response strategy from the perspective of housing policy to minimize the mismatch between demand and supply in the housing market as well as stable housing for the elderly by appropriately supplying the most preferred housing in the location most preferred by the elderly. In addition, by analyzing housing preference according to general characteristics, the type of housing desired after retirement and the desired area were derived, and the residential area preferred and desired by the elderly generation was identified and presented as basic data for policy establishment.

BIM Legal: Implementation of a standard for Cadastral Registration of Apartment Complexes in 3D

Abstract. The potential of Building Information Models (BIM) to establish rights and responsibilities for multi-level building complexes in cadastral registrations has been explored in many previous researches. However, the implementation of BIM-based cadastral registrations in practice remains limited due to the complex interplay between technical potentials and legal implications as well as uncertainty about the additional complexity of a BIM model and the extra work that will be required to generate the BIM Legal model. In collaboration with Netherlands Kadaster, we have investigated the data requirements for a BIM Legal model that will support the 3D cadastral registration of apartment complexes and that aligns with BIM creation processes in practice. The BIM Legal model aims to visualise the spatial aspects of apartment complexes and to align the cadastral registration to the 3D data that is generated in the design and construction phase of new buildings. The BIM Legal file will be submitted when an apartment complex is being registered and is based on IFC, the open standard established by BuildingSMART International and used in the BIM domain. To make the implementation of BIM Legal feasible legally, technically, and economically, we apply a 3-phase approach. This paper presents the BIM Legal model as defined in Phase 1, which enables to generate a BIM Legal model compliant with current legislation frameworks with no/minimal manual interaction from BIM models as commonly generated in design processes. The paper describes the 3-phase approach, the context of Phase 1, the data requirement analyses, the defined BIM Legal data model, as well the questions that emerged during the specification process that need to be answered to further improve the implementation of Phase 1 and to further develop BIM Legal for Phases 2 and 3.

Analysis of the Impact of Apartment Living Environment and Neighborhood Environment Characteristics on Housing Satisfaction - Focusing on Apartment Complexes in Seoul -

Analysis of the Impact of Apartment Living Environment and Neighborhood Environment Characteristics on Housing Satisfaction - Focusing on Apartment Complexes in Seoul -

Analyzing Land Shape Typologies in South Korean Apartment Complexes Using Machine Learning and Deep Learning Techniques

In South Korea, the configuration of land parcels within apartment complexes plays a pivotal role in optimizing land use and facility placement. Given the significant impact of land shape on architectural and urban planning outcomes, its analysis is essential. However, studies on land shape have been limited due to the lack of definitive survey criteria. To address these challenges, this study utilized a map application programming interface (API) to gather raw data on apartment complex layouts in South Korea and processed these images using a Python-based image library. An initial analysis involved categorizing the data through K-means clustering. Each cluster’s average image was classified into four distinct groups for comparison with the existing literature. Shape indices were employed to analyze land configurations and assess consistency across classes. These classes were annotated on a parcel level using the Roboflow API, and YOLOv8s-cls was developed to classify the parcels effectively. The evaluation of this model involved calculating accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score from a confusion matrix. The results show a strong correlation between the identified and established classes, with the YOLO model achieving an accuracy of 86% and demonstrating robust prediction capabilities across classes. This confirms the effective typification of land shapes in the studied apartment complexes. This study introduces a methodology for analyzing parcel shapes through machine learning and deep learning. It asserts that this approach transcends the confines of South Korean apartment complexes, extending its applicability to architectural and urban design planning on a global scale. Analyzing land shapes earmarked for construction enables the formulation of diverse design strategies for building placement and external space arrangement. This highlights the potential for innovative design approaches in architectural and urban planning worldwide.

Long term monitoring of CO2 levels and ventilation rates in a naturally ventilated residential apartment

Indoor CO2 levels became particularly topical during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. In this study a long-term investigation of indoor CO2 levels in a 1970s built residential apartment in single occupancy is presented. Three NDIR CO2 sensors were used to measure CO2 levels over a one-year period. Mean CO2 levels over this period were 1278 ± 504 ppm, with elevated CO2 levels of greater than 2000 ppm not uncommon. Subsequent investigations used the single zone mass balance model and the decay of CO2 in the absence of occupants to estimate the ventilation rates in various configurations. A mean natural ventilation rate of 0.16 ACH was estimated with all windows closed. Opening fan light windows resulted in a mean ventilation rate of 2.86 ACH whereas opening all windows increased the mean ventilation rate to 19.1 ACH. Evidence was observed of the effect of both wind speed and indoor-outdoor temperature difference on the ventilation rates. It was concluded that with all windows closed the natural infiltration rate was insufficient to maintain optimal indoor air quality even in single occupancy. Opening the fan light windows was sufficient to achieve satisfactory indoor air quality but insufficient for the effective inhibition of airborne disease transmission.

Forecast-based and data-driven reinforcement learning for residential heat pump operation

Electrified residential heating systems have great potential for flexibility provision to the electricity grid with advanced operation control mechanisms being able to harness that. In this work, we therefore apply a reinforcement learning (RL) approach for the operation of a residential heat pump in a simulation study and compare the results with a classical rule-based approach. Doing so, we consider an apartment complex with 100 living units and a central heat pump along with a central hot water tank serving as heat storage. Unlike other studies in the field, we focus on a data driven approach where no building model is required and living comfort of the residents is never compromised. Both factors maximize the applicability in real world buildings. Additionally, we examine the effects of uncertainty on the heat pump operation. This is carried out by testing four different observation spaces each with different data visibility and availability to the RL agent. With that we also simulate the heat pump operation under forecast conditions which has not been done before to the best of our knowledge. We find that the inertia of typical residential heat systems is high enough so that missing or uncertain information has only a minor effect on the operation. Compared to the rule-based approach all RL agents are able to exploit variable electricity prices and the flexibility of the heat storage in such a way, that electricity costs and energy consumption can be significantly reduced. Additionally, a large proportion of the nominal electrical power of the installed heat pump could be saved with the presented intelligent operation. The robustness of the approach is shown by running ten independent training and testing cycles for all setups with reproducible results.

Healthy, family-friendly apartment kitchen design: a study of practice in Melbourne, Australia

This study explored constraints and opportunities in apartment kitchen design for family home cooking and dining. An online audit of 115 two-bedroom apartments in three Melbourne suburbs of Australia was conducted, with images collected from the audit guiding photo-elicitation interviews on the kitchen designs, with architects from firms involved in apartment complex design. Affordance theory provided a conceptual lens to thematically analyse the design process and outcome in relation to architectural practice. Based on previously developed criteria, results from the audit revealed that only 18 (16%) had adequate kitchen design for families with children across five features assessed, with four themes emerging from interviews that identified constraints and facilitators to kitchen design practice: “Limited policy standards”; Architect assumptions align with market-led preferences”; “Built environment and apartment typology constraints”; and “Small scale design opportunities”. Findings provide unique insights into architects’ perspectives on apartment design, deepening understandings of how to support healthy family home food preparation and dining.

Control and Managing of Individual Solar Water Heating Systems in an Apartment Complex

Control and Managing of Individual Solar Water Heating Systems in an Apartment Complex

LOW-RISE HIGH-DENSITY HOUSING – POSSIBILITIES OF IMPLEMENTATION IN LOCAL CONTEXT, CASE OF NIŠ, SERBIA

<p class="ABSTRACT">Low-rise, high-density housing (further LRHD housing) represents an alternative model for solving contemporary housing issues in urban areas. However this specific typological form is not recognized in local urban planning and legislative frameworks. The aim of this research is to explore the possibilities for development of LRHD housing within local frameworks through the assessment of urban parameters potentially achievable through the application of the pilot Mix-Mesh concept for LRHD housing and their comparative analysis with values defined by local planning regulations.</p>

Relationship between indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity in a residential building in Central Europe

Relative humidity and temperature in indoor spaces are two important environmental factors that not only determine the behaviour and well-being of building occupants but also influence airborne transmission of respiratory diseases in closed spaces. While recent studies have examined how well indoor conditions relate to outdoor ambient weather, most studies on weather-related health effects still use a single central site monitor such as a weather station since outdoor values are more convenient to measure. However, the correlation between indoor and outdoor values is not always straightforward. Our case study explores the relationships between indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity in a residential building apartment in a temperate climate in Central Europe. Measurements performed over the period of one year allow for a detailed comparison and analysis of correlations between both daily averages as well as daily profiles of indoor and outdoor variables. The results of this case study add further evidence to the observations that day-to-day variation in indoor temperature and relative humidity are not well-represented by outdoor measurements. It further adds to the growing body of data on indoor environmental variables and should thus prove useful in studies aiming to determine the influence of relative humidity and temperature on indoor transmission of airborne diseases as well as in studies examining the influence of these two variables on the well-being of building occupants.

Morphometric Characteristics and Species Identification of Bed Bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) in Eastern Iran.

The common bed bugs, Cimex lectularius, and tropical bed bugs, Cimex hemipterus are the primary species of public health importance in the family Cimicidae. This study aimed to determine the morphometric criteria and prevalent species of bed bugs in eastern Iran. Bed bugs were collected from March 2021 to June 2022 from infested residential buildings and apartments in eastern Iran, including North Khorasan, Khorasan Razavi, and Sistan and Baluchistan Provinces. The morphological and morphometrical characteristics were used to identify collected bed bugs at inter- and intra-specific levels. A total of 34 isolates comprising 127 adult bed bugs were collected from Bojnord, Mashhad, Neishabur, Taibad, Sabzevar, Kashmer, Zahedan, Saravan, Rask, Pishin and Chabahar. Of these, 33 isolates (n=124) were found to be tropical bed bugs, C. hemipterus, and one population (n=3) was identified as C. lectularius. The index pronotal width/length ratio was calculated from 2.72 to 2.94 and 1.98 to 2.47 for C. lectularius and C. hemipterus, respectively. The length/width ratio of the hind femur was 3.365 in C. hemipterus and 4.267 in C. lectularius. The ratio of length/width of the third femur (F3 l/w) between populations of C. hemipterus was different, and this difference was statistically significant (P< 0.05). The results of this study indicated that C. hemipterus was the dominant bed bug species in the east of Iran and provided more morphometric criteria of C. hemipterus for researchers to identify the species and determine the intraspecific variations in the present and future.

Kepemilikan Rumah Hunian Oleh Orang Asing Diatas Hak Milik

The need for residential housing for foreigners who reside is a basic right that should be considered. Foreigners who have competencies in the field of tourism, managers, and other expertise for the Indonesian state are very realistic because the knowledge of foreigners' work skills for progress is mostly owned by foreigners. Indonesia as a country that will lead to progress is in dire need of knowledge and skills in various fields of technology, management and increasing resources both human and natural resources. The research method is carried out with the type of normative legal research method, with the source of primary legal material Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 103 of 2015 concerning Ownership of Residential Houses or Occupancy by Foreigners Residing in Indonesia, and other laws and regulations related to the issues discussed. While secondary legal materials are library books, journal articles on line journal system, scientific papers, and reviews in the mass media and others. The results of the study indicate that there is conformity between the Republic of Indonesia Government Regulation Number 103 and the Republic of Indonesia Government Regulation in Article 4 letter a and number 1 of Number 10 of 1996 concerning Cultivation Rights, Building Rights and Land Rights Article 39 letter e and land objects Article 40 letter c, as well as the Republic of Indonesia Government Regulation Number 18 of 2021 concerning Land Management Rights, Land Rights, Flat Housing Units and Land Registration Article 49 paragraph (1).

Compact Urban Design and Its Role in Sustainable Housing Development in Seoul

This paper explores the implementation of compact urban design in Seoul, South Korea, and its effects on sustainable housing development. It discusses how the integration of high-density housing, mixed-use developments, and transit-oriented designs has enhanced land use efficiency, environmental sustainability, and resident quality of life. Additionally, the study highlights challenges such as infrastructure strain, cultural shifts, gentrification, and public acceptance. By examining Seoul’s urban planning efforts, the research offers insights into the complexities of applying compact urban design in a densely populated city, provides lessons for other urban areas, and proposes strategies to address these challenges effectively.