Apartment Residents Research Articles

Determinants of bicycle ownership and use: A case study of apartment residents in Melbourne, Australia

Cycling can offer a range of benefits for individuals and society, yet factors influencing bicycle ownership and use are not well understood, particularly among apartment residents where the provision of bicycle parking is stipulated by planning requirements. A survey of 480 apartment residents was undertaken in Melbourne, Australia, with results analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression modelling. Results show that households owned 0.86 bicycles on average, much higher than the current bicycle parking requirement of 0.2 spaces per household for new apartment developments. Additionally, 28% of respondents reported using a bicycle in the last week. Factors associated with bicycle ownership and use included various socio-demographics, attitudes, preferences, and built environment and transport characteristics. In general, these factors were far more extensive than previous studies that have considered all housing types together. Notably, the availability of off-street bicycle parking was found to increase the odds of an apartment household owning one bicycle, compared with none, by more than two times. The results imply that increasing bicycle ownership and use among apartment residents requires a multifaceted approach, including adequate bicycle parking requirements that vary both spatially and by apartment size, along with programs and events that can foster positive attitudes towards cycling.

A Study on the Non-Contact Artificial Intelligence Elevator System Due to the Effect of COVID-19

Recently, IoT has been combined with artificial intelligence (AI) technology to develop into intelligent IoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things, AIoT) and can provide smart services to all industries. Generally, buildings with 30 or more floors are classified as high-rise apartments. There are high-rise apartments in many countries with small land areas and high population densities around the world, such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and Korea. Korea has many high-rise apartments and buildings with 30 or more floors, and residents there inevitably use elevators to move between floors. Because it is a high-rise apartment, it takes time for EVs to move, and a contactless method is needed when using EVs, especially due to COVID-19. In this study, we proposed a smart elevator system using AI that allows residents of high-rise apartments to conveniently shorten waiting and use times and use elevators without contact during rush hours due to the impact of COVID-19. The proposed system uses AI facial recognition to shorten EV waiting time and moving time and has a contactless floor selection function. As a result of the proposed system, it was confirmed that residents’ EV waiting time and travel time were shortened compared to existing EV systems.

Health at Home: Investigating Low-Income Housing Quality on Colfax Avenue

Abstract: Addressing housing insecurity contributes to health care programs as stable housing has positive health benefits. Home environmental hazards may reduce these potential health benefits and could increase morbidity for conditions such as asthma. This study examined housing and indoor air quality among urban low-income households in Colorado to inform housing-insecurity interventions. We conducted a community-engaged study among residents of motels, mobile homes, apartments, and single-family homes that included a survey on the home environment, health, and sociodemographic factors, spirometry, and indoor air quality measurement. We enrolled 60 households: 50% single-family homes, 37% apartments, and 13% residential motels. Perceived stress and depression were higher among motel residents compared with other housing types. We did not find differences in lung function by housing type. Indoor fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and black carbon concentrations were higher in motels than in other housing types. The differential health impacts of housing type support housing programs that jointly address security and quality.

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.

제주도 지역 아파트 주거요인이 주거만족도 및 재구매 의도에 미치는 영향

The purpose of this study is to verify the moderating effect of real estate psychology on the impact of apartment housing factors on residential satisfaction and repurchase intention among residents of apartments in the Jeju region. To this end, a survey was conducted on 437 residents of apartments in Jeju, and the causal relationships were analyzed. The research results are as follows: First, among the apartment housing factors, locational factors negatively (-) influenced apartment preference, locational and maintenance satisfaction, and repurchase intention. Physical and economic factors negatively (-) influenced apartment preference and locational and maintenance satisfaction. In contrast, social relational factors positively influenced apartment preference, locational and maintenance satisfaction, and repurchase intention. Second, it was found that socioeconomic investment psychology and personal psychological factors played a moderating role in the impact of housing factors on residential satisfaction and repurchase intention. The implications of the research results are as follows: First, previous studies have shown that housing factors or apartment purchase decision factors positively influence residential satisfaction and repurchase intention. However, in this study, except for social relational factors, locational factors and physical and economic factors were found to have negative (-) influences. This difference is thought to arise because most previous studies targeted inland apartments rather than those on islands like Jeju. Additionally, the dissatisfaction with housing factors in Jeju appears to stem from the limited area available for apartment construction, suggesting a need to stabilize apartment prices to overcome this issue. Second, the significance of this study lies in analyzing the moderating effect of investment psychology, which has been scarcely examined in previous research, indicating that socioeconomic investment psychology and personal psychological factors should be considered when constructing apartments.

아파트 품질점검과 범죄예방환경설계의 적용에 관한 연구 - OO시 아파트 단지 3개의 사례분석을 중심으로

The joint housing quality inspection conducted since January 2021 for residential complexes with 300 or more units is an essential aspect of institutional verification aimed at providing residents with a safe and comfortable living environment. This study selectively identified items related to crime prevention environmental design from among the frequently cited 80 items in such inspections, and examined the importance of planning and implementing crime prevention environmental design through application in three selected case studies of residential complexes. The investigation revealed that the current inspection items for joint housing quality inspections lack elements related to crime prevention environmental design, and that some residential complexes surveyed did not meet the standards. Based on these findings, this study derives the following implications: Joint housing quality inspections in South Korea should not only consider the construction and durability of apartments but also expand the scope of inspection items to include various aspects such as surveillance, access control, spatial zoning, usability, clarity, and maintenance and management, including crime prevention environmental design. It is expected that this approach will help ensure the safety and comfort of apartment residents and enhance the safety and stability of urban communities.

Research note: View from the top: Apartment residents’ views of nature and mental wellbeing during lockdown

Australia’s capital cities have experienced a rapid increase in apartment development over the past decade. The mental wellbeing of apartment residents could be more vulnerable to COVID-19 restrictions due to the unique constraints of apartment buildings and limited access to nature. We examined the relationship between residents’ self-reported view components and wellbeing after Australia’s national six-week lockdown. Residents’ (n = 192) wellbeing, measured using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, deteriorated between baseline and follow-up (p < 0.001); however, views of nature appeared to be protective. Residents with views comprising ≥ 25 % of natural features had significantly higher wellbeing scores than those with views below 25 % (p = 0.016). Results support the notion that a minimum level of visible nature is necessary to promote mental wellbeing in apartment residents. However, relatively few participants lived in apartments where ≥ 25 % of the view comprised natural elements, highlighting the need for interventions that better balance density with nature in urban environments.

What can TikTok tell us about the food practices of the residents of tiny apartments?

With continuing population growth and increased urbanisation, the prevalence of apartment living will also increase. The food practices and diet of apartment residents may differ to those in lower density, detached or semi-detached housing. Food practices may be impacted by physical constraints of apartment kitchens (size, storage, cooking facilities) and the influence of the surrounding community food environment, particularly in smaller apartments. High-rise apartment residents spend a larger proportion of their weekly household budget on eating foods prepared out of the home 1. This is concerning given meals prepared outside the home tend to be of lower diet quality 2 and are associated with higher body weight 3. This study investigated how kitchens, residents’ food practices and hypothesised barriers to healthy eating were portrayed on popular TikTok videos associated with hashtags denoting small apartments. Using the keyword ‘microapartment’, the top four most viewed hashtags relevant to the topic were identified: #studioapartment (190.5 million views), #smallapartment (152.5 million views), #tinyapartment (62 million views), and #microapartment/ #microapartments (4.9 million views combined). The most liked videos (n = 50) from each of these four hashtags and #apartment (as a comparator) were selected for investigation. Using a REDCap survey, two researchers independently coded a random sample of 15 videos, with comparison and discussion to tighten codebook definitions and reduce ambiguity. Subsequently over half of all videos were coded by at least two researchers, achieving acceptable inter-rater reliability (Cohen’s kappa &gt;0.8). Each video was coded for engagement characteristics, user profile, and characteristics of individuals appearing. Further coding included apartment size, kitchen features displayed or mentioned, and food practices (grocery shopping, cooking at home, and eating foods prepared out of the home). Videos were categorised as having positive sentiment if they depicted the apartment in an explicitly positive way, including promoting or encouraging an aspect of apartment living or indicating support for a behaviour. Conversely, videos were coded as being of negative sentiment where they depicted a clear negative position on an aspect of apartment living. Else, the video was coded as neutral sentiment. The majority of videos (87%) portrayed apartment living with a positive or neutral sentiment; with only 2% of videos portraying kitchen size or function negatively. The expected physical constraints of small apartment kitchens were not evident in the videos, nor were interactions with the food environment surrounding the apartment. Indeed, in the small number of videos portraying the food practices of cooking, shopping and eating, the videos highlighted the ability to undertake these practices despite limitations of size and facilities. As the food practices of residents of small apartments are not well researched, it is not known whether their portrayal on TikTok may indeed reflect reality, or may be a glamorisation.

Understanding the layout of apartments in Sydney: are we meeting the needs of developers rather than residents?

ABSTRACT In Australia’s major cities the new apartment approvals and number of apartment residents has increased over recent years. However, there remain concerns regarding the poor design quality of apartments and the living experiences of families with children. This paper examines the floor plan of 368 apartments in Sydney, including floor areas and number of bedrooms. Different typologies of spatial layout were determined using space syntax. Separate interviews were undertaken with (1) architects and developers to explore their strategies for apartment development and (2) families with children to examine their needs and whether these are met in recently delivered apartment layouts. Results show that two-bedroom apartments dominate the Sydney market, as do layouts without a hall/corridor. The reason is developers are focussed on meeting the needs of investor-purchasers, as opposed to the desires of families with children. This results in developers preferring one-and-two-bedroom apartments and standardised layouts. In contrast, parents desired a more diverse range of apartment layouts, in terms of privacy, supervision and shared spaces, notably influenced by the age of children. The paper concludes by examining the opportunities for flexible layouts as a mechanism to both meet developers’ needs, whilst also addressing the diverse desires of families with children.

Prediction of sound and vibration levels from heavy-hard impacts in a cross laminated timber—Concrete hybrid building

Heavy-hard weight impacts in fitness spaces often result in elevated noise and vibration levels, which can lead to complaints in sensitive adjacencies. Previous works have demonstrated a method to predict the resulting noise and vibration levels in fitness space adjacencies. This method involves the analysis of an in situ transfer function in combination with laboratory force data and sound pressure level measurements from a shotput dropped on a calibrated reference rubber impact sheet. It was originally developed for use in concrete structures, which are typical for large multi-residential, commercial, and mixed-use buildings that commonly feature fitness amenity rooms or commercial gyms. The growing popularity of mass timber as a sustainable building material provides an opportunity to expand upon the previous research by examining the validity of the prediction method in another structural type. This paper serves as a case study of heavy-hard impacts in a residential hybrid mass timber structure, where weight drops from a fitness center at the top level of the concrete podium were disturbing apartment residents occupying the first CLT level directly above.

아파트 구매결정 요인이 주거만족도 및 재구매 의도에 미치는 영향

This study aims to analyze the mediating effect of buyer's perceived value on the impact of apartment purchase decision factors on residential satisfaction and repurchase intention among residents of apartments in Jeju Island. To achieve this, a survey was conducted on 437 residents of apartments in Jeju Island, and the results were analyzed.&#x0D; The research findings revealed that among the factors influencing apartment purchase decisions, locational factors negatively influence repurchase intentions, economic factors negatively influence purchase satisfaction, while physical and social factors positively influence residential satisfaction. Additionally, economic and social factors among the purchase decision factors positively influence functional value, and social factors positively influence social value.&#x0D; Furthermore, functional value positively influences purchase satisfaction, social factors positively influence both purchase satisfaction and repurchase intention. Both functional value and social value play a partial mediating role in the relationship between apartment purchase decision factors and residential satisfaction.&#x0D; These research results suggest several implications. When purchasing an apartment, it is necessary to conduct a precise analysis of locational factors and surrounding market prices. From the seller's perspective, active promotion of various amenities, safety, convenience, and accessibility is essential. Moreover, promoting the superiority of functional and social values of apartments compared to the purchase cost is crucial. To enhance apartment purchase and repurchase intentions from consumers, ensuring the adequacy of quality and price, as well as enhancing satisfaction through factors such as social status improvement resulting from apartment purchase, are necessary.

The Mechanism of Street Markets Fostering Supportive Communities in Old Urban Districts: A Case Study of Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong

In old urban districts with tenement buildings, street markets address the working class’s social and economic needs. They are pivotal in fostering supportive communities, in particular for low-income residents in sub-standard housing. However, their outdated overall environment impedes the delivery of adequate support to residents. Prior research on street markets has focused on those in the Americas and Europe, and has revealed the societal support values of these markets. However, studies on street markets in high-density cities like Hong Kong are lacking. This study introduces an evaluation framework to assess the impact of street markets on the development of supportive communities for Hong Kong’s sub-divided apartment residents. Employing the Pei Ho Street market in Sham Shui Po as a case study, an importance-performance analysis highlights critical but underperforming factors including public facilities, activity venues, commerce, and employment. Based on these findings, the study proposes four improvement strategies for the renewal of street markets in high-density communities, which could apply to other cities with similar high-density urban environments. It concludes that street markets in Hong Kong display unique spatial characteristics shaped by low-income lifestyles in a high-density urban environment, enriching daily social life and promoting sustainable community development.

Kano Model for Apartment-Unit Specialized Planning Guidelines to Prevent Infectious Diseases

Owing to the continued occurrence of infectious diseases, proactive prevention and management plans are required. This study aimed to develop design guidelines to effectively respond to infectious diseases based on the needs of apartment residents, which focused on a South Korean setting. The research method included a literature review to identify apartment planning concepts for preventing and managing infectious diseases, a survey of 300 participants using the Kano model, and an analysis of the quality attributes (QAs) of the survey results to prioritize design guidelines. After reviewing 20 studies, 65 items related to apartment-unit planning for infectious disease prevention, including 108 keywords, were identified. Using thematic analysis, the keywords converged into three planning concepts: hygiene, convenience, and comfort. Based on the literature review, 27 survey questions were derived, and a Kano model QA analysis was performed. As a result, 17 attractive QAs, two one-dimensional QAs, seven indifferent QAs, and one reverse QA were identified. Among these, 13 items that had a significant impact on residents’ satisfaction were classified as essential requirements, and the remaining 14 items were classified as recommended design guidelines. The results of this study provide insights into an evidence-based framework for complex building design guidelines to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Determinants of zero-car and car-owning apartment households

AbstractWhile much research has explored the determinants of car ownership, there is little understanding of these factors in the context of apartment households, where off-street car parking provision is frequently stipulated by planning requirements and zero-car households are more evident. Drawing on a survey of apartment residents (n = 1316) in three Australian cities, this study aimed to understand the determinants of zero-car and car-owning apartment households. The data was analysed using binary and multinominal logistic regression, including random parameter modelling. A joint model of car ownership and off-street car parking supply was also developed to account for potential endogeneity between these two variables. The results highlight the significant association between car ownership and off-street car parking supply, alongside a range of socio-demographics, attitudes, perceptions, built environment and transport characteristics. An additional off-street car parking space, on average, was found to increase the odds of having 2+ cars, compared with zero cars, by around 10 times. The findings imply that reducing off-street residential car parking requirements can play a significant role in supporting lower car ownership levels among apartment households.

Social impacts of living in high-rise apartment buildings: The effects of buildings and neighborhoods

ABSTRACT Social networks, social cohesion, and place attachment are positive social impacts that can stimulate people’s quality of life. High-rise apartment buildings are often criticized for their negative social impacts, such as social isolation and low levels of interaction and social cohesion. However, there is still insufficient empirical evidence on the relationships between neighborhood social networks, social cohesion, place attachment, and loneliness of high-rise apartment residents and how they are affected by the physical environment and neighborhood satisfaction. This study uses structural equation modeling (SEM) to investigate these relationships using data collected in four high-rise apartment complexes in Hanoi, Vietnam. While the number of neighbors in someone’s social network is found to stimulate social cohesion, which can foster neighborhood attachment and reduce feelings of loneliness, the possibility of improving these social impacts is affected by urban contexts, site properties, and the ability to provide communal spaces within and surrounding the buildings.

Daylight quality: high-transmittance glass versus low transmittance glass - effects on daylight quality, health, comfort and energy consumption

Introduction: This study investigated the health effects of two different architectural glass types: A two-layered low-iron high transmittance glass and a three-layered low energy glass with lower transmittance. The study investigated how these glass types affected daylight conditions in 72 residential apartments, as well as health and satisfaction of the residents. Methods: The study installed high transmittance glass (light transmittance LT:0.82) in 36 apartments and low transmittance (LT:0.74) in 36 identical apartments. The study then analyzed the light transmittance of each glass type in the laboratory and analyzed the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in eight representative apartments before and after renovation. Self-reported questionnaires were handed out and collected before and after renovation. Results: The results showed that the glass types differed significantly in measured daylight transmittance. The two-layered high transmittance glass transmitted 15% more visual light (380–750 nm) and 20% more light in the spectral range (460–480 nm), stimulating ipRGCs and circadian rhythm, when compared to three-layered low energy glass. In addition, significant differences were observed in the UV-B spectrum (280–315 nm). While two-layered high transmittance glass transmitted UV-B, three-layered low transmittance glass did not. During the 12-month study period, residents in apartments with three-layered low energy glass reported more difficulties sleeping (p = 0.05), higher satisfaction with daylight (p = 0.03) and higher satisfaction with ventilation (p = 0.04). Residents in apartments with three-layered low energy glass experienced fewer days with too cold indoor temperatures (p = 0.02), compared to residents with two-layered low-iron glass. The results of energy consumption for heating showed that two-layered low-iron glass reduced the energy consumption by 11.0%, while three-layered low energy glass reduced the energy consumption by 9.4%, compared to the year prior to renovation. Conclusion: The results contribute to a discussion about potential energy savings on one hand and potential non-energy benefits, such as daylight quality, overall health, and total economy/life cycle assessment of the built environment on the other hand. The results suggest further research performed in randomized large-scale studies.

The regulation of families with children in apartments

Condominium housing is now ubiquitous in contemporary cities globally. For residents, the success of compact cities depends on built environment quality, social relationships within buildings, and broader social norms. This includes how private and shared apartment spaces are navigated, regulated, and controlled. This article focuses on the experiences of families with children who comprise a growing cohort of apartment residents. We build on existing research that documents families’ experiences of poor design, to recognize the role regulation plays in shaping a sense of home. We theorize regulation at three levels: (1) social regulation as interactions between individuals who influence each other’s behaviour; (2) self-regulated behaviours; and (3) institutional regulation through rules and laws. Utilizing narratives of parents raising children in apartments in Sydney, Australia, we argue social norms, neighbourly interactions, and by-laws interact to enforce codes of behaviour that impinge upon family life. Our insights have important implications for the wellbeing and inclusion of families within compact city agendas.

Boxed in: changes in apartment residents’ health behaviours following the COVID-19 lockdown – a longitudinal cohort study

ABSTRACT Australia’s housing context has long been characterised by low-rise detached homes, but rapid population growth has prompted a recent boom in apartment construction. Apartment residents may be more vulnerable to the negative impacts of COVID-19 stay-at-home orders due to the distinct constraints and stressors of apartment housing, but empirical research on this population is scarce. This study adds to the literature on the health impacts of lockdowns by examining longitudinal changes in the health behaviours of Australian apartment residents. Participants (n = 159) completed a survey between 2017–2019 and a follow-up survey in 2020 following a six-week national lockdown. Residents reported increased walking for recreation, sleep duration, and home cooking frequency, but decreased walking for transport, greater sitting time, and weight gain. Alcohol consumption remained stable. The findings highlight the complex and multifaceted impact of the pandemic, with some health behaviour changes highlighting the benefits of having more time to devote to certain activities, and others showing the unintended negative health consequences of lockdowns. Given the likelihood of future pandemics, a renewed policy focus on apartment space and layout provisions that better facilitate home-based activity is required to mitigate the health risks of lockdown conditions for those living in apartments.

Effect of the floor of residence on survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest among high-rise apartment residents in Seoul, Korea

Effect of the floor of residence on survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest among high-rise apartment residents in Seoul, Korea

공공주택 경비원의 업무실무와 민간경비 환경

Abuse of security guards is not a problem of yesterday or today. Gapjil(abuse of power), or harassment, of security guards has been raised as a constant social problem in our society. 「The Enforcement Decree of the Apartment Housing Management Act」 was revised for the purpose of improving working conditions, including preventing illegal instructions or orders to security guards. However, the treatment of security guards in their work is not improving. In particular, due to the conflict between the security duties under the 「Security Business Act」 and the security duties under the 「Apartment Housing Management Act」, the duties of security guards working in apartment complexes are different, so there is a need to provide clear duties regarding this. Accordingly, this study sought to discuss the specifics of the security duties of apartment security guards. To achieve this research purpose, interviews were conducted with security guards working in apartment complexes, security companies and apartment complex managers, representatives of apartment residents, and police science professors.&#x0D; As a result of the study, apartment security guards presented the main tasks of theft and fire, prevention of danger, patrol, crime prevention, CCTV surveillance, and outsider access management. However, in contrast, representatives of apartment residents and managers of apartment complexes were presented with roles that, in addition to the main duties of security guards, include parcel storage, parking management, and even assisting with the general work of the management office. Based on the results of this study, we attempted to discuss the work of apartment security guards, and it is expected that this study will be used as basic practical data for security work as well as academic discussions in private security work.