Contemporary Housing Research Articles

Environmental and socio-cultural transition from traditional courtyard dwellings to contemporary housing practices in Morocco: insights from Arab and East Asian regions

Environmental and socio-cultural transition from traditional courtyard dwellings to contemporary housing practices in Morocco: insights from Arab and East Asian regions

Capturing Low Demand Through Long Time-On-Market: Functional Obsolescence and Owner Resignation Among Old Rental Houses

ABSTRACT In Asian countries, including Japan, the rapid demolition and new construction of housing continues, causing demand for old housing stock to fall. Employing unit-level listing information obtained from a real estate portal in the Tokyo rental housing market, this study differentiates vacancies by time dimension and documents that old properties are likely to spend a long time on the market, exceeding several months. This low demand for old houses can be attributed to functional obsolescence (lack of contemporary housing amenities and services) and owner resignation (lack of adequate countermeasures to fill vacancies regardless of their effectiveness). Our results indicate that even in popular property segments and neighbourhoods at the macro level, low demand broadly arises among old houses and is not always socially inefficient. Moreover, accelerating early redevelopment may improve social welfare by avoiding older properties sitting on the market for long periods.

Catalysts of choice: Unraveling the dynamics of housing preferences across diverse societal contexts – Evidence from literature

Housing preferences worldwide are shaped by a myriad of factors, reflecting the diverse and dynamic nature of societal needs and individual choices. The process of evaluating available housing options is intricately linked to underlying motivating factors, shaping individual preferences and decisions in response to evolving circumstances and environments. This comprehensive study delves into the intricate dynamics of housing preferences, examining the interplay of temporal-spatial relationships, psychological factors, social-cultural dimensions, and political-economic aspects. Employing bibliometric-based citation analysis techniques and social network analysis, the research offers a nuanced exploration of scholarly landscapes from 1967 to 2022 across prominent databases—Web of Science, Scopus, and Science Direct.This article undertakes a comprehensive analysis of the preferences within contemporary housing systems, offering insights into diverse dwelling choices and their determinants. The examination encompasses multifaceted considerations, contributing to an understanding of the intricate dynamics influencing housing preferences in varying societal contexts. The article also informs policymakers, urban planners, and researchers about the intricate dynamics influencing housing preferences worldwide, providing valuable guidance for addressing the evolving housing needs of diverse populations.

Main principles of the socio-psychological phenomenon in housing architecture research: an overview of scientific theories

This study conducts an analytical review and systematization of modern scientific theories of the 21st century related to various aspects of contemporary housing space development. A detailed analysis of literary sources and academic interests in this field has established that a comprehensive description of the socio-psychological phenomenon in the context of housing architecture requires the integration of positions based on theoretical approaches from architecture, urban planning, psychology, sociology, and political science. The primary focus of scholarly interest is the systemic consideration of key theoretical positions that represent the socio-psychological phenomenon, as well as the explication of scientific models capable of integrating the intangible aspects of the "human dimension" into the research context of architectural space and urban planning. The aim of the article is to identify key positions and regularities that exist in modern urban-architectural theories. To achieve this goal, the article outlines the following main tasks: Systematization and critical analysis of 15 scientific theories concerning the socio-psychological aspects of architecture and urbanism; Identification of the main regularities on which the researched theories are based; Integration of diverse disciplinary perspectives (architecture, urbanism, sociology, psychology) into a unified theoretical framework for a comprehensive study of the interrelations that influence the architectural organization of the human residential environment. These tasks will allow for the identification of connections and regularities in the scientific theories of architecture and urbanism, theoretical approaches, and facilitate their application in the process of creating more harmonious living spaces. The object of the study are 15 scientific theories in the field of architecture and urban planning, which were either created or have become widely recognized in the scholarly literature in the 21st century. The subject of the study is the interrelationships between the socio-psychological aspects of human life activity, which directly influence the formation of the residential environment. Among the research methods used in this article is a scientific review of academic literature, including scientific articles, books, conference abstracts, dissertations, and other scholarly publications. This stage involves the identification and selection of relevant sources focused on architecture, sociology, psychology, urbanism, and political science with an emphasis on the residential environment and its socio-psychological aspects. After conducting an exhaustive integrative analysis, fundamental principles describing the socio-psychological dimension in the architecture of urban residential spaces were highlighted. Based on the obtained data, the conceptual foundations of the socio-psychological theory of architecture were characterized. Thus, this study focuses on the necessity of forming the foundations of socially oriented architectural practice that reflects modern human needs in the context of rapid social changes and the evolution of the spatial-cultural environment.

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>

Struggling for Housing Justice – New Theoretical and Methodological Approaches

ABSTRACT How can struggles for housing justice act as a lens to expand housing researchers’ understanding of the rental crisis and of the systems that underpin this crisis? By presenting papers from Sweden, Spain, Greece, the UK, and Australia this special issue contributes with knowledge on how housing struggles can inform new theoretical and methodological approaches within the field of housing studies. In turn, the SI presents three tenets that together form a framework for housing scholars: institutionalization as politics, tenants as political actors, and learning housing justice. We argue that it is crucial for housing scholars to recenter on struggles for housing justice in their readings of contemporary housing systems.

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

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.

WPROWADZENIE KONCEPCJI „GEOMETRYCZNEGO STANDARDU POMIESZCZENIA MIESZKALNEGO” W TWORZENIU MODELU JEGO ZRÓWNOWAŻONEGO ROZWOJU

Most contemporary housing is characterized by increasing visual quality, but that has not stopped the short period of its existence of new ones and the growing number of empty or temporarily used apartments around the world. The article aims to propose using the concept of the "geometric standard of living premises" acquiring knowledge about the living conditions of modern households and their activities and behaviors in the existing premises of the state. As evidenced by the practice of its use in pilot environmental studies, its use can be fruitful in creating local models of stable geometric development of the environment.

Tiexi Workers’ Village: shaping collective life in socialist China from the 1950s to the 1970s

ABSTRACT Workers’ villages are social housing districts built during the early period of New China for accommodating state-owned factory employees and their families. By borrowing the Soviet collective housing model, workers’ villages triggered significant socialist transformations architecturally and socially – shaping a new collective lifestyle. This article discusses the formation approach and manifestation of collective life in workers’ villages focusing on one case: Tiexi Workers’ Village in Shenyang City during the 1950s–1970s period. The evidence illustrates that through collectivization of living space and coordinating administration structure, a collective life represented by intense organized activities and personal interactions was indeed shaped in this pilot housing project. This paper sheds light on the collectiveness of the spatial pattern on the one hand, and the role it played in moulding everyday life under the socialist political/ideological circumstances of early New China on the other. This article concludes emphasizing the practical significance of this collective living model, which is more than just a historical proof of the past socio-spatiality but is also an important heritage beneficial to contemporary housing and communities.

The Impact of Using Heritage Architectural Elements in The Facades of Contemporary Buildings: The Shanashil in the Facades of Contemporary Houses in Iraq

The Impact of Using Heritage Architectural Elements in The Facades of Contemporary Buildings: The Shanashil in the Facades of Contemporary Houses in Iraq

Greening Red Vienna: lessons for social-ecological housing provision

Contemporary housing systems neither live up to their social nor their ecological aims, resulting in affordability and environmental crises. We explore the potentials for securing access to affordable and adequate housing for all while rapidly reducing energy and resource use and associated greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions. For this purpose, we carry out a case study of the housing system in Vienna to scrutinize how social-ecological provision has been enabled or restrained by Viennese housing regulations. We introduce a broad conceptualization of housing that encompasses material objects (housing as noun) and socio-cultural practices (housing as verb) and embed these concepts in a provisioning perspective. The history of Vienna’s housing system is outlined with an emphasis on the radical municipal reformism of Red Vienna (1919–1934) and path dependencies from welfare capitalism to neoliberalism. Based on the historical analysis, we highlight barriers hindering social-ecological housing provision today and suggest three sets of measures for greening Red Vienna: (1) Establishing social-ecological obligations to property ownership, prioritizing ecological upgrading, and favoring retrofitting instead of new constructions; (2) introducing lower and upper limits on housing provision to reduce inequalities; and (3) overcoming the focus on individual building sites and widening the scope of housing policies toward securing habitation for all residents.

INFLUENCING CONSUMER PREFERENCE AND SATISFACTION TOWARDS BUYING BEHAVIOUR OF KITCHEN APPLIANCE PRODUCTS IN KRISHNAKIRI DISTRICT

Every business in India, particularly in the country's largest cities, is attempting to survive on its platform as best it can under the current circumstances in order to reach the target number of prospective clients. The world economy will inevitably shift, and liberalisation is essential to our nation. With its extensive and excellent product line, the premier multinational company has joined the Indian market and is already playing a significant role. We understand that our "Customer is the King" and that the Indian market is expanding with a superior product line in electronic home appliances as compared to the global market. Customers are sufficiently aware and sound to make the best choices when it comes to purchasing the chosen brand of home appliances in order to meet the necessary objective. Without home appliances, a contemporary house is incomplete, particularly in large cities and metropolitan regions. In large metropolises, electronic home appliances are seen as a boon as they significantly reduce the amount of time needed for the majority of domestic household chores. Thus, the researchers took into consideration their study on the purchasing habits of consumers in Krishnagar District, Tamil Nadu, with regard to electronics and household appliances. Products related to home appliances such as air coolers, refrigerators, washers, microwaves, and televisions are included in this study. 253 respondents in Krishnagar were chosen for this study using an expedient sampling technique. This study employed a demographic research design, using a questionnaire as a means of gathering data from participants. Additionally, data segmentation will be used in the study. The conclusion reached was that while price, quality, offer, and appliance features empowered the consumer to purchase the appliance, demographic characteristics also influenced the consumer's decision to purchase.

The need to escape: Carceral entrapments and fugitive manoeuvres amidst London’s vicious housing circle

The contemporary housing system in England entraps temporary tenants in ongoing movement between different types of insecure, unaffordable, overcrowded and poorly maintained accommodations. Engaging with carceral geography scholarship and Black fugitive thinking, I argue that a legalised system of cacerality entraps temporary tenants in recurrent movement, thus reproducing a ‘vicious housing circle’. However, I also stress how temporary tenants and housing campaigners maintain spaces of care that hold open possibilities to escape the entrapment in movement. Grounded in my ethnographic research with the Focus E15 housing campaign, in the East London borough of Newham, I highlight the struggle of the campaign as urgent call for urban geographic scholarship to foreground and challenge the carcerality of London’s ‘vicious housing circle’. Based on the struggle of the Focus E15 campaign I offer an extension to debates around the ‘right to stay put’, considering a fugitive politics articulated around the ‘need to escape’.

Thermal stress comfort in a contemporary housing district in a moderate climate zone, Lublin as a case study

Urban climate and its impact on the thermal comfort of residents are significant aspects in urban planning and the design of housing estates. The aim of this article is to investigate the temperature perception among residents in a contemporary residential area in Lublin during the hottest day, utilising an advanced computer simulation tool – the ENVI-met programme. A modern, densely built housing estate with no significant greenery was selected as a case study. General meteorological and spatial data were used for calibrating the housing estate model within the software. The housing estate model within the programme was calibrated using publicly available meteorological and spatial data, and computer simulations were conducted for Lublin's hottest day on 22 July 2022. Based on these simulations, the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) was calculated. The research results indicate that people experience moderate thermal stress in unshaded areas only at 4:00 pm, while in sunny locations, they experience strong to very strong heat stress throughout the day. This article underscores the importance of computer simulations in analysing the urban microclimate and provides insights into tools that can be used in urban planning and housing estate design processes, with the aim of creating more comfortable and environmentally friendly urban environments.

Principles of social housing development in Spain

The issue of social housing has always been a vital concern for most countries, given its crucial role in ensuring a dignified life for citizens. Each country has a unique history and approaches to the development of social housing, reflecting distinct social, economic, and cultural requirements. Spain's practice in this area, developed over a long period, is particularly appealing and can be beneficial for Ukraine, which seeks to improve its own standards of social housing construction. This article examines the architectural features of social housing formation in Spain, based on the analysis of both historical and contemporary projects. Successful examples such as the Caño Roto housing complex, a symbol of modernism and high social experience, and the contemporary housing quarter Vivazz in Asturias, emphasizing their contribution to the transformation of the urban environment and creation of comfortable spaces for different population segments, are highlighted. Special attention is given to architectural innovations, energy efficiency, and the use of public spaces as centers of social interaction. The conclusions emphasize the importance of adapting social housing to changes in requirements and the social environment, highlighting its impact on improving the quality of life and forming communities.

Pro-Social Solutions in Residential Environments Created as a Result of Participatory Design

The pro-social dimension of contemporary housing is one of the main postulates of sustainability. The work aims to draw attention to the residential environment created as a result of participatory design and to examine how and to what extent it supports the creation of social contacts and the identification of inhabitants with their place of residence. The study included three housing projects prepared by the communities: B.R.O.T Aspern, Seestern Aspern, and LiSA. They are part of one urban block located in Aspern, part of the 22nd district of Vienna—Donaudstadt. The case studies were analysed using the same ten evaluation criteria. They were established based on previously developed theories of sociologists, psychologists and architects on the features of architecture and spaces supporting the formation of neighbourly contacts and the identification of users with their place of residence. The research showed that although the same evaluation criteria were used, each design group found an individual way to meet them in their project such as innovative design elements, unique community spaces, or user-driven features. This is proof that not only the place where architecture is created, has its conditions, and the planners and architects creating the project give it an individual, pro-social character, but also the users who create it. However, it is important to create an appropriate organizational, legal architectural and urban framework for the participation process to be successful.

Selected issues in contemporary housing design for seniors – Poland in the European context

Concern for the residential environment for the elderly is increasingly evident in theory in numerous academic studies and in practice reflected in contemporary realisations. Residential centers for seniors are becoming increasingly popular, and their form and function are becoming more complex and dedicated to specific needs. The authors presented the results of a study of a dozen of different case studies of residential and commercial complexes with a healthcare function for the elderly realised after 2005. The authors hypothesise that contemporary realised complexes for seniors are characterised by a varied morphology, i.e., in some cases they replicate the structure of the urban fabric, while in others they clearly break away from it and create individualised forms. The qualitative assessment considers the advantages and disadvantages associated with the morphology of the complexes. The authors also presented their individual design as an experiment of implementing current trends in an established location (research by design). The presented research shows that both the form and function of housing for seniors evolve depending on the needs. Functional programs and the facilities themselves are usually quite extensive and result in complex functional-spatial systems that fill most of the plots on which they were designed. Conclusions from the research can be valuable in studying other senior centres, especially when making location decisions for similar functions.

REWRITING THE ARCHITECTURE OF TRADITIONAL HOUSES OF DYARBAKIR WITH LINDENMAYER SYSTEMS

Doğaya yönelim içeren mimari tasarımlar tasarımcıyı raslantısallıktan uzaklaştırdığı gibi doğaya karşı olan sorumluluğun fark edilmesini sağlamaktadır. Aynı zamanda doğa ile uyumlu tasarımlar, doğaya yönelik kazanımlar elde edilmesini sağlamakta ve yapı sektörünün çevreye verdiği zararı azaltmaktadır. Bu doğrultuda ekoloji ile uyum içerisinde olan Diyarbakır geleneksel evlerinin; yapısal analizleri sonucunda elde edilen verilerin günümüz konutlarına örnek teşkil etmesi açısından temel ilkelerinin referans alınması gerektiği düşünülmektedir. Günümüzde yaşanan teknolojik gelişmeler birçok avantaj sağlamakla beraber doğadan kopuk yapılaşmaların artmasına da sebep olmuştur. Doğa ile uyum göstermeyen yapıların artması günümüzde çevresel anlamda birçok problemin ortaya çıkmasına sebebiyet vermiştir. Bu açıdan çalışma, Diyarbakır geleneksel evlerinin; yapısal analizleri sonucunda elde edilen ilkeler ile günümüz çağdaş konut üretimi için model önerisinde bulunulması gerektiğine odaklanmıştır. Bu çalışmada; araştırma sahası olarak seçilen Diyarbakır Suriçi bölgesinde bulunan 35 adet U plan tipli geleneksel evin planları Lindenmayer sistemler üzerinden yapılan çözümlemelere dayanarak bir model önerisi hazırlamak amaçlanmıştır. Hesaplamalı bilimlerin katkıları ile ortaya çıkan tasarımlardan üretken tasarım yaklaşımı incelenmiş, üretken bir algoritma olan Lindenmayer sistemlerinin mimari tasarımdaki kullanımı ve sürdürülebilirlik ile ilişkisi ele alınmıştır. Doğa-insan etkileşiminin mimarlıktaki yansıma biçimleri olan binalar, bu sistemler özelinde analiz edilmiş, incelenen plan tipolojileri bina yönlenme parametresi esas alınarak yeniden kodlanmıştır. Elde edilen verilerden yola çıkarak, Diyarbakır şehrinin iklimi ve geleneksel mimarisiyle uyumlu, farklı kullanıcılara hitap edebilecek 4 farklı alternatif ideal konut tipolojisi üretilmiştir.

Counter-hegemonic housing constructs for sustainable urbanism and urban resilience in the 21st century

In the face of the multiple environmental and social crises largely caused by the predatory behavior of human beings in their habitat, the main challenge that the human species must deal with is to build and nurture sustainable human communities so that their ways of inhabiting do not interfere with nature’s inherent ability to sustain life. This study aimed to elucidate counter-hegemonic contemporary housing constructs experienced in Intentional Communities (IC) that demonstrate ecological awareness in their ways of inhabiting. For this purpose, three case studies were selected that present international relevance in their ways of life by proposing ways of inhabiting that are alternative to mainstream society and configure different scenarios of project implementation and scale, such as Findhorn in Scotland, Auroville in India, and Christie Walk in Australia. The discussion sought to highlight similarities and differences in the ways of inhabiting experienced in each IC analyzed, besides proposing a correlation with ecological principles to emphasize the potential of such constructs for the resilience and sustainability of contemporary urban habitat. The results of this paper contribute to studies that propose a new epistemological approach to architecture from a systemic perspective, especially to studies dedicated to IC settlements whose underlying intention is to promote the equilibrium of the human in his habitat.

Connectors as a Key to Efficient Storm Water Management System: An In-Situ Assessment of Residential Estates in Poland

Abstract Adaptation to climate change often aims to increase the ability of cities to retain water. In recent years, there has been a shift in the approach to managing storm water from traditional methods to nature-based methods, which view storm water as a valuable resource. This study conducted a systematic analysis of eleven contemporary housing estates that are commonly considered sustainable. The study aimed to identify the elements of rainwater management and determine whether these elements form a system. The research found that, in most cases, not all elements of a rainwater management system (RMS) were present. The housing estates in Gdańsk and Gdynia demonstrated some features of an RMS but were still incomplete due to missing elements such as channels and gaps in curbs that guide rainwater. The results suggest that the implementation of some elements of an RMS does not necessarily create a fully functional system. A fully effective RMS requires the integration of all necessary elements to allow water to flow between them.