Housing Units Research Articles

Zur Rolle gewerblicher Entwicklungen bei der Ermittlung von Wohnflächenbedarfen. Ein interkommunaler Lösungsansatz, illustriert am Beispiel der Region Leipzig/Halle

Although the functional mix of housing and work promises to create compact settlement structures, the impact of job-creating commercial developments on housing demand is not sufficiently managed in current practice. As a result, there is often an imbalance between housing units and labour force, which is articulated in an increased demand for new land take. The authors take this as a starting point to develop a four-stage model, which is the subject of this article. This model seeks to systematically determine the effects of commercial developments with an impact on jobs on the demand for residential space and to provide a basis for the sustainable management of requirements within the framework of spatial planning. In a first step, the labour force moving in is determined by means of rates of regional mobility and the number of households moving to the area is derived. In a second step, existing commuter structures in the inter-communal context are used to estimate how households should ideally be localised; in the third step, households are then distributed mathematically on the basis of accessibility structures. In the fourth and final step, we articulate a proposal for the efficient realization of demand tailored to distinct housing segments. Finally, the model is applied to the Leipzig/Halle region.

The Potential Role of Housing Unit Diversity in Gated Communities in Social Cohesion

The Potential Role of Housing Unit Diversity in Gated Communities in Social Cohesion

Assessing Climate Disaster Vulnerability in Peru and Colombia Using Street View Imagery: A Pilot Study

Community and household vulnerability to natural hazards, e.g., earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods, is a concern that transcends geographic and economic boundaries. Despite the abundance of research in this field, most existing methods remain inefficient and face the challenge of data scarcity. By formulating and investigating the correlation between the household vulnerability and street view images of buildings, this research seeks to bridge the knowledge gap to enable an efficient assessment. Especially in developing countries, the widespread prevalence of outdated or inadequately enforced building codes poses a significant challenge. Consequently, a considerable portion of the housing stock in these regions fails to meet acceptable standards, rendering it highly vulnerable to natural hazards and climate-related events. Evaluating housing quality is crucial for informing public policies and private investments. However, current assessment methods are often time-consuming and costly. To address this issue, we propose the development of a rapid and reliable evaluation framework that is also cost-efficient. The framework employs a low-cost street view imagery procedure combined with deep learning to automatically extract building information to assist in identifying housing characteristics. We then test its potential for scalability and higher-level reliability. More importantly, we aim to quantify household vulnerability based on street view imagery. Household vulnerability is typically assessed through traditional means like surveys or census data; however, these sources can be costly and may not reflect the most current information. We have developed an index that effectively captures the most detailed data available at both the housing unit and household level. This index serves as a comprehensive representation, enabling us to evaluate the feasibility of utilizing our model’s predictions to estimate vulnerability conditions in specific areas while optimizing costs. Through latent class clustering and ANOVA analysis, we have discovered a strong correlation between the predictions derived from the images and the household vulnerability index. This correlation will potentially enable large-scale, cost-effective evaluation of household vulnerability using only street view images.

Assessing Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Risk: Insights from Behavioral Aspects and Home Environmental Conditions

As the provincial capital, Jambi City has witnessed rapid development, evident in the construction of 5,000 housing units between 2019 and 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. However, if left unoccupied, these settlements could potentially become breeding grounds for mosquito larvae, particularly Aedes aegypti, contributing to the escalating dengue cases in the city. This study aims to analyze the risk factors for dengue hemorrhagic fever based on behavioral aspects and environmental conditions. Conducted in the Pinang Merah Alam Barajo Urban Village of Jambi City, this observational analytic study involved 108 randomly selected respondents. The research data underwent analysis using the chi-square test, with statistical significance set at ≤ 0.05. The findings revealed that most community behaviors fell into the 'good' category, including habits like hanging clothes, collecting rainwater around the house, using abate powder in water reservoirs, weekly drainage of water reservoirs, proper disposal of used items, monitoring of larvae through cards, and keeping larvae-eating fish. The incidence of dengue hemorrhagic fever was significantly associated with hanging clothes indoors (p=0.000), collecting rainwater around the house (p=0.004), and draining water reservoirs once a week (p=0.004). However, no significant associations were found with the use of abate powder (p=0.380), disposing of used goods (p=0.087), monitoring larvae with cards (p=0.134), and keeping fish (p=0.122). In conclusion, the study highlights a strong correlation between dengue hemorrhagic fever and certain behaviors, notably hanging clothes indoors, collecting rainwater around the house, and draining water reservoirs on a weekly basis. Keywords: Dengue, Aedes Aegypti, Behavior, Vector

Determining the Scale to Ensure Locality and a Sense of Belonging in the Housing Redevelopment Process: Bursa Hürriyet Neighborhood Field Study

Regarding housing redevelopment in Türkiye, the unplanned scale increase is one of the most critical problems facing the cities that have grown due to immigration. One of the most critical problems in housing redevelopment is the inability to ensure locality and retain the current inhabitants. Due to the fact that the issues of locality and ensuring a sense of belonging are ignored in most cases, the housing units usually lack local architectural identity, resemble each other, and do not meet socio-cultural needs. The purpose of this study is to identify locally specific, value-driven results to ensure the continuity of the existing users in the event of housing redevelopment by conducting a field study in the Bursa Hürriyet Neighborhood, which had been formed under the influence of immigration and where the users have adapted over time and preserved their socio-cultural living habits. As a method, a questionnaire was distributed to the users, a list of questions generated with the Delphi technique was posed to the experts, and then both were analyzed. By ensuring the correct reading of local information, suggestions are presented in order to identify the appropriate scale for both users and the city with the “glocal approach” in cities developing under global influences.

Obsidian Sources of Prehispanic Artefacts from Cultures near Ceboruco Volcano, Nayarit, Mexico

Ceboruco, located in the western part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt is an active stratovolcano in Nayarit, Mexico, with the last historic eruption in 1870–1875. The fertile valleys around this volcano have been occupied for several thousands of years. The recognised pre-Hispanic human settlements include the Shaft tomb and Aztatlán cultures, which were present in the vicinity of the volcano before and after the well-studied Plinian Jala eruption in 890 AD, respectively. Both cultures left abundant archaeological materials in housing units and cemeteries, including obsidian tools. In this study, we compare archaeological samples (poorly preserved tools or parts of them) with obsidian samples from local outcrops, as well as other known regional obsidian mine sites. We use hand sample and chemical analyses of main and trace elements. The results are statistically evaluated by using the Mahalanobis distance-method in order to assign probable sources. We show that obsidian has been locally extracted from long-known obsidian mines near Ixtlán del Río, but also from obsidian layers at the nearby Sierra Madre Occidental Mountain Range and the Pochotero obsidian dome. Nevertheless, clear evidence for obsidian trade since the earliest occupations has also been found, as we identified sources from the neighbouring states such as Jalisco.

A region-based criterion weighting approach for the assessment of post-disaster shelters

The need for shelter after disasters is a common issue, and its planning should occur during the risk management phase, not in the post-disaster process. Following the initial few weeks of emergency aid, the rehabilitation phase comes into play, encompassing the period spent in tem- porary housing units until a transition to permanent housing is achieved. Like the emergency aid phase, this phase cannot be sustained solely by emergency shelter tents due to its extended duration, which is shorter than the time required to construct permanent housing. Specific de- signs suited to the rehabilitation phase are necessary. However, many post-disaster temporary housing implementations have failed to meet the requirements. The study aims to establish a decision-making model for assessing temporary housing alternatives in the aftermath of a disaster. The experts must initially identify the criteria and assign their respective weights to build this model. They contend that the significance of criteria should differ depending on the particular attributes of diverse locales. To accomplish this, a methodology for determining cri- teria weights and an evaluation model is suggested, considering discrepancies in urban density, household size, urban accessibility, and climatic conditions based on regional dissimilarities.

Cause of Death: Lähiö

As geographically and socially marginalized neighbourhoods, Finnish lähiös are associated with urban segregation and a set of stereotypes about their residents. Claiming to portray everyday life in the lähiö, in 2018, Turku City Theatre premiered a musical theatre production Varissuo, which was set in the city’s largest and most multicultural housing unit. This article investigates how Varissuo was constructed and depicted both on stage and beyond the stage by analyzing several characters and their storylines, as well as material details present in the theatre building’s lobby area. Drawing from Richard Dyer’s notion of stereotypes as a product of assumed consensuses about specific social groups, the article first focuses on plotting how both novelistic and stereotypical characters contributed to an understanding of the lähiö as a locus of ill-being and personal struggle. Critically approaching Jill Dolan’s conceptual utopian performatives, the article then discusses the elements of utopia and dystopia in Varissuo, suggesting that the representation of the lähiö on stage and in the theatre building erased political potential of the utopian performatives and subverted them into a counterproductive force. I argue that the utilization of lähiö stereotypes and Varissuo’s detachment from its real-life origins potentially contributes to further stigmatization and polarization between social groups

Thermal and acoustic performance of masonry walls with phase change materials: A comparison of scaled-down houses in tropical climates

This article examines experimentally and numerically the effectiveness of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) and a new type of hybrid sandwich insulated panel (SIP) at improving the thermal comfort of four case study houses built in Thailand. In Phase 1 of the experimental programme, three scaled-down house units were built with either a) traditional brick walls plastered with a cement-based mortar, b) brick walls plastered with a cement-based mortar mixed with a 15% of PCMs, or c) a new SIP panel termed UWall. The results are discussed in terms of temperature, relative humidity (RH), energy consumption and acoustic performance. It was found that the PCM plastering and UWall effectively reduced the temperatures in the unit between 1 °C and up to 5 °C compared to the counterpart unit with brick walls plastered with cement-based mortar. In Phase 2 of the tests, a 10 × 7 m full-scale house was built with one room built with brick walls plastered with the cement-based mortar-PCM mixture, and one room built with the new UWall. Temperature, RH and indoor air movement were recorded for 48 h. Results from a bioclimatic chart indicates that both temperature and RH in the rooms remained within the comfort zone at all times if air movement is considered. The three units and full-scale house were then modelled in ANSYS® software to carry out a heat transfer analysis. The modelling approach was successful at predicting the maximum temperatures in the tested case study houses (accuracy <7%). For the case study houses and climate conditions considered in this study, the mortar-PCM plastering proved a practical retrofitting solution to improve the thermal performance, RH, energy efficiency and acoustic resistance of existing brick walls. Similar solutions could be adopted to improve the thermal comfort in masonry walls of existing buildings. This article contributes towards developing more effective solutions to improve the thermal comfort in existing houses and buildings located in tropical regions, which in turn can help reduce energy consumption.

Life cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis of different walling materials with an environmental approach (comparison between earth-based vs. conventional construction techniques in Iran)

PurposeClimate change, environmental concerns, and economic problems pose challenges to the construction sector in Iran, which must provide affordable solutions while addressing environmental issues. Hence, natural earthen building materials are critically needed to reduce energy-intensive and costly construction practices dramatically. The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework for comparing life cycle assessments (LCA) and life cycle costs (LCC), for load-bearing walls of an single-family affordable housing unit in a desert part of Iran, Ardakan City.MethodsTo do so, both LCA and LCC for the unit were performed, considering a cradle-to-site perspective. For this purpose, 22 load bearing wall systems are assessed, including 18 stabilized and unstabilized earthen construction techniques, such as adobe, rammed earth (RE), and compressed earth block (CEB), in addition to four conventional wall assemblies of fired brick (FB), autoclaved aerated concrete block (AAC), ceramic block (CB), and concrete masonry unit (CMU). As well as assessing the environmental impact and life cycle costs associated with the life cycle of each wall, the optimal assembly of the wall is also examined.ResultsResults show that unstabilized earthen walling alternatives have significantly lower environmental impacts than conventional materials.ConclusionsSensitivity analysis indicates that by utilizing local materials to the maximum extent possible, impacts can be further minimized. Considering the results, transportation may even account for a greater proportion of EI than wall components.

Svakodnevica osoba s intelektualnim teškoćama u organiziranom stanovanju

The process of deinstitutionalization in Croatia intensified in 2014, as a significant number of people with intellectual disabilities (hereafter ID) moved from institutional settings to group homes, which serve as a model for community settings. The current research aims to find out what everyday life is like for people with ID in group homes. A qualitative, ethnographic approach was applied. The methods used were observation and in-depth interviews. The sample consists of 13 female and 14 male participants from 11 group homes located in different parts of Croatia. The results show that people with intellectual disabilities are partially involved in everyday tasks in organized housing, although there is much more potential. A large part of the day is spent aimlessly, but there are also many examples of meaningful leisure activities. Mutual relations between tenants are in principle fine, but there is a lack of substantial communication and more intensive contact. The unfavorable characteristics of everyday life are particularly evident among tenants with severe disabilities and in housing units where staff are present most or all the time. The results obtained are discussed in the context of existing research.

Analisis Kelayakan Ekonomi dan Finansial Pada Proyek Kawasan Pembangunan Perusahaan Siap Bangun (Studi Kasus: Perumahan Griya Sukasari Subang)

In the era of globalization, the increasing rate of population growth will affect the need for housing. This need becomes a problem if the continuous increase in demand can cause land prices to increase. It is known that investment in property is very promising and is increasingly in demand by the public both in the short and long term. In this research, the building of housing in Sukasari Village will be very strategic considering that this area is starting to develop an industrial area. To meet residential needs, the developer built 16 housing units on 1900 m2 of land at that location. The feasibility obtained from the 16 unit Housing Development Project was carried out in the form of an analysis to determine investment and financial feasibility based on the Net Present Value, Benefit Cost Ratio, Internal Rate of Return, Return on Investment, Return on Equity, Break Even Point and Payback Period. The profit obtained is with an NPV value of Rp. 1,284,651,362 (NPV &gt; 0), BCR = 1.18 (BCR &gt; 1), BEP in position 9 housing units sold, PP in the 10th month, IRR value = 118%, ROI and ROE have a level and ratio of 52%, moderate conditions make a profit with an NPV value of Rp. 85,000,830 (NPV &gt; 0), BCR = 1.02 (BCR &gt; 1), BEP in the position of 9 units sold, PP for 6 years, IRR value of 102%, ROI and ROE have a ratio of 6%. Meanwhile, in pessimistic conditions suffered a loss with an NPV value of Rp. 1,077,912,437, BCR 0.64 &lt; 1, BEP does not have a break-even point, and the break-even time or PP occurs in the 13th year which can be interpreted as not breaking even, and the IRR value is 99%, ROI and ROE have a ratio level of 0.40%. It was concluded that the 16-unit housing development project could be profitable and feasible to implement, optimistic conditions with the construction process being completed and the housing units being sold in full in the 12th month.&#x0D;

Evaluation of the Histomorphology of Small Intestine of Wistar Rats Exposed to Eliozu Dumpsite Leachate

This study is aimed to evaluate the histomorphology of small intestine of Wistar rats exposed to Eliozu dumpsite leachate. The toxic effect of Eliozu dumpsite leachate has been studied, where the researcher has identified that the leachate has toxicological effects on some organ tissues like the blood, reproductive tracts and hormones, oxidative stress parameters and the cerebral cortex. Twenty-five female Wistar rats weighing between 120-140 g were obtained from the animal house unit of Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The rats were randomly assigned into five groups of five (5) rats in each group. Group 1 served as a control and orally received 1 ml of bottled water; group 2 orally received 1 ml of water from a borehole close to the dumpsite. Groups 3, 4 and 5 received 1 ml of 10%, 50%, and 100% leachate concentrations orally for 30 days. In the present study, an alteration in the histoarchitecture of the small intestine of the Eliozu dumpsite leachate treated animals was observed; the small intestine of the control group has shown normal intestinal histoarchitecture. The mucosa forms a series of finger-like villi, each showing lamina propria, blood capillaries etc. the simple columnar mucosal epithelium contains absorptive goblets cells, crypts of Liberkuhn in the mucosa and Brunner’s glands. It is concluded that exposure to the Eliozu dumpsite leachate and the consumption of the nearby borehole water with significant heavy metals and microorganism have caused the histopathological alterations in gastrointestinal tracts (small intestines) of animals and it is recommend that Government and environmental regulatory agencies find an ecofriendly method to treat Eliozu dumpsite leachate.

Assessment of residential satisfaction with internationally funded housing projects in Gaza Strip, Palestine

The internationally funded housing projects in Gaza Strip were initiated with the aim of providing secure and habitable housing for low-income families. Nevertheless, there remains a limited understanding of the level of satisfaction among residents dwelling in these housing units. This paper presents the outcomes of a survey conducted in Gaza Strip to assess residential satisfaction from international housing projects. This community-based cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between October 2022 and March 2023. Data collection relied on a pre-tested structured questionnaire consisting of thirty-two items, and it targeted residents of Hamad City, an area within Gaza Strip where international housing projects are prevalent. The questionnaire encompassed inquiries into residents’ socio-demographic characteristics, their satisfaction levels regarding the dwelling, services, and the residential environment, their contentment with the social milieu, as well as their preferences and aspirations regarding future housing. To ascertain predictor variables influencing overall satisfaction with public housing, stepwise regression analysis were conducted, exploring their relationships with this overarching satisfaction factor. The survey encompassed a total of 375 participants residing in Hamad City. The results revealed that the overall average satisfaction rates with respect to the dwelling, services, and the residential environment were 53.1%, 52.9%, and 49.0%, respectively, among the residents of Hamad City in the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, 49.9% (n = 187) of the respondents expressed their inclination to recommend others to reside in Hamad City. Moreover, 40.0% (n = 150) of participants were content with the floor building system in Hamad City, while 71.2% (n = 267) concurred with the notion of allocating residential buildings based on residents’ needs instead of a single predetermined site. Impressively, 78.4% (n = 294) of the respondents encouraged donors to undertake projects akin to Hamad City. The regression analysis elucidated that overall satisfaction levels are predominantly influenced by the improvement in satisfaction pertaining to dwelling space sufficiency. Thus, a crucial recommendation emerging from this study is the consideration of augmenting dwelling space in forthcoming internationally funded housing projects, as this would significantly enhance overall residential satisfaction.

Liveability Considerations: Towards Designing Sustainable Public Housing in Niger State, Nigeria

This study investigates liveability in the context of sustainable public housing in Niger State, Nigeria, where existing housing efforts have fallen short of residents' satisfaction. Recognizing the critical link between liveability indicators and environmental sustainability, this research aims to identify key liveability variables that could be integrated into the design and construction of sustainable public housing. Employing a mixed-method approach, the study involved cluster sampling for selecting housing estates and units, followed by the administration of 910 questionnaires containing 102 questions on liveability variables. Analytical techniques, including Hierarchical Cluster Analysis, Factor Analysis, and Multiple Regression Analysis, were used to group, refine, and validate the liveability variables. The results revealed 21 significant variables that collectively could achieve a 92.9% satisfaction rate among residents if incorporated into public housing design. These findings underline the potential of addressing liveability in the pursuit of sustainable housing solutions, offering insights for urban planners, architects, and policymakers. By focusing on the residents' perspectives, the study contributes to a more user-centred approach in public housing development, promoting long-term satisfaction and reducing the need for post-occupancy alterations.

A holistic sustainability assessment of a zero-emission development in Norway

The decarbonisation of the construction sector is critical to meet national and international climate goals. Literature gives many examples of measures for the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from buildings. However, few studies investigate the trade-offs between potentially conflicting GHG emission reduction measures or the affordability of these measures. Ydalir is a Zero Emission Neighbourhood (ZEN) pilot area in the Norwegian research centre for Zero Emission Neighbourhoods in smart cities. One of the major challenges Ydalir faces is how to reduce GHG emissions from the neighbourhood towards a net zero emission building (nZEB). Additional challenges include retaining social, environmental, and economical sustainability for both the project developer and building owners and avoid suboptimal solutions. This paper investigates the trade-offs between energy efficiency and material use for two scenarios. The scenarios are a Norwegian building code scenario and a passive house scenario. The analysis ascertains total energy demand, whole life cycle GHG emissions, and cost assessment for two housing units within Ydalir Torg. The results show lower total GHG emissions and lower GHG emissions from operational energy use in the passive house scenario, and an increase in GHG emissions from the production phase due to thicker levels of insulation. The cost assessment shows increased investment costs for the project developer in the passive house scenario, despite lower operational costs for the building owner. Total GHG emission payback times for the passive house scenario are at 18 - 19 years. Cost payback time varies between 10 - 37 years. This paper is useful for practitioners that wish to balance GHG emission reduction requirements between operational energy use, material use and affordability.

Evaluating the Accuracy of 2020 Census Block-Level Estimates in California

In this study, we provide an assessment of data accuracy from the 2020 Census. We compare block-level population totals from a sample of 173 census blocks in California across three sources: (1) the 2020 Census, which has been infused with error to protect respondent confidentiality; (2) the California Neighborhoods Count, the first independent enumeration survey of census blocks; and (3) projections based on the 2010 Census and subsequent American Community Surveys. We find that, on average, total population counts provided by the U.S. Census Bureau at the block level for the 2020 Census are not biased in any consistent direction. However, subpopulation totals defined by age, race, and ethnicity are highly variable. Additionally, we find that inconsistencies across the three sources are amplified in large blocks defined in terms of land area or by total housing units, blocks in suburban areas, and blocks that lack broadband access.

Social Housing - A Key Part of Past and Pandemic Impacts

This Social housing represents a crucial facet of social welfare policy and affordable housing provision, constituting over 28 million residences, accounting for approximately 6% of the total housing inventory in OECD and non-OECD EU nations. Considerable variations exist among countries regarding the definition, scale, extent, target demographic, and provider types within the realm of social housing. Although social mixing remains a primary goal in many countries' social housing sectors, there's a growing concentration of lower- income and vulnerable occupants, leading to a diminished diversity of income levels. This trend poses challenges to the economic viability of the sector, fostering an increased spatial clustering of poverty and disadvantage. The size of the social housing sector has dwindled in recent years in nearly all countries with available data, except for six, while the absolute count of social housing units has declined in just four countries with available data. This decline can be attributed, in part, to reduced public investment in housing stock. The pandemic has significantly disrupted construction, rendering it challenging for numerous households to afford shelter and adversely impacting the housing sector. Many countries have initiated substantial revitalization projects to enhance the quality of social dwellings and their surrounding neighborhoods, aiming to address persistent challenges associated with social housing, such as segregation. Policymakers must ensure that renovation efforts do not displace low-income households. Key Words: Social housing, OECD, crisis, response, Finance, Pandemic.

Rental and Tenement Housing Problems in Sapele Local Government Area, Delta State

Rental/tenement housing problem is a persistent sustainable development challenge that affects livability, particularly in developing countries. The research examined the availability of rental housing, accessibility of rental housing location and neighbourhood facilities, environmental condition and overcrowding as factors of rental/tenement housing problems in Sapele Local Government Area. A total of 384 questionnaires were systematically distributed to household heads and 339 were returned. Data were analysed using both inferential and descriptive statistics. The result revealed that there is inadequacy in the availability of rental housing, and that the location of rental housing is highly accessible and rentals have high accessibility to neighbourhood facilities. It was found that there is an association between road conditions and the level of impediment to rental housing unit. The findings further showed that there was low crime rate and the studyarea had low susceptibility to flooding. Rental housing was found not to be affordable since a higher percentage of residents spends more than 30% of their income on rent and the maximum occupancy ratio was 2 persons per room and of such, there is no problem of overcrowding and privacy. The findings also revealed that there is a link between the number of persons per room and the level of privacy. It is recommended that government should be more involved in the provision of low-income rental housing units and formulation of rental policy.

Usage Practices and Proper Maintenance of Home Air Conditioners and Their Relationship to Symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome Among a Sample of Housing Units and Their Occupants in Alexandria City

Usage Practices and Proper Maintenance of Home Air Conditioners and Their Relationship to Symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome Among a Sample of Housing Units and Their Occupants in Alexandria City