Level Of Residential Satisfaction Research Articles

LIVING IN RESIDENTIAL SATISFACTION? INSIGHTS FROM LARGE‐SCALE HOUSING ESTATES IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

ABSTRACTCan Central and Eastern European large housing estates generally be branded as places of decline and social decay? Current results from an ongoing research project on sociospatial differentiation of different neighbourhoods in CEE‐urban regions reveal a high level of residential satisfaction and a low level of potential mobility. Based on theoretical considerations about residential satisfaction the paper compares five large housing estates: Leipzig‐Grünau, Budapest‐Havanna, Vilnius‐Karoliniskes, Sofia‐Mladost and St. Petersburg‐Lenin Prospect. After analysing local housing markets as well as socio‐demographic development of the selected case studies from an interregional perspective, sociospatial processes are highlighted from an intra‐urban perspective. The paper goes on to explore different types of residential satisfaction and potential residential mobility. A main emphasis is put on the interpretation of these types against the backdrop of different housing conditions. In conclusion, the authors try to answer the question, whether residential satisfaction is a stable or fragile phenomenon in large housing estates in Central and Eastern Europe.

User Interventions in Turkish Mass Housing

The intent and aim of the research was to look at a particular house type i.e. a terraced house with four floors, which is one of the popular designs commonly used in the last ten years in mass housing projects in Turkey. There are four alternatives of the type related with the cross-sectional relationship with the ground floor level. Emphasis was placed upon the "semi-cellar type" assuming that even though the level of residential satisfaction gradually increases with the possibility of interpreting the use of the open-plan floor space, and by proposing new design elements to create more adaptable and flexible spaces, the users may still experience dissatisfaction with designs where the space cannot be revised. With the use of a questionnaire, participants judged their own house as a whole and evaluated its uses for different functions and activities, complained in respect of changes required, and finally outlined their plans for the future. Despite the high level of satisfaction with having a garden (a unique characteristic in apartment-saturated Ankara), the aspect of dissatisfaction mostly referred to was the kitchen-garden relationship (or lack thereof). The residents, especially the older ones, were generally dissatisfied with the multi-storey design of their house. They prefer to remain on the backyard level without changing floors in different seasons. Besides, the users spending the longest time in the house complained more than the others and the people spending variable time in the house stated that they preferred to change the floors in different seasons. As compared to larger families, the smaller families were more likely to change floors.

Spatial adaptability and flexibility as parameters of user satisfaction for quality housing

Residential satisfaction on dwelling space is the function of three groups of variables. These are user characteristics, physical attributes of a space, and beliefs and perception of the user about the experienced space. This article intends to focus on the evaluation of the ‘dwelling space’ in terms of residential satisfaction of the occupants. Level of residential satisfaction gradually decreases by the time with the changing spatial needs of occupants. Users achieve satisfaction by changing the physical characteristics of their environments to create more adaptable and flexible spaces. Adaptability and flexibility are quality characteristics of a space. In this study, they are studied in terms of size, space organization, and changes and alterations on physical attributes. This study presents the results of a comparative analysis of four 2-bedroom type apartment units, having different plan organizations and physical attributes. Factors of spatial satisfaction due to size and physical characteristics of dwelling spaces after alterations were investigated. Comparisons were made to find out the potential plan types for future alterations for residential satisfaction. This study is based on the data of a comprehensive post-occupancy evaluation of 16–20 year old housing settlement in Istanbul, Ataköy.