Residential Context Research Articles

When perception is reality: examining perceived accessibility of recreational public spaces through social space production

ABSTRACT Social space production theorizes space as a socially constructed phenomenon, comprising of the expectations of society, technical design decisions, and the physical features that result. This theorization of space is especially relevant to recreational public spaces (e.g. parks, playgrounds, community centres) in low-income settings. This is because, the power linkages between technical decisions and neo-capitalist influence, have in some instances, translated to physical features for recreation that do not meet societal expectations or ideals on use. However, recognized opportunities of use (i.e. perceived accessibility) are yet to be examined through the physical, technical, and social facets that collectively guide considerations, as theorized in social space production. Our study hence adopts social space production as a lens to examine perceived accessibility to public recreational spaces in low-income residential contexts. Participatory mapping interviews with resident leads in a low-income residential context in the United States, revealed three thematic considerations. The themes were namely: physical ease of use, planning and design experiences, and social interactions with and within space. Our findings demonstrate that multifaceted considerations, which are pertinent to physical, technical, and social aspects of social space production, are informative to perceived accessibility.

EXPLORAREA DIMENSIUNII SINGURĂTĂȚII ÎN RÂNDUL PERSOANELOR VÂRSTNICE: ANALIZA UNOR FACTORI SOCIO-DEMOGRAFICI ȘI PSIHOLOGICI

The problem of loneliness among the elderly has a negative impact on their quality of life and well-being. The aim of the study is to explore theoretically and applied the influence of socio-demographic factors and quality of life on loneliness in the elderly, highlighting the complex interactions between these determinants. The following dimensions were evaluated: a) the residential context - institutionalized versus family; b) gender; c) state of health; d) marital status; e) professional sector; f) level of education; g) degree of personal satisfaction; h) the quality of life associated with old age and i) the intensity of feelings of loneliness among the elderly. The research sample consists of 200 people aged between 65–95 years (m=71.89): 100 institutionalized respondents and 100 non-institutionalized respondents. The data were collected by applying two instruments: the UCLA Loneliness Scale, developed by Russell in 1996, and the Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI), designed by Frisch in 1992 (Russell, 1996; Frisch, 1992). Data analysis reveals a significant correlation between socio-demographic factors (sex, age, marital status, level of education) and the perceived intensity of loneliness, as well as statistically significant and negative correlations between loneliness and all assessed areas of quality of life.

Self-consumption potential and surplus compensation policy impact on rooftop photovoltaic systems in Spain

This research examines the viability of rooftop photovoltaic systems for electricity self-consumption in Spain's residential sector, analyzing municipality-level data on electricity demand, rooftop availability, solar irradiance, and various electricity market and surplus policy scenarios. Differences are found between rural and urban contexts, with rural areas exhibiting greater potential for photovoltaic systems deployment due to more available rooftop space. The study highlights the crucial role of surplus electricity management, showing that an efficient use can significantly boost self-consumption potential, particularly in rural areas where surplus constitutes about two-thirds of the photovoltaic production. Economic analyses under different electricity market conditions and surplus compensation policies show that these factors critically affect the attractiveness and viability of these systems. Current high electricity prices in Spain have reduced their payback period, but the prevalent surplus compensation policy, a 1-month net billing feed-in tariff, reduces their cost-effectiveness by up to 60 % compared to a hypothetical 12-month net billing approach. The findings underscore the need for policy adjustments to maximize rooftop occupancy and ensure fair compensation of surpluses, highlighting the importance of tailored strategies for effective sustainable photovoltaic systems deployment in residential contexts.

Examining the Period-Based Changes in the Effect of Socioeconomic Status in Maternal Healthcare Utilization Across Regional and Residential Contexts in Postcolonial Tanzania (1991–2016)

ABSTRACT Applying dependency theory, this manuscript uses data from the six cross-sectional Tanzania Demographic Health Surveys from 1991 to 2016 (n = 30,028) to explore temporal variations in the effect of socioeconomic status (SES) on maternal healthcare (MHC) utilization across different residences and regions. Research in this area is nonexistent in Tanzania. The results suggest a notable gap in using Tanzanian MHC based on SES and location (i.e. residence, regions). Results suggest that women from underserved groups, such as those living in rural areas or all-other (i.e. unprivileged) regions with lower SES, may have less access to MHC in the underdeveloped world. There were statistically significant socioeconomic variations in MHC use observed between residencies and regions, with stronger differences seen between residencies than regions. These findings further highlight the idea that lower use of MHC in the Global South is inseparable from economic dependency on metropolitan and Global North countries. This research calls for policymakers to recognize the roles of interactions between location and socioeconomic inequalities as factors exacerbated by higher dependency when crafting policies to modify healthcare utilization among women in underdeveloped countries.

Capitalization Rate and Real Estate Risk Factors: An Analysis of the Relationships for the Residential Market in the City of Rome (Italy)

Abstract The assessment of income-producing properties - considered as the bulk of the existing assets - has rapidly increased. An efficient assessment of the market value of this kind of properties requires an adequate involvement of the main risk factors of the local real estate market for the determination of the capitalization rate for the income approach application. The aim of the work is to identify the most significant local real estate risk factors related to the market, the tenant and the context on the residential capitalization rate. The development of a regressive methodological approach applied to the residential sector of the city of Rome (Italy) is proposed. The obtained results show the susceptibility of the analyzed capitalization rate to the variation of the local real estate risk factors, in particular the per capita income and the variation of the rental values, by also considering the influences of the exogenous shocks and the expectation of the investors. The practical implications of the work consist in the possibility for evaluators to assess the likely changes in the capitalization rate in different residential contexts if variations occur in the most influential local risk factors identified by the proposed model.

Full-Scale Fire Experiments on Cross-Laminated Timber Residential Enclosures Featuring Different Lining Protection Configurations

AbstractThe adoption of timber, specifically cross-laminated timber (CLT), as a primary construction material is gaining traction due to its carbon sequestration capabilities, environmental advantages, and potential for precision manufacturing. However, the combustibility of wood raises legitimate concerns about fire safety in timber-based residential buildings. This paper investigates the fire performance of timber in a residential context, attempting to fill knowledge gaps and outline strategies for improving fire robustness in timber-built dwellings. Through comprehensive experimental studies on residential-type enclosures constructed with CLT panels, this research explores different configurations and the effects of varying degrees of non-combustible protective lining. The findings underscore the significance of considering timber surface exposure and adopting effective encapsulation strategies in CLT buildings. It has been estimated that the exposure of timber walls leads to a proportional increase in heat release rate, corresponding to the area of exposed timber surfaces and their charring rates. Consequently, the external flame has a larger projection, resulting in a much greater heat flux to the façade. Furthermore, threshold conditions for initial flaming self-extinguishment of timber defined in literature of 44.5 ± 1.2 kW/m2 have been found to be applicable to the experiments conducted in this research. Finally, it has been observed that partial encapsulation, where the protective lining will likely fall off during a fire, may hinder rather than increase the likelihood of self-extinguishment. This work contributes towards a nuanced understanding of fire dynamics in timber structures, offering insights for safer and more effective design strategies for CLT-based construction.

Social participation in Australian residential aged care: A human rights perspective.

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety emphasised the critical need for a human rights-based approach to protect the rights of older people in the Australian aged care context, including 'the right to social participation'. This topic is important because of the widespread social isolation and loneliness in Australian residential aged care. This article demonstrates how a human rights-based framework can provide guidance to governments in approaching issues involving the protection of older people's need for social connection in aged care. In doing so, the article considers examples of how the Australian government can ensure choice of living arrangement, individualised support and access to community services and facilities in the residential aged care context to better protect the right to social participation.

ENHANCING USER EXPERIENCE IN INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE THROUGH BIOPHILIC DESIGN: A CASE STUDY OF URBAN RESIDENTIAL SPACES

This study aims to investigate how applying biophilic design principles to interior architecture—especially in urban residential contexts—can improve the user experience while accounting for the influence of different user profiles. It has been demonstrated that using natural components and patterns in constructed settings has a good influence on people's health and sense of connection to the natural world. The impact of numerous biophilic design elements on occupant well-being, productivity, and emotional connection to their living environments will be thoroughly examined. These include natural light, vegetation, water features and natural materials. University faculty and their families are the sole residents of Kayseri Nuh Naci Yazgan University Faculty Residences in Turkey a unique urban living community. Located at the corner of the university, this space offers individualized accommodation alternatives, creates a close-knit community and provides a distinctive living environment that meets faculty members' academic needs by guaranteeing easy access to educational resources. 54 residential units are participating in the study. Respondents are academic staff members that reside and work in the residences of Nuh Naci Yazgan University. The study centers on their housing experiences and they are its primary subjects. Both qualitative and quantitative data were gathered using a combination of in-depth observations, questionnaires and interviews in addition to random sampling. The study closes a crucial knowledge gap regarding the application of biophilic design in urban settings, given the current state of growing urbanization. This study is significant because it may help design more environmentally friendly and psychologically stimulating urban living environments. The results of this study can help architects, designers and urban planners create healthier and more user-centered urban places, which will ultimately improve the quality of life in urban settings, by examining how biophilic design affects user experiences. Using a case study methodology, the study was focused on NNYU Residences as a particular urban living environments as its study subjects. Observations, surveys and interviews was used to gather both qualitative and quantitative data to investigate users' opinions about the integration of biophilic design elements in their surroundings. This study has multiple main objectives. It seeks to comprehend how consumers interpret biophilic design elements, evaluate how the design affects inhabitants' well-being, investigate sustainability issues and offer useful advice for designers and architects. According to this study, biophilic design enhances sustainability and user satisfaction in urban residential environments. This has significant ramifications for urban planners and architects. Nonetheless, the case-study methodology and possibility for participant bias are two of the study's shortcomings. Also, because interior architecture is the study's primary focus, related bioinspired fields are not included. To learn more about these topics and how they contribute to biophilic design in interior products, future studies should investigate them.

Hybrid Renewable Production Scheduling for a PV–Wind-EV-Battery Architecture Using Sequential Quadratic Programming and Long Short-Term Memory–K-Nearest Neighbors Learning for Smart Buildings

Electricity demand in residential areas is generally met by the local low-voltage grid or, alternatively, the national grid, which produces electricity using thermal power stations based on conventional sources. These generators are holding back the revolution and the transition to a green planet, being unable to cope with climatic constraints. In the residential context, to ensure a smooth transition to an ecological green city, the idea of using alternative sources will offer the solution. These alternatives must be renewable and naturally available on the planet. This requires a generation that is very responsive to the constraints of the 21st century. However, these sources are intermittent and require a hybrid solution known as Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRESs). To this end, we have designed a hybrid system based on PV-, wind-turbine- and grid-supported battery storage and an electric vehicle connected to a residential building. We proposed an energy management system based on nonlinear programming. This optimization was solved using sequential quadrature programming. The data were then processed using a long short-term memory (LSTM) model to predict, with the contribution and cooperation of each source, how to meet the energy needs of each home. The prediction was ensured with an accuracy of around 95%. These prediction results have been injected into K-nearest neighbors (KNN), random forest (RF) and gradient boost (GRU) repressors to predict the storage collaboration rates handled by the local battery and the electric vehicle. Results have shown an R2_score of 0.6953, 0.8381, and 0.739, respectively. This combination permitted an efficient prediction of the potential consumption from the grid with a value of an R²-score of around 0.9834 using LSTM. This methodology is effective in allowing us to know in advance the amount of energy of each source, storage, and excess grid injection and to propose the switching control of the hybrid architecture.

The use of containers as a constructive method in buildings: a viable and sustainable alternative

With the increase in environmental concern, alternatives for the use of resources that are less harmful to the environment have been explored, including materials and construction methods. In this context, there is a growing search for new construction processes, especially container buildings, which have gained popularity and acceptance in society, being applied in both commercial and residential contexts. The main attractions for those interested in acquiring a container construction are the reduction of costs and the shortening of the execution time of the work. This is due to the minimization of waste generated during construction and the recycling of metal boxes, which would otherwise remain useless in ports. This advantage goes beyond the economic benefits, contributing to adding sustainable value to the project. This paper aims to discuss the feasibility analysis of the use of containers as a sustainable and financially advantageous proposal compared to conventional methods of structural construction for housing. Through a literature review, evidence of the feasibility and reuse of shipping containers for housing purposes is presented, exploring viable alternatives for the use of waste. The comparative study is based on the parameters established by the National System of Research on Costs and Indices of Civil Construction – SINAPI. The steps include the initial survey of all the improvements and adaptations necessary to provide housing conditions, considering standards of acoustic comfort, lighting, and ventilation. The results indicate that the reuse of the container results in savings of approximately 10% compared to masonry construction. Therefore, this approach has numerous advantages, being a financially viable, fast, and flexible solution for new architectural arrangements, in addition to incorporating architectural innovations aligned with environmental awareness.

Marine resource exploitation and human settlement patterns during the Neolithic in SW Europe: stable oxygen isotope analyses (δ18O) on Phorcus lineatus (da Costa, 1778) from Campo de Hockey (San Fernando, Cádiz, Spain)

In recent decades, investigations in the southern Iberian Peninsula have increased our understanding of the socio-economic impact of the spread of the Neolithic in southwestern Europe, including changes in marine resources exploitation. Nevertheless, considerable uncertainty still exists around the seasonality of such subsistence systems and the putative role of marine fish and shellfish to the evolving agro-pastoral economies. Earlier studies on the European Atlantic coast (including Iberia) have shown that the stable oxygen isotope (δ18O) values from the topshell Phorcus lineatus (da Costa, 1778) can be reliably used to derive seasonal sea surface temperatures (SST) during its lifespan. This information can be used by archaeologists to estimate the seasonality of mollusc collection in the past, and to shed light into settlement and subsistence patterns. This paper presents the results of a stable isotope study on archaeological shells of P. lineatus recovered from the Neolithic settlement of Campo de Hockey (Cádiz, Spain). We analysed shells from both funerary and residential contexts and found that P. lineatus was consumed year-round, but with a stronger preference during winter. Our results therefore contribute to advance our understanding of the role of coastal environments in early farming societies of southwestern Europe.

Effects of Audio–Visual Interaction on Physio-Psychological Recovery of Older Adults in Residential Public Space

It is now well established that everyday interaction with nature has a restorative potential on the elderly population’s health and well-being. However, empirical evidence on the restorative effects of neighborhood greenspace is still lacking, and scant attention has been given to the cross-effect of the visual–audio experience. The present study examined the restorative effects of audio–visual interactions on older adults in typical residential public spaces in Chinese cities. A pretest–post-test design was used to measure changes in participants’ physiological responses, mood states, and mental restoration. Participants (mean age = 68.88 years) were asked to experience six simulated audio–visual conditions (3 scenes × 2 sounds) of residential public space. The results showed that: (1) A green scene combined with nature sounds showed the most restorative effect on the elderly participants’ psycho-physiological health. (2) Viewing green scenes facilitated the most psycho-physiological recovery for the elderly, followed by viewing the activity scene. (3) Compared to the traffic noise, adding nature sounds could promote many more benefits in HR recovery, positive mood promotion, and perceived restorative effects, and the advantage of nature sounds over traffic noise was mainly demonstrated in the green scene. (4) Visual scenes demonstrated a greater impact on the elderly participants’ psycho-physiological recovery than the sounds. Our findings suggested the necessity of providing residential nature and activity spaces, encompassing both sound and vision, to promote healthy aging in Chinese residential contexts.

Intensification in the city centre: Barriers to implementation in Regina, Saskatchewan

AbstractAs cities aim for more sustainable patterns of urbanization, intensification has emerged as a core planning strategy. In 2013, the City of Regina set new intensification targets: absorb 30% of annual population growth through intensification and add 10,000 residents to the city centre by 2035. In the decade since, implementation has been unsuccessful. This study explores the barriers to core area intensification in Regina by engaging with key informants through semi‐structured interviews. Our findings identify the most significant barriers as soft market demand, a city centre that is unappealing as a residential context, insufficient political will, an absence of developers who specialize in core area intensification, and unfavourable development economics. These findings illustrate the unique challenges faced by mid‐size Canadian cites in disrupting entrenched development patterns and driving development towards the downtown.

EV Charging Management: a Forecasting Model Development for Parking Time and Arrival State of Charge

In the context of optimizing electric vehicle (EV) charging and discharging management, this study addresses the critical task of predicting, for the next day, the arrival and departure times of each EV, as well as its state of charge (SoC) when accessing the parking lot. This management challenge requires the application of a robust forecasting approach to ensure accurate forecasts. In this paper, the proposed predictor is developed using the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) modeling technique. The model feature selection process, is carried out based on a correlation/autocorrelation matrix integrating data of different natures (weather, EV arrival and departure time, EV state of charge). Performance validation of the proposed forecasting model is carried out using the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). The supremacy of the developed LSTM predictor is highlighted by comparing its performances with those of a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model. For the next day’s Arrival Time model, the LSTM demonstrates a MAPE of 1.95×10-3, the Departure Time model yields a MAPE of 5.49×10-3, and the SoC at Arrival model exhibits a MAPE of 5 × 10-2. These findings underscore the significance of the LSTM model, coupled with feature selection strategies, in enhancing the precision of EV charging and discharging management within residential contexts.

NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTERISTICS AND INEQUALITIES IN SENSORY HEALTH AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES

Abstract Sensory function plays a crucial role in older adults’ navigation of the environment, maintenance of personal safety, and in quality of everyday life. The residential neighborhood context is a significant social determinant of later life health and health disparities, but it has been understudied with respect to sensory function. We consider that residential neighborhoods are key sites of social and economic resources, social engagement, and environmental stimulation that could influence sensory health and inequalities in sensory impairment. We use data from 2,251 older adults who were interviewed at Rounds 1 and 2 of the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project in a series of longitudinal random effects models that examine how self-reported and objectively measured neighborhood characteristics are associated with self-rated vision and hearing. We find that older adults who reside in census tracts with higher levels of concentrated disadvantage report significantly worse self-rated vision and hearing compared with older adults who live in areas with less concentrated disadvantage. Residing in a more densely populated tract, however, is associated with better self-rated hearing. Black and Hispanic older adults’ self-rated hearing benefits significantly more from living in a densely populated tract than does White older adults’ self-rated hearing. In cross-sectional models, higher perceptions of neighborhood safety and social ties are associated with better self-rated vision. Our findings prompt a more nuanced understanding of how the social environment affects sensory health and highlight sensory function as a potential underexplored pathway through which neighborhood characteristics shape health disparities in later life.

THE ROLE OF CONTEXTUAL FACTORS IN ADULT DEVELOPMENT AND AGING

Abstract Individual development is embedded in multiple environmental systems, ranging from broader distal cultural and historical contexts to more proximal residential, family, and partnership contexts. The goal of this symposium is to showcase research studying the role of distal and proximal contextual factors in the development and aging of key domains, including health, cognitive function, social relationships, and emotional experiences. Nakagawa et al. examine cultural differences in the associations of positive affect and loneliness with longevity using data from prospective surveys in the United States (1986–2005) and Japan (1987–2006). Hülür et al. use 35-year longitudinal data (1977-2012) from 3,482 participants of the Seattle Longitudinal Study to examine associations between perceived residential neighborhood characteristics and trajectories of cognitive aging. Kobayashi et al. study cohort and gender differences in trajectories of social contact and social participation and the effects of being married and living with a child using data from the National Survey of the Japanese Elderly (1987-2021). Meier et al. will present data from a study on emotional co-regulation in younger and older couples’ daily lives focusing on situational factors (e.g., psychological availability) within romantic relationships that can shape daily emotional experiences and relationship quality. The discussion by Hans-Werner Wahl will focus on how these approaches contribute to our understanding of processes of context dynamics and how they can be utilized to promote the maintenance of health and function in aging.

A Scheduling Algorithm for Appliance Energy Consumption Optimization in a Dynamic Pricing Environment

This research delves into the intricate landscape of energy scheduling and optimization within microgrid and residential contexts, addressing pivotal aspects such as real-time scheduling systems, challenges in dynamic pricing, and an array of optimization strategies. This paper introduces a cutting-edge scheduling algorithm, harnessing the power of artificial neural networks driven by Long Short-Term Memory Networks, and highlights its exceptional performance, boasting a significantly lower Mean Absolute Error of 5.32 compared to conventional models. This heightened predictive accuracy translates into tangible improvements in both energy efficiency and cost savings. This study underscores the delicate balance between user satisfaction, cost reduction, and efficient scheduling for sustainable energy consumption, showcasing a remarkable 38% enhancement in optimized schedules. Further granularity revealed substantial gains in energy efficiency and cost reduction across different scheduling intensities: 11.11% in light schedules, 20.09% in medium schedules, and an impressive 38.85% in heavy schedules. However, this research does not shy away from highlighting challenges related to data quality, computational demands, and generalizability. Future research trajectories encompass the development of adaptive models tailored to diverse data qualities, enhancements in scalability for and adaptability to various microgrid configurations, the integration of real-time data, the accommodation of user preferences, the exploration of energy storage and renewables, and an imperative focus on enhancing algorithm transparency.

Pigments of the Campania region (Italy): a first overview for ancient wall paintings

A first overview on the ancient pigments used in Campania region was carried out from some study on ancient wall paintings located both in residential and funerary contexts. The technological skills in the individual use or mixing of pigments from the ancient painters is related to four archaeological contexts of Campania region, dated back from the 6th century BCE to the 1st century CE. The pigments were analysed by means of in–situ spectroscopic techniques and micro–destructive laboratory analyses. The multi–analytical approach revealed the use of pure (natural and synthetic) pigments and some admixtures, created by the ancient painters to obtain assorted colour shades. The same mixtures were found in different chronological contexts and made by a different manufacturer, suggesting an evident transmission of technological knowledge over time.

From buildings to cities: How household demographics shape demand response and energy consumption

In the face of rapidly evolving energy landscapes, driven by increasing integration of renewable energy and the transition towards a more sustainable grid, the role of demand response (DR) programs in maintaining grid stability and efficiency has become increasingly critical. This study presents an in-depth methodology for assessing the nexus between household demographics and engagement in demand response (DR) programs, investigating their impact on energy consumption and financial outcomes at both building and urban scales. Six household archetypes are defined: single working individual, single retired individual, working couple, retired couple, nuclear family, and lone parent household. Additionally, three energy-use archetypes— austere, average, and wasteful—are considered. Employing a stochastic load profile generator, the study examined variables like annual occupancy hours, thermal energy needs, and appliance consumption. In a Canadian residential context, a shift from a single working adult to a nuclear family occupant archetype led to an increase in annual occupancy by 24%, causing a 21% fluctuation in Energy Use Intensity (EUI). Additionally, diverse consumption behaviors led to a 41% EUI variance. The study evaluated load curtailment capabilities across various household archetypes; notably, a ‘wasteful’ household could reduce their load by 32% through a 2 °C-thermostat adjustment during DR events, and this rose to 54% with pre-heating. At the urban scale, demographic shifts substantially influence load profiles and cause variable peak load times. Areas with more retirees have higher mid-day energy usage. The research quantified DR benefits in load reduction and fiscal gains. By raising DR participation from 10% to 50%, load curtailment grew by 69% in areas with younger families. Pre-heating further enhanced load curtailment by 12% and reduced energy rebound by 4%. Economically, ‘wasteful’ households could accumulate 11% more credits compared to average homes. This research introduced a flexible framework for incorporating household demographics and energy use behavior into DR studies, which can be adapted and re-applied to different case studies based on the availability of relevant data.

Cumulative disadvantage during childhood: The association between moving and accumulated neighborhood deprivation over a child’s life course in the Netherlands

ABSTRACT While the importance of residential moves and neighborhood context for children is widely recognized, few studies examine childhood mobility and neighborhood context together and over time. Using a typology of mobility trajectories based on frequency, age, distance and change in population density, this study analyzes the interrelatedness between mobility trajectories and socioeconomic neighborhood composition throughout childhood. Using full-population register data, we follow children born in the Netherlands in 1999 until age 16. Local spatial autocorrelation analyses reveal concentrations of childhood mobility and neighborhood deprivation in cities. Focusing on children born in metropolitan areas, results indicate that children born in deprived neighborhoods are more likely to experience any move. Short-distance moves are associated with increased exposure and long-distance moves with less exposure to neighborhood deprivation. We argue we need a multidimensional longitudinal perspective to fully capture residential contexts to which children are exposed and enhance knowledge of childhood accumulations of disadvantage.