Small House Research Articles

Assessment of the heat loss coefficient of a renovated historical dwelling using a co-heating test

Twelve quasi-identical almshouses with an architectural-historic value were reno-vated, because of their high energy use, poor indoor comfort and numerous moisture problems. Aerogel plaster was applied for the hygrothermal upgrade of the uninsulated brick walls, while limiting the reduction of living space in these very small houses and keeping the monumental character of the facades in their original state. Several quality assurance tests were executed to evaluate the quality of the renovation of the building envelope and to compare the results with the initial theoretical design calculations. It appeared that the existing materials performed considerably better than the assumed conservative default values. On the other hand, the newly installed insulation materials performed somewhat less than declared, for example due to on-site processing. This resulted in a strong overestimation of the improvement in thermal performance by the renovation works. Field measurements of the existing situation can help to close this gap.

Looking for the Fusion of Cultural Environment and Modernity in a Cityscape: Western Gate in Jelgava

The research is based on the examination of the cityscape transformation processes and a search for the fusion of the cultural and historical space and the trends of contemporary modernism in architecture. Over the last three centuries, Jelgava (Mitau), the capital of the former Dutchy of Courland, has changed the height, the density and the structure of its building. The process of transformation was determined by crisis situations in the state, by rapid growth of the trade and domestic economy, as well as by the period of state independence and downfall of the national economy. Splendour and misery of the city has raised and destroyed houses, parks and churches in Jelgava.The historical map of the city originates in the beginning of the 18th century on the left bank of the Lielupe River with a linear building canvas formed by small wooden houses and a net of dirt roads. During the 19th-20th centuries, the city is developing radially around the ancient central built-up area, sketching the structure of the city map based on the network of the trading routes: the Western gate – Dobele, the Northern gate – sea, the Southern gate – Lithuania. The East is a crossing point to reach Jelgava Palace. The direction to Riga led along the river, as the eastern part was a marshland.

Moisture safety in ventilated cathedral roofs

Cathedral roofs are commonly used when constructing small houses in Sweden. In contrast to roof constructions with a cold attic, where frequent moisture damage has been noted, the cathedral roof is difficult to access for inspection. Furthermore, Swedish building regulations sets high demands regarding moisture safety, although there are no clear guidelines for their compliance. Hence, designing a cathedral roof must be done with great care. Previous studies investigating moisture safety in cathedral roofs, applies a constant air exchange in the ventilated air cavity. In this study a cathedral roof, ventilated from eave to eave, was analysed by examining the relevance of considering the variation in cavity air flow when conducting coupled heat and moisture calculations. The varied cavity air flow was calculated in an air flow model, considering wind and thermal buoyancy as driving forces. The accuracy of moisture safety assessments using the MRD model via hygrothermal calculations in WUFI Pro were also studied. Comparing moisture calculations with measurements showed high similarity when using a model with constant cavity air flow, and even higher resemblance when using a model with varied air flow. When actual conditions are sought, the study indicated that pinpointing important parameters, such as initial moisture content and moisture related material properties, would further increase precision in moisture calculations.

Rival guests or defiant hosts? The local economic impact of hosting refugees

Abstract This article investigates the local economic cost of hosting refugees. Using administrative data in France, we show that the opening of small housing centers for refugees decreases the economic activity in hosting municipalities. We demonstrate that this downturn is related to a decline in the population by around 2% due to fewer people moving to hosting municipalities. We show that this avoidance behavior of natives results from prejudices, and is unlikely to be driven by a labor market supply shock from the arrival of refugees. We also estimate the aggregate cost of hosting refugees.

The Reciprocal Algebraic Integers Having Small House

Let α be a reciprocal algebraic integer of degree d. The house of α is the largest modulus of its conjugates. We compute the minimum of the houses of all reciprocal algebraic integers of degree d having the minimal polynomial which is a factor of a Dth degree reciprocal or antireciprocal polynomial with at most eight monomials, say , for d at most 180, and . We show that it is not necessary to take into account imprimitive polynomials. The computations suggest several conjectures. We show that d-th power of the house of a sequence of reciprocal primitive polynomials has a limit. We present a property of antireciprocal hexanomials.

Psychological impact of home isolation on children aged 6-14 years during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia 2020.

Objectives:To evaluate the impact of home isolation on feelings and behaviors of children aged 6-14 years during COVID-19 pandemic in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and August 2020 in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. A snowball sampling was applied, parents with children aged 6-14 years participated in this survey (N=361). questionnaires were distributed electronically.Results:Four out of ten children reported severe psychological impact on feelings (41.3%), while a majority of the children demonstrated mild psychological impact on behavior (74.8%). Age was associated with risk of psychological impact on behavior (OR: 7.24, 95% CI: 1.35-16.18). Being male was associated with risk of psychological impact on feelings (OR: 2.38, 95% CI: 0.67-6.43), and behavior (OR: 3.50, 95% CI: 0.42-6.00). Living in a small house or without an outside play area was associated with risk of psychological impact on feelings and behaviors.Conclusion:This study revealed that children experienced mild-to-severe psychological impact on behaviors and feelings during home isolation during COVID-19 pandemic. Priority should be given to boys, older age, children of low-income families, living in small houses and those without outside play areas.

Urban Squares in Late Bronze Age Ugarit: a Street View on Ancient Near Eastern Governance

Urban Squares in Late Bronze Age Ugarit: a Street View on Ancient Near Eastern Governance

PENGARUH KUALITAS PRODUK DAN PENGGUNAAN MEDIA SOSIAL TERHADAP KEPUTUSAN PEMBELIAN PADA USAHA KECIL MENENGAH RUMAH KUE DELINA TANGERANG SELATAN

Online business in the era of digital communication is in great demand by people. By utilizing social media online, it makes it easy for everyone to explore anywhere without being limited by time and distance. Rumah Kue Delina is a brand of home industry products or small and medium businesses engaged in the culinary business domiciled in the South Tangerang area that has utilized online sales. This study aims to determine whether there is a positive and significant effect between product quality and the use of social media either partially or simultaneously on purchasing decisions in Small and Medium Enterprises Delina Cake House, South Tangerang. This study uses quantitative methods, the population of Delina Cake House customers is approximately 600 people, by using incidental sampling obtained 75 respondents. Data collection methods used were observation and questionnaires, data analysis methods used were descriptive analysis and statistical analysis of multiple linear regression techniques, correlation analysis, simultaneous F test, partial t test, and coefficient of determination test. From the correlation analysis, it can be concluded that there is a strong correlation between product quality and purchasing decisions, and a very strong correlation between the use of social media and purchasing decisions. From the results of the regression analysis obtained multiple linear regression equation Y = 0.500 + 0.079 X1 + 1.008 X2. Partial t-test shows that product quality partially has a significant effect on purchasing decisions by 57.3% while 42, 7% is influenced by other variables and the use of social media partially has a significant effect on purchasing decisions by 76.8% while 23.2% is influenced by other variables. Simultaneous F-test shows that product quality and use of social media simultaneously affect purchasing decisions at the Small and Medium Business of Delina Cake House, South Tangerang by 76.9% while 23.1% is influenced by other variables not discussed in this study.

Research on Small Housing Space Design for Young People

Research on Small Housing Space Design for Young People

Analysis of Smart Zone Heating in Different Heating Systems

The basic concept in the design of buildings with zero energy consumption is, in addition to high-quality thermal properties of the building envelope, also a correct and efficient system of heating and hot water preparation in residential buildings. One of the basic concepts when designing heating systems is a zone heating system. It is a system that brings effective regulation according to heating zones. In practice, the question sometimes arises as to whether zone regulation of individual rooms in small family houses is necessary. That is whether in such buildings, zone heating is not an unnecessary investment cost. In this paper, we analyze the effect of zone heating in two types of heat transfer systems on the internal operating temperature in the individual analyzed zones, which are interconnected by an internal partition structure. It is a verification that even in smaller spaces, zone heating has a significant potential for energy savings.

Identifying and comparing vacant housing determinants across South Korean cities

Excessive vacant housing (VH) has been often linked to negative externalities (e.g., crime, arson, property devaluation, or disconnected neighborhoods). As a result, governments and communities invest many resources toward limiting amounts of VH. While the VH literature has increased, VH studies are relatively new in South Korea. In this regard, this study explores the spatial discrepancy and determinants of VH across 141 cities in South Korea by using cluster analysis and quantile regression. The empirical analyses suggest that municipalities experiencing aging, fewer manufacturing jobs, sprawled old and small housing stock, new housing supply, and higher taxes may be more at risk for future increases in VH ratios. The impacts of these factors were not significant across the municipalities with different levels of VH. The aging population is the most powerful explanatory variable, in general, and is the only influential factor that explains the cities with excessive VH ratio. The outcomes suggest that the policy interventions should vary depending on the level of VH and the location and size of the city their related determinants. Further, VH inventory and demographic change monitorization, provisions for encouraging more youthful residents, and readjustment of space and economic structure are also necessary to combat excessive VH.

An Efficient Control Strategy for an Optimal Operation on Clear Water Process Station

Water process stations are very common nowadays, that can be noticed everywhere from a small house to very big industrial area. The main objective of the water process stations are to reduce the hardness of the drinking water. In order to attain such a clear drinking water, the process station will work over several stages like sediment filter, carbon filter and RO membrane. Usually all these stages will be taken into account by the process stations on the feed water irrespective on its hardness measurement. The control strategy imposed in the paper verifies the hardness of the feed water at the very first step to avoid several stages for making the process simpler and faster. In the same way, at the stage of each filtering process huge amount of water will be wasted in the traditional process station. Due to the implementation of an efficient control strategy such wastages can also be minimized in the proposed work. The experimental study performed based on the proposed methodology explores the amount of water saved during the clear water processes as well as the time requirement for processing the feed water.

The influence of zeolite-mineral feed additives on the growth and development of young cattle in Yakutia

This article presents the results of the study to determine the effect of zeolite-mineral feed additives when feeding young Simmental cattle in the conditions of Yakutia. Scientific and economic experiments to determine the optimal norms of local mineral feed additives were carried out in the conditions of Central Yakutia. The experiment was performed on young bulls of the Simmental cattle breed during the age of between 12 and 18 months. The experimental animals were selected by the analog method, which took into account the indicators of age, live weight and clinical indicators. During the experiment animals were kept under identical conditions. The difference was that the experimental groups were additionally given a mineral feed supplement – hongurin in different doses and Kempendyai salt with the daily basic diet. Animals in the cold season were kept in a small cattle house, fastened. During the experiments the optimal rate of inclusion of a zeolite-mineral feed additive was established, which allowed to maximize the growth rates of live weight while maintaining all clinical and physiological norms of the body. Thus, at the end of the experiment the animals of the II and III experimental groups were heavier than their peers from the test group by 2.93% and 4.28%. As a result, the animals of the experimental groups reached a live weight of 382.5 and 385.3 kg versus 371.6 kg in the test group. Growth rate indicators in test group bulls equaled 564.44 g, and for bulls in the II and III experimental groups 630 g and 650.56 g, respectively (indicators are higher by 11.62% and 15.26%). Thus, the use of zeolite-mineral feed additives in feeding young Simmental cattle in Yakutia has shown efficiency.

Book review

Taking Shelter: Housing Finance for the World’s Poor, edited by Patrick McAllister and Daniel Rozas. Considering that decent shelter is essential to the quality of human life, the meagre attention given by the development finance sector on how to provide it is shocking. The need for a secure place to live garners surprisingly little focus outside the relatively small housing subsectors of urban development, and water and sanitation.

A review on the Legislative Direction of the Multi-Family Housing Management Laws

공동주택의 관리는 집합건물법에 근거한 소유권을 중심의 관리와 공동주택관리법에 기한 입주자 중심의 관리로 구분할 수 있다. 그런데, 공동주택관리법에서 의무관리대상인 공동주택을 제한함으로서 소규모 공동주택의 경우에 입주자 중심의 관리 공백이 발생한다. 이를 보완하기 위하여 집합건물법의 개정을 통하여 집합건물법에 임차인 등 입주자 관리를 보완하려는 시도가 있었다. 그러나 이러한 시도는 법체계상 부조화를 초래한다. 집합건물법과 공동주택관리법은 각각 구분소유권 보호와 입주자를 중심의 관리라는 본연의 역할에 충실하는 방향으로 개정되어야 한다. 본 연구에서는 공동주택관리법의 적용범위 제한으로 생활관리 규정의 흠결이 있는 소규모 공동주택의 임차인 등을 위하여 최근 집합건물법의 관리를 확대하는 방향으로 입법이 행하여지고 있는 바, 이는 문제의 소지가 있음을 지적하였다.The management of Multi-Family Housing can be divided into ownership-centered management based on ‘Act on Ownership and Management of Condominium Buildings’ and occupant-centered management based on ‘Multi-Family Housing Management Act’. However, in the case of small-scale multi-family housing, there is a resident-centered management gap by restricting the Multi-family housing subject to compulsory management in Multi-Family Housing Management Act. In order to supplement this, an attempt was made to supplement the management of tenants and other occupants in Act on Ownership and Management of Condominium Buildings through the revision of Act. However, these attempts lead to inconsistencies in the legal system. ‘Act on Ownership and Management of Condominium Buildings’ and ‘Multi-Family Housing Management Act’ should be amended in a direction that is faithful to their original roles of protection of separate ownership and occupant-centered management, respectively. This study pointed out the tipping point where legislation is being implemented in the direction of expanding the management of Act on Ownership and Management of Condominium Buildings. For tenants of small Multi-Family Housing with deficiencies in the living management regulations, etc, because the scope of application of Multi-Family Housing Management Act is limited.

The Small Property Rights Housing Institution in Mainland China: The Perspective of Substitutability of Institutional Functions

Despite its informal nature, small property rights housing (SPRH) proliferates in many Chinese cities. Given the institutional functions of the SPRH institution, it may not be desirable for the state to intervene in the SPRH sector. However, the institutional credibility and the institutional functions of SPRH are not completely endogenous, which contradicts the assumption of the credibility thesis. Based on the framework of the credibility thesis, this paper proposes the concept of the substitutability of institutional functions and develops a framework integrating the concepts of substitutability and credibility to examine the influence of functional substitutability on institutional credibility. Research hypotheses were tested with the data collected through a questionnaire survey on SPRH residents in Shenzhen and Chenzhou (n = 458). The analysis results of the combined model suggest that the supportive perceptions of actors for SPRH and the credibility of SPRH are significantly related to the substitutability of SPRH’s functions. The effect of the substitutability of social housing on credibility is found insignificant, while the impact of the substitutability of commercial housing on credibility is significant. However, the analysis results are city-specific. A significant negative correlation is found between the substitutability of formal housing institutions and the credibility of SPRH in Chenzhou but not in Shenzhen. This study attempted to refine the credibility thesis by clarifying the relationship between institutional functions and institutional credibility and examining the endogeneity of credibility.

Deinstitutionalisation and ‘Home Turn’ Policies: Promoting or Hampering Social Inclusion?

By the end of the twentieth century, caring for vulnerable adults in the community had become a pervasive policy trend in the Western world. In this article, this policy is described in two phases: deinstitutionalisation and the ‘home turn’ that are reflected from the perspective of social inclusion. Deinstitutionalisation has meant large institutions and asylums being replaced by group homes and communal‐supported housing units in the community. In the second and current phase, the ‘home turn’ emphasises well‐developed community care, home‐based services, everyone’s right to have their own home, and having a valued place in the community. In this semi‐systematic narrative review, the widely shared incentives, premises, and criticisms of deinstitutionalisation and the ‘home turn’ are mapped from the research literature. The special focus is on the possibilities of and hindrances to social inclusion in both policy phases. The research results are mixed and conflicting concerning social inclusion, but there exists a wide consensus that small housing units and supported housing with devoted workers enhance social inclusion better than big institutions. However, the prevalent view is that deinstitutionalisation has not fulfilled its promise of social inclusion, and although the ‘home turn’ is a step in the right direction, there are still problems in strengthening service users’ involvement and creating inclusive and accepting communities.

COVID-19 Stressors on Migrant Workers in Vietnam: Cumulative Risk Consideration.

This study explored the impact of COVID-19 on migrant workers in Vietnam, using a cumulative risk assessment (CRA) framework which comprises four domains (workplace, environment, individual and community). A cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were collected in 2020 through a self-administered questionnaire with 445 domestic migrant workers in two industrial zones in two northern provinces (Bac Ninh and Ninh Binh) in Vietnam. The majority of migrant workers were female (65.2%), aged between 18 and 29 years old (66.8%), and had high school or higher education level qualifications. Most migrant workers had good knowledge about preventive measures (>90%) and correct practices on COVID-19 prevention (81.1%). Three health risk behaviors were reported: 10% of participants smoked, 25% consumed alcohol and 23.1% were engaged in online gaming. In terms of workplace, occupational working conditions were good. Noise was the most commonly reported hazard (29%). Regarding environment, about two-thirds of migrant workers lived in a small house (<36 m2). Most participants (80.4%) lived with their families. About community domain, many reported low salary or losing their job during January–July, 2020. Most migrants received information about COVID-19. The migrant workers suffered from poor health and low occupational safety, fear of job loss and income cut, poor housing and living conditions and limited access to public services. The holistic approach to address stressors is recommended to improve health and safety of migrant workers.

How does school district adjustment affect housing prices: An empirical investigation from Hangzhou, China

A quality promotion of neighborhood primary schools no doubt elevates nearby housing price. But which houses benefit from the public policy is important to improve educational equity. Accurate identification of such capitalization effects will help policymakers optimize the allocation of scarce public goods. Previous studies on this issue have been biased due to endogeneity and overlooking the impacts of facility quality change. Based on the Hangzhou's school district adjustment in 2012, the current work contributes to housing price effects of policies and education quality changes, rather than a static educational facility. The difference-in-differences model with quantile regression is constructed to obtain a more precise and detailed estimation among the different sub-markets. Results show that the average price effect estimated by the difference-in-differences is up to nearly 800 yuan/m2, higher than cross-sectional estimation. Only housing with better schools after reassignment witness a price premium. Low-priced and small houses earn more than 1000 yuan/m2, whereas high-priced and large houses are not significantly affected. The results demonstrate that future policies should ensure the rights of low-income groups to attend high quality primary school and guard against the gentrification of low-priced houses.

Living Space Needs of Small Housing in the Post-Pandemic Era: Malaga as a case study

The COVID-19 lockdown period has highlighted the ability of housing to accommodate a comprehensive programme typical of the city and its public space. Housing units of under 60 m2 and in blocks of flats are the more vulnerable, as they have a higher percentage of non-community open spaces. That problem was analysed using a methodology based on psychological, urban planning and architectural indicators applied to two coastal cities in the Mediterranean area of southern Spain. The results highlight three aspects in this type of dwelling: the need to consider the orientation of the housing to improve the quality of indoor and outdoor space; the need in public housing policies for a greater number of rooms to facilitate remote working; and finally, the importance of functional terraces overlooking green areas.