Abstract
The average size of apartment units in apartment buildings has significantly decreased in the 21st century. The spatial quality of living spaces is challenged when a two-room apartment is designed to fit into the space of a one-bedroom apartment. The optimization of space usage is justified by affordability, which has been achieved through two main principles: (1) invreasing the amount of apartment per staircase and (2) combining functions at the apartment level (kitchen-dining-living room) and reducing the size of rooms.
This article discusses the spatial quality of new apartments from the perspective of furnishability. Furnishability is understood as a tool in housing design that can lead to sustainability indicators. Reflections are supported by housing preferences studies and guidelines for housing design, especially the publication titled Toimiva talo. Kerrostalokohteet RT 193692 (2023), which presents ways to achieve functional and spatial quality beyond regulatory requirements.
This article discusses the spatial quality of new apartments from the perspective of furnishability. Furnishability is understood as a tool in housing design that can lead to sustainability indicators. Reflections are supported by housing preferences studies and guidelines for housing design, especially the publication titled Toimiva talo. Kerrostalokohteet RT 193692 (2023), which presents ways to achieve functional and spatial quality beyond regulatory requirements.
| Translated title of the contribution | The (versatile) furnishability of an apartment indicates its spatial quality |
|---|---|
| Original language | Finnish |
| Title of host publication | Kohti kestävämpiä asuinalueita : kaupunginosien ja kortteleiden kestävyysindikaattoreita |
| Editors | Mari Vaattovaara, Jussi Jännes, Mikko Posti |
| Place of Publication | Helsinki |
| Publisher | Helsingin yliopisto |
| Pages | 223-228 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-951-51-8301-9 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-951-51-8302-6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 24 Apr 2024 |
| MoE publication type | B2 Book section |