Residential satisfaction in gated communities according to stages in the life cycle with reference to Cairo, Egypt

The objective of the study is to investigate, in the Egyptian context, residential satisfaction in gated communities (GCs) in relation to stages in the life cycle. The aim is to identify possible differences between the different stages in the life cycle in terms of the most important predictors of overall residential satisfaction. The study relies on a survey questionnaire administered to a sample of residents of Al-Rehab GC in Cairo, Egypt (n = 131). The sample was divided into four life cycle stage groups: young singles (YS) (n = 36), heads of young family households (YF) (n = 41), heads of households with older children (OC) (n = 34), and empty nesters (EN) (n = 20). Statistical analysis does indeed reveal differences between stages in the life cycle in relation to the most important components of residential satisfaction. In particular, for YF and OC, the social environment within the GC was the most important predictor of overall residential satisfaction. For these two life cycle groups, issues related to the needs and safety of their children were also important. In contrast, for EN, the social environment and characteristics of the area around the dwelling appeared to be much less important than for other groups. For EN, satisfaction with the dwelling unit itself was shown to be the most important predictor of overall residential satisfaction.

Building performance evaluation of public housing in Harare, Zimbabwe

This study sought to evaluate the performance of residential building spaces in public housing in Harare, Zimbabwe. It specifically measured building performance indicators determined by the building’s characteristics and the physical, locational and service attributes of buildings. A quantitative research design was adopted, in which questionnaires and observations were used in data collection. A two-stage sampling technique was used, because the population could be subdivided into clusters. From residents in three clusters, which include Highfield-Venice Flats, Avenues Flats and Mbare Flats, 263 respondents were conveniently chosen. Results from the independent t-test that was conducted showed that, at 95% confidence level, there exist significant differences in residential satisfaction among residents of Highfield-Venice Flats and those of Avenues Flats (t = 2.159, p-value= 0.035>0.05). Overall, residents are dissatisfied with the attributes of the buildings in which they live and the general residential situation. There is a general dissatisfaction with the buildings, suggesting that the building performance is not meeting their needs and expectations. Housing attribute preferences, privacy, dwelling proximity, and neighbourhood attachment showed a significant and positive impact on general residential satisfaction. Hence, there is a need to improve housing attribute preferences such as improving the quality of air and lighting as well as noise levels, since respondents expressed dissatisfaction with these attributes. Housing ceilings can be installed to reduce noise levels. More so, the quality of air and lighting can be improved by inserting more air ventilations and wider windowpanes. Privacy should be improved by ensuring that the residential structures have boundary walls that may be needed by the residents. More so, dwelling proximity ought to be improved. The Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities and other public housing institutions can consider developing structures such as shopping centres, public schools as well as roads and social amenities such as parks, pools and workout facilities before they build residential houses.

Environmentally friendly private cities in Indonesia and Malaysia

This paper is a review of the model to investigate the effect of safety and security, financial benefit, social status, and lifestyle facilities on residential purchase and residential satisfaction. The future research will survey residents in private cities in Indonesia and Malaysia. For Indonesia, samples will be taken in South Tangerang, specifically in Bintaro Jaya, BSD City, and Summerecon. For Malaysia, samples will be taken among residents of private cities in Malaysia. The analysis will employ the use of structural equation model using SPSS and Amos software. The accepted hypotheses are expected be result of this study. Safety and security, financial benefit, social status, and lifestyle facilities determine the residential purchase and residential satisfaction. The originality of the research is the study investigate comparative study of the model testing in two countries, Indonesia and Malaysia.

IMPACT OF SERVICE QUALITY ON RESIDENTIAL SATISFACTION : A STUDY WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO CHENNAI

The purpose of this paper is to reveal the residential satisfaction of apartment residents. And it was measured through an antecedent (service quality) and a consequence (word of mouth) of residential satisfaction. Simple random sampling method was employed on 200 residents and multiple linear regressions were carried out. The result shows that 85% of the variance in overall customer satisfaction is accounted for by service quality. From the above findings it is clear that service quality positively influences customer satisfaction.

POST OCCUPANCY EVALUATION (POE): A TOOL TO INVESTIGATE THE RESIDENTS’ SATISFACTION AND PERFORMANCE OF HOUSING PROJECT, CASE STUDY – KANHAPUR, INDIA

In developing countries like India, very less research has been conducted on the Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) of rural housing projects. This research aims to investigate the performance of an Eco-Village at Kanhapur, India which was designed by the Centre of Science for Villages. Research investigation was based on the occupants’ views on the physical condition of their housing units and neighborhood spaces. The study aided to determine the occupants’ housing satisfaction and thus evaluate the housing quality in the rural housing projects. The results revealed that, CSV, failed in achieving the residential satisfaction and the model of Eco-village collapsed. The housing project could offer them the shelter, but not the livable conditions on account of multiple reasons discussed in the paper. CSV never came back to the community to take the feedback on their living conditions and problems even after 10 years of occupancy. The study of this eco village led to the conclusion that POE can be utilized as a powerful tool to diagnose the residential satisfaction and thereby investigate the loopholes in the performance of housing projects.