Spatial Use and Satisfactory Level of the High-Density Housing Residents

This research presents evidence on how the space used by the residents and their satisfactory level towards space of living. The study proceeds by looking at what the occupants’ perceptions towards their space. Various variables are used to foresee the possible factors that affect their satisfactions. Variables used for assessment are some of possible dimensions occupants’ feel of necessary for the space. Physical, psychological, and perceptual performance of space is assessed in this study as indicated by Murtha’s Criteria on Dimensions of User Benefits, such as behaviour facilitation (functional conformance and spatial conformance), physiological maintenance (climate conformance and hazard regulation, perceptual maintenance (sensory initiation and sensory conformance), and social facilitation (social initiation and social isolation) (Fisher in Environmental psychology, 2nd edn. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York, 1984, [1]). The primary data, collected from respondents of particular type of high-density housing units in Jakarta, were analysed and interpreted by qualitative–quantitative methods using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), and results were further presented in descriptive form. This study concluded that the perceptions and satisfactorily level of residents towards their space are variously found. From the previous research, the implication for planning has mentioned that the minimum standard of 36 m² is advised for the high-density housing (Indriyati in Low-cost housing in Jakarta: toward a more humane architecture. Penerbit Pustaka Sutra, Bandung, 2009, [2]), and it now further investigates whether this minimum standard has also met residents’ satisfaction for the extended dimensions of user benefits. The findings will provide architects the potential criteria of space that need to be highly concerned. They should develop design ideas based on a more profound knowledge of potential users’ physical and perceptual needs of expected design for the high-density housing. This research is also resulting in an advice that users are always to involve in the design process.