What matters in housing architecture – a survey of dwellers’ opinions

This paper presents results of a questionnaire survey designed to study the most valued features of the housing environment in dwellers’ opinion. The subjects were inhabitants (aged 13 to 81, N = 470) of various housing environments in Poland (including blockhouses in the largest cities of the country, comfortable suburban villas, as well as small rural houses). Concluding the results, the most important physical elements of housing environment seem to be: location, plan and area of the flat, specific features of home spaces such as natural light, stylish arrangement and technical quality. Most valued elements of immediate surroundings depend primarily on type of the building; one-family house inhabitants value the most private area elements – such as garden, while city tenement house and multi-family block inhabitants value rather functional elements in public zone – such as shops and basic services. Location (understood primarily in relation to the city centre) is very important for residents of big cities and students. The apartment plan and its correspondence with functionality is especially valued by more educated people (specifically those professionally dealing with architecture); the size of the flat and the immediate surroundings are in turn more valued by less educated people employed in basic services. Impact of architectural features that are important in appraisal of the housing environment (also attractive views and appearance of the building) are balanced by social and psychological aspects of home space, such as home atmosphere, privacy and social relations inside the home (relations with other residents within the perceived home space) and in the immediate neighbourhood (good neighbours). Together with architectural and technical quality of the house, they constitute the home environment that may be source of satisfaction to their inhabitants.