Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess using of balconies in apartment buildings. In the research, by questioning the use of balconies as to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) process ...and before, the place and importance of the balcony in the apartment house were questioned.
Design/methodology/approach
Balcony performance dimensions and components, which were revealed based on the studies conducted, were analyzed with questions directed to the individuals living in the apartment (one person every flat). In the research in which behavioral and functional performance is questioned through users, the survey method was used and the data were analyzed in the Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) program. Apart from the performance dimensions, data on the characteristics of the balconies were also obtained from the answers of the users.
Findings
The use of balconies has increased during the pandemic process and has become more important in apartments. The size of the balcony is related to the size of the house. The functional performance of the balcony is linked to the size of the balcony, behavioral and environmental values. The balcony should be large enough to accommodate equipment for daily activities, the proximity to the surrounding buildings, view, noise affect the performance of the balcony.
Research limitations/implications
The research is limited to the questionnaire applied to apartment users in Konya (Turkey) city center. Male and female users participated in the study, and the use of the balcony was questioned.
Practical implications
Apartment design includes results that contribute to architects regarding the location and use of the balcony. It also includes the results that can be evaluated by local governments in terms of binding rules on balconies in zoning regulations.
Social implications
The balcony is one of the rooms of the house, which is mainly designed in connection with the kitchen and living room / living room and shared by the household. The balcony is used as a socializing place for the common actions of the house users. This space that opens to the outside is valuable in terms of providing communication with people outside.
Originality/value
The fact that no study has been conducted to question the use of the balcony over the user makes this study valuable. In addition, questioning the use of the balcony during the pandemic process is important in terms of revealing the importance of the need for open space in an apartment. The results will contribute to architects and local administrations in terms of binding rules in design regarding the location of the balcony in the house.
This study analyzed the building energy performance of apartment buildings using retrofit systems with phase change materials (PCMs). The apartment type, building orientation, and height are ...considered to evaluate the implementation of an innovative PCM system. The building models selected were a flat-type apartment and tower-type apartment. According to the results, building orientation, height floor, and climate factors have a complex correlation with each other. Depending on the solar characteristics, solar altitude, solar time, wind direction, and wind speed, the suitable Building orientation and height for energy reduction of buildings vary. Such parameters also affect to the suitable PCM application for energy savings. As a result, PCMs of 20 °C and 26 °C showed to be suitable for the flat-type apartments with a southward orientation a westward orientation, respectively. Tower-type apartment with eastward and southward orientation showed the highest energy saving with PCM of 24 °C; the units with westward and northward orientation showed the highest energy reduction at 23 °C. Since the PCM efficiency for the energy savings are different depending on building orientations, heights, and climate factors, such variables are necessary to consider for the PCM application to the apartment building.
•Retrofit of apartment buildings is required for energy savings in building sector.•Building orientation, height, and climatic factors influenced the PCM efficiency.•PCMs melting at 23 and 24 °C were suitable for energy saving in tower-type apartments.•PCMs melting at 20 and 26 °C were suitable for energy saving in flat-type apartments.•Different approaches with multiple variables needed for optimizing PCM efficiency.
Abstract
The article briefly discusses the problems of heat energy metering in an apartment building. We mention the main types of metering devices, including heat cost allocators of different kinds. ...We describe the problems of thermal energy metering in a heating system with vertical heating contour. Also, we indicate the possibility of using the methods of mathematical physics for heat energy metering.
Apartman konusunun incelenmesi; dönemin mimarlık anlayışı, yaşam kurgusu ve teknolojisi üzerine bilgi edinmeye kaynaklık etmektedir. İstanbul özelinde apartman yapılarının incelenmesinin amacı, ilk ...apartman örneklerini barındırması ve tarihsel süreklilikte yapılardaki değişimin izlerini aramaya kaynaklık etmesidir. Dört bölümden oluşan makalenin birinci bölümünde apartmanın tanımı yapılmış, Dünya’da ortaya çıkışı incelenmiş ve önemli örneklerine yer verilmiştir. İkinci bölümde İstanbul özelinde Galata ve Pera’da ortaya çıkıp gelişim gösteren apartman tipi yerleşimler üzerinde durulmuştur. Üçüncü bölümde ise İstanbul’da apartmanın gelişim süreci; Mısır, Ceylan ve NoXX Apartmanları ele alınarak incelenmiştir. Dördüncü bölümde ise ele alınan yapıların plan ve cepheleri karşılaştırılmış, tarihsel süreklilikte apartman yapılarının değişimi anlaşılmaya çalışılmış ve üç dönem yapısının hem plan hem de cephe kurgusunda farklılaşmalar gözlenmiştir.
Bioaerosol concentrations in residential buildings located in the Northeastern US have not been widely studied. Here, in 2011‐2015, we studied the presence and seasonal variability of culturable ...fungi and bacteria in three multi‐family apartment buildings and correlated the bioaerosol concentrations with building ventilation system types and environmental parameters. A total of 409 indoor and 86 outdoor samples were taken. Eighty‐five percent of investigated apartments had indoor‐outdoor (I/O) ratios of culturable fungi below 1, suggesting minimal indoor sources of fungi. In contrast, 56% of the apartments had I/O ratios for culturable bacteria above 1, indicating the prominence of indoor sources of bacteria. Culturable fungi I/O ratios in apartments serviced by central heating, ventilation, and air‐conditioning (HVAC) system were lower than those in apartments with window AC. The type of ventilation system did not have a significant effect on the presence of indoor culturable bacteria. A significant positive association was determined between indoor dew point (DP) levels and indoor culturable fungi (P < .001) and bacteria (P < .001), regardless of ventilation type. Also, residents in apartments with central HVAC did not experience extreme DP values. We conclude that building ventilation systems, seasonality, and indoor sources are major factors affecting indoor bioaerosol levels in residential buildings.
To date, the existing literature lacks any studies that compare timber and concrete apartment buildings in the Finnish context regarding their carbon footprint, handprint, and the cost of frame ...structures. This study rigorously analyzes and calculates the carbon footprint, carbon handprint, and costs associated with various structural solutions in a proposed multi-story building located in Laajasalo, Helsinki, Finland. While the primary focus is on wooden frame construction, exploring both its challenges and opportunities, this study also includes a comparative assessment with concrete frame construction. In Finland, regulations require a sprinkler fire extinguishing system to be installed inside. Also, weather protection is typically added to the top of building in connection with the construction of wooden apartment buildings. When the costs of a sprinkler system and weather protection are taken into account, the cost of achieving positive climate effects through a concrete frame is 290% higher than that of a solid wood frame. Our findings will provide a robust basis for assessing the sustainability and feasibility of construction methods, offering valuable insights into environmental and economic considerations for decision-makers in Finland and beyond as regulations evolve and awareness of climate impacts grows.
This article evaluates whether Airbnb rentals affect the rents in the private rental sector in eight cities in France. We estimate a hedonic equation for each city on individual data for apartments, ...allowing for heteroscedasticity and spatial error autocorrelation of unknown forms and using a large variety of structural and contextual characteristics of the apartments. We show that the density of Airbnb rentals puts upward pressure on rents in Lyon, Montpellier, and Paris, whereas it has no significant effect in other cities. If we restrict the analysis to the professional business of Airbnb rentals, which we define as the lodgings owned by an investor who rents either several “entire home” dwellings (regardless of the number of days) or an “entire home” dwelling for more than 120 days a year, we find a greater effect, which concerns only the two largest cities of France, that is, Marseille and Paris. When we focus on new tenancy agreements, the impact is even higher and concerns Paris, Marseille, and Montpellier. The impact of the Airbnb activity on rents is shown to increase with the proportion of owner-occupiers and decrease with hotel density, both in Montpellier and Paris. However, the share of second homes leads to contrasting effects.
This article estimates the effect of vertical segregation - across floors of apartment buildings - on educational attainment in the metropolitan area of Athens. This context offers an opportunity to ...evaluate and discuss the complementarity between horizontal segregation (across neighbourhoods) and vertical segregation. Using census microdata, we observe that the share of individuals dropping out of school early is much higher for young residents of disadvantageous lower-floor apartments than for those living in upper floors. This gap remains significant after controlling for all relevant personal, household, and neighbourhood characteristics. This result suggests an effect of vertical segregation on educational outcomes in addition to neighbourhood effects and individuals' socio-economic status. Moreover, the findings of this article corroborate the claim that the target for public policies to increase social mix is not enough to address inequalities at the local level.
To date, in the literature, there has been no study on the comparison of hybrid (timber and concrete) buildings with counterparts made of timber and concrete as the most common construction ...materials, in terms of the life cycle assessment (LCA) and the carbon footprint. This paper examines the environmental impacts of a five-story hybrid apartment building compared to timber and reinforced concrete counterparts in whole-building life-cycle assessment using the software tool, One Click LCA, for the estimation of environmental impacts from building materials of assemblies, construction, and building end-of-life treatment of 50 years in Finland. Following EN 15978, stages of product and construction (A1-A5), use (B1-B6), end-of-life (C1-C4), and beyond the building life cycle (D) were assessed. The main findings highlighted are as following: (1) for A1-A3, the timber apartment had the smallest carbon footprint (28% less than the hybrid apartment); (2) in A4, the timber apartment had a much smaller carbon footprint (55% less than the hybrid apartment), and the hybrid apartment had a smaller carbon footprint (19%) than the concrete apartment; (3) for B1-B5, the carbon footprint of the timber apartment was larger (>20%); (4) in C1-C4, the carbon footprint of the concrete apartment had the lowest emissions (35,061 kg CO
-e), and the timber apartment had the highest (44,627 kg CO
-e), but in D, timber became the most advantageous material; (5) the share of life-cycle emissions from building services was very significant. Considering the environmental performance of hybrid construction as well as its other advantages over timber, wood-based hybrid solutions can lead to more rational use of wood, encouraging the development of more efficient buildings. In the long run, this will result in a higher proportion of wood in buildings, which will be beneficial for living conditions, the environment, and the society in general.
NW REAL DEALS A Minnesota real estate company bought the Ozark Villas apartment complex in Fayetteville for $39 million. Springdale Shaver Street Warehouse LLC, led by John D. Harkey Jr. of Dallas, ...bought the Shaver Street building. The property is the home of MWI Animal Health, a veterinary supply company.
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