Towards Sustainable Development of the City: Floor Plan Evaluation Methods for Adaptable Building Design

School of Design, Universiti Teknologi Brunei, BE1410 Brunei Darussalam

^* Corresponding author: zulkefle.ismail@utb.edu.bn

Abstract

Rapid social changes have highlighted the importance of housing flexibility and adaptability in ensuring sustainable living environments. This study addresses the problem of inflexible housing and the limited interaction between architects and users. It proposes a new evaluation framework for adaptable housing design, focusing on floor plan flexibility. Social and functional needs are identified as central to modern housing. The right to equality and self-system of value within the physical framework of the house represent a material aspect of socially responsible acting and the measure of a social sustainability of the environment. The method applies subjective evaluation of floor plans based on key factors that affect design flexibility. Data obtained from literature and project reviews are classified into direct and indirect factors such as user satisfaction and activity level. Findings confirm four direct factors - Form, Space, Technical Defects, and User Satisfaction - as critical to adaptability. The main contribution of this study is the development of an evaluation framework that can generate a Performance Index for Satisfaction and validate adaptable housing design models. This framework offers a structured method for assessing flexibility in housing, contributing to sustainable housing design.