Sustainable Housing Concept: A Theoretical Framework for Adaptable Design

School of Design, Universiti Teknologi Brunei, BE1410 Brunei Darussalam

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

Abstract

Sustainable housing, which can physically meet the changing needs of society in the long term, should be based on the concept of adaptability and the principle of free choice. Contemporary social conditions require a wide diversity of programmes in spatial user relationships, especially within the framework of the housing environment. The research in a certain way represents a method of assessing the interior flexibility of residential buildings and exploring the potential for its application in practice. The aim is to improve planning and design methodologies through the validation of adaptable housing models that will ultimately provide a functional and social sustainability for urban environments. The research framework, spatial aspects and flexibility assessment criteria outline the methodological procedures. The aspect of spatial adaptability is related to the architectural programming of the form and space of the housing plan. The evaluation criteria relate to spatial performances that indicate the degree of freedom achieved in the interior space. To evaluate housing needs, it is important to conduct research on user satisfaction. Using the survey results, general principles of adaptable housing design can be defined and proposed towards improving the quality and sustainability of housing in urban environments.