Page 62 - JCAU-5-4

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Housing satisfaction with apartments in Henan

industrialization, numerous high-rise apartments have been conducted through residential satisfaction surveys
been made available. Consequently, the proportion of to identify areas for improvement. As a result, apartments
apartments in Henan Province now stands at 61.6%. This have continued to evolve and progress. In China, an
surge in apartment supply has prompted residents to annual residential satisfaction survey, encompassing 10
consider moving to new areas and choosing these newly key indicators, is carried out to improve the quality of
supplied apartments as their preferred places of residence. apartments. However, it was reported that in 2021, for
In the future, with the rapid urbanization and economic the first time since 2018, residential satisfaction with
development not only in Henan Province but also in cities apartments across China had declined. The finding
across China, there is an anticipated significant increase in suggests a pressing need to address issues related to housing
the demand for new urban housing. The demand for new quality and real estate services, such as improvements in
housing among urban households has already risen from the maintenance of newly delivered facilities and service
8.9% in 2000 to 21.7% in 2010 (China Government Network, delivery (China Quality News Network, 2022).
2021). Furthermore, the United Nations projects that urban When evaluating residential satisfaction in apartments
expansion and the demand for new housing will continue to located in Henan Province, China, it is essential to take into
accelerate. Henan Province, much like other cities in China, account the management aspect. Despite the surplus of
is expected to align with this prevailing trend, remaining on apartment supply, there is a dearth of research focused on
the course of urbanization and housing demand growth. residential satisfaction. To enhance the quality of apartments
The supply of apartment housing has significantly in Henan Province, particularly by incorporating factors
contributed to alleviating housing shortages in Henan related to facility maintenance and management services,
Province, supporting population migration as the one can theoretically establish evaluation criteria based on
city develops (Yang, 2022). In addition, by providing the satisfaction assessment model proposed by Preiser et al.
apartments in various sizes, the living space and living (1988). This approach can help identify areas with lower
conditions per capita for urban households have satisfaction ratings and subsequently address them, thereby
significantly improved. However, apartments in Henan contributing to the maintenance of apartment quality and
Province tend to cater more to common demands rather preventing a decline in the performance level and real estate
than accommodating individual resident preferences. This value of apartments in Henan province.
underscores the importance of soliciting feedback from Therefore, in this study, POE was conducted through
residents to enhance the quality of apartment housing. resident assessments of existing apartments, with a specific
Gathering user evaluation feedback and exploring avenues focus on Henan Province, a region characterized by a
for improvement are imperative in ensuring the continued substantial population and ongoing rapid urbanization.
supply of high-quality apartment housing. The aim of the study is to identify areas for improvement
The process of gathering feedback from residents or in the apartments that have already been supplied, with the
users is academically known as post-occupancy evaluation anticipation of continued apartment supply in the future.
(POE). POE involves diagnosing and evaluating the The objectives of the present study are as follows:
quality of the living environment from the perspective of (i) The study aims to develop and verify a housing
residents after a certain period of using the physical space. satisfaction measurement tool capable of evaluating
The evaluation results are subsequently utilized in the the post-occupancy experiences of residents in
planning process for the development of future physical Chinese condominium apartments within Henan
spaces to create optimal living environments. Preiser Province.
et al. (1988) proposed a comprehensive set of evaluation (ii) The study seeks to measure and analyze housing
elements for this purpose, encompassing technical aspects satisfaction among apartment residents in Henan
(fire safety, structure, hygiene and ventilation, electrical Province, China, with the goal of understanding the
systems, exterior walls, roofs, interior finishes, acoustics, current state of their housing satisfaction. In addition,
lighting, and environmental control systems), functional the study aims to identify the effects of the sub-factors
aspects (human factors, storage spaces, communication that comprise the housing construct on their overall
and workflow, flexibility, and adaptability), and housing satisfaction and their inclination toward
behavioral aspects (proximity and territoriality, privacy housing movement.
and interaction, environmental perception, image and (iii) By identifying factors associated with the overall
meaning, environmental cognition, and orientation) (Oh housing satisfaction related to residents’ socio-
& Yang, 2011). Drawing upon Presier et al.’s perspective of demographic general characteristics or housing
POE, in South Korea, apartment housing evaluation has characteristics, the study aims to provide valuable

Volume 5 Issue 4 (2023) 2 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.1079