[Dense, Subtropical, Sustainable] the Liveable Multi-Storey Apartment Building
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[DENSE, SUBTROPICAL, SUSTAINABLE] THE LIVEABLE MULTI-STOREY APARTMENT BUILDING Rosemary Kennedy BDesSt. BArch(Hons) UQld GradCert(EnvMan) UQld Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Centre for Subtropical Design Creative Industries Faculty Queensland University of Technology June 2015 Keywords Architecture, apartments, apartment buildings, acoustics, air quality, air- conditioning, balconies, charrette, climate, climate-responsive design, crisis, daylight, density, dwelling, energy, energy efficiency, housing, greenhouse gas emissions, liveability, multi-storey apartment building, neighbourhood, noise, post- occupancy evaluation, privacy, private open space, renewable energy technology, residents, resident perceptions, residential environment, resilience, satisfaction, satisficing, subtropical, sustainability, thermal comfort, typology, urban consolidation, ventilation [Dense, subtropical, sustainable] The liveable multi-storey apartment building i Abstract This study positions private-sector multi-storey apartment buildings (MSABs) in Australia’s subtropical cities within the context of urban sustainability and identifies the conundrums associated with the suitability and acceptance of apartment buildings as a housing type in this mix. Not only is the MSAB inherently energy-intensive, but Australian residents have expressed a reluctance to transition permanently to apartment living. Unless apartment living becomes a far more attractive proposition for residents, and apartment buildings far less CO2 intensive, then apartment developments will remain incongruous elements of the 21st Century city. While many researchers have investigated the relationship between urban consolidation, density and housing form in terms of overall urban energy consumption of the contemporary Australian city, relatively little is known about the social, cultural, economic and environmental “fit” of MSABs, and particularly the dwellings within them, with the lifestyle expectations of residents of Australia’s subtropical humid settlements. In order to explore the potential for apartment buildings and apartment living to become more socially and environmentally acceptable in Australian society generally, and in the subtropics particularly, I addressed this gap in knowledge through the research question: What are the key factors in building design that impact residents of buildings in a subtropical context? This research offers a unique mixed methods approach that is situated within a conceptual framework regarding architectural design quality and fitness-for-purpose. “Fitness for purpose” is conceptualised as “liveability”, which is explored through the theory of place and user satisfaction and climate-responsive design. A number of methodological tools are used including a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews with residents, a design-led charrette to elicit expert designers’ responses ii [Dense, subtropical, sustainable] The liveable multi-storey apartment building to resident-identified liveability attributes, and an instrumental case study of trends in MSAB design in Brisbane over five decades. The overarching aim of this study is to create new knowledge about the design directions or changes to the MSAB typology that are needed and can be implemented to deliver apartment buildings that people can call home for longer, and that provide the basis for sustainable residential building stock to meet the future post-carbon context. The challenges of resolving incongruities between residents’ preferred attributes and other stakeholders’ main interests (such as regulatory authorities and property developers) in the design process were investigated. Four themes were found to impact negatively upon residents’ experiences of liveability in apartment buildings: 1. Design problems are solved with electricity rather than with a holistic architectural knowledge-based approach, causing higher energy use than necessary or desirable in a climate that residents acknowledge requires little energy input for human comfort. 2. Stakeholders in every category (including residents and designers) settle for adequate rather than optimal solutions, normalising acceptance of poor design of MSABs as residential environments. 3. Technology-focussed strategies to lower emissions of apartment housing, such as alternative energy sources, do not address systemic problems of energy-centred design. 4. Urban form, sustainability and the ‘fit’ of multi-storey apartment buildings in Brisbane depends on a focus on subtropical lifestyle values. The explanation of the interrelationships between these themes and societal implications are significant and contributes new knowledge in the transdisciplinary fields of architecture, urban planning, and property development. The thesis concludes by posing pragmatic recommendations for overcoming these systemic failures. The outcomes have the potential to radically reshape lifestyle expectations and design practice as society moves toward a post-carbon future. The findings and insights stemming from this research may assist the designers, regulators, developers [Dense, subtropical, sustainable] The liveable multi-storey apartment building iii and financiers involved in developing multi-storey apartment buildings to deliver residential environments that improve residents’ quality of life. iv [Dense, subtropical, sustainable] The liveable multi-storey apartment building Table of Contents Keywords .................................................................................................................................................i Abstract .................................................................................................................................................. ii Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................... v List of Figures ..................................................................................................................................... viii List of Tables .........................................................................................................................................ix List of Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................... x Statement of Original Authorship ..........................................................................................................xi Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................. xii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background .................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Multi-storey apartments in Brisbane ............................................................................................ 2 1.3 Acceptance of high-density living and apartment buildings ........................................................ 4 1.4 Elements of the residential environment ...................................................................................... 5 1.5 Research problem, research question and scope .......................................................................... 6 1.6 The theoretical framework ........................................................................................................... 9 1.7 Research aims and objectives .................................................................................................... 10 1.8 Significance of the research ....................................................................................................... 11 1.9 Research methods ...................................................................................................................... 13 1.10 Overview of published papers .................................................................................................... 14 1.10.1 Summary of research papers ........................................................................................... 14 1.11 Key terms ................................................................................................................................... 18 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................................................... 21 2.1 THE MULTI-STOREY APARTMENT BUILDING ................................................................ 22 2.1.1 Building form ................................................................................................................. 22 2.1.2 Double-loaded corridor type ........................................................................................... 23 2.1.3 Single-loaded corridor type ............................................................................................ 27 2.1.4 Point access type ............................................................................................................. 29 2.1.5 Homogeneity and the uptake of air-conditioning for indoor climate comfort ................ 29 2.2 THE EFFECT OF REGULATIONS ON BUILDING FORM AND LAYOUT AND ENERGY INTENSITY OF MSABs ........................................................................................................... 30 2.3 RESIDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF