Sanja Nikolić

This study develops and applies a complementary geometric model for examining one specific property of dwelling plans: the distribution of dwelling area in relation to entrance position. The literature review shows that existing spatial efficiency indicators predominantly measure area-based or organisational relationships, while spatial accessibility in relation to the entrance is rarely quantified systematically in geometric terms. The study aims to address this methodological gap by developing and operationalising the Radial Accessibility Model and the corresponding Radial Accessibility Index (RAI) as an area-normalised geometric indicator, and by examining whether RAI differentiates among selected entrance–boundary configurations and responds to controlled changes in entrance position. The methodology comprises the construction of circular or semicircular reference zones equivalent to the dwelling area, the identification of radial overlap and non-overlap zones, and the calculation of RAI values. The model is applied to a typologically controlled sample of twenty dwelling plans from multi-family residential buildings, classified into four categories according to entrance position. The sample predominantly comprises Serbian cases, together with selected examples from Switzerland, the Netherlands, Greece, and Mexico. A preliminary sensitivity test additionally examines controlled entrance displacement while dwelling area and boundary geometry remain constant. The results reveal descriptive differences within the analysed sample: configurations with entrances positioned at the midpoint of an external side or in a centrally recessed position exhibit the highest mean RAI values, whereas external- and internal-corner entrance configurations generally exhibit lower values, particularly when combined with elongated, concave, or morphologically irregular dwelling boundaries. The observed patterns indicate an association between entrance–boundary configuration and the distribution of entrance-based radial accessibility potential within the analysed cases. Overall, the model enables consistent quantitative comparison of this entrance-centred geometric property and is intended to complement, rather than replace, functional, configurational, movement-based, and visibility-based analyses of dwelling plans.

In contemporary multi-family housing construction, the structural grid is often influenced or conditionally determined by the dimensional logic of underground parking garages. When transferred to above-ground storeys, it directly defines façade frontage, building depth, and possibilities for apartment organisation. Previous research has mostly examined housing typology, dimensional standards, and structural systems as separate domains, while the influence of parking-derived structural grids has not been systematically analysed within a unified framework. This paper applies an analytical-comparative approach, comparing typical structural grids derived from parking modules with the minimum façade frontages required for different apartment types. The method includes identifying characteristic grid dimensions, defining minimum façade frontages based on normatively prescribed room widths, calculating deviations between required and available dimensions, and analysing individual and combined apartment units according to the criterion of minimal positive deviation, within the Serbian regulatory framework. The results show that the structural grid is a relevant factor in apartment organisation and typological structure. Certain grids enable more rational layouts with minimal spatial adjustments, while others generate dimensional surplus, excessive depth, or typological constraints. The study establishes a link between parking modules, structural grids, and apartment organisation, and proposes an analytical framework for evaluating their dimensional compatibility in multi-family housing design.

This paper presents the results of an empirical study examining residents’ perceptions of contemporary dwellings in Serbia, with a focus on spatial organization, comfort, and everyday usability. An online survey conducted in October 2025 was structured into four thematic sections: demographic characteristics, dwelling attributes, housing quality assessment, and subjective spatial experience. The study is based on the hypothesis that apartments built during the socialist period are perceived as spatially and functionally superior to recently constructed housing. The results indicate a pronounced user preference for dwellings built between 1975 and 1990, particularly in terms of functional layout, kitchen daylighting, storage capacity, and spatial adaptability, despite their technical obsolescence and lower energy performance. By highlighting the relationship between spatial characteristics and user satisfaction, the findings contribute to a better understanding of everyday housing experience and provide a basis for informing architectural design and housing policy grounded in user needs rather than exclusively market- or norm-driven criteria.

Natural lighting is a key factor in the organisation of residential space, influencing visual comfort, psychological well-being, and energy efficiency. This paper analyses spatial configurations of apartments in Serbia, focusing on the retreat of residential rooms, particularly kitchens, into interior zones lacking direct access to natural light. During the period of directed housing development, this principle was part of experimental architectural strategies aimed at spatial optimisation and flexibility. Today, however, it predominantly stems from investor-driven models prioritising economic profitability over housing quality. The research methodology involves a comparative analysis of floor plans from different periods, with special attention to lighting strategies for interior rooms. Findings highlight the dominance of layouts where kitchens are recessed behind dining and living spaces, often leading to reduced lighting and ventilation quality. The paper identifies architectural strategies, such as skylights, internal windows, and flexible partitions, to improve daylighting in compact residential units. The results contribute to understanding contemporary trends and propose guidelines for enhancing living quality in apartments where natural light is limited.

Purpose: The concept of an open floor plan has become ubiquitous in modern residential design and is often associated with optimizing usable space and increasing spatial efficiency. However, one of the significant factors that has not been thoroughly explored in the context of the sustainability of open floor plans is the plan openness index, originally introduced in this research paper and defined as the ratio of open plan area to apartment gross area. Design/methodology/approach: The methodology focuses on analyzing the impact of the internal open-plan layout on the sustainability of residential spaces, utilizing the selection of 20 characteristic single-level residential spaces with varying interior design approaches, digitally drafted in AutoCAD software for area calculations and the plan openness index, followed by a comparative analysis. Findings: The conclusion of the study emphasizes that internal openness of the layout is defined by newly introduced parameters (plan openness index, degree of function integration, open plan expandability, unbuilt wall area) is crucial for the sustainability of residential spaces, enabling a more efficient flow of light, air, and energy, adaptability of space, reducing the ecological footprint and extending the lifespan of the dwelling, with higher levels of openness typically resulting in greater sustainability. Originality/value: This study introduces a novel approach to evaluating the sustainability of open floor plans by defining and applying new quantitative parameters. By systematically assessing their impact, the research provides a structured framework for optimizing residential layouts in terms of spatial efficiency, adaptability and resource conservation. These findings contribute to the broader discourse on sustainable housing design and offer a methodological foundation for future studies in this field.

The legibility of residential space pertains to the clarity and intelligibility of spatial organisation, facilitating intuitive navigation and an immediate grasp of spatial structure. Despite its significance, legibility remains an underexplored factor in residential design, particularly regarding its cognitive impact on users. This study investigates key determinants of legibility, including spatial layout, circulation patterns, lighting, and colour schemes. Through theoretical and empirical approaches, a literature review and case studies identify fundamental principles shaping residential legibility. Unlike previous studies, this research integrates both objective spatial cognition tests and subjective user perceptions, offering a more comprehensive understanding of legibility. The experimental component examines cognitive navigation and subjective perception, assessed via the recognition of a 3D interior from a 2D plan and bipolar rating scales. Participants explored regular and irregular layouts through animated simulations. Findings confirm that experts exhibit greater spatial recognition accuracy and that legibility is enhanced by spatial regularity and distinct colour schemes. However, lighting had no significant impact on subjective assessments, indicating that its role in perceived legibility may be overstated. These findings provide new insights into how spatial legibility affects cognitive processing, distinguishing this study from prior research and advancing practical design strategies for optimising residential environments.

Prediction of new ways of living is repeatedly used as unlimited inspiration for architectural design through history. Narrowing down the range of the research in order to understand the flux of historical ideas for future living, we focused on the design of domestic environments imagined for various future scenarios and challenges. The aim was to create a clearly cross-examined overview of projects of houses dating from 1927 to 2009 by extracting and defining their aims, strategies and imagined future scenarios. We endeavoured to present the breakthrough radical designs, but also a series of Japanese capsule drawings. The focus was on compact and transformable spaces. Speaking of the concept of ‘home of the future’, its breakthrough showed up as a result of the twentieth-century revolutions and wars, with the birth of new after-war societies and their new needs; as a result of industrial and technological revolutions and as a result of architects’ eternal intrigue for tomorrow. The birth of television had been defining our living spaces from 1940s until the arrival of internet overtook that role. The ‘press button’ fantasies induce creation of labour-saving designs, which is nowadays realized in fully auto-mated smart houses. The mobile houses marked 1960s and 1970s. However, the sci-fi imagination from the movies in the same period also directly inspired configuration of ‘smart’ houses. Dramatic growth of population throughout the whole twentieth century made various space-minimising and flexibility-maximising strategies. On the contrary, many alternative projects activate emotional and psychological realm through surreal, idyllic and natural and dreamy shapes in homes. After all, we can say that our contemporary notion of domesticity appears through self-sufficiency, mini living, nomadism and efficiency. The ‘future’ preoccupation triggered some meaningful exhibitions, articles and books that gave the overview for published projects within this topic.