MSc Sustainable Environmental Design

Proposed Final Project Synopsis

Evaluation of user satisfaction with respect to environmental

parameters in selected residential apartments of Pakistan
Housing Authority, Islamabad.

Student Name: Rao Ali Shair

Roll No: BR564859
Supervisor: Ar. Omer Shujat Bhatti (Research Associate)
(Department of ED,H&NS, AIOU)

Department of Environmental Design, Health & Nutritional Sciences,

Allama Iqbal Open University
December, 2019
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Table of Contents
1. Title.......................................................................................................................................... 3
2. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 3
3. Problem Statement ................................................................................................................... 3
4. Objectives of the Study............................................................................................................ 3
5. Research Questions of the Study ............................................................................................. 4
6. Research Rationale .................................................................................................................. 4
7. Research Significance.............................................................................................................. 4
8. Research Methodology ............................................................................................................ 5
8.1 Literature Review (Secondary Data) ..................................................................................... 5
8.2 Documentation of existing design (Secondary Data) ............................................................ 5
8.3 Data collection from the Occupants (Primary Data) ........................................................ 5
8.4 Data Analysis ................................................................................................................... 5
8.5 Conclusions, Recommendations, Suggestions ................................................................. 5
9. Research Delimitations ............................................................................................................ 6
10. References ............................................................................................................................ 6

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 1. Title: Evaluation of user satisfaction with respect to environmental parameters in
selected residential apartments of Pakistan Housing Authority, Islamabad.

2. Introduction
Pakistan is highest populated developing country of the world. With rise in urbanization and
rapidly growing population, the need for housing has increased multiple times in the recent
timeline. Pakistan Housing Authority (PHA) has been a key player in the existing situation to
address the issue through designing and executing housing projects al across the Pakistan. These
projects have been taken up by the population as blessing in the recent times due to poor socio-
economic conditions, high cost of living, scarcity of land, poor hygiene conditions, etc. Though
these have been a major source of housing sector resolution by the governing bodies, yet these
apartments have not been able to identify the sustainable future needs of the people and hence
lack any evaluation of people occupying these apartments. Existing research aims to explore this
gap through occupants evaluation of these selected apartments in city of Islamabad with respect
to environmental considerations. The research would act as line of direction for future project
with focusing on environmental improvements and people future needs.

3. Problem Statement
Pakistan Housing Authority (PHA) is one of the major housing sector organization
developing public housing in different cities at large. With their projects occupied by people all
across Pakistan, housing projects are extensively developed. But due to lack of devised
protocols and limited resources, post occupancy evaluation has not been done. There is a need to
evaluate the occupants level of satisfaction with these apartments with respect to environmental
aspects so that future projects can be made as per the future needs of the people to keep them
sustainable.

4. Objectives of the Study

Following are the major research objectives of the study:
1. To evaluate the existing design of the constructed PHA apartments in Islamabad towards
environmental parameters of thermal comfort, air quality, lighting, noise and overall
cleanliness.

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 2. To evaluate the apartments occupants perception about these environmental parameters.
3. To explore the design interventions for the future projects to keep up with the needs of
the future occupants to make these apartments sustainable.

5. Research Questions of the Study

Following are the major research questions of the research study:
1. What is the existing design of constructed PHA apartments with respect to people’s need
and environmental aspects?
2. Which major environmental aspects are hurdles towards occupants environmental
satisfaction?
3. Which design interventions could best resolve these concerns identified through
environmental design considerations?

6. Research Rationale
With lack of occupants evaluation towards environmental satisfaction in housing and
apartments sector in Islamabad, there is a need to explore the gap through existing
documentation and evaluation of people level of satisfaction with these housing apartments
towards environmental aspects. Without such an evaluation, the future needs of the occupants
and existing issues cannot be documented and will be repeated in the future design projects
without consideration for the people needs to make these apartments sustainable.

7. Research Significance
The research exploration will contribute towards better understanding of the existing level of
people satisfaction with PHA apartments and which environmental variables are causing lack of
satisfaction amongst the people. The research will opt for the documentation of the existing
issues and would pave way for the future design improvements to make these sustainable for
future usage.

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 8. Research Methodology
8.1 Literature Review (Secondary Data):

With the help of review of literature through published books, journals, articles, reports and
data, etc, research will identify similar projects and their research methodology to identify major
research variables related to evaluation for environment with respect to occupants in apartments.
Hence the overall research methodology and research design along with data collection tools will
be defined and further research will be carried on.

8.2 Documentation of existing design (Secondary Data):

Existing design of the selected apartments through their architectural design and its
context would be documented. They will be explored with respect to the existing climate and
conditions of the city and how far they have been able to address the issues of environmental
aspects through proper architectural design to enable better usage and occupancy by the people.

8.3 Data collection from the Occupants (Primary Data) :

With the help of literature reviewed, identified variables and tools for data collection defined,
occupants will be included in the process through data collection using questionnaire optimizing
end user level of satisfaction with these apartments with respect to environmental considerations.

8.4 Data Analysis:

With the help of primary and secondary collected data and their analysis towards
understanding the gaps identified, major issues and problems will be highlighted and explored
with respect to the root causes of these issues.

8.5 Conclusions, Recommendations, Suggestions:

With the help of data analysis and any proposed guidance from the occupants trying to
address the identified issues, research exploration will develop conclusions, recommendations
and suggestions for the future design of the apartments.

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 9. Research Delimitations
Following are the major delimitations of the research exploration:
1. Only selected areas of housing apartments would be explored for the collection of data
and for research purpose.
2. People engaged would be taken prior permission to gather data.
3. Photographs will be taken once allowed after permission.

10. References