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Housing Buildings, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Nis , Niš , Serbia
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Housing Buildings, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Nis , Niš , Serbia
Housing Buildings, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Nis , Niš , Serbia
Housing is not only a physical structure, but also a process that has an important function in the lives of individuals. Do-it-yourself (DIY) concept in multi-family residential architecture involves apartment users conceptualizing, planning and executing a range of activities related to functional, structural, energy, aesthetic, or other home improvements. Apartments that have been improved by their residents have a greater use value because they express their specific needs. Such housing gives residents a stronger sense of belonging. Alterations of the apartments do not necessarily mean dissatisfaction of the occupants. Instead, it could show how people would like to make their home unique. This paper uses the case of Niš, Serbia to analyze patterns of home-related DIY activities in multi-family housing architecture. By observing the exterior of multi-family apartment buildings throughout the city of Niš, different forms and levels of DIY activities of the occupants were identified, from the smallest, visual and aesthetic ones to the more significant ones, which included more complex functional alterations. They were classified into eight groups: balcony/loggia glazing, creating a private open space, construction of a canopy, opening the entrance from public area, window replacement, installing sun shading, installing safety protection on windows and private open spaces, and painting activities on the façade. Although it is undeniable that the originality of architectural design is diminished by involving users in architectural shaping and aesthetics, the residential environment gains a personal touch. On the other hand, too many individual interventions can lead to the so-called visual pollution, which is reflected in the devastation and degradation of the architectural environment. To avoid significant changes and degradation of the appearance of an apartment building during the use phase and to protect the architect's original idea and design, certain regulatory and technical guidelines and restrictions should be introduced.
Do-it-yourself Activity, Multi-family Apartment Building, Originality, Individualization, Visual Pollution
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