A Study on the Planning and Use of Common Space in Private Rental Apartments in Okinawa, Japan

Abstract

This study aims to clarify the plan and use of common space in private rental apartments in Okinawa, Japan. The study covers the establishment of pilotis and non-pilotis style apartments by site area, the types of common spaces, and the use and evaluation of common spaces. To accomplish this, architectural drawings of 110 private rental apartments and a questionnaire sent to residents are fully analyzed. The results are as follows. First, the establishment of pilotis or non-pilotis style buildings is influenced by the site area and existence of exterior space. Pilotis style apartments without exterior space tend to be built on small sites. Next, common space is classified into four groups by building type and location of space: no common space (NCS), pilotis space only (PSO), shared pilotis space and exterior space (PSES) and exterior space only (ESO). Pilotis space is substituted for exterior space in non-pilotis style apartments and in common space shared pilotis space and exterior space, pilotis space supports exterior space functionally. Third, the main function of common space is for parking. Finally, according to the result of the evaluation of common space, PSO residents regard parking positively and the environment negatively, PSES residents regard parking neutrally and the environment positively, and ESO residents regard parking negatively and the environment neutrally.