The number of one-person households has increased rapidly owing to practical values, individualism and late marriage. Such tendencies are expected to go on. As such, living alone is no longer exceptional or special these days. Accordingly, more attent...
The number of one-person households has increased rapidly owing to practical values, individualism and late marriage. Such tendencies are expected to go on. As such, living alone is no longer exceptional or special these days. Accordingly, more attention need be paid to one-person households. Yet, support or housing policy for financially disadvantaged one-person households is insufficient.
This study attempts to present directions for housing planning through residential environmental assessment by analyzing statistical data and results of questionnaire survey on one-person households in Pusan.
The analysis has found the following:
One-person households in Busan are distributed around CBD area, universities and metro lines as in Seoul. The density of single-person households is high in areas where residential and non-residential housings are mixed, far from pleasant residential environment. The cluster analysis on areas where single-person households account for over 50% results in five types of area: the central district area, subway area, university area, factory area and dormitory.
Older single persons tend to live in apartment houses and office-tel buildings, so do the highly educated ones. A high proportion of youths in their 20s whose financial base is weak pay monthly rents or lump-sum deposits, while home ownership increases among those who are in their 30s.
Income and occupant space are positively correlated. As for traffic, residential satisfaction level is relatively low. The younger the age of respondents, the higher the satisfaction level. Particularly, western district shows a relatively lower satisfaction level, and except the proximity to schools and workplace, other factors are not statistically significant. The lower the educational background, the lower the overall satisfaction level.
Respondents prefer Haewoondaigu and Pusanjingu as residential areas to other districts mainly for traffic convenience and proximity to schools and workplace. Office-tel buildings and apartment houses are preferred residential types to other housings, indicating one-person households value convenience of living.
In terms of factors to be considered in housing supply for one-person households, respondents view that welfare facilities, rest zones and green landscape facilities should be taken into further consideration. Youths in their 20s show higher level of importance in each factor compared to other age groups. The more highly educated the respondents are, the more they value the importance of each factor.
The results of IPA (Importance Performance Analysis) according to factor showed that people in their twenties consider housing price, internal structure and housing facilities, parking spaces, rest spaces, and protection of individual privacy categories that need major improvements. People in their thirties picked out convenience facilities, education facilities, medical facilities, welfare facilities and sports facilities as areas that require focused improvements, while people in their forties selected housing size, natural environment and medical facilities, and people in their fifties picked out housing size, natural environment, welfare facilities, and greenery and landscape.
Based on the findings here, the following directions for housing plan for one-person households are suggested here.
First, housing supply need be based on accurate market demand, which differs depending on age groups, districts and educational backgrounds.
Second, residential environment needs developing by taking into account safety, health and amenities as well as convenience. In particular, safety is important for females.
Third, current urban-type living housing needs improving by making up for unfavorable aspects.
Lastly, macroscopic perspectives considering demographic structural changes need be taken to approach one-person households. As the process of their decision making on residential location may become important in urban planning, relevant studies are necessary.