HOW EMPTY NESTERS APPRECIATE THE SHARED USE OF COMMON DWELLING SPACES IN THEIR CONDOMINIUMS

Abstract

This study seeks to identify housing design needs among elderly couple households by examining how empty nesters suffer from an incompatibility between their daily activities and the dwelling space in their condominiums and by tracing how they adjust their space use over time. To this end, an online survey was conducted with the target households classified according to the number of years that had elapsed since their children had left home. The survey findings demonstrate the formation of personal territories by both spouses in parallel with their keen appreciation of the shared use of common dwelling spaces including living room.