2002 Volume 53 Issue 1 Pages 43-56
The aim of this study is to investigate problems on storage in the dwelling style as well as the storage plan for the living and dining rooms combined (LD), on the basis of analysis of how things are actually stored, how residence is viewed and felt by dwellers, and how they live. The residents under study live in apartment houses that include LD of larger than 12 tatami in ten different areas.
The results are as follows :
1) In accordance with varied living activities, a wide variety of living articles are stored in LD, including information-related articles such as books, documents, video tapes and CDs. They are often left in LD and not stored in any specific space, the fact of which would often make residents feel the room is untidy.
2) Forty percent of residents note that their storage space is short, while 65% complain that they have no storage space for the information related articles such as newspapers, magazines, documents, tapes, and disks. Moreover, 40% of residents find it hard to locate the items they need. They certainly need some specific space to store these items.
3) Residents may be classified into four different types as regards storing; (I) Neat and tidy type who keep small things tidily stored, (II) Classification type who keep many different articles classified and stored, (III) Classification-free type who leave things as they are, and (IV) Accumulation type who just keep things.
4) Documents, disks and any other small articles should be stored in a scientific way. Otherwise, confusion would result. Types III and IV are naturally problem-ridden.
5) Use of drawers is recommended for all residents including types III and IV.
6) The storage space in LD should include the specific shelves for storage of information-related articles such as newspapers and magazines and the specific drawers for other small articles. In conclusion, LD should compartmentalized for keeping things.
