DESIGN APPROACHES FOR THE FORMATION OF PUBLIC SPACES IN MULTISTOREY RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS: A SPATIAL ERGONOMIC AND COMPOSITIONAL STUDY
Abstract
The progressive densification of urban environments has intensified the need for functionally differentiated, socially sustainable public spaces within multistorey residential complexes. This research investigates design approaches for the formation of communal areas-including entrance lobbies, courtyard zones, rooftop terraces, and semienclosed transitional spaces-in contemporary housing typologies. Employing a mixedmethod framework comprising comparative analysis of six case studies (three postSoviet, three Western European), graphoanalytical mapping of spatial configurations, and projective modelling of design alternatives, the study identifies four primary spatial paradigms: the linear distributive, the nodal concentrative, the hybrid layering, and the landscapeembedded model. Results demonstrate that hybrid layering combined with ergonomic zoning (0-5 m intimate, 5-15 m social, >15 m semipublic thresholds) optimizes both surveillance density and user circulation efficiency by 34% compared to conventional courtyard designs. The paper advances a taxonomy of 12 spatial parameters (e.g., visual permeability coefficient, porosity index, thermal comfort radius) and proposes an integrative design matrix for multifamily housing. Practical implications include evidencebased guidelines for architects and urban designers, while theoretical contributions extend discourse on defensible space and spatial hierarchy in highdensity contexts.
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