The Impact of Spatial Standards on the Quality of Apartment Houses Design: Case of Pristina

Design quality plays a vital role in residents' well-being. This study examines the impact of housing policies on the design quality and architectural attributes of apartment houses. The research comprises two components: an analysis and evaluation of apartment houses in Pristina, and a comparison of spatial standards across several cities. The study was prompted by the rapid construction of numerous apartment houses in Pristina from 2004 to 2024. The apartment houses that are case studies in this research were built by the private sector, and the research was conducted using a qualitative and comparative method. A total of six examples were selected, guided by their representation in different time periods and the morphology of the buildings. Each case study was analyzed using the criteria of spatial standards at both the building and apartment levels. By using the method of comparing spatial standards defined by specific documents (Housing Design Standards) of four different cities, Zagreb, London, Dublin and New York City, the architectural attributes of apartment houses in Pristina were compared and assessed, also the recommendations for spatial standards of apartment design in rapidly urbanizing areas were proposed. Based on the analysis, examination and systematization of collected data from case studies and reviewed literature, the study presents the influence of spatial standards on the quality of designing apartment houses in Pristina. The conclusions of the research are: the architectural attributes of apartment houses built in Pristina from 2004 to 2024, in terms of layout, function and organization, have improved over the years; housing policies affect the architectural quality of the built housing stock; the spatial standards in Pristina meet the criteria of the spatial standards of the compared cities. This work attempts to contribute to knowledge in the scientific and professional field and to pave the way for further research related to the phenomena of improving the quality of design and sustainability of existing and future apartment houses.