Weighted Model of Architectural Factors' Influence on the Indoor Environment Quality of Residential ApartmentsBased on Delphi and FBWM Evaluation Models

The study of environmental quality is important due to its impact on residents' comfort and building energy consumption. Additionally, given the recent expansion of apartment living, the necessity of studies focusing on identifying the components that influence residents' comfort and health in residential buildings has increased. However, most research has predominantly focused on the four environmental elements of thermal comfort, acoustic comfort, visual comfort, and air quality, with less emphasis on the architectural aspects of buildings.

The aim of this study is to identify and categorize the architectural factors that affect the indoor environment quality in residential apartments to propose a weighted model of these criteria.

In the first stage, criteria identification was conducted by reviewing 127 research sources, resulting in the extraction of 11 categories of criteria and 50 sub-criteria. In the second stage, a Delphi expert panel was convened to evaluate the research criteria. Through two rounds of evaluation, 10 categories of criteria and 40 sub-criteria were approved for final assessment by specialists. In the third stage, criteria weighting was performed using the Fuzzy Best Worst Method (FBWM).

The research findings present a weighted model of the impact coefficients of six categories and 23 architectural sub-criteria—such as openings, spatial geometry and proportions, control features, layout and spatial segregation, building type, and interior decoration and furniture—on the perception of indoor environment quality. The results indicate that architectural features significantly influence indoor environment quality, with architectural features having a weight similar to environmental features. This suggests that improving indoor environment quality is significantly influenced by building design and form, rather than solely by advanced building technologies or environmental control systems. Additionally, it was identified that the characteristics of openings have the most significant architectural impact on environmental quality. The research results also demonstrate that control features related to temperature regulation, openings, illumination, and views are key factors in ensuring environmental quality, as individuals desire control over their conditions even when environmental conditions are adequate. Regarding building type, the findings indicate that by ensuring appropriate levels of environmental and architectural features, negative effects of living in apartment buildings on individuals' environmental perception can be mitigated. Furthermore, the analysis showed that the height of the unit above ground level significantly influences the perceived quality of the environment.