1. RESIDENTIAL
ENVIRONMENT
Alexander D. Slaev, Ph.D., M.Arch.
Associate Professor
Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”

2. Types of spaces in
residential environment
The residential environment should be classified according to
its scope as:
 Separate dwelling space (room)
 Dwelling
 Residential block/ residential zone
 Settlement – a town, a city or a village, etc
Dwelling is the immediate living environment of man – the
individual and the household (family).
Respectively – the residential blocks/ residential zones form
the immediate living environment of society
Alexander D. Slaev - Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”

3. Sustainable residential
environment
What does sustainable residential environment mean?
The requirements for sustainability of the environment mean to
maintain the best possible living conditions for man and society
today and for the next generations – in the future – even better,
provided that
The natural environment, the natural resources and the living
environment are preserved
Neither now, nor in the future resources will be used that may not
be restored (natural, physical),
Neither renewable resources (material, financial or labour) will be
used on a scale, larger than they are used at the moment
Alexander D. Slaev - Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”

4. Main requirements for
sustainability of the
residential environment
Measures at the level of urban development
Economical use of land resources
Ecologically clean residential environment – clean air, soils and
waters
Efficient treatment of waste
Urban spaces, suitable and pleasant to people
Human scale of urban and architectural spaces, buildings and
elements of the environment
Maximum possible greenery and integration (inclusion) of
elements of the natural environment
Alexander D. Slaev - Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”

5. Main requirements for
sustainability of the
residential environment
Measures at the level of urban development
Reduced car dependency and isolation of car traffic and cars
to the extent to provide maximum freedom for all pedestrians
Maximum use of public transport and alternative means of
transportation
Decreased energy consumption for transport
Lively urban environment and optimal intensified
(considerably more intensified than today) use of the
residential environment
Mix and combination of alternative urban functions and uses
Alexander D. Slaev - Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”

6. Main requirements for
sustainability of the
residential environment
Measures at the level of buildings and construction
Reduced energy consumption for heating, air-conditioning and lights
Maintaining conservative cycles of resources, materials and
substances in the course of construction and during the life of buildings:
reducing the consumption of clean water and conservative regime of
the exchange of fresh air
Maintaining options for transformations, changes of uses, reshaping
and reconstruction, including demolishing the buildings and other built
elements
Maximum use of recycled materials or materials, suitable for recycling
Minimum use of material, which production is polluting the natural
environment.
Alexander D. Slaev - Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”

7. Main types of spaces in
residential environment
There are three types of spaces in the residential
environment:
Residential spaces (other uses also included)
Spaces for communications (pedestrian, for car
traffic and mixed)
Square spaces – junctions of pedestrian
communications – with important public functions
– meaningful social and commercial activities
(Those spaces will not be studied here, because of their
public character)
Alexander D. Slaev - Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”

8. Types of spaces in
residential environment
Spaces (space elements)
in low-rise (single-family) housing:
Open (not formed, not limited) street
space
Front yard
Main yard (court yard)
Alexander D. Slaev - Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”

9. Types of spaces
in low-rise housing
Open street space:
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Typical for villages, small towns, suburbs and town ouskirts,
Historically the oldest type of urban space
Street space is not clearly identified – it is more a territory
than a space
Open street space is a green type of environment,
encouraging individual expression and responsible attitude
towards urban environment
Accommodates both pedestrian and car traffic
Characterized by long communication distances, high
consumption of land for infrastructure networks
Alexander D. Slaev - Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”

10. Types of spaces
in low-rise housing
Front yard
Normally its dimensions are small,
however the more luxurious and the higher
class the houses are, the larger the front
yard is
 Maximum expression of self-esteem and
individual preferences
 Full of greenery, flowers landscape and
design elements

Alexander D. Slaev - Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”

11. Types of spaces
in low-rise housing
Main yard (court yard)
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The main yard is the main advantage of single-family
housing and, therefore, it should express all qualities of the
individual natural environment
The connection between the house (the living spaces, the
day zone) is maximum intensive
Maximum expression of the architectural quality of the
environment
The higher the residential standard, the higher the quality
and the level of luxury – the larger the space of the main
yard
Alexander D. Slaev - Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”

12. Types of spaces
in the traditional urban block
Street space of urban type
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Mixed traffic – pedestrian + car traffic (in
fact it is dominated by cars)
Pedestrian (only) streets
Mixed with secured dominance of the
pedestrians
Enclosed space (courtyard)
Alexander D. Slaev - Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”

13. Types of spaces
in the traditional urban block
Street space of urban type (no difference is made
between sub-types at this point)
 The street space is clearly identified (formed) and
this has substantial architectural meaning
 Space is saturated with public activities and social
life – that is why people like the street space
 Lack of greenery – greenery is most often
insufficient
 Pedestrian and car-traffic are usually mixed
Alexander D. Slaev - Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”

14. Types of spaces
in the traditional urban block
Enclosed space (courtyard)
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Usually the space is (physically) common, but it is divided
functionally and legally into individual yards
Its function is close to the function of the individual main
yard, however, since it is not an individual space the
intimacy is lost
Despite that this space is valued as a space for recreation
However, it is not always full of greenery and is not always
well maintained
The efficiency of its function as well as the efficiency of the
aesthetic approach depends on its dimensions and scale
Alexander D. Slaev - Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”

15. Types of spaces
in the housing estates:
Traffic communications of higher class
Service streets (lanes) - drives (cartraffic alleys)
Residential environment (park-type)
with walks (pedestrian connections)
Alexander D. Slaev - Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”

16. Types of spaces
in the housing estates:
Traffic communications of higher class
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Space, predominantly designated for cars and other motor vehicles,
strictly functional designation
Actually it is an element of the territory, There is no space formed
Drives (service lanes)
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Elements of the street network with strictly functional designation - for
cars and other motor vehicles serving the residential areas, plots
buildings. It is important to avoid conflicts with the pedestrian
movement.
Again – elements of the territory, no space formed, only linear
connections that should fit in the park-type environment
In principle, drives should be isolated from the dwelling function –
usually by a green strip
Alexander D. Slaev - Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”

17. Types of spaces
in the housing estates:
Park-type residential environment with pedestrian connections

Once again – clear urban spaces are missing (an urban space is
normally surrounded (formed) by buildings), the residential buildings
rise in height and the territory has features typical of a park

This reflects the essence of the Modern concept with regard to housing
– park-type residential environment, full of greenery and with high
aesthetic quality, accessible for all
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Communications are structured based on their functional designation,
pedestrian and car traffic connections more or less isolated, pedestrian
connections being integrated in the residential environment

Functional zoning of the territories (for dwelling function, for public
service, green areas and systems, for sports and children playgrounds,
etc.), however space is homogeneous (just parks, not street spaces, no
courtyard spaces)
Alexander D. Slaev - Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”

18. Trends to sustainability of the
residential spaces
in the low-rise housing:
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Open street space:
The basic characteristics may not be altered, but densification of
the housing will contribute to make the street network shorter
Priority of the pedestrian movement must be provided. Higher
densities will make the space more lively
Development of alternative transport and communication options is
essential and particularly for low-rise housing - especially biking
because public transport is not a viable alternative.
The street space is already green (in most cases), but its social
potential usually is not developed – a variety of sub-spaces, nooks,
recesses, etc. would be useful to develop social contacts
Alexander D. Slaev - Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”

19. Trends to sustainability of the
residential spaces
in the low-rise housing:
Front yard
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The preferences towards individual expression through
the front yard should be maintained
The tendency to encourage social communications may
be supported by greater openness of the front yard
Main yard (courtyard)
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The trend to higher densities means smaller courtyards
however this may be compensated by a variety of nooks
and corners for (intra) family and social contacts
Alexander D. Slaev - Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”

20. Trends to sustainability of the
residential spaces
in the traditional urban block:
Regarding the residential spaces in the traditional urban block and those in the
housing estates the trends are towards conversion (despite that planners and
architects have still not noticed these trends)
Street space of urban type
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Distinguishing between the two types of car-traffic communications is of critical
importance
First, the higher class communications (inter-district) car traffic is of greatest
importance for the functions of towns and cities and planner should strictly
follow what the communication networks dictates
Service lanes and drives should be structured in such a way that cars should be
limited in every possible way. Pedestrian streets (baking allowed) have been on
vogue. For several decades already and still are. A new topical trend is
promoting streets for mixed use by pedestrians, bikers and cars, but cars are
strictly limited and the priority of pedestrians is promoted in every possible way.
Alexander D. Slaev - Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”

21. Trends to sustainability of the
residential spaces
in the traditional urban block:
Enclosed spaces (Courtyards)
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Uniting individual yards into one common courtyard
space
Common green system of the whole enclosed space
Providing opportunities for any kind of social
activities, social contacts, social (incl. commercial)
services – nooks for recreation, sports and children
playgrounds, bars, small cafeterias, quiet clubs, spa
amenities
Alexander D. Slaev - Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”

22. Trends to sustainability of the
residential spaces
in the housing estates:
Regarding the residential spaces in the traditional urban block and those in the housing
estates the trends are towards conversion (despite that planners and architects have
still not noticed these trends)
Car-traffic communications
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
First, the higher class communications (inter-district) car traffic
is of greatest importance for the functions of towns and cities
and planner should strictly follow what the communication
networks dictates
Second, service lanes and drives are structured and designed
with one main concern – not to allow any conflict with the
pedestrian movement
Alexander D. Slaev - Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”

23. Trends to sustainability of the
residential spaces
in the housing estates:
Residential environment
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Tendency to saturation of the park-type environment with public
services and social activities
Tendency towards the formation of pedestrian streets and
enclosed (courtyard) spaces
The pedestrian streets should be the axes of commercial and
social services. They should form attractive spaces
The enclosed spaces are good for providing opportunities for
any kind of quiet social activities, social contacts, social (incl.
commercial) services – nooks for recreation, sports and children
playgrounds, bars, small cafeterias, quiet clubs, spa amenities
Alexander D. Slaev - Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”