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Neighborhood and Occupant Interaction Space

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4th International Conference on Eco Engineering Development 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 794 (2021) 012201 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/794/1/012201

Neighborhood and Occupant Interaction Space

E R Hajaty1, A Sihombing2, E Ellisa3

1
Doctoral Student in Architecture, Universitas Indonesia, Pondok Cina, Beji, Depok
City, West Java 16424, Indonesia
2
Lecturer of Architecture, Universitas Indonesia, Pondok Cina, Beji, Depok City, West
Java 16424, Indonesia
3
Associate Professor of Architecture, Universitas Indonesia, Pondok Cina, Beji, Depok
City, West Java 16424, Indonesia

Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract. Often occupants gather and interact in the space that is not specifically designated as
a gathering space as if the area has formed a public space as a place to gather and interact. This
qualitative research aims to determine how occupants form interaction spaces in a residential
environment and the type of interaction space formed. The results showed that each individual
has an idea to decide how they get together and interact with fellow occupants. The forming of
the interaction space occurs gradually and unplanned. The types of interaction spaces are
moving space, impermanent space, unexpected space, and unbounded space, which causes
temporary changes in the area. The results of this study will be used for further research and
can become the basis for designing sustainable housing and human social environments.

Keywords: Neighborhood, Occupants, interaction Space, Housing Environment.

1. Introduction
A Neighborhood is a community that includes human attitudes and behavior [1] that there are formal
and informal ties, lifestyle, behavior, and interactions [2]. A Neighborhood is a system of living [3],
has a quality that is determined by the characteristics and conditions of its attributes, including
behavior and physical environment [4]. A Neighborhood is a living environment that has function
arrangement that determines the quality of life for its inhabitants to live and interact [5]. These
opinions indicate that the neighborhood is closely related to the living space formed by the community
with its interaction behavior and the physical environment with its constituent elements. Therefore, the
community and the physical environment will influence each other. However, is the neighborhood
only limited to the physical environment and the community?
In terminology, the neighborhood consists of two main words, neighbor and hood. Neighbor means
a near fellow-dweller and can also mean together [6]. The fellow means a partnership [6] that has
interpretation as a relationship. The word hood means helmet, hat, and parasol [6], where the three
words are objects that function to protect the human body so that it feels safe, calm, and protected. So
the hood is closely related to the human psyche. Therefore, the interpretation of neighborhood is a
psychological relationship between occupants who live together in a residential environment. This

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4th International Conference on Eco Engineering Development 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 794 (2021) 012201 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/794/1/012201

understanding shows that it is not only related to physical elements but also closely related to the
human mind that can form an idea [6].

2. Research problem and methodology

Open space has an essential role in building a community environment [7]. Public spaces that have
quality will be able to meet the needs of social interaction [8], and settings that have green open spaces
will be more able to increase social interaction than those without green open spaces [9]. These
opinions show that the quality of public spaces or green open spaces affects the level of social
interaction. But on the other hand, there is a phenomenon that interaction often occurs in areas that are
not designed as gathering spaces, such as roads, sidewalks, drainage [10]. Also, there is a phenomenon
of changing semi-private spaces such as home yards into public spaces [11]. What makes them feel
comfortable and always wants to interact there? Is it because they think they fit in with their
community [12] or other factors?
The human desire to have relationships with other humans begins with the process of adjusting
each other's behavior, then there is a decision-making process whether to continue the relationship or
not [13]. The decision to continue the relationship or not, related to each individual's memory, is
shaped by what has been encountered before, thus supporting adaptive behavior [14] [15]. Therefore,
when occupants decide to reunite in the same place, the occupants are successful in adapting to their
environment. But what causes occupants to adapt successfully and always want to come to the same
space? Therefore, this research aims to determine how occupants form interaction spaces in a
residential environment and the type of interaction space formed. The study used a qualitative method,
with the research location in Bukit Golf housing, Bogor Regency. The interviews are aimed at
children, adolescents, and adults, while observation focuses on spaces that were not designed as
gathering spaces.

3. Result
3.1. The process of forming interaction space
Observations were made on the interaction activities in spaces that were not designed and not intended
as gathering spaces. Therefore, based on observations and interview results, there are four types of
interaction activities formed, namely interaction 1, interaction II, interaction III, and interaction IV, as
shown in Table 1. Each kind of interaction represents a phenomenon that occurs in a different space.
The process of forming an interaction space explains how interactions occur and the stages of
interaction activities, starting when residents have ideas until interactions occur. Explanation of the
stages of the interaction process using the initials of the occupant's name (H, A, M, etc.).

Table 1. Interaction activities and the process of forming interaction spaces.

Type of
Interaction Interaction The Process of Forming
Interaction Occupant
Activity Space Area Interaction Space
Activity
Interaction I Adult male Having coffee Home yard Gradually, starting from one of
together, and street the occupant (H) coming to the
chatting, having space house of the occupant (A), then
dinner together followed by several others (M,
Rc, etc.) to the house (A).
Unplanned, because of the
invitation to gather and the desire
to fill spare time.

Interaction II Adult female Greeting each Terrace/ Gradually, starting from one of

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4th International Conference on Eco Engineering Development 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 794 (2021) 012201 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/794/1/012201

other, chatting home yard the occupant (I) doing activities

on the terrace/yard, then being
greeted by (J), and then (N)
participating.
Unplanned, because the presence
of one of the occupants in the
yard of the house attracted other
occupants to say hello and chat.

Interaction III Girls Chatting, Inside the Gradually, it begins with one of
cooking house the occupants (I) coming to the
together, (bedroom house (D), followed by (M) and
dressing up and the other occupants.
together kitchen)
Unplanned specifically and only
based on sudden agreement.

Interaction IV Children, boys Playing soccer Street space Gradually, some occupants play
and girls ball, then other occupants are
attracted to play.
Unplanned, because one of the
occupants invited the other
occupants to play, then the other
occupants were interested in
playing.

3.2. Type of interaction space

The types of interaction space show the grouping of spaces based on the phenomenon of spatial
situations or the nature of space, as a result of interaction activity and the process of forming the
interaction space. The interaction space type consists of moving space, impermanent space, unplanned
space, and unbounded space.

3.2.1. The moving interaction space. This type of space indicates a gathering space that is always
moving, from one occupant's house to another, or from one street space to another. However, this
movement remains in the spaces that previously formed. This movement occurs unplanned, only based
on the result of spontaneous discussions between occupants, or also because of the presence of an
occupant in the space, and then it gives interest to another occupant to join together. This type of
interaction space is formed by the kinds of interaction activities I and III (Table 1).
Figures 1 and 2 show the forming of interaction spaces in several areas at different times. The
green circles show the interaction movement from one place to another. The letters in the green circles
are the initial names of the occupants whose houses using for interaction spaces. Figure 2 shows that
interaction space forming in the occupant's house (D) or (M), then on the next time, it can return to (D)
or to (I).

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4th International Conference on Eco Engineering Development 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 794 (2021) 012201 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/794/1/012201

Figure 1. The moving interaction space, Figure 2. The moving interaction space,
formed by the type of interaction I formed by the type of interaction III
Source: Author's Analysis (2020) Source: Author's Analysis (2020)

3.2.2. The impermanent interaction space. This type indicates the forming of a temporary interaction
space because the interaction activity uses space that is not designing as a gathering place, such as the
home page and street space. So when occupants no longer use it as a gathering space, it will return to
its original function. This interaction space is forming by all kinds of interaction, namely interactions
1, II, III, and IV (Table 1).

Figure 3. The impermanent interaction Figure 4. The impermanent interaction

space, formed by the type of Interaction I space, formed by the type of Interaction IV
Source: Author (2020) Source: Author (2020)

Figure 3 shows the occupants doing interaction activities at night in the street space near one of the
occupants' houses. The situation when the interaction occurs shows that the occupants who are
interacting and several vehicles have filled part of the road space. Figure 4 shows a street space that
temporarily turns into a playing soccer place. When it finishes, the area will return to its primary
function.

3.2.3. The unexpected interaction space. The gathering activity in a place without going through the
previous planning process will form an unexpected space. Starting with greeting each other, through
chat on social media, or preceded by a visit by one of the occupants to another occupant's house, it
caused the interest of several other occupants to participate in gathering. This type of interaction space
is formed by the types of interaction II and III (Table 1).
Figure 5 shows the forming of an unexpected interaction space, that is between occupants with
adjacent and opposite house positions. The process of forming this interaction space begins with the

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4th International Conference on Eco Engineering Development 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 794 (2021) 012201 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/794/1/012201

activity of one of the occupants in his yard, which encourages other occupants to say hello and chat
together. Even though the occupants in this interaction space are already close to each other, occupants
cannot predict when the interaction will occur.

Figure 5. The unexpected interaction space, formed by the

type of interaction II.
Source: Author (2020)

3.2.4. The unbounded interaction space. The forming of this interaction space because the number of
occupants who gather exceeds the space capacity, so some occupants place themselves outside the
boundaries of space. This space is also formed by children's soccer activity that requires a large area
that causes the interaction space has no clear boundaries. This Unbounded space is formed by
interaction activities I and IV (Table 1).

Figure 6. The unbounded interaction space, Figure 7. The position of the occupants in the
formed by the type of interaction I on the unbounded interaction space, formed by the
activity of having coffee together. type of interaction I.
Source: Author (2020) Source: Author (2020)

Figures 6, 7, 8, 9 show the activities of occupants at night in one of the occupants' homes. The
images show several people sitting in the yard area of the house and some others sitting on vehicles in
the street space. Then the interaction space looks to widen to the street space. This kind of situation
occurs most nights and escalates by the end of the week.

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4th International Conference on Eco Engineering Development 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 794 (2021) 012201 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/794/1/012201

Figure 8. The unbounded interaction Figure 9. The position of the occupants in the
space, formed by the type of interaction I unbounded interaction space, formed by the
at having dinner together. type of interaction I.
Source: Author (2020) Source: Author (2020)

4. Discussion
The results show that occupants form interaction spaces gradually and unplanned. The Gradually
process creating an activity interaction space that is initiated by the presence of one occupant in a
particular place, then followed by other occupants gradually. Meanwhile, an unplanned process is the
formation of interaction spaces because of the occupants 'wishes or other occupants' invitations to
gather, such as the desire to fill free time, sudden agreements, and interest in greeting and chatting
with other occupants (Table 1). The results of this study indicate that each individual has an idea to
determine how they get together and interact. The interaction activities of occupants and the process of
forming the interaction space lead to the formation of types of interaction spaces, namely
moving space, impermanent space, unplanned space, and unbounded space. Each type of interaction
activity can form some or all of the interaction space types. The forming of interaction space types can
cause temporary changes in the function of space and the conditions of the housing environment,
especially the interaction in road space that can affect the circulation of vehicles and occupant safety
when interacting.
The results also indicate that most of the occupants who are present in each interaction space are
the same people. So following the opinion of [14] Murty et al. (2020) that the forming of an
interaction space is due to an initial meeting, then undergoes an adaptation process, and stores memory
activities to makes the decision to continue the relationship. By the findings that interaction activities
and the process of forming interaction spaces have led to several types of interaction space in the
residential environment. So this finding becomes new and is a phenomenon that needs to be known
more deeply, why each individual has the idea of getting together and interacting again with the same
people and in the same interaction space. Is it only because each individual has successfully adapted
[14] [15]? or is it because of a sense of community [16] [17] or a sense of place [18]? or it turns out
that there are other things behind it?

5. Conclusion
Interaction occurs in spaces that are not designed as gathering spaces because each individual has an
idea of determining how they get together and interact. The forming of the interaction space occurs
gradually and unplanned. The types of interaction space created include moving space, impermanent
space, unexpected space, and unbounded space. The results of this study can be the basis for designing
a housing environment that is more flexible but safe to use. It also can be the basis for developing a
green area in housing that is not only limited to garden areas, so that each place is comfortable to use
for gathering and interacting, in supporting sustainable housing and human social environments.

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4th International Conference on Eco Engineering Development 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 794 (2021) 012201 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/794/1/012201

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