Perceived Environmental Quality as a Dimension of Spatial Comfort: Its Role in Residential Preferences Among Urban Youth in Jakarta’s Public Rental Flats
Keywords:
perceived environmental quality, public-facility-based rental flats in Jakarta, urban youth, residential preference.Abstract
This study analyzes the role of perceived environmental quality—as a primary dimension of spatial comfort—in shaping the residential preferences of the younger generation in public-facility-based rental flats (rusunawa) in Jakarta. The scarcity of strategic urban land and low youth occupancy rates in rental flats underscore the urgency of studying rusunawa development built on public facility sites. This research is driven by a shifting trend where the younger generation views housing not merely as a place to live, but also as a form of social identity. A limitation of previous studies lies in their predominant focus on physical-structural and economic attributes, leaving unexplored how sensory-psychosocial factors shape housing decisions. The novelty of this study lies in integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior and Person–Environment Fit Theory to explain the low interest among youth in living in public rental flats. Using a mixed-methods approach, a survey of 450 respondents and interviews with 10 selected participants were conducted to explore the psychosocial factors influencing housing choices. Quantitative analysis shows that perceived spatial-environmental comfort—comprising cleanliness, noise, privacy, odor, and safety—significantly predicts residential interest, surpassing structural factors such as unit size. Regression results (R² = 0.79, β = 0.889, p < .001) demonstrate the dominance of perceived environmental quality factors, while moderation analysis reveals that unit size has no significant mediating effect. Qualitative findings reinforce these results, highlighting environmental quality issues such as noise, limited privacy, unpleasant odors, and unclean surroundings commonly found in public-facility-based rental flats in Jakarta. Furthermore, living in rental flats is perceived as temporary housing, and the persistent social and negative environmental stigmas attached to the image of rusunawa make many young people reluctant to reside there. These findings suggest that housing policies for the younger generation need to emphasize spatial-environmental comfort. User participation in planning, alongside the integration of youth-friendly features such as communal spaces and flexible design, is essential for improving housing acceptance and long-term sustainability.
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