SUJI LEE
Table of Contents
1 – Background
Re-Imagining Apartment Hunting
An Immersive Approach
Background
My research focuses on how the overwhelming number of choices in
apartment hunting apps affects user decision-making. Current
real estate platforms present too many options, often sponsored
by large tech companies, which can obscure what users truly need
or want. This abundance leads to decision fatigue and the
paradox of choice, where more options make it harder to make
decisions.
I aim to explore how curated content influences user
preferences, often prioritizing price and location.
My research will examine how a more personalized,
user-focused approach can improve decision-making and enhance
the overall experience in navigating complex housing options.
Starting from personal.
1. International Student
- Unable to visit units in person, I can only evaluate the location.
- I lack knowledge of the neighborhoods I would walk through daily or the atmosphere I would experience.
- Current apps provide polished photos, making it difficult to perceive the true scale of the space.
2. Using Architectural Knowledge
- Put insufficient information together using my architectural knowledge.
- Extract floor plans from real estate platforms to generate 3D models for understanding spatial scale.
- Utilize Google Maps to analyze geological and urban contexts, focusing on transportation and accessibility.
- Evaluate daylighting availability to assess environmental performance.
- Incorporate data from open-source platforms for supplementary insights and validation.
Current Issue:
2 – Hypothesis
Hypothesis
What should be the most important thing in the process of finding an apartment?
' Lifestyle ',
' Preferences '
Questions to understand user needs based on Lifestyle, Preferences for apartment hunting:
3 – Apartment Selection Factors
Apartment Selection Factors
Building Scale Level and Unit Scale Level
Based on my personal struggles in finding an apartment in NYC,
I believe the factors I chose can help narrow down
apartment options
and selection.
These factors can be divided into two
levels:
1. Building Scale
- Accessibility: Understanding the context and connectivity of the neighborhood.
- Daily Routes: Showing everyday paths and exploring new connections.
2. Unit Scale
- Daylighting Availability: Assessing the quality of natural light in the units.
- Open Space and Scale: Examining the influence of open space on spatial experience and perception.
Building Scale Approach
Building Scale Approach
The Building Scale Approach provides a 3D map-based interface that helps users visualize key factors when selecting an apartment. It allows users to explore daily routes based on their preferences, such as commuting to work, visiting a park, or shopping for groceries. The interface highlights these routes, showing travel modes like walking, cycling, or driving, and includes detailed step-by-step directions.
Additionally, it offers insights into the accessibility of these destinations within the neighborhood, enabling users to understand the connectivity and proximity of essential amenities. This spatial representation helps bridge the gap between raw data and an intuitive understanding of how the neighborhood functions in daily life.
Unit Scale Approach
Unit Scale Approach
The Unit Scale Approach enhances the apartment selection process by providing a 3D, first-person experience to analyze Daylighting Availability within the unit. This feature enables users to understand how natural light flows into the space and plan furniture arrangements accordingly. Additionally, it offers the ability to toggle on Furniture and Pet options to visualize the scale of the space and evaluate its suitability for living with pets. This immersive experience ensures that users can make informed decisions based on spatial feasibility and personal preferences.
4 – Prototype
Building and Unit Scale Level Prototype
Prototype for Enhanced Apartment Hunting Experiences
Building Scale Level Prototype
Unit Scale Level Prototype
5 – Data
Data
Data-Driven Insights from Grasshopper
