Greener courtyards increase interest in housing
Access to greenery affects how people perceive their living environment – and how much they are willing to pay for a new home, according to a study from KTH Royal Institute of Technology.
“The idea for the study emerged from the fact that the focus has long been on indoor environments, particularly energy issues, while the surroundings of buildings have often been overlooked. We wanted to investigate how greenery affects people’s willingness to live in and invest in a residential apartment development,” says Agnieszka Zalejska Jonsson, Associate Professor in Real Estate Business and Senior Lecturer in Real Estate and Management.
The study, conducted in collaboration with Svenska Bostäder, is based on 3D representations used to analyse how different levels of greenery affect people’s preferences.
Participants were shown 3D images of five courtyards with varying vegetation levels and then asked to complete surveys about which environments they found most appealing. The results show a clear correlation between greenery and perceived social quality: the more vegetation, the more attractive the space is considered to be.
“In the study, only the amount of greenery was varied, not other factors such as the number of seating areas or play spaces, which made the positive effect of greenery particularly evident,” says Zalejska Jonsson.
By using 3D visualisation, the researchers were able to systematically test different levels of greenery without incurring extensive costs. The method can thus lower the threshold for property owners to evaluate and invest in greener outdoor environments.
“Green infrastructure increases interest in housing and can also affect willingness to pay. Therefore, it is an investment both for property owners and for people’s well-being,” says Zalejska Jonsson.
The researchers have also conducted similar studies in Australia with comparable results, suggesting that the preference for green environments is relatively universal. The research team is now continuing to investigate how different property types can benefit from green infrastructure, even in less obvious contexts such as commercial buildings and warehouses.
“We hope that the results can contribute to more investment in green spaces and more thoughtfully designed outdoor environments, both for residents and for society at large.”
Text: Johanna Bernhardtz (jobernh@kth.se), Photo: Jon Lindhe (jlindhe@kth.se)
