O processo de apropriação da casa: separando o deslumbramento da satisfação

Abstract

This paper analyzes residential satisfaction within the context of the housing units developed by the Brazilian State. Residential satisfaction is the culmination of the housing appropriation process and occurs during first years of the occupation of a new space. The concept of appropriation means providing new dwellings with meanings and representations related to the symbolic aspects of welfare, belonging and identity, thus transcending physical and satisfaction aspects. These perceptions are directly affected during the first months of the occupation as the result of emotions ranging from fascination (the new housing unit is regarded as better than the previous dwelling when in fact it is not) to great disgust (the new housing unit is regarded as worse than the previous dwelling when in fact it is not). Isolating feelings such as novelty or disgust from the opinion of users would enable researchers to identify the adaptation potential of spaces in relation to families and estimate real satisfaction levels. This paper includes a case study conducted in the housing developments built by the State in Santa Catarina, Brazil, over the last four years.