Preface
Authors: In Chief Editor 
Published: October 2019

International Journal on Livable Space has achieved its publication of Volume 4 Number 1. The theme of this volume is Environmental Management and Comfort with the purpose to share knowledge on human socio-cultural activities and the impact it has on natural behaviour or vice versa in which the relationship is focusing on meeting the needs and the comfort of human life. The characteristics of social and cultural interaction coupled with the natural and environmental conditions determine how human being manage their living space as individual or as group. Technology as an alteration factor also regulate the strategies, techniques, and methods in achieving the desired end result.

Referring to the above introduction, Dian et all and Laila Zohrah disclose their research results related to spatial management and environment as the context of social-culture in Ngadas Village (Lombok) and Banjar’s Kampungs (Banjarmasin). Ristya Arinta reveals her research results regarding the post-occupant perceptions of Row Income Houses at Petogogan (Jakarta). Rizki Madina et al., as well as Rivanus present their findings focusing on thermal comfort at inside and outside of the building in relation to materials as building components.

In details, Dian Kartika Santoso, Antariksa, and Sri Utami emphasise on their study at farming cultural changes of the farmhouses in Ngadas Village which based on the view that cultural features are the result of interactions between human activities and the environment. The centre of the study is more on the implications of agricultural features than on cultural features especially farmhouses space in Ngadas Village. The results show that the permanent level of occupancy on the location and the development activities on agricultural land affect the breadth of agricultural land needed.

Laila Zohrah exposes her research on Evolving Connectivity Patterns of Banjar’s Kampungs and Rumah Bubungan Tinggi (High Ridge-House) in South Kalimantan River Networks in terms of socio-cultural context through dynamic morphological studies of the village spatial patterns and the typology of high ridge-house (from 15th-20th century). The organic evolution of the spatial composition of the village is related to the kinship of occupants as well as the geomorphological evolution of the swamp and riverine areas. The result states that the interaction between kinship is open-ended multifamily boundaries which can be used for the construction needs of the village in the future.

Further, Ristya Arinta Safitri conducts a low-income housing study at Petogogan Row Houses focusing on the residents’ perceptions about aspects that affect the perceived suitability and non-conformity of the residents’ daily activities. Petogogan Row Houses is considered a successful program using the RISHA system (Simple Healthy Instant House) or a simple standardized design innovation of healthy houses. The residents expressed that after several years of occupancy there were inappropriate conditions due to the decisions making by the occupants. The discrepancy is related to: 1) the inappropriate choice of furniture compares to RISHA room standard; 2) the inappropriate choice of partitions compares to access of natural light capacity. The perception of incompatibility of RISHA design is mainly related to the possibility for occupants to install additional non-fixed elements on walls and ceilings.

Rizki Fitria Madina, Surjamanto Wonorahardjo dan F.X. Nugroho Soelami focus on their research in outdoor thermal performance from several glazing types by comparing heat reflection capacity and glass material. The results indicate that the coefficient value of glass shading on the building façade is influenced by outside temperature of the building. Clear glass and clear reflective glass have a similar result on decreasing the outdoor temperature, yet, in terms of cost, the use of clear glass will cost less than that of clear reflective glass.

In line with Rizki Fitri Madina et al, Rivanus Dewanto centres his research on the influence of building envelopes towards classroom temperature (Case: BINUS Alam Sutra Campus). The study intends to compare the differences in indoor classroom temperature as a result of differences of volume and opening patterns on building envelopes. The results confirm that the increase in indoor classroom temperature is relatively influenced by the sun orientation in the north-northeast and in the west-southwest directions. The finishing building skins by using precast concrete and window-walls tend to affect the indoor classroom temperature to a higher increase in the morning and to a lower decrease in the afternoon. The use of precast concrete of dead-glass materials affects indoor temperature relatively lower in the morning yet higher in the afternoon.

The above findings have twofold objectives, i.e. for the researchers, they can be used not only as a reference to prove, complement, and develop existing theories but also as a motivation to build new concepts. Whereas for the practitioners, the findings can be functioned as a substance to compare their own experiences and to share those experiences with others.

Jakarta, February 2019

Editor in Chief