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Flexible smart home design: Case study to design future smart home
prototypes

Article  in  Ain Shams Engineering Journal · June 2021

DOI: 10.1016/j.asej.2021.05.027

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Architectural Engineering

Flexible smart home design: Case study to design future smart home
prototypes
Raz Kamaran Radha
College of Engineering, Department of Architecture Engineering, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Most Smart home literature is not realistic since technologies are implemented at the end of the design
Received 13 February 2021 process without taking into account the working, physical, and spatial aspects. No comprehensive work
Revised 2 May 2021 has been done regarding spatial design modifications accommodating the lifestyle requirement of Smart
Accepted 9 May 2021
Home inhabitants, especially in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. To fill the knowledge gap the research establishes
Available online xxxx
practical guidelines for designing- Flexible Smart Home Models based on holistic literature review and
case study of design preferences using virtual reality experiment and a questionnaire survey. Results
Keywords:
indicated higher technology acceptance and flexible spatial integration of public and private zones by
Flexible smart homes
Smart technology
younger sample (75 m2 prototype) compared to the older sample with 115 m2 prototype and less versa-
Technology acceptance tile space. It was concluded that the opportunity to change scale, form, relation, and configuration
Design preference becomes simpler, quicker with more possibilities of arranging spaces in smart homes with the help of
the hypothetical prototypes.
Ó 2021 THE AUTHOR. Published by Elsevier BV on behalf of Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-
nd/4.0/).

1. Introduction desires and expectations necessitate a system to respond to these

changes. Flexibility allows for the most effective use of services
Technological advancements over the last decade have led to when using emerging technology across a wide range of activities.
changes in people‘s preferences and a way of life that must be According to Allameh et al. [3] while smart technology seeks to
embodied in the design and planning of urban environments It develop internal space efficiency by integrating innovations and
has become critical to pursue, build homes with increased mobil- placing occupants at the core of consideration, several current
ity, improved component interrelationships, and more transparent smart home studies pay extreme attention to the implementation
structures. Different terminologies were used to define such archi- of technology, avoiding other facets of living and space. While aca-
tecture: adaptive, responsive, dynamic, flexible, and robust [1]. The demia and industry are attempting to realize domestic ambient
concept of Smart houses is a result of technological innovation to intelligent applications on a small scale in attentive home ven-
achieve this form of architecture. tures, the general idea of smart homes is still far from daily practice
Instead of asking users to move, twist, and surrender to fit into [4]. Knowing the root causes of customer happiness will aid
stagnant conditions, smart homes technologically evolve to help designers and application engineers in matching their product
the building’s longevity by maintaining users’ health and protec- options to what users need and enjoy. If individuals’ choices in
tion, and its performance. Smart Homes have spaces that are mul- smart home architecture can be evaluated, the researcher can bet-
tifunctional, inclusive, receptive, and capable of building different ter consider the variables that influence consumers’ comfort with a
environments for diverse projects [2]. The research suggests that smart home [5]. Even if innovative functions are available to users,
a home is an activity system, and any improvements in the user’s according to recent studies on consumer adoption of emerging
technology, there is no inherent assurance that they will be
E-mail address: [email protected]
adopted and used, and it does not inherently guarantee an increase
Peer review under responsibility of Ain Shams University. in quality of life [6,7]. Reviewing the current state of the sector
indicates that smart home penetration in the housing sector is still
lacking, due to the lack of studies into the true advantages of smart
homes for multiple target audiences. People have diverse opinions
Production and hosting by Elsevier

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2090-4479/Ó 2021 THE AUTHOR. Published by Elsevier BV on behalf of Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Please cite this article as: Raz Kamaran Radha, Flexible smart home design: Case study to design future smart home prototypes, Ain Shams Engineering
Journal, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2021.05.027
Raz Kamaran Radha Ain Shams Engineering Journal xxx (xxxx) xxx

on smart houses. Their level of approval is determined by how well ventilation lighting, temperature correction, alarm, occupancy con-
the smart home suits their tastes. trol, and social contact) should be handled in an IP environment
The main problem of this study that the technological world of and on the PC as a mobile app, while also being able to respond
smart homes is not as common in real life as it could be believed promptly to every resident’s requests and subsequently decide
due to holes in current information. It’s not always easy to make on the most efficient way in which that provide a clear, pleasant,
the futuristic visions of Smart homes believable in the real world. productive and healthy environment that will enhance their living
The majority of current research focuses on a few developments conditions [9]. Smart interior design is characterized by the ability
and does not go into detail about how these technologies impact to provide actionable knowledge on the efficiency of the building,
the inner configurations of interior spaces. There are no clear rec- architecture becomes a repository of data collection, processing,
ommendations for examining the effect of smart technology adop- and review. The intelligent interior design (i.e. one of the products
tion on people’s home layouts and everyday lives. Because of this, made by the intelligent interior design company), monitors and
the researcher reasons, guidelines should be defined guidelines for detects every flaw and deficiency in a building’s systems, so the
the design of the Smart Home and implement these guidelines to building’s inhabitants feel relaxed and comfortable. This type of
model Smart Home Prototypes. information contributes to resource streamlining, real-time track-
As an objective this study tries to comprehend how smart tech- ing, and the minimization of running costs. One way of working
nology can increase the versatility of inner spaces (specifically in out the entire smart interior design is to describe it as optimizing
smart homes) and how smart technology can help organize poten- the versatility of the building compartments, allowing them to be
tial interior spaces more effectively, especially in Sulaymaniyah. able to work well for the purpose at hand and at the same time
The key goal of the study is to use a survey to determine what always set up according to the required tasks [10,11].
design priorities people in Sulaiymaniah have, and then use that These approaches allow buildings more versatile by increasing
information to change the concepts of Flexible Smart home designs the number of potential uses a building space could have in the
to make them more appropriate in the region’s housing market. years ahead. The new functionality removes the need to make a
new framework and they may either minimize the size while also
being as versatile, convenient, and appealing [2]. Smart interior
2. Literature review
design provides efficient, flexible, and cost-effective solutions to
occupants’ frequently varying and complicated demands, and
2.1. Smart homes
determines the most productive strategies for designing a pleasant,
comfortable, enjoyable, and efficient environment. In addition to
Smart housing research has been going on for decades, and with
this, the construction structures utilizing the interior design tech-
time, many of us are already living with some things on the inter-
nology that can consider and anticipate the needs and desires of
net; the researcher has space for desks, computers, tablets, smart
the occupants, while obtaining more complex operations, increas-
TVs, smartphones, smartwatches, and iPads. Soon, every house will
ing the rate of lifestyle comfort, raising the quality of energy con-
have a global network of connected devices built in them and will
sumption, and lowering the costs that lead to a more effective
have these devices linked to each other to facilitate simultaneous
interior design. Using smart interior design techniques, designers
contact across the world. The typical electronic devices in a room,
will build flexible, intelligent design solutions that offer consumers
such as a temperature sensor, light switch, and thermostat; help to
a range of customized choices [8].
manage the atmosphere and help regulate the temperature. The
interaction is more rewarding, easy to use and it encourages resi-
2.3. Spatial flexibility of inner space
dents to continue their everyday tasks. There have been studies
that find if intelligent device interactions are carried out in a more
Spatial flexibility guarantees adjustments in the spatial config-
‘‘natural” the environment is more simplistic, more practical, and
urations and compositions based on the requirements and the abil-
multi-functional [1].
ity of the customers. It encourages the versatility and open
Many futuristic smart homes are being designed in various
structures of buildings that enable users to have more control over
parts of the world, but the concept of each smart home is specific
the space layouts [2]. There are two main concepts of spatial
and individual. Seven projects from Smart Homes were chosen in
flexibility:
this study. These projects include keeping track of the actions of
the individuals in a household to see how they are feeling and then
2.3.1. Flexibility: loose-fit
respond appropriately (Table 1).
Buildings are rigid and resilient, but behavior changes hence it
can be assumed that there will be a lot of behavior altered in a con-
2.2. Smart interior design siderable amount over a building’s lifetimes as they are not being
designed to be indefinitely changed. There will be several events
Space is characterized by the general physical space it takes up, that will now take place in the same area and were formerly used
how it can be shaped and how it’s used. The most necessities for different activities. New activities often rely on different accom-
houses provide include, shelter from the weather, a space to eat, modations, which cause a disparity between the space and the ser-
a space to meet other people and to speak to your family and vice. The loose-fit construction or Duffle coat strategy suggests that
friends, a place to move, to dress, and to relax. The basic elements designers should create similar spaces for all tasks for it is likely
of good design lead to transformational changes in space, no mat- that they will not be used the same way. Also, these spaces should
ter which type of style you favor and are inclined to, each space be so diverse that there will be some buffer that will be usable in
could be designed with strong certainty and uniqueness. Planning different areas [12].
the space first, then adding and decorating will be the first step
towards creating a smart and beautiful room that represents you 2.3.1.1. Flexibility: activity –space tolerance. In studies of designs
and the family [8]. Smart interior design is defined as a multi- that have few distinct types of space, the duffle coat principle
faceted strategy that incorporates both innovative and technologi- implies that the design form is maximized when there are many
cal solutions using digital material, decor, electronics, and sensors. identical instances of the same type of space. When the spatial fea-
The word interior design derives from the art of decor implemen- tures of places are related to activities of people, this means a high
tation and interior design. Because all functions (such as degree of tolerance, lose-fit versatility is increased, so that small or
2
Raz Kamaran Radha Ain Shams Engineering Journal xxx (xxxx) xxx

Table 1
Seven projects from responsive homes, where people’s patterns of behavior are registered and used to anticipate their needs and react accordingly selected and applied to the case
study.

Office Furniture in Danish Home Project

[2]

Smart Working Room Boundaries: Every corner in the home has the potential for working operations, thanks to
ICT and AmI. Job activities are also not confined in real physical space/less physical spaces/Virtual workspaces/
Integration of other living environments.
Com Home Project

[2]

Smart bed as a sleeping area/relaxing island with interactive communication/- Traditional dynamics of contact
between private and public areas to facilitate social activities within the building. Restricted areas
multifunctional spaces instead of those rooms/decrease the number of separate rooms.

Living tomorrow Project

[2]

The use of Smart Beds in the Living Tomorrow project

Yo! Home Project
[21]

Using Yo! Homes where, a bedroom turns into a living room

Jigozen, Japan Project

[22]

The key smart wall of the smart living room and various operations lie around it. It supports multitasking. -
Rooms inside a room provide a range of forums to provide company activities with many levels of privacy.
Persons will have the right to open or close certain places to satisfy their needs due to the way spaces are used in
the apartment. These room upgrades create a new model of living space
Project name
Kamiosuga House,
[22]

Project name
Proto Home by
Los Angeles
[22]

A house which satisfies ever-changing needs. There are other areas that provide a continuous sense of open
space, but the smart wall is key. Activities across the smart wall are carried out while they are personal,

significant differences in attributed behavior do not create a mis- aim to increase the variety of activities a building can accommo-
match. With activity-space tolerance, if the spaces are not equal date by allowing for modifications, such as mobile walls, relocation
in size, it does not matter. Flexibility design means designers can facilities, or development strategies [13]. In the Knowledge Society,

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Raz Kamaran Radha Ain Shams Engineering Journal xxx (xxxx) xxx

space can be viewed as three spaces: Virtual Space (VS), Ambient homes) and attempt to address the key question of how interior
Intelligent Space (AmI-S) and Physical Space (PS). The vistual space designers can use smart technology to increase space quality.
includes for e.g. Smart Wall, Smart Furniture allow information to
be transferred into and out of the home via connection to an infor- 3. Methodology
mation network. The ambient space is room is fitted with com-
puter equipment and sensors to assist in everyday life in the The aim of the research is to design Smart homes which are
future such as cooking, sleeping, washing, and personal tasks such flexible and adjusted to the needs of the poepl especially for the
as childcare. Physical space is the typical and widely used space region of Sulaiymanaih. The empirical nature of our research,
where people are with their bodies [3]. requires two steps for solving our research problem:

3.1. Theoretical level

2.4. Smart homes and spatial flexibility
A descriptive study approach was used at a theoretical level to
Smart interior design is characterized by its capacity to supply
organize nucleated information’s obtained from the Literature
an objective overview of the functions of building facilities; archi-
review to set guidelines for the concepts and principles of flexible
tecture has become a venue for information gathering, processing,
and versatile smart home design. Following this it was established
and analysis. The intelligent design architecture tracks and identi-
how smart technology impacts the day to day activities, type of
fies defects or weaknesses in building structures, ensuring the
space and relation between space in a and its function inside a
building’s occupants are secure and feel comfortable. It’s advanta-
smart home. The literature review forms the basis for organizing
geous to reducing the total operating cost because it offers reliable,
the survey questionnaire as well as design concepts to be consid-
real-time monitoring or onsite tracking [8]. It’s indeed possible to
ered for the prototypes.
explain smart interior design as the result of using techniques to
increase the flexibility of the structure compartment to minimize
the number of designed compartments while still following all 3.2. Practical level
requirements.
A lot of highly advanced and sophisticated smart electronics Included two steps. - Survey Questionnaire and Designing the
and interactive interconnected devices are in a smart home. Smart Home Prototypes. Virtual experiment tools were used to
Devices and spaces inside the smart home provide an atmosphere conduct questionnaire survey to collect preferences of the local
that is very simple, natural, and intelligent. Devices that are used in people of Sulaiymaniah city of design in a smart home. The
a Smart Home, assist people to conduct their day-to-day activities researcher decided to take 120 samples which were divided into
in a more simplistic, practical, and intelligent manner. ‘‘Smart flex- 2 groups based on the following living patterns of people in Sulaiy-
ible Partitions”, ‘‘Smart Boundaries” with adjustable transparency, maniah. The experiment started with final questionnaire and the
Smart kitchen tables are examples of such Smart devices which can respondents navigated with a virtual 3D tour through the smart
be used to provide flexible responses to change in user behavior home environment as well as watching several photos about the
inside a smart home [3]. smart technologies.
In the study it is suggested that a home is an activity system, Designing a model to evaluate how the future inner space could
and any improvements in the user’s desires and expectations be organized more efficiently by using smart technology, especially
necessitate a scalable system to respond to these changes. Flexibil- in Sulaymaniyah. In the successive parts of the domains of home
ity allows for the most effective use of services when using emerg- automation, spatial versatility and interior design key concepts
ing technology across a wide range of activities. and principles of designing a versatile Smart Home Prototype were
In the technical and functional sector, there were many gaps of built. The guidelines for overall and individual room sizes for the
knowledge which are motives for the research. Evaluating the pre- prototype were established based on Iraqi Urban Standards, Time
sent state of the sector reveals that smart home adoption in the saver’s standards, standard for designing smart furniture and sizes
housing sector is still lacking, owing to the lack of research into adopted in other international research works.
the actual advantages of smart homes for various target groups After establishing the sizes of the Prototype the internal layouts
[6]. Although academia and industry are attempting to realize were designed based on the combination of knowledge from,
domestic ambient intelligent solutions on small scale in attentive results of the questionnaire survey, international case studies,
home ventures, the majority of existing smart home research is components of Smart Homes and tools for flexibility in smart
still not realistic [4]. While smart technology seeks to increase homes. the researcher planned and designed Smart Home Models
the efficiency of inner space by incorporating devices and putting (small and large apartments) to make them more suitable and
the customer at the center of attention, the bulk of existing smart acceptable in market. The overview of the methodology of the
home research focuses on technology implementation, neglecting study is depicted in Fig. 1.
all living, practical, and spatial aspects. (The hardware is usually
applied to the room at the end of the design phase of most smart 4. Case study (Sulaimani – Kurdistan region of Iraq) designing
home designs.) [5]. People have diverse opinions on smart homes. of flexible smart home prototypes
Their level of approval is determined by how well the smart home
suits their tastes. Instead of forcing people to change their views In this study, the people of Sulaimani- Kurdistan Region of Iraq,
and habits to use a product, it should be built to support the in general, were considered as a case study. This section explains
intended users’ current values, desires, and behaviors [6,7]. Under- the methodology for designing hypothetical models for the future
standing why consumers are satisfied will aid designers and appli- Smart Home in Kurdistan, Iraq. The method consisted of five
cation engineers in matching their design options to what users phases to render the prototype: Analysis of the principles of flexi-
require and want. The effective influences on consumers’ happi- ble and versatile smart home design, Guidelines and standards for
ness can be understood with a smart home if individuals’ decisions the selection of Smart Home Model Size, Adapting the findings and
in a smart home design could be tested [5]. guidelines from Self-assessment questioners, Evaluation of inter-
As a result, we’ll look at the impact of smart technology on national smart home projects and Assessing components and tools
improving spatial stability in inner spaces (specifically in smart for design.
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Raz Kamaran Radha Ain Shams Engineering Journal xxx (xxxx) xxx

Fig. 1. Research methodology Overview.

4.1. Analysis of the principles of flexible and versatile smart home 4.1.1. An aspect related to activities
design And according to Erfaneh Allameh, three different practices are
perceived to be an essential part of a future Smart home [3]: Activ-
The three fundamental concepts of smart design are reactive, ities assisted by ambient intelligence, Information Activities and
interactive, and participatory. Reactive or Sensitive Architecture Day to Day Activities.
includes several small devices which run on the internet which All spaces and gadgets inside the Smart Home allow people to
sense actions and sensors in terms of a field of attention. When move the schedules, activities, and behaviors of daily life in a sim-
one of these sensors or devices is activated they react and respond ple, intelligent and natural manner. If such devices became com-
dynamically. Interactive architecture, instead of just reacting, as pact, more inter-linked, and more unified into the homeworld,
circular systems (interact). In the design of sensitive and adaptive the modern software will then disintegrate into the world before
environments, the components of a system include feedback loops users would understand the user interface alone. These technolog-
(the middleware) [13]. In any highly integrated adaptive and flex- ical developments impact the spatial requirements, way users
ible method, the most important problem in smart design is user inhabit the home and expectations of everyone who lives there.
override, and account needs to be taken of social and cultural influ- Technology integration into living spaces of the future living
ences. The primary aim of flexible, adaptive design is to develop spaces would result in changes in activities along five axes as sum-
capabilities to communicate interactively with the world and its marized in Table 2.
users. The consumer may affect the action of the machine or its
outcome and how it determines the action or result. The distinc-
4.1.2. Aspects related to space: unitary and versatile space
tion between dynamic and reactive architectures is really what
Modernism promotes the specialization of roles. Relation
enables us to see adaptive and responsive infrastructure as an
between roles is difficult because there were separate roles in var-
enabler of interconnections between modern people-spaces. Facil-
ious spaces. Versatile space requires numerous features. Given that
itating the shift in thinking of buildings as fixed objects towards
flexible room could be used in many ways, human development is
buildings as complicated user systems or feedback processes
generally welcomed and people could create space the way they
allowed architects, in terms of action and exercise, to rethink form
want. Versatile space makes it possible to facilitate planned con-
and function with meaning [14].
nectivity with various roles that exist in the same room, thereby
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Raz Kamaran Radha Ain Shams Engineering Journal xxx (xxxx) xxx

Table 2 4.2. Analysing guidelines and standards for the selection of smart
The five axes of human activity and manner in which Smart technology affect the
activities based on users live at home as well as the spatial requirements and desires
home model size
of all those residing there [2].
The researcher applied Iraqi Urban Housing Standards Require-
When Regular conditions can be modified due to programmable systems
and mobile technologies. The length of major activities will also be
ments [16] and Time-Saver Standards for Interior Design and Space
shortened and the time spent on activities such as leisure and Planning (Second Edition) [17] for the Smart Home Model design.
personal activities will be increased and the link between events The minimum standard furniture dimensions have been consid-
will change. ered from the source (Style Wise from Vern Yip: The Smart Guide
Where A transition will be under way to move the operations into the
to a Beautiful Home [18] (Table 3).
house. For example, children playing games will move out of the
bedroom through a smart wall into the living room. As in the home The researcher observed from Table 3 that according to the
office, work-related activities are no longer limited to one room. Grouping Samples the most suitable category for Group 1 samples
What The way operations are carried out with new technology and of people is Small Dwelling (Small-2) with one or two-bedroom
equipment should be much faster and healthier than at present and apartments and for Group 2 Samples is the category of medium
thus easier to use
Why There will be a variety of different practices to meet new targets and
dwelling (Medium – 2) which is a 3 bedroom apartment.
other practices embedded in the existing daily behaviors, such as The minimum room numbers available in the Small-2 and
social practice, elderly care, communications technology and tele- Medium-2 categories are shown in Table 4. The researcher also
learning. added room plans based on Time Saver principles for interior
How The relationship of the tasks carried out would be different. In fact,
design and space planning, recognizing the minimum areas of
the experience of many other things can vary, such as working from
home, watching TV, kitchen events, and exercise. rooms from the Urban Standards of Iraq (Second Edition). This will
allow us to get the most suitable architecture for time productivity.
The researcher on taking findings from both Tables 3 and 4
making the room more vibrant and compelling, more humanized, assumed that the areas of the Smart Home Models should be
and more organic. In the knowledge, society space is getting more within the upper extent of the criteria mentioned in the standards,
dynamic and may be identified as three spaces contained in some i.e. 75 m2 and 115 m2. To comply with emerging trends and
new home environment phenomena in which Ambient Intelligent requirements, the parameters and metrics used by the State Hous-
Space (AmI-S) and Virtual Space (VS) are paired with Physical ing Commission in the study are adjustable to improve by up to
Space (PS). 20%.

4.3. Adapting the findings and guidelines from self-assessment

4.1.3. Relation between space and function questioners
Analyzing the factors of a space that reacts with function may
provide strategies to encourage improvement. Work has some The researcher evaluated the target population of young people
relation to three spatial factors: scale, shape, and consistency. at the point of their lives where they are willing to spend and
And the work takes place in a set of spaces, linking them plays dream about owning their own house and are therefore more open
an essential part. to emerging technologies and embrace them. The researcher
agreed to take 120 samples based on the following living habits
 Size Versatile space requires functions that require identical of people in Sulaymaniyah, who were split into two different
dimensions. A suitable size and instructions for flexible design groups.
of space may be identified by listing the size of each necessary
feature. The size of a room in a suburban area also makes the Sample Category Group
place flexible, enabling opportunities for both old people to Numbers No.
learn and kids to play. The above spaces do not require a size
reduction to accommodate various functions. Often they will 60 Nos. of Couples which are Newly Married or 1
need to adjust the size of a room to do so. In an apartment, plac- people Couples with 1 Child
ing a wall in the center of a specially built bigger one might cre- 60 Nos. of Couples which are married and have 2
ate two smaller bedrooms. people 2–3 children
 Shape: Flexible space may perform functions that require sim-
ilar shapes without modifying itself. Versatile space may also
alter its form to accommodate numerous functions.
 Quality: Quality is another essential aspect of the relation The study was done in groups of 20 to 30 people. The final Ques-
between space and function. Space’s efficiency includes illumi- tionnaire was divided into 14 parts, each with 14 questions for
nation, ventilation, daylight, and temperature, and so on. Flexi- respondents to answer. The questions instruct people in imagining
ble space has features that require certain spatial qualities. A themselves in a smart house, how they will live in it, and how they
bedroom and a living room can need different kinds of natural will react to the questions. The respondents were taken on a simu-
light. The outer wall should be built to make a space flexible lated tour of a smart home community and shown multiple images
so that natural light can be changed. about smart technology to begin the experiment. The first clip is a
 Linkage: Some function exists inside a single space, while City Home Video, which presents the idea of Smart Homes and
others need a set of spaces. Related functions can involve differ- demonstrates how they can have versatile activity zones in an 80-
ent spatial connectivity. Versatile space may accommodate square-meter home. The video shows several possibilities for the
numerous functions by altering the relationship of a set of City House, such as the bedroom being a home gym, the living room
spaces. A broad building plan can be partitioned in various being a dinner party area, a hotel suite, two distinct workspaces
ways: Partitioning the plan into locked rooms linking the work- plus conference space, or an open flexible space for a big gathering.
place hallway or splitting the plan into a sequence of display The second shows how a 20-square-meter apartment with a mini-
rooms connected one by one. The role is different since the rela- mal footprint will act two- or three times its size. A transformable
tion is different. The way to make a space flexible is to include wall structure that incorporates furniture, packaging, fitness equip-
the option of modifying the linkage [15]. ment, lighting, office equipment, and entertainment systems
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Raz Kamaran Radha Ain Shams Engineering Journal xxx (xxxx) xxx

Table 3
Minimum indoor useful floor area requirement from the urban housing standards, 2010 Issued by Republic of Iraq, Ministry of Construction and Housing, based on studies carried
out by Polservice Company to prepare Housing Plan in Iraq) [16].

Category of dwelling Occupancy Rate In-door useful floor area of a dwelling

Number of persons per dwelling One-family housing (m2) Multi-family housing (m2)
Small 1 – – 57–63
2 1–3 75–81 69–75
Medium 1 3–5 99–105 93–99
2 5–7 114–120 108–114
Large 7–9 147–157 138–147
Extra Large 9–11 168–180 –
11 and more 183–195 –

accomplishes this. The third film discusses smart furniture and how c. In Smart Workspaces in both fixed and not fixed areas, peo-
it can be used to maximize efficiency in a Smart home. ple opted to use physical and not physical limitations
With the help of the virtual reality experimentation research d. In central and non-central areas, the majority of people
tool, the concept of Smart Home Environment could be generated choose to have a smart wall.
for the respondents and they were able to understand the ques- e. In private and public spaces, people choose to use physical
tions and efficiently respond to terms. Smart Boundaries.
The statistical analysis is detailed in Appendix 1 and observa- f. Tools to attain Smart Design: People prefer using the follow-
tions are summarized in Tables 5 and 6. Tables 7 and 8 define ing tools: Multi-Use Plan, adaptation for new activities,
the guidelines obtained from the survey for designing 75 m2 proto- mobility, responses, divisibility, multi-functionality, Trans-
type and 115 me prototype respectively. functionality, flexible furniture, and rearrange-ability of
Results from Samples of Group 1: People tend to re-organize layout)
tasks in place rather than in time at the beginning of their lives
and have a trend in the equal score for completing activities at a 4.4. Evaluation of international smart home projects
set time and in a fixed venue. To be interactive with Smart Home
architecture, the majority of people have adequate professional 4.4.1. MIT’s media lab – The city home project
education. They believe that by minimizing the use of space in It is around an 840-square-foot house (about 80 m2) with mov-
time, smart design can increase space efficiency. The sample ing walls that incorporate appliances, furniture, lights, office, and
accepts that the task will be different and it will be easy to perform potentially support entertainment systems. Dwellers may trans-
the activity. form the living room into a dining room or a home gym in the bed-
room (Fig. 2) [23].
Design Preferences: Users would want to have:
4.4.2. Spatial preference modeling of smart homes
a. There is indeed a preference for a separated Smart Kitchen Heidari et al. [10] of Technische Universiteit Eindhoven con-
from the Living Room, but there is still some interest for ducted experimental research on Smart home design: spatial pref-
an integrated kitchen. erence modeling of smart homes. This smart house is focused on
b. Smart living rooms isolated from the bedroom without the consumer’s needs. The model aims to establish the optimal
physical limitations is favored by people spatial layout for the public-private business, kitchen, and living
c. Smart workspaces with spatial constraints without any indi- room of a smart house. The spatial design of the smart home is tai-
cations of specific location are desired by most people. lored for different target markets. The model’s findings are pro-
d. In central and non-central areas, the majority of people jected to lead to future housing projects and the construction of
choose to have a smart wall. smart homes. Two distinct sizes of 125 m2 and 80 m2 smart houses
e. People tend to divide spaces using physical boundaries. are included in the research study. In the experiment, two different
f. Tools to attain Smart Design: People prefer using Multi-use sizes are used because the spatial requirements of people may be
plan, adaptation for new activities, mobility, responses, different in terms of size limitation; this means that in a large
divisibility, multi-functionality, Trans-functionality, flexible smart home, a spatial layout ideal for a small smart home may
furniture, and rearrange-ability of layout be inappropriate (Fig. 3).

Results from Samples of Group 2: The individuals from this 4.5. Assessing components and tools for design
group are more balanced and stabilized in life and choose more
than in time to re-organize tasks in place. People have a trend 4.5.1. Components
with an equal score for completing tasks at a set time and in a As summarized in Table 9, the components include the smart
fixed location. Most people agree that smart architecture can kitchen table, smart wall, smart floor, smart furniture, smart parti-
maximize space efficiency by minimizing the use of space in tion, and smart boundaries.
time and performing operations at the same time. Some of
them admit that they are capable of living in smart houses 4.5.2. Tools for design
while others deny,
1. Multi-use plan: Adjust the internal space shape and scale
Design Preferences: Individuals chose that they will have:
[20].
2. Use versatility in the construction of furniture: possibili-
a. Living Room and Smart Kitchen Separated
ties for the arrangement of furniture, transition informs,
b. People chose to use the bedroom separated from the Smart
additional use, and free forming [20].
Living Room.

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Table 4
Depicts the minimum room numbers required in S2 (Small Dwelling 2 Category from Table 3) and M2 (Medium Dwelling 2 Category from Table 3).

Small Apartment Medium Apartment

Minimum Numbers of
1 bedroom apartment 2 Bedroom Apartment
Rooms
(1-3 Person) (5-7 Person)
Living Room 1 1
Kitchen 1 1
Master Bedroom 1 1
Secondary Bedroom - 2
Bath 1 1
WC - 1
Store 1 1
Min. Areas of Rooms Dimensions Area Dimensions Area
4m x 5 m 21 m2 4m x 6 m 24 m2

Living Room

4.5m x 2m 9 m2 4.0m x 3m 12 m2

Kitchen

3.5m x 6m 21 m2 3.5m x 4.5m 15 m2

Master Bedroom

3m x 4m 12 m2

Secondary Bedroom - -

Bathroom 1.8m x 2.5m 4.5 m2 1.8m x 2.5m 4.5 m2

1m x 1.5m 1.5 m2

WC - -

Store 4.5 m2 6 m2
Circulation 6 m2 15 m2

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Table 5
Results from the statistical analysis of survey questionnaire sample group 1.

Values
1 2 3... . . 4 5
Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly
Disagree Agree
Q1- Do you believe that spatial flexibility is enhanced by your 1-Time-re-organizing activity 32% 20% 25% 10% 13%
personal interaction with smart interior design? If so, how? 2-Location Re- organizing activity 15% 13% 15% 35% 22%
Q2-In performing tasks, do you have your own particular 1- Performing fixed time activities 17% 15% 23% 27% 18%
pattern? If so, how? 2-Performing activities in a fixed location 13% 17% 25% 23% 22%
Q3 In your opinion will incorporating Smart technology affect 1- Become much easier? 17% 3% 8% 40% 32%
the manner of performing activities 2- Smart architecture helps develop different 12% 15% 23% 30% 20%
forms of behaviors and new uses.
3- There will be improvements in certain 13% 8% 20% 35% 23%
forms of tasks to the existing everyday
schedules.
Q4 Do you agree that smart architecture increases Space 1- Time use of space 12% 17% 17% 25% 30%
productivity? 2- Specific Time 18% 17% 27% 18% 20%
3- Night and Day Cycle 27% 13% 12% 25% 23%
Q5-Can you describe your insurance to have a good interactive 1- I have enough skill and technical education 42% 13% 13% 17% 15%
model? in smart home design
2- I don’t have enough skill and technical 70% 7% 8% 5% 10%
education in smart home design
3- I find some conflicts 53% 12% 13% 12% 10%
Q6- If you encounter any problems how would you like to 1- Automated 57% 12% 12% 5% 15%
resolve the issues? 2- By user 52% 8% 15% 12% 13%
3- Both 17% 7% 23% 20% 33%
Q7- Do you think that smart interconnected devices. Can help 1- Change Size, shape, quality 20% 12% 13% 27% 28%
you to re-configure your inner space easily by changing : 2- Modified layout 42% 15% 12% 17% 15%
3- Change use of spaces 23% 10% 12% 23% 32%
Q8- Spatial Responses are improved by using Smart technology 1- Understanding the behaviors of consumers 13% 3% 20% 30% 33%
by: 2- Coincident Boundary Responses 45% 18% 18% 10% 8%
3- Answers around neighboring spaces 38% 12% 15% 28% 7%
Q9-If you have the option to use the Smart Kitchen, how would 1- Separated from living area 30% 7% 7% 30% 27%
you want it to be reorganized? 2- Integrated with living 43% 5% 12% 8% 32%
Q10- If you have the possibilities to use -Smart Living spaces– 1- Isolated from the bedroom 20% 0% 10% 23% 47%
how would you like to reorganize it? 2-Built-in with bedroom 70% 8% 7% 3% 12%
3- An area of without physical borders 40% 13% 12% 22% 13%
4- Area with physical limitations 40% 13% 3% 27% 17%
Q11- How would you like to reorganize it if you have the choice 1- Fixed spaces 47% 3% 8% 17% 25%
to use Smart Workspaces? 2- Not fixed spaces 55% 7% 0% 13% 25%
3- With physical boundaries 37% 3% 13% 32% 15%
4- Without physical boundaries 55% 10% 8% 13% 13%
Q12- If you have the option to use the Smart Wall, in which 1- Central location 60% 7% 3% 7% 23%
room would you like to find it? 2- Not central 67% 2% 3% 13% 15%
3- Both 50% 5% 5% 12% 28%
Q13- If you’ve the potential to use Smart Boundaries, how do 1- Without physical boundaries 43% 13% 8% 18% 17%
you choose to do it? 2- With physical boundaries 27% 7% 7% 27% 33%
Q15- Which tool you Multi-use plan: 1. Change shape of internal space 20% 7% 12% 32% 30%
preferred to use to create 2. Change size of internal space 17% 8% 17% 27% 32%
flexibility Adapt: Spaces must adjust to 1. Functions change 18% 5% 13% 32% 32%
2. Users change 40% 0% 18% 20% 22%
3. Climates change 45% 12% 10% 18% 15%
Mobility: 1. Move Elements 40% 10% 13% 10% 27%
2. Elements rearrange 30% 2% 13% 23% 32%
3. Converting the room into an area inside/ 42% 10% 15% 7% 27%
outside
4. Elements Relocate 27% 12% 32% 8% 22%
5. Add elements within an existing main 50% 5% 15% 18% 12%
structure
Responses: 1. Automatic or intuitive ways 45% 12% 12% 18% 13%
2. In an interactive ways 23% 2% 25% 20% 30%
Divisibility: Dividing spaces in 1. Long terms –fixed unit 52% 17% 7% 17% 8%
levels of operational life – span: 2. Short term – exchangeable unit 18% 10% 17% 17% 38%
Multi-functionality: Physical components of space used for - a set 15% 10% 20% 35% 20%
of known different functions
Trans-functionality: Physical components of space used for 30% 15% 13% 27% 15%
unpredictable functions
Divisibility 1. Relationship between units, 38% 12% 13% 23% 13%
2. Accessibility to separate units 37% 2% 12% 28% 22%
Using Flexibility in furniture 1. Re- arrangement 33% 8% 20% 20% 18%
design 2. Transform-ability 22% 12% 23% 20% 23%
3. Moving 45% 2% 17% 15% 22%
Redesign-(ability) Rearrange- 1. Layout 23% 8% 18% 25% 25%
Ability: 2. Linkage 43% 20% 15% 7% 15%

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Table 6
Results from the statistical analysis of survey questionnaire sample group 2.

Values
1 2 3 4 5
Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly
Disagree Agree
Q1- Do you believe that spatial flexibility is enhanced by your 1-Time-re-organizing activity 27% 13% 25% 20% 15%
personal interaction with smart interior design? If so, how? 2-Location Re- organizing activity 18% 10% 15% 28% 28%
Q2-In performing tasks, do you have your own particular 1- Performing fixed time activities 25% 10% 13% 17% 35%
pattern? If so, how? 2-Performing activities in a fixed location 25% 13% 18% 27% 17%
Q3 In your opinion will incorporating Smart technology affect 1- Become much easier? 18% 5% 12% 38% 27%
the manner of performing activities 2- Smart architecture helps develop different 13% 10% 17% 37% 23%
forms of behaviors and new uses.
3- There will be improvements in certain 10% 7% 32% 40% 12%
forms of tasks to the existing everyday
schedules.
Q4 Do you agree that smart architecture increases Space 1- Time use of space 12% 12% 8% 50% 18%
productivity? 2- Specific Time 20% 12% 17% 37% 15%
3- Night and Day Cycle 23% 5% 20% 22% 30%
Q5-Can you describe your insurance to have a good interactive 1- I have enough skill and technical education 38% 17% 5% 22% 18%
model? in smart home design
2- I don’t have enough skill and technical 58% 7% 8% 20% 7%
education in smart home design
3- I find some conflicts 32% 25% 30% 8% 5%
Q6- If you encounter any problems how would you like to 1- Automated 42% 8% 8% 15% 27%
resolve the issues? 2- By user 42% 12% 13% 12% 22%
3- Both 22% 5% 17% 15% 42%
Q7- Do you think that smart interconnected devices. Can help 1- Change Size, shape, quality 22% 8% 13% 32% 25%
you to re-configure your inner space easily by changing: 2- Modified layout 22% 12% 27% 22% 18%
3- Change use of spaces 10% 7% 22% 23% 38%
Q8- Spatial Responses are improved by using Smart technology 1- Understanding the behaviors of consumers 18% 13% 17% 27% 25%
by: 2- Coincident Boundary Responses 37% 15% 28% 13% 7%
3- Answers around neighboring spaces 27% 8% 20% 28% 17%
Q9-If you have the option to use the Smart Kitchen, how would 1- Separated from living area 32% 3% 8% 12% 45%
you want it to be reorganized? 2- Integrated with living 37% 13% 7% 22% 22%
Q10- If you have the possibilities to use -Smart Living spaces– 1- Isolated from the bedroom 12% 3% 3% 27% 55%
how would you like to reorganize it? 2-Built-in with bedroom 78% 8% 7% 7% 0%
3- An area of without physical borders 47% 5% 10% 22% 17%
4- Area with physical limitations 33% 8% 15% 20% 23%
Q11- How would you like to reorganize it if you have the choice 1- Fixed spaces 47% 8% 8% 15% 22%
to use Smart Workspaces? 2- Not fixed spaces 52% 2% 3% 15% 28%
3- With physical boundaries 43% 10% 13% 18% 15%
4- Without physical boundaries 45% 3% 7% 23% 22%
Q12- If you have the option to use the Smart Wall, in which 1- Central location 42% 5% 5% 17% 32%
room would you like to find it? 2- Not central 52% 7% 12% 17% 13%
3- Both 28% 5% 12% 28% 27%
Q13- If you’ve the potential to use Smart Boundaries, how do 1- Without physical boundaries 42% 3% 13% 22% 20%
you choose to do it? 2- With physical boundaries 12% 3% 12% 25% 48%
Q15- Which tool you Multi-use plan: 1. Change shape of internal space 28% 12% 7% 18% 35%
preferred to use to create 2. Change size of internal space 13% 7% 15% 35% 30%
flexibility Adapt: Spaces must adjust to 1. Functions change 25% 5% 22% 28% 20%
2. Users change 17% 8% 17% 32% 27%
3. Climates change 25% 8% 10% 27% 30%
Mobility: 1. Move Elements 40% 7% 8% 23% 22%
2. Rearrange Elements 35% 12% 10% 23% 20%
3. Converting The Room Into An Inside/ 38% 10% 13% 20% 18%
Outside Space
4. Relocate Elements 33% 17% 18% 10% 22%
5. Add elements within an existing main 52% 17% 10% 12% 10%
structure
Responses: 1. Automatic or intuitive ways 33% 12% 2% 30% 23%
2. In an interactive ways 20% 10% 25% 23% 22%
Divisibility: Dividing spaces in 1. Long terms –fixed unit 50% 12% 13% 13% 12%
levels of operational life – span: 2. Short term – exchangeable unit 30% 3% 3% 23% 40%
Multi-functionality: Physical components of space used for - a set 10% 18% 15% 37% 20%
of known different functions
Trans-functionality: Physical components of space used for 37% 10% 23% 13% 17%
unpredictable functions
Divisibility 1. Relationship between units, 32% 10% 13% 23% 22%
2. Accessibility to separate units 25% 12% 18% 25% 20%
Using Flexibility in furniture 1. Re- arrangement 23% 12% 17% 22% 27%
design 2. Transform-ability 35% 12% 20% 13% 20%
3. Moving 37% 18% 20% 13% 12%
Redesign-(ability) Rearrange- 1. Layout 15% 7% 17% 30% 32%
Ability: 2. Linkage 28% 25% 18% 20% 8%

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Table 7 Table 8
Guidelines from statistical analysis of survey questionnaire data for designing–Smart Guidelines from statistical analysis of survey questionnaire data for designing-Smart
Home Model 1 (75 m2)/Married with 1 child. Home Model 2 (115 m2)/Married with 2–3 children.

Q. Results From Survey Provision in Smart Home Model 1 Q. Results from Survey Provision in Smart Home Model 2
(75 m2) (115 m2)
1 People prefer to re-organize Giving multiple locations for each 1 People prefer to re-organize Giving multiple locations for each
activities in location more than in activity activities in location more than in activity
time. time.
2 People have a pattern for doing Have the concept of Public and 2 People have a pattern for doing Have the concept of Public and
activities at fixed time and in fixed Private location activities at fixed time and in fixed Private location
location in equivalent score location in equivalent score
3 People think that activity will be Using spatial interconnected 3 People think that activity will be – Using more advanced smart
different:doing activity will be devices and smart furniture different: devices and furniture
easier 1. doing activity will be easier – Using more activity in the
4 Majority of people think that Doing more than one activities in 2. new types of activity will be same space and time
smart design will improve the same space emerged and this activity – Adding advanced table
Productivity of space by become daily rotten – Using multi-use plane
minimizing time use of space 3. duration of activity
5 Majority of people have enough Using spatial smart devices in the 4. location
technical education to be whole design 4 Majority of people think that Using multiple activities in one
interactive with Smart Home smart design will improve location at a particular time. Using
design Productivity of space by more open space.
6 Majority of people would like Using participatory model which minimizing time use of space and
conflicts to be resolved in an is Hybridized Model doing activity in the same specific
automated and user interactive time
manner. 5 Some of them accept that they are – Using some fixed spaces in the
7 Majority of people would like to – Using interconnected devices, capable of living in Smart homes apartment ,like hot kitchen
re-configure inner space easily by using versatile space and while others disagree and master bedroom
changing Size, shape, change use reschedule activities – using more physical movable e
of spaces, and layout. – Increase no. of layout partitions
8 Majority of people preferred that Giving different possibility for 6 Majority of people would like Using participatory model
improve spatial responses will be scheduling activities depending on conflicts to be resolved in an
improved by Recognizing user individual needs automated and user interactive
activities. manner.
9 People would like to have a Separating and integrating Kitchen 7 People would like to re-configure – Using interconnected devices,
separated Smart Kitchen from the with Living area by using foldable the inner space easily by using versatile space and
Living Area however there is some partitions modifying Layout, size shape and reschedule activities
demand of an integrated Kitchen quality, and Change use of spaces, – Increase no. of layout design
as well. 8 People Smart design improve – The researcher have made pro-
10 People preferred smart Living Using movable smart partition. spatial responses by Recognizing visions for carrying out spatial
Room that separated from the user activities & Responses across responses by
Bedroom without physical adjacent spaces – Using more adjacent spaces
boundaries 9 People prefer having a separated – Using fixed separated hot
11 Majority of people preferred - Workspace has different separate Smart Kitchen from the Living Area kitchen
Smart Workspaces with physical locations. With physical boundary. – Using physical movable
boundaries without any indication partition
for location 10 People preferred to use Smart – Using separate master
12 Majority of people prefer to have a Smart wall in central location and Living Room separated from the bedroom
smart wall in central and non- flat screen in non-central location. Bedroom. – Using physical movable
central location. partition
13 People prefer Physical Boundaries Using smart physical elements – Using physical fixed folding
to separate spaces. more than non-physical. partitions
14 To create flexibility, People prefer – Improve Capacity for changing 11 People preferred using physical – Using physical movable
using the following tools: (Multi – Size -Shape, layout and activ- and not physical boundaries in partition
use plan, adaptation for new ity by using smart intercon- Smart Workspaces in both fixed – Using physical fixed folding
activities, mobility, responses, nected spatial devices. and not fixed locations partitions
divisibility, multi-functionality, – Using smart furniture for
Trans-functionality, flexible offices
furniture, and rearrange-ability of 12 Majority of people prefer to have a – Using movable Smart wall that
layout). smart wall in central and non- can be used from both side
central location.
13 People prefer using physical Smart – Using physical smart portions
Boundaries in private and public – Using smart wall and storage
3. Adapt: Building architecture to conform to multiple pur- zone – smart furniture
poses, customers, and climates [20]. 14 To create flexibility,People prefer – Improve Capacity for changing
using thefollowingtools:(multiUse – Size, shape, layout and activity
4. Dividing: Constructing a structure for versatility across a set
Plan, adaptation fornew activities, - by using smart interconnected
of intervention levels [19]. mobility, responses, divisibility, spatial devices
5. Transform: means the ability to modify the shape, space, multi-functionality, Trans-
atmosphere, or appearance of buildings by physically modi- functionality, flexiblefurniture, and
fying their foundation, skin, or internal surfaces. [19] rearrange-ability of layout)

6. Moving: involves changing the room into an inside/outside

area that communicates separately and more immediately 8. Multi-functionality: The ability to use space in multiple
with the external world [19]. ways and with a set of known functions [19].
7. Interact Buildings that respond in automated or intuitive 9. Trans-functionality: development of new undetermined
ways to user requirements [19]. and unknown features in conjunction with the free user
interface and the use of space [19].

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Fig. 2. International case study showing Floor Plan MIT City Home Project [23].

Fig. 3. Spatial preference modeling of Smart Homes [2]. a) 80 m2 Spatial Layout, b) 125 m2 Spatial Layout.

10. Mobility: Moving, rearranging, tossing out, or adding pieces with the concept, the study makes an effort to model unique forms
built-in. [20]. and lifestyles in future smart homes and smart cities specific to
11. Divisibility: The capacity to divide the house into many Iraq based on the socio-economic situation of the countries to con-
functional units [20]. tribute to eliminating homogeneity in Smart cities worldwide and
12. Elasticity: Possibility, either horizontally or vertically, to design them in such a way that they are unique to the people of
extend (or retract) a structure [20]. Kurdistan Region making it more acceptable.
In terms of research methods, Perri et al. [29] performed a
related analysis to investigate the individual-level motivating fac-
5. Results and Discussions: tors that influence the intention to follow ‘‘smart technology use
and development behaviors.” The study, like ours, uses a question-
In the twenty-first century, society, technology, and people- naire survey to produce findings that show that mood, subjective
place relationships have all undergone significant changes. It is standard and perceived behavioral regulation all influence adop-
important to explore the user’s experience and the present status tion intention positively. The study uses a survey questionnaire
of smart homes to promote the introduction and acceptance of to understand people’s behavioral patterns to understand spatial
smart home technologies [24]. In this study an attempt was made modifications required for them to adopt smart technology in their
to adapt the Smart Home design using the idea of versatility to fit daily activities. Another research paper by [30] used ideas similar
the character of the people of Sulaiymaniah arising from elements to ours, such as sociodemographic factors, personality characteris-
of people’s daily lives to make the Smart Home design more tics, and behaviors toward smart homes, to forecast customer
embraced and encouraged. engagement in embracing a smart home.
The problem with development plans in certain cities that As a result of the study, two concept models were produced, the
ignore the fundamentals of socio-cultural diversity or cope with first one with 8 layouts (Model 1–75 m2) and the second with
competitive problems in a fractured and uncoordinated way [25]. around 8 layouts (Model 2–115 m2). Model 1 prototype normally
As a result, there must be a paradigm change in the creation of built to accommodate 3 people according to standards and can
new smart homes and smart communities, as well as their adop- be enhanced to accommodate 5 people, this model can also accom-
tion. Elshater et al. [26] and Ghalib et al. [27] focuses in their stud- modate possible 15 people on special occasions such as group time,
ies on the development of emerging cities and the question of while Model 2 is usually configured to accommodate 5 people
smart city homogeneity in terms of urban forms and lifestyles. according to standards and can be enhanced to accommodate 7
The study supports that a smart city or smart home should have people, (like party time).
its features and distinctiveness to be adopted by users.
Demonstrates the disparities and parallels in technological and
economic factors and challenges to the growth of the smart home
market in three European countries with diverse policy and socio- 5.1. Smart home prototype 1 (75 m2)
economic contexts [28]. In the research by combining the results of
international case studies and feedback from local target popula- Contemporary homes with 75 m2 floor areas could support 3
tions Smart home models were designed to adapt to the needs of people according to requirements, while in smart architecture it
people choosing to live in a smart city or smart in Iraq. In – line can accommodate a minimum of 3 people, a medium of 5 people,
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Table 9
Smart kitchen table, smart wall, smart floor, smart furniture, smart partition and smart boundaries as smart home model components.

No. Component Reference Photos

1 Smart Kitchen Table Whirlpool Top Smart Kitchen Collaborative Cook

2 Smart Wall Microsoft Hololens 2 Touchscreen Smart Wall

3 Smart floor Smart Floors – Lumo Play

4 Smart furniture Smart Furniture – Marveltech Touchscreen

5 Smart partition and smart boundaries Movable Walls from Ikea

and 15 people on special occasions (like party time) (Fig. 4 and a) Smart Kitchen: While in most homes, conventional kitchens
Appendix II for detailed plans). (SEE Fig. 5.) are still a distinct location, the kitchen is supposed to be
incorporated with the living space in the future houses to
a) Versatile Space: in the hypothetical concept design, func- encourage multitasking beyond physical constraints and
tions involving changing size in identical shapes could be can handle activities like recreation, social networking, vir-
fulfilled, and the form could also be modified to contain var- tual activities, employment-related activities, and family
ious functions. events.
b) Linkage: By modifying the linkage of a set of spaces, space b) Smart Living and Workspace: Smart living rooms can facil-
will handle various functions. There are various ways in itate a variety of activities in future houses, including watch-
which inner spaces can be linked: ing TV, children’s games, e-learning, working from home/
– Semi-private locations creation: Using a smart Movable teleworking, telecommunicating, and surfing the internet.
partition and a smart folding partition. The placement of the Smart Walls, the configuration of the
– Public and semi-public location creation: By Smart fur- furniture around it, and the whole space are all influenced
niture, space folding partition, smart moveable by these modern interactive elements. The convention living
partitions. room would be somewhat different from these new config-
urations in terms of internal layout.
We found in eight different formats that spatial organization
can be modified in the following key regions, each of which can Personal zones and wellness zones: Instead of thinking of a
be affected in a Smart Home by emerging technology. house as a set of rooms devoted to particular activities, imagine

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Fig. 4. Re-arrange able Layouts for Smart Home Model 1 a. Sleep Time Layout b. Child Activity Layout c. Dining Layout d. Entertainment Layout e. Tele-Education Layout f.
Gathering Layout g. Work Time Layout h. Party Layout.

it as a sequence of multifunctional areas where routine household The Versatile Space can be divided into:
operations can take place. When activities migrate away from the
bedroom and into other spaces, bedrooms tend to be redundant in 1. Smart kitchen: In Model 2, the investigator built the kitchen
their current state, and sleeping zones are more likely to become based on the same ideas as Model 1. Here, according to the
private zones. respondent’s specifications, the researcher added a cooking
zone that is a set hot kitchen.
2. Smart living and Workspace: The Smart living room is built
5.2. Smart home prototype 2 (115 m2)
similarly to the same concept as the Smart Home Model 1 in
the Model 2 (Big Apartment), except that the Smart Wall is
Conventional apartments with 115 m2 floor space can accom-
two-sided and movable.
modate 5 people according to specifications, while in smart archi-
3. Fixed Bedroom: In addition to sleeping purposes, the survey
tecture they can accommodate at least 5 people, 7 people on
results found that people need a bedroom as a private space.
average, and 20 people on special occasions (like party time)
Therefore, in the Smart Home Model 2, the investigator built a
Flexible space could serve functions involving identical shapes
set bedroom (Big Apartment).
with changing sizes in the Smart Home Model 2 (Big Apartment)
design; it could also change the form to contain various functions.
Numerous public, semi-public, private (Fixed Space), semi- 6. Conclusion
private, and service zone zones are served by three stations.
Responsive, adaptive, distinctive, and resilient architecture is
a) Versatile Space: In Model 2 (larger apartment), the versatil- needed in the twenty-first century. Smart interior design defines
ity declines relative to Model 1, as the three stations contain the most effective techniques for delivering a convenient, relaxing,
a range of Master Bedrooms (smaller apartments). enjoyable, and profitable atmosphere by responding quickly, ver-
b) Linkage: Space can handle different functions by changing satile, and economically to the often complex and complicated
the linkage of a series of spaces. There are various ways in demands made by occupants. The research aims to develop an
which inner spaces can be connected: optimal model that can serve as the foundation for implementing
– Private location creation: Using a fixed partition smart home concepts in the real world, as well as be adopted by
– Semi-private location creation: Using a smart folding par- people and becoming a part of their daily lives.
tition and a smart moving partition According to the results of the survey, people in Category 1 are
– Public and semi-public creation: Smart moveable por- more likely to embrace Smart Home Technology and accept the
tions by folding partitions. idea of open inner spaces with the incorporation of traditional

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Raz Kamaran Radha Ain Shams Engineering Journal xxx (xxxx) xxx

Fig. 5. Smart Home Prototype 1 (115 m2) with fixed master bedroom zone: Re-arrange able Layouts for Smart Home Model 2 a. Sleep Time Layout b. Child Activity Layout c.
Dining Layout d. Entertainment Layout e. Tele-Education Layout f. Gathering Layout g. Work Time Layout h. Party Layout.

public and private zones. They agree that a Smart home would (a) Reducing the need for separate physical spaces for everyday
improve their way of living and quality of life. People in Group 2 activities.
samples, on the other hand, are somewhat resistant to the concept (b) Some tele-activities use virtual space instead of physical
of smart houses. Some confess to being capable of living in smart space.
homes, although others dismiss it. They are more strict in keeping (c) The use of multifunctional and modular instruments and
the fixed private zone of the buildings, resulting in a lower degree furniture.
of versatility. (d) Increasing the versatility of the room
Based on these two smart home prototypes Model 1–75 m2 and
Model 2–115 m2 were created and planned in this study to demon- Smart Model 1 has an area of 75 m2, which is ideal for a one-
strate that future interior space, especially in Sulaymaniyah, could bedroom apartment according to Iraqi Urban Standards. However,
be arranged more efficiently using smart technology with the fol- by using smart technologies, a one-bedroom apartment could be
lowing conclusions: converted into a smart apartment with three bedrooms.

1. By incorporating smart architectural elements, increased 5. Inner-space spatial organization: There have been no strict dis-
degree of design versatility was achieved and it was discovered tinctions between private and public spaces, and private areas
that changing size, shape, reference, and layout became easier, can be made public. Flexible elements in a smart space (mov-
faster, and allowed us more options for organizing spaces in able partitions or transferrable furniture, for example) divide
smart homes based on the idea of a smart hypothetical model. into multi-functional areas called locations capable of shifting
2. Smart technology boosts space and time efficiency. Many of the as per user operation from public-semipublic, private, semipri-
gadgets and spaces in the Smart Home assist people in carrying vate spaces when taking into account the environment, based
out their daily routines, duties, and habits in a simple, natural, on the concept of Sparse Spatial distribution and Dispersed Net-
and insightful manner. Smart technology encourages consistent work for Intelligent Devices.
and optimum space use. 6. Smart living rooms: One of the most important challenges to
3. Apartments with compact floor plans are more profitable solve as a result of changes in societal habits in a Smart Home
because they accommodate day and night periods, an ever- is the changing interaction between private and public zones.
changing population, the spatial needs of various age classes, Many events should be able to take place at the same time or
and the demand for space for various services. at various times. These modern interactive features have an
4. Space-saving: The Modular Smart Home Model can lead to impact on where the Smart Walls are placed, how the furniture
space-saving by: is arranged around them, and how the whole room is designed.

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Fig. 6. Shows an example of the application from the model. The Smart wall in the research models can be used as guideline for further customization of furniture design to
be suitable for fitting in the flexible smart wall design.

Personal zones and wellness areas, as well as their relationship bedrooms seem to be less necessary in their current form, and
with public areas of a building, are another important subject in sleeping zones as private zones are more likely to emerge.
Smart Home spatial organization research. The researcher con- According to the findings of the study, people need a bedroom
cluded that thinking of a house as a collection of multifunc- as a private space in addition to sleeping (Model 2).
tional places in which the various daily activities of the 10. Physical spaces should be adaptable for modular smart
household can occur. is more beneficial than thinking of it as home architecture. Technology is more than a way of life;
a series of rooms dedicated to single functions. it is a must to keep up with improvements in consumers’
7. Smart workspace: For the past century, employment and per- desires and preferences, hence effective innovations must
sonal life were seen as distinct entities. This trend, however, be incorporated to meet the objectives.
will be reversed by the growing convergence of the two realms, 11. Increasing modular operation and reducing fixed space in
according to smart home architecture. Work-life convergence in housing designs to reduce the need for renovation and build-
the Smart Home is impacting the boundary between work and ing work in the future.
other living spaces, according to the study. The most significant 12. In a Smart Home people should arrange their tasks based on
benefit is that it does not necessitate the use of a specific space. the three axes below, as seen in the prototypes:
Thanks to ICT and AMI technologies, any room in the house can (a) Time: Scheduling Time
be converted into a home office. As a result of these develop- (b) Location: Various Locations
ments, a structurally distinct area is no longer expected, and (c) Devices: Different Devices
the distinction between workspace and living room is becoming
increasingly blurred.
8. Smart Kitchens: In general, people want a kitchen that is free of 6.1. Theoretical and practical implications
physical boundaries and can accommodate multitasking activi-
ties such as entertainment, social communication, virtual According to the writer, the principles in Tables 7 and 8 can be
sports, work-related activities, and family events, among other used in the realistic implementation of modeling outputs in actual
things. smart home architecture. The final smart home models built in this
9. Private zone: In the future, such rooms will most likely be study can be used to mass customize smart homes in a cost-
replaced by multifunctional spaces in smart homes. In model effective manner. Fig. 6 depicts an outline of the model’s imple-
1, as behaviors move out of the bedroom and into other spaces, mentation. In the testing, there is a smart wall. Models can be used

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as a starting point for more customizing furniture designs to fit Further studies into the benefits of smart technologies in the
into a modular smart wall design. industrial and hospitality markets, such as aged homes for hospi-
Smart Home Technologies in the real world can be applied to tals and emergency management, may be undertaken.
assist Sulaimaniah city in coping with housing stress. As a result
of the growing population, housing demand has risen in Northern
Iraq, including Sulaymaniah district. According to the results, one Declaration of Competing Interest
of the best ways to reduce housing stress is to incorporate Smart
Technology that leads to scalable designs for the housing industry The authors declare that they have no known competing finan-
to achieve sustainability. The researcher recommends reducing the cial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared
amount of non-flexible operations and fixed space in the housing to influence the work reported in this paper.
architecture to prevent potential demolition and construction
programs.
Appendix A. Supplementary material
According to research, physical spaces in modular smart home
architecture should be adaptable. Technology is more than a way
Supplementary data to this article can be found online at
of life; it is a must to keep up with improvements in consumers’
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2021.05.027.
desires and expectations, so we must use suitable solutions to
achieve our objectives. To avoid the need for renovation and build-
ing work for potential extensions, increase adaptive operation and References
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