'Shop as Home': The Meaning of Built Environment to Quality of Life of Shop Houses Residents in Medan, Indonesia

The shophouse is an urban house type that combines a residential and a shop in one building. This typology is commonly found in Medan and other cities in Indonesia due to its flexible space. Among the various studies on shophouses, minimal ones discuss the occupants' point of view. However, they are the most appropriate party to be asked about their living experiences in that multi-functional house. This study aims to explore the meaning of a shophouse for its residents. This is a qualitative research with a phenomenological approach that analyses the essence of a phenomenon based on the actual experiences of people live there. Ten participants were selected purposefully and their experiences were explored through in-depth interviews. This research applies the interpretative method by carrying out the steps of structured phenomenological analysis proposed by Moustakas. The investigation found that participants give meaning to a shophouse as ‘where all life takes place.’ There are some problems while living in the shophouse, but the dwellers can cope with it until they feel no significant obstacles while living in it to achieve the desired quality of life. The study results strengthen the study of the relationship between the built environment and the achievement of quality of life and provide a new perspective in assessing shop houses, particularly in Medan, Indonesia. This study has limitations because it focuses more on a person's personal experience living in a shophouse. However, the findings can make contribution to urban planning activities, especially the development of shophouses to maintain urban residents' life quality. Besides, the results of this research can enrich the insight of architectural design in understanding occupants' preferences for a double-functioning building.