Dwelling conditions and preferences in a multilocational way of life for job reasons

Abstract

Job-induced commuting between two residences has attracted interest from both academia and the public in recent years. However, housing issues in a multilocational way of life are barely addressed in research to date. In this paper commuters' dwelling experiences, dwelling and residential environment preferences and non-preferences at both residences are investigated from the perspective of the individual. The data presented in this paper are based on quantitative and qualitative methods. Particular dwelling profiles of commuters at their secondary residence are derived from multivariate analyses. Concerning objective dwelling conditions and subjective dwelling preferences at the secondary residence a distinction between five types of dwelling of commuters becomes apparent: a first group who can realise their preferences for higher amenity values, (2) commuters with very small and simple dwellings and overall low dwelling needs, (3) commuters with sizeable, high standard secondary dwellings and overall high dwelling preferences, (4) commuters who cannot fulfil their dwelling preferences at the secondary residence, and (5) commuters with dwelling preferences lower than the actual dwelling conditions offer. Corresponding to the wide range of dwelling arrangements, the meanings that commuters attach to their secondary dwelling differ remarkably. The secondary dwelling is perceived by some as a working base, for others it is a place of well-being and intimacy or a second home. Dwelling conditions and preferences at the job-used secondary residence are influenced by commuting arrangement, household/family lifecycle, employment conditions, and lifestyle.

Introduction: The (In)visibility of Multi-locality in Theory and Practice

“…More recent research on multi-locality has aimed at mapping out multi-locality conceptually (Nadler, 2009;Weichhart, 2015;Schmidt-Kallert, 2016) and developing a typology of multi-local practices (Duchêne-Lacroix, 2014). The range of multi-local practices is quite broad, including job-related multi-locality (Jordan, 2008;Schneider, Meil, 2008;Thieme, 2008;Reuschke, 2012;Garde, 2021), non-cohabitating or "Living Apart Together" couples and post-separation families (Schier et al, 2015;Schier, 2016;Merla, Nobels, 2019), and second homes (Bonnin, Villanova, 1999; | Traditiones Bendix, Löfgren, 2007;Rolshoven, 2007). Studies focused on developing typologies of multi-local practices also analyzed overlapping lines of inquiry into diverse forms of multi-locality, be they established practices of the past (Duchêne-Lacroix, Mäder, 2013) or practices that are analyzed within other conceptual frameworks (e.g., for second homes, see Bendix, Löfgren, 2007).…”

Monipaikkaisuuden ja paikkariippumattomuuden vaikutukset alue- ja yhdyskuntarakenteeseen

“…Kansainvälisesti on tutkittu muun muassa työhön, perhesuhteisiin ja vapaa-aikaan liittyvää monipaikkaisuutta (Dittrich-Wesbuer ym., 2015; Schier ym., 2015; Hilti, 2011). Aiemmassa tutkimuksessa on tarkasteltu muun muassa urbaaneja tietotyöläisiä, jotka sukkuloivat eri paikkojen ja metropolien välillä (Hilti, 2011;Hannonen, 2020) sekä toisessa maassa tai paikkakunnalla työskenteleviä suorittavien ammattien työntekijöitä tai kausityöläisiä (Greiner, 2012;Reuschke, 2012), joiden elämä rakentuu usean eri paikan vuorovaikutuksessa. Perhesuhteiden osalta tutkijat ovat olleet kiinnostuneita esimerkiksi uusio-ja eroperheiden asumisen järjestelyistä (Forsberg & Ritala-Koskinen, 2017) ja muualla asuvien omaisten hoivaan liittyvästä monipaikkaisuudesta (Schier ym., 2015).…”

Multi-local Living in Mazowieckie Province: Specificity and Universality of an Underestimated Phenomenon

“…Nevertheless, multi-locality cannot be characterized exclusively by mobility, and it should be seen more as a conjunction or nexus between mobility and sedentariness. Multi-locality research most often describes the everyday practices of mobile employees and changes in their lifestyles (see Rolshoven, 2009;Rolshoven, Winkler, 2009), while residential multi-locality is considered a new concept in mobile housing arrangements (see Reuschke, 2012). The first group of studies on multi-locality concentrates on career-oriented elites who operate on a global scale (see Bonss et al, 2004) as well as a local one.…”