Archive | 2021
Habitability as SPACE
Abstract
This chapter describes an Integrated Habitability Model of psychological, physiological, sociocultural and spatial habitability considerations. The meaning of the term ‘habitability’ is fraught with differences in usage, focus, application and definition. Historically, it has evolved from ‘habitability as location’ (In astronomy and astrobiology the ‘habitable zone’ is a range of orbits around a star (e.g., our sun) within which a planetary surface can support liquid water given sufficient pressure.) to ‘habitability as living space’. In application, it is used by different professions with a variety of underlying foci. Thus, a multiplicity of concepts exists. As such, it provides challenges to systematic study as well as constructive dialogue. This chapter gives a systematic overview of the common features and differences of those concepts and argues for a robust inclusive model centered around inhabitant experience of space as a central core.