Systematic literature review of architectural

challenges and adaptations, application to housing plants

Abstract

Systematic Literature Review (SLR) is widely explored in the health sciences; however, in the field of social sciences, it is still an underutilized method and requires adaptations. This article aims to identify the main difficulties and adaptations of SLR in architecture. The empirical basis for the discussion is an investigation into the procedures adopted by real estate developers to define the floor plans of housing units. The methodology is described and discussed. This SLR was divided into four stages: formulation of the research question, screening, data extraction, and conclusion. To enhance the scope of studies with a qualitative nature, two additional techniques were included: the snowball technique and the approach technique. The article also discusses the challenges of applying SLR in architecture. The first challenge is the difficulty in defining search terms, due to terminological variation in qualitative research. The second pertains to the limitations of Brazilian databases. The third concerns the evaluation of study quality, given the heterogeneity of approaches. The fourth challenge relates to inclusion and exclusion criteria, as many studies have thematic intersections. The fifth is the difficulty in tabulating results.