Raising requirements for building quality and floor height will significantly contribute to China's construction of high-quality residential properties, said many experts.
At a press conference on people's livelihood on Sunday during the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), Ni Hong, minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development said that measures would be introduced to develop quality homes that are safe, comfortable, eco-friendly, and smart.
Ni emphasized that the national standard ceiling heights for residential properties will be elevated to a minimum of three meters.
In an interview with the China Central Televsion (CCTV), Wu Jing, associate professor of the Department of Construction Management at Tsinghua University, noted that in recent years, several provinces in the country such as Jiangsu, Shandong, and Yunnan have already revised their local residential floor height standards, increasing the minimum floor height.
"Based on our incomplete statistics, several cities, over the past three to four years, have successively introduced guidelines or directives for residential construction that mandate an increase in building floor heights. The revised standards typically specify a floor height range of three to 3.3 meters," he said.
Experts also said that due to modern families' diverse requirements, a floor height exceeding three meters can accommodate a variety of interior design styles and spatial configurations. Additionally, the increased ceiling height facilitates the installation, operation, and maintenance of residential equipment, enhancing both living comfort and convenience. It also provides robust support for the integration of smart home technologies and the pursuit of high-quality living standards.
"Nowadays, more and more building facilities become standard features in high-quality residential properties, including central air conditioning, ducted fresh air systems, and underfloor heating in northern regions. The increased floor height provides greater three-dimensional space, thereby offering more ample room for the installation and maintenance of these systems as well as for interior design elements," Wu said.
"Following an increase in ceiling height, whether by ten centimeters or 20 centimeters, the level of comfort will differ significantly. In terms of spatial volume, air quality, environmental conditions, visual perception, and available movement space, notable improvements can be realized," said Liu Xiaozhong, chief architect of Beijing Institute of Architectural Design.
Optimized residential building design paves way for quality housing: expert
Preliminary findings indicate that Israeli tank fire and a Hezbollah explosive were likely responsible for the deaths of three Indonesian peacekeepers in Lebanon last week, a UN spokesperson said at a daily briefing on Tuesday.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) shared the initial findings of its inquiry with the governments of Indonesia, Israel and Lebanon, said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
He said these are preliminary findings based on initial physical evidence, adding that a full UN investigation continues.
The spokesman said that all actors must fulfill their obligations to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers at all times. The inviolability of UN installations must be respected.
"These incidents are unacceptable. We have requested with the relevant parties that the cases be investigated and prosecuted by national authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure criminal accountability for crimes against peacekeepers. Attacks on United Nations peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law," said Dujarric.
The three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in two separate incidents in southern Lebanon in late March. A UN investigation determined that one died when Israeli tank fire struck a UNIFIL position on March 29. The next day, two others were killed when an explosion of unknown origin destroyed their vehicle in a logistics convoy near Bani Hayyan. Initial findings pointed to a roadside blast.
UNIFIL paid tribute to the life and work of the fallen peacekeepers in an April 2 ceremony at Rafik Hariri International Airport, Beirut, before their remains were repatriated.
The three peacekeepers were posthumously awarded medals in recognition of their dedicated service to UNIFIL's mission in southern Lebanon.
On Saturday, the remains of the three fallen Indonesian peacekeepers arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport where they were received with honors by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto before being transferred to their respective hometowns for final rites.
The secretary-general earlier condemned the killings, extended his deepest condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers and to the government of Indonesia, while expressing appreciation for the courage and service of all men and women serving with UNIFIL.
The UN Security Council, which mandated the UNIFIL mission, also condemned the attacks in a statement, offering condolences to the victims' families and to Indonesia. Council members reaffirmed their full support for UNIFIL.
Israeli tank fire, Hezbollah explosive likely killed 3 UN peacekeepers in Lebanon: spokesperson
