The apartment is regarded as a person’s primary place of residence, and housing quality as one of the greatest interests of the society. During analysis of previous studies on collective housing, a discrepancy has been revealed between the characteristics, i.e. the quality, of the current housing stock and the needs of apartment users. This discrepancy points to the need for a detailed and continuous research of the housing issue from this specific point of view. Continuous changes in housing needs, made necessary by modern lifestyle, have also contributed to the need for this research. The aim of this paper is to provide an insight into the research that is carried out within a PhD dissertation focusing on the development of a model for user evaluation of spatial characteristics of apartments. The research that is currently under way concentrates on the analysis of an architectural solution for apartments in order to examine suitability of apartments to provide users, within appropriate limits, with an adequate space ensuring a modern lifestyle. This research aims to provide a qualitative and comprehensive approach to apartment design, where apartment is regarded as every person’s most intimated space, and this through establishment of the relationship between theoretical and practical experience, i.e. between the experience of researchers and designers and that of apartment users.