Investigating the relationship between physical components affecting satisfaction and sense of attachment to place (Case study: Communal spaces of selected medium-density residential complexes in Tehran)

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Department of Architecture, Faculty of Arts and Architecture, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran

Abstract

Due to the expansion of the apartment living pattern and the decline in the quality of social interactions in contemporary residential complexes, the weakening of the sense of belonging and the reduction of environmental satisfaction have become one of the fundamental challenges of urban residence in Tehran. This situation doubles the necessity of reexamining the role of physical components of communal spaces on satisfaction and sense of attachment to place, which is the goal of the research.
In this research, a quantitative-qualitative hybrid method has been used. It is done through multivariate regression analysis through a correlation and quantitative analysis strategy, through regular daily visits, and completing 361 questionnaires and field observations in different types of communal spaces of residential complexes in Tehran. Along with the use of factor analysis and structural equations, examines several components and personality and behavioral characteristics of users to demonstrate the way and extent of satisfaction components to create a sense of place attachment to be used by environmental designers.
The results of this study showed that there is a relationship between satisfaction and a sense of attachment to a place, and that visual perception and the quality of space management play a more prominent role in strengthening a sense of attachment than purely physical indicators. Among the components of satisfaction, the component "scenic beauty" has the highest coefficient and has been able to satisfy the highest level of satisfaction, and then, respectively: variety of texture and color,management and maintenance, cleaning and Cleanliness, security,physical safety, location of place and finally size/dimensions. The findings shows that the emphasis of the role of the designer as the creator of space,which, by designing the structure of spaces, leads to Increasing satisfaction and changing the sense of attachment of people living in the future.

Keywords


Aineifar, A , & Ghazizadeh, S. N. (2010). The Typology of Tehran Residential Building Based on Open Space Layout. Armanshahr Architecture & Urban Development, 3 (5), 35 ـ 46 (In Persian).
Altman, Irwin; Low, Setha. (1992). Place Attachment, New York, Plenum Press.
Amérigo, Maria; Aragonés, Juan Ignacio (1990), Residential Satisfaction in Council Housing. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 10, 313 ـ 325.
Amérigo, María; Aragonés, Juan Ignacio (1997), A theoretical and Methodological Approach to the Study of Residential Satisfaction. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 17, 47 ـ 57.
Amole, Dolapo (2009b), Residential Satisfaction in Students Housing. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 29, 76 ـ 85.
Arghiani M, Vahdani Charzekhun H. (2020). Measuring the effective components on promoting sense
of attachment in the educational space (Case study: Bojnord high schools). Tech. Edu. J.; 14 (2): 315 ـ 329 http://dx.doi.org/10.22061/jte.2019.4681.2101 (In Persian).
Behzadfar, M. and Ghazizdeh, N. (2011). Residential Open Space Satisfaction Case studied: selected residential complexes in Tehran. Journal of Fine Arts: Architecture & Urban Planning, 3 (45), 15 ـ 24 (In Persian).
Bonaiuto, Marino; Fornara, Ferdinando; Bonnes, Mirilia (2006), Perceived Residential Environment Quality In middle ـ And low ـ Extension Italian Cities. Revue Européenne de Psychologie Appliquée / European Review of Applied Psychology, 56, 23 ـ 34.
Daneshpour, S. A. Sepehri Moqaddam, M. and Charkhchian, M. (2009). Explanation to “Place Attachment” And investigation of its effective factors. Journal of Fine Arts: Architecture & Urban Planning, 1 (38), 37 ـ 48 (In Persian).
Gaitani, N.; Mihalakakou, G.; Santamouris, Mat (2007), On the Use of Bioclimatic Architecture Principles in Order to Improve Thermal Comfort Conditions in Outdoor Spaces. Journal of Building and Environment, 42, 317 ـ 324.
Ge, Jian; Hokao, Kazunori (2006), Research on Residential Lifestyles in Japanese Cities from the Viewpoints of Residential Preference, Residential Choice and Residential Satisfaction. Journal of Landscape and Urban Planning, 78, 165 ـ 178.
Green, R. (1999). Meaning and form in community perception of town character, Journal of Environmental Psychology 19, 311 ـ 329.
Hashas, Mine Hatun. (2004). Residents' Attachment to New Urbanist versus Conventional Suburban Developments. PhD Thesis, North Carolina State University. Hashas, Mine Hatun 2004. Residents' Attachment to New Urbanist versus Conventional Suburban Developments. PhD Thesis, North Carolina State University.
Hidalgo, M. Carmen; Hernandez, Bernardo. (2001). Place Attachment: Conceptual and Empirical Questions. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 21: 273 ـ 281.
Hur, Misun; Nasar, Jack L.; Chun, Bumseok (2010), Neighborhood Satisfaction, Physical and Perceived Natural ness and Openness. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30, 52 ـ 59.
Kearney, Anne R. (2006), Residential Development Patterns and Neighborhood Satisfaction: Impacts of Density and Nearby Nature. Journal of Environment and Behavior, 38, 112 ـ 139.
Kyle, Gerard; Graefe, Alan&Manning, R. (2005). Testing the Dimensionality of Place Attachment in Recreational Settings. Journal of Environment and Behavior, 37: 153 ـ 177.
Kyle, G.; Graefe, A.; Manning, R.t&Bacon, J. (2004). Effects of Place Attachment on Users' Perceptions of Social and Environmental Conditions in a Natural Setting. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 24: 213 ـ 225.
Low, S. M. & Altman, I. (1992). "Place attachment: A conceptual inquiry". In I. Altman & S. M. Low, (Eds), Place Attachment, Vol. 12. New York: Plenum Press.
Mahdavi ـ Nejad, M. J.; Dehghani, F; & Boroumand, B. (2014). Typology of Approaches to Public Spaces in Contemporary Landscape Architecture of Iran (1978–2011), 1st International Congress on New Horizons in Architecture and Planning، Tehran، https://civilica.com/doc/380754 (In Persian).
Marcus, Clare C.; Francis, C. (1998). People Places: Design Guidelines for Urban Open Space New York, John Wiley & Sons INC.
Marcus, Clare Cooper; Sarkissian, Wendy (1986), Housing as If People Mattered: Site Design Guidelines for Medium ـ Density Family Housing, Berkeley, and University of California Press.
Norberg ـ Schulz, C. (1980). "Genius loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture". New York: Rizzoli.
Proshansky, H , Fabian, A.K , Kaminoff, R , (1983). "Place identity: physical world socialization of the self". Journal of Environmental Psychology 3, 57–83.
Rahimi, R , Ansari, M , Bemanian, M.R. & Mahdavinejad, M.J. (2020). Evaluation of the Effect of Physical Components on Place Attachment in Communal Spaces of Selected Residential Complexes in Tehran. Bagh ـ e Nazar,17 (83), 17 ـ 34. DOI: 10.22034/bagh.2020.185425.4107 (In Persian).
Relph, E. (1976), "Place and placelessness", Pion Limited, London. P. 29–38, 47–56.
Scannell, L.; Gifford, R. (2009). Defining Place Attachment: A Tripartite Organizing Framework. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30: 1 ـ 10.
Shamai, S , (1991). "Sense of place: an empirical measurement". Geoforum 22 (3), 347–358.
Steele, F. (1981). "The sense of place", CBI Publishing Company, Inc.
Taylor, A. Faber; Wiley, A; Kuo, F. E. &Sullivan, William C. (1998). Growing up in the Inner City: Green Spaces as Places to Grow. Journal of Environment and Behavior, 30: 3 ـ 27.
Thorsson, Sofia; Lindqvist, Maria; Lindqvist, Seven (2004), Thermal Bioclimatic Conditions and Patterns of Behaviourin an Urban Park in Goteborg, Sweden. International Journal of Biometeorol, 48, 149–156.
Tuan, Y. F. (1974). "Sense of place: Humanistic perspective". In C. Board, (Ed.), Progress in Geography: ـ International Reviews of Current Research, Vol. 6. London: Edward Arnold Publishers, pp. 211 ـ 253.
Williams, Daniel R.; Roggenbuck, J.W. (1989). Measuring Place Attachment: Some Preliminary Results. Session on Outdoor Planning and Management, NRPA Symposium on Leisure Research, San Antonio.
  • Receive Date: 01 December 2025
  • Revise Date: 28 January 2026
  • Accept Date: 19 March 2026
  • Publish Date: 22 June 2026