Urban Architecture
Fatemeh Hanifeh; Hojjatollah Rashid kolvir; Abbas Abolghasemi; Hassan Akbari; Kasegar Mohammadi Shoaib
Abstract
The environment and space are two basic platforms for supporting multidimensional human needs. Hence, the dwelling, where architecture, society, and culture are closely interrelated, has a significant behavioral effect on the residents’ spirits and social interactions at different levels. The impact ...
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The environment and space are two basic platforms for supporting multidimensional human needs. Hence, the dwelling, where architecture, society, and culture are closely interrelated, has a significant behavioral effect on the residents’ spirits and social interactions at different levels. The impact of environment design and visual quality on people’s behavior and mental health has also been demonstrated in research by environmental designers, including William White, Appleyard, Kevin Lynch, and Alexander. Moreover, investigations of different residential environments indicate that every dwelling has its own behavioral effects on the residents’ psyches. This study investigates the hypothesis that the physical environment of a residential condominium is critical for increasing the psychological and social indicators. Furthermore, the sub-hypothesis suggests that the environmental (physical) components of the residential condominium (sound, light, space dimensions, etc.) influence the specification of the above indicators. The significance of the study lies in the idea that a dwelling should reflect its residents’ public images and private lives. This implies adherence to the residents’ diverse economic, political, cultural, and, particularly, individual philosophies, which vary from person to person in different communities. Since the three basic aspects of quality of life concern physical, mental, and social health, a dwelling can provide a sense of security and mental peace and lead to fundamental changes in personal, social, and other relations. The purpose of this descriptive-correlational study was to investigate the effects of the physical characteristics of a residential condominium on the improvement of the residents’ psychosocial indicators on a neighborhood scale. Data analysis was made using the correlation and multiple regression statistical methods. In order to confirm the variables obtained using the Delphi technique, 18 architecture and psychology experts were sent a questionnaire was sent to 18 architecture and psychology experts, modified on that basis to the final questionnaire. The research population included 186 available households from among the 439 residing in four residential condominiums in Rasht. The correlation coefficient indicated that there were significant relationships between all the physical variables confirmed by the experts and the social and psychological indicators. On that basis, 61.2% of the psychological indicator variance was predicted by the variables space quality, flexibility, and light, and 59% of the social indicator variance was predicted by the variables confidentiality, dwelling type, flexibility, public services and facilities, repetition time and period, light, space geography, convenience, and functional distance. The research results indicated the determining role of physical characteristics in the promotion of the social- and psychosocial indicators, which suggests that individuals acquire the coherent ability to interact efficiently with others both in private and public life in accordance with their own nature while controlling their own lives. In Rasht, the residents enjoy natural, lush, clean, and temperate environments, generally interacting with natural phenomena, which increases hope, and reduces stress in life. Finally, the present study sought to obtain solutions for improvement of neighborhood relations, enhancement of social interactions, and reduction of psychological damage among the residents through investigation and identification of the psychosocial factors affecting the design of residential condominiums on a neighborhood scale.
