Abstract
With physical and social aspects being inseparable within urban environments, design for sustainability needs to include the link between the distance and sense of community. However, only a few studies examine residential suburbs and specifically focus on the physical and social interactions occurring within the streets and adjacent to them spaces, such as verges, sidewalks and front yards. Using a case study method, including observation and a perception-based survey in the inner-city suburb of Subiaco in Perth, Western Australia, this investigation opens up a new understanding of physical distance and social interaction. It develops a novel typology of physical distances and social closeness within a residential neighbourhood which allows better conceptualising the sense of community for achieving integrated sustainability.
Highlights
The integration of all aspects of sustainability is attracting increasing attention, in relation to urban environments [1,2] where the majority of the world population lives (54% in 2014, expected to reach 66% by 2050 [3])
This study focussed on understanding the links between physical distance and social interactions within the context of residential streets with adjacent front yards using a case study from Perth, Western Australia
The front yard, which we describe as a “semi-private–public” place [8], is the interface between the public realm, represented by the streets and the private domain, represented by the blocks with houses
Summary
The integration of all aspects of sustainability is attracting increasing attention, in relation to urban environments [1,2] where the majority of the world population lives (54% in 2014, expected to reach 66% by 2050 [3]). Adjacent and connected to residential streets are house fronts which, legally private, represent very unique semi-private–public spaces with the potential to enhance urban quality of life [8] If properly designed, they make residential streets more attractive and offer opportunities for socialising and social interactions. This study focussed on understanding the links between physical distance and social interactions within the context of residential streets with adjacent front yards using a case study from Perth, Western Australia It aimed to develop a typology through examining linear distances (physical and perceived) and social interactions related to one particular built form, namely the front yard. A new typology of the link between physical distance and social interaction, referred to as typology of social closeness, is developed This allows for better appreciation of the connection between urban built form and sense of community within residential neighbourhood settings
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