Abstract
There has been a recent upswing of academic interest in the social dimensions of sustainable cities, especially the dynamics of Quality of Life (QoL), Environmental Equity, Ecosystem Services, Eco-Friendliness, Public Engagement, and Well-Being and Happiness Indicators. These factors are only now being evaluated as critical aspects of sustainable place-making and community development. This paper explores the social dimensions of neighborhood development in what some believe to be one of the most sustainable cities—Freiberg, Germany. We look at two neighborhoods that were specifically designed and built with sustainability principles and practices at their core. The authors surveyed residents of these neighborhoods to measure their levels of well-being, satisfaction with place, and other important QoL factors. Quantitative data was ascertained from residents using a survey questionnaire. The results show a high correlation between QoL factors as a function of place-making and sustainability practice.
Highlights
Growing academic interest in the social dimensions of sustainable cities has broadened the field of urban science to become more interdisciplinary
Researchers are looking to fields such as community development and Quality of Life (QoL) for social indicators related to sustainable development
Broad concepts including sense of place, place-making, and place-based indicators common in community development, neighborhood development, and planning literature are found in sustainable city work
Summary
Growing academic interest in the social dimensions of sustainable cities has broadened the field of urban science to become more interdisciplinary. Broad concepts including sense of place, place-making, and place-based indicators common in community development, neighborhood development, and planning literature are found in sustainable city work. These social indicators have the unique capacity to help city designers, developers, managers, and officials understand the relationships between urban residents and their built and natural environments as well as social and community environments [1]. It takes place in two planned sustainable neighborhoods in Freiburg, Germany—Rieselfeld and Vauban. The study’s goals are to (a) help increase understanding regarding the importance of place-based indicators in measuring the success of sustainable development at the local urban level, and (b) highlight important connections between indicators of QoL, sustainability, resiliency, and place-based indicators
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
