Quality of life: quantitative analysis in New Urbanism and LEED-ND certified neighbourhoods

Abstract

Given the substantial rise in the urban population, it is imperative to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) in residential communities. New Urbanism (NU) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) are globally recognised neighbourhood design initiatives that strive to improve QoL. Nevertheless, the degree to which these initiatives effectively enhance QoL remains questionable. This assessment seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of key design practices in these two initiatives by examining the satisfaction levels of residents. It focuses on five key attributes that contribute to enhancing the QoL in residential neighbourhoods: safety, comfort, connectivity, sense of place, and aesthetic appeal. Three neighbourhoods were selected for analysis in the USA. The residents’ questionnaire was utilised as the main tool for the quantitative analysis. The findings revealed a positive association between safety and comfort and overall QoL. NU neighbourhoods showed the highest satisfaction levels, while LEED-ND neighbourhoods had the lowest. Key determinants of QoL were identified as well. The main contribution of this study is to provide insights for enhancing the design parameters of NU and LEED-ND certification to improve QoL and bridge the gap between professionals’ perspectives and residents’ preferences.