Satisfaction Assessment of Housing Users in Tripoli – Libya

Abstract

Most communities, especially professionals such as architects, infrastructural engineers and city planners, pay particular attention to sustainable housing, which is important for housing development as the first place in which people spend most of their time. In addition, residential buildings cover more than 50% of the total area of any city in Libya. For the city of Tripoli as a case study, the growth of the city has increased due to the growth of the Libyan economy as well as due to high oil prices during the 1970s. As a result, there has been an increase in natural population growth as well as migration from neighbouring cities. To accommodate population growth, governments have implemented a number of development projects, particularly in the housing sector. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the satisfaction of housing users in accordance with the previous housing policies of successive Libyan governments. The data was collected by means of questionnaires concerning the social aspects of housing occupants and their suitability for the Libyan family both currently and in the future. Moreover, there remains the question of what characteristics should be taken into account when implementing future housing projects. The study included cases of housing projects implemented for the purpose of assessing the satisfaction of users with projects to implement the principles of “Sustainable Housing.” The survey included four residential projects carried out in the city of Tripoli for the research. The sites are: (i) Airport Road East Housing Project (ii) Al Hadba Khdra Housing Project (iii) Ghot Ash-Ahaal Housing Project (iv) Souq-Atolata (North) Housing Project. The paper also aims to benefit from the study results for the implementation of the “Sustainable Housing Policy in Libya: A Case Study of Tripoli” for the purpose of applying the principles of social sustainability to housing, especially in Tripoli and Libya in general. Additionally, this paper will be useful for planning and architectural professionals.