Social Sustainability in Gated Communities Versus Conventional Communities: The Case of Amman

Abstract

There is a growing interest in gated communities as residential developments for upper-middle-income residents in Amman, Jordan, but limited research has been conducted on this subject. Additionally, no clear codes or strategies exist to regulate these communities. Social sustainability has been recognized as a fundamental component of sustainability and residential communities since it concerns individuals’ interactions and livable communities. This can be determined through five indicators: personal relationships, social network support, civic engagement, levels of safety, and shared values and norms. Therefore, this research investigates the impact of these indicators on one’s social life in different typologies of residential development. This exploration involved a mixed-method approach that began with a spatial analysis of selected gated communities, a conventional community, and a survey of households. Subsequently, the results revealed that the mega gated communities were the best in terms of social sustainability in personal relationships, social networks, and civic engagement. These facts may relate to the availability of public spaces and facilities, which are either missing or limited in other developments. Such amenities are integral components of social infrastructure and involve diverse activities, necessitating design guidelines for residential development considering social sustainability.