Sustainable Housing Indicators and Improving the Quality of Life: The Case of Two Residential Areas in Baghdad City

Abstract

Sustainable housing is one of the most important factors affecting the quality of life. This research focuses on (internal indicators), including (affordable housing, and the conditions of the dwelling unit to live, and (external indicators) including the social services, infrastructure, transport, identity, safety and security, and environmental pollution. This was done by studying two residential areas in the city of Baghdad, which differed in the social, economic, environmental, and urban aspects, which are (Al-Sadr neighborhood and Al-Muthanna neighborhood). The research has adopted the descriptive method, and comparative quantitative analysis, to indicate the degree of satisfaction of the residents by relying on the five-step Likert scale (strongly disagree-strongly agree). The Contingency Coefficient test was used to evaluating the levels of the responses of the observed frequencies of sustainable housing and the quality of urban life. The results of the research showed that most of the sub-indicators have made a significant difference for Al-Muthanna neighborhood. While the other indicators: commercial services, public transport services, safety and social security have made a significant difference for Al-Sadr neighborhood. The research reached to develop proposals towards improving and developing indicators that to achieve balance and justice in achieving sustainable housing and good quality of urban life.