The Effect of the Built Environment on Social Capital and Social Sustainability in Historical Context (Case Study: Linked Neighborhood to Bazar in Kerman Historical Fabric)

Quality of life, social capital, and social sustainability are the key pillars of sustainable development which,on one hand,all of them have a deep link with the human and social dimension of development and on the other hand they are closely interrelated. Lack of satisfaction from built environment quality,lack of positive interactions in cities,distrust,unwillingness to participate in the city residents have been overshadowed social capital and, consequently,social sustainability in the cities. This research aims to identify and investigate the impact of the built environment on social capital and social sustainability indicators in the historical neighborhood that linked to the Kerman Bazar. The questionnaire and field study are the main data collection methods. The results show there is a direct and meaningful relationship between the quality of the built environment and social capital and also there is a direct and indirect meaningful relationship with social sustainability through the role of mediating social capital. The results of structural equations modeling also demonstrate that by improving the quality of the built environment, the status of social sustainability and social capital in the Linked neighborhoods of Kerman Bazar will improve. Research results point to the importance of the role of the quality of the built environment on social capital and social sustainability. The most effective criterion on social capital and social sustainability is perceived environments while accessibility to sports activities and cultural space is the least. Moreover, the results indicate aging and residence period are also effective factors in increasing social capital and social sustainability.