Evaluation of The Impact of Physical-Social Factors on The Sense of Place In Residential Open Public Spaces

Population growth and housing demands have caused the cultural aspects of public spaces have been ignored in modern housing. Paying attention to open spaces is necessary as they are places to establish social interaction and thus increase the social security and create a sense of responsibility among residents. The main objective of this study is to find a way for the appropriate design of open spaces in high-density residential communities in order to promote a sense of place and community identity.In the first phase of this research, documentary studies are used to understand the basic definitions and information about the sense of place and its determinants. In the next step, survey method and Delphi technique are being applied to collect data. Experts were invited from faculty members of Shahid Beheshti’s Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, and IUST’s School of Architecture and Environmental Design. For the data analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics were used with the software SPSS version 21.0. According to the findings of this research, factors such as low-density of apartment, reduction in the height of the side with better vision, the view into green space, constant and adequate lighting at night, developing a safe walking route along the public spaces and the arrangement of the public spaces between blocks have a significant impact on fostering a sense of place in a residential environment. Using interior yards or green areas can help to enhance a sense of place. Trees or natural elements can be used in creating public spaces. The results show that existence of natural elements in open and semi-open spaces can create a sense of place effectively.