Social Sustainability Analysis in Residential Complexes using SWARA-TOPSIS Method

 Among the features that characterize contemporary architecture, sustainability has great significance. It is an approach in architecture that is in line with the modern concept of sustainable development. The latter concept refers to the development of a society in order to address its present needs while supporting the right and potentials of the next generation to address their own needs. Sustainable development includes economic, environmental, and social sustainability. The present article focuses on residential complexes and social sustainability. The literature review on sustainable development from an architectural point of view shows that there is no comprehensive model to help architects evaluate the social sustainability of a residential complex quantitatively. In fact, previous studies have mostly focused on defining sustainability criteria; however, no research has been done so far on the ranking and application of those criteria to evaluate architectural designs quantitatively. Therefore, the main objective of the present research is to develop a quantitative and comprehensive model to measure the sustainability of a given residential complex. The research answers two fundamental questions: What are the criteria for social sustainability in a residential complex? How can we compare residential complexes as far as social sustainability is concerned?

The present article is based on descriptive and analytical research, and the data was collected through field study and bibliographic research. First, the criteria for social sustainability were laid out through studying the research literature. Then, a practical model was developed. The model applies SWARA technic to weigh each criterion and TOPSIS technic to measure social sustainability. In other words, the following procedure is carried out step by step: bibliographic research to find out the criteria for social sustainability in residential complexes, processing and classifying the results and making a final list, designing a quantitative model to measure social sustainability in residential complexes, receiving specialists' views about ranking and weighting the criteria, devising a method to determine a level (score) for each criterion in a given residential complex, and finally, putting the model into practice and comparing the selected residential complexes. In the final step, a comparison of social sustainability proves that the model is practical. The cases have been selected based on similarity in size and full access to their information. Furthermore, academics and industrial experts with many years of scientific and executive experience in sustainable architecture and social sustainability were asked for their views about the subject to make use of their expertise in this research.

The judgment made by experts in architecture, as the central part of the findings, show that the most important criteria for social sustainability are the following ten items respectively: culture of the residents, social interaction and homogeneity, security, safety, open areas, appropriateness of population density, quality of interior design, the gate and exterior view, building space outside the apartment unit, equipment, and facilities. According to experts, 60 percent of weighted value is attached to "culture of the residents, interaction and social homogeneity and security" among the mentioned items. The culture of the residents includes a number of features like mutual respect among residents, compliance with apartment regulations, attention to private and public spaces, and cleanliness. Architects' ability to influence this item is very limited; however, they should apply design expertise to separate private spaces from public ones and ensure proper hygiene standards inside and around the complex. Features regarding "interaction and social homogeneity" include communication and social solidarity and relationship, participation in voluntary works and services of the complex, the possibility of resident's participation in the design and creation of spaces, conformity to resident's culture and expectations, duration of residence, etc. When accompanied by variability in space use, innovative and flexible architecture can help residents design multi-functional spaces. Furthermore, security and safety are among inseparable aspects of architecture, and designers must not disregard them for other aspects such as aesthetics and functionality.

The findings show that the proposed model is easily applicable to measure the level of social sustainability in a residential complex. Thus, the model is recommended for either comparing constructed residential complexes or weighing up available construction plans.