The Role of the Perception of Natural Elements in Rising Potential of Collective Life in Open Spaces at Residential Complexes, Case Study:Yazd City

The purpose of the study is to investigate the capabilities of the environment as a platform for human activities, to improve the relationship between man and nature, and to compensate for part of the current lost social interactions in the open spaces of residential complexes. The innovation of the research is emphasizing the importance of natural elements perception to create collective life in the body of urban settlements. This research is descriptive-analytical research in which the components affecting collective life in open spaces were investigated in three physical, functional, and semantic dimensions in the open spaces of residential complexes in region 1 of Yazd city. Sampling was purposeful and the data collection tool was based on 381 researcher-made questionnaires with a reliability coefficient and Cronbach's alpha value of 0.867, observation and presence in study spaces. The components affecting the perception of nature and natural elements were analyzed based on the sense of smell, visual, auditory, tactile, and motion-oriented senses, and mental images. The results indicated the existence of a significant positive relationship between the quality of open and public spaces, the perception of natural elements, and the collective viability of residential complexes.