Investigating the Effect of Territory in Housing on the Motivation for Sustainable Behavior Based on Spatial Value Theory (Case Study: Shiraz Residential Complexes)

Human behavior plays a major role in the creating and persistence of various environmental problems. Proposed models for modifying behavioral patterns emphasize a component called motivation, which is the primary basis for sustainable decisions. Given the housing importance in sustainable development, new patterns of life in communal housing, and designers' emphasis on privacy in spatial arrangements, the present study aims to investigate the impact of territorial behavior on strengthening behavioral motivations in achieving sustainability. For this purpose, first, the configuration patterns and order of the interior space of housing were examined syntactically, and then the research hypothesis was tested by distributing 516 questionnaires. Observations showed that contemporary housing has two central and axial patterns that the spatial value of public, semi-public, and private realms has different syntactic features in each of them. In the central pattern, public arenas have higher integrity, visibility, permeability, and usability; while in axial patterns, they have more spatial separations and higher usability in private areas. In addition to syntactic analysis, the analysis of variance test also confirmed the difference in territory behavior between residents of the two mentioned models. The results confirmed the positive relationship between spatial configuration, territory, and motivation of sustainable behaviors, and showed that central oriented design and strengthening of spatial stimuli for the use of collective spaces, can predict 28% of motivation of sustainable behaviors. While having a behavioral intent in sustainability is 29% predictive of motivation, territory and spatial configuration with 28% predictability will be an important and controllable factor.