Evaluating the spatial quality of architecture universities with a social sustainability approach

Sustainable architecture is a method of architecture that is responsive to environmental and spatial conditions and uses the capabilities of its surrounding environment to create favourable conditions. In recent years, social factors as a prerequisite for sustainability have attracted a lot of attention. Social sustainability in architecture is focused on the qualitative features of space and mutual relationships between human needs and living space, and it can influence people's interactions and social relationships.One of the spaces that is particularly important in terms of architectural design is the space where architecture students or future designers are trained. These academic spaces or architecture schools need special attention in terms of spatial quality characteristics to reach the necessary desirability and while providing students' satisfaction, it is socially sustainable.Research question: Investigating what the components of social sustainability are and how these features can be used to increase the spatial desirability of architecture universities are the main questions of this article.

the purpose of the current research is to evaluate the components of social sustainability in improving the quality and spatial desirability of the architecture universities, based on increasing the satisfaction of students.

In the present research, which is presented by qualitative method and content analysis, at first, different theories in the field of social sustainability are discussed based on library and documentary studies. Then the challenges of the academic spaces of architecture are explained and finally, a model is proposed to improve the quality of the educational space of architecture schools with a social sustainability approach.

The findings and analysis of the content of the research show that the quality level of spaces increases with architectural ideas such as: spatial form and geometry, suitable and readable accesses, suitable dimensions and spatial proportions, suitable quality of materials, suitable ventilation, correct lighting and et. will be effective in increasing social interactions, sense of attachment, belonging to the place, solidarity, and identity. In other words, they will lead the educational space towards sustainability.