IN-PERSON Manchester Livable Cities

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and the shift toward high-density housing have raised important questions about how communal spaces support social well-being in everyday life. In public housing, these shared spaces are not only physical amenities but also important settings for social interaction and collective belonging. This study examines the relationship between spatial configuration and social well-being by evaluating resident satisfaction with communal spaces in Bangkok public housing. Using a mixed-methods approach, it combines resident perception surveys from 90 participants with Space Syntax analysis through Visibility Graph Analysis (VGA) to examine how spatial connectivity and visual integration shape patterns of social interaction and daily use across three housing development eras: Bon Kai (BK-old), characterized by an open circulation layout; Baan Eua-Arthorn Suan Plu Pattana (BEA-middle), marked by a more fragmented walk-up configuration; and Din Daeng Redevelopment (DDR-modern), defined by a high-rise redevelopment model. The results reveal a notable usage paradox in modern high-rise public housing. Although DDR records the highest scores in environmental well-being, safety, and visual openness, residents use communal areas the least. In contrast, BK shows the most frequent everyday use through highly accessible, interconnected circulation pathways, while BEA demonstrates strong social resilience and the strongest neighbor connections despite its physical constraints. The study highlights that spatial co-presence plays a critical role in fostering social life within housing environments. To enhance social well-being, future public housing design should better integrate communal spaces into residents’ daily circulation, allowing them to function as natural extensions of everyday life.
Keywords: Public Housing, Spatial Configuration, Social Well-being, Communal Spaces, Space Syntax, Bangkok