Purpose This paper examines two emerging paradigms in urban studies–happy cities and digital placemaking–which have developed separately as approaches to creating better urban environments. The aim is to investigate literature on the taxonomy of opportunities and challenges in integrating digital placemaking and the happy city paradigms. This investigation can provide procedures that support decision-making, enhance relevant knowledge domains, and inform practice. Design/methodology/approach This study conducted a systematic literature review using the Scopus and Web of Science databases to examine the intersection of digital placemaking and the happy city paradigm as addressed in the literature. The initial data analysis employed VOSviewer to analyse 312 articles and identify key themes and research trends. Subsequently, a content analysis of 28 selected papers was conducted to identify opportunities and challenges in addressing the themes from the literature on the impact of digital placemaking on the happy city. Findings The analysis revealed that digital placemaking has a significant impact on a happy city. The results from VOSviewer ended with four themes: technology, sustainability, well-being, and urban design practices. The content analysis investigated a taxonomy of opportunities and challenges. The findings underscore the need for a set of theoretical procedures to guide decision-makers, practitioners, and municipalities in integrating digital placemaking and the happy city paradigm. Originality/value The theoretical and conceptual contribution of this study is to propose a taxonomy of the integration between the happy city and digital placemaking. The contribution also extends to identifying the opportunities and challenges in their integration in practice. The added value of this taxonomy, based on literature data, lies in six actionable procedures for decision-makers, urban practitioners, community organisations, and researchers. A clear understanding of integration can inform the design of urban environments that promote both subjective and objective well-being.
Purpose- The placement of workspaces within apartment floor plans has become increasingly important, yet architectural guidance remains limited. This study examines whether a workspace near the entrance transition zone supports cognitive performance differently from one deeper within the private zone, drawing on privacy regulation theory. Design/methodology/approach- Forty-two participants completed a counterbalanced within-subject VR experiment comparing two domestic workspace configurations. Cognitive workload was evaluated using objective task performance (word recall and reading comprehension), subjective workload ratings (NASA-TLX), and AI-based voice affect analysis. Findings- The entrance-adjacent workspace condition improved word recall accuracy by % 16.66 points (p < 0.001; Cohen's dz = 0.85) and significantly reduced response times for both reading (-2.88 s; p < 0.001) and recall tasks (-8.99 s; p < 0.001). In contrast, workspaces located deeper within the private zone were associated with elevated voice-derived indicators of confusion and stress, which corresponded with slower task responses. These findings suggest that spatial embedding within the active private zone may increase cognitive strain rather than reduce it. Research limitations/implications- This study is limited by its controlled VR setting, modest sample size (N = 42), and comparison of only two apartment-based workspace configurations, which may restrict generalisability across dwelling types, household compositions, cultural contexts, and real-life work routines. The acoustic conditions were represented through fixed 20 dB(A) and 40 dB(A) scenarios, rather than longitudinal in situ monitoring. Nevertheless, the findings imply that workspace location should be treated as a measurable design variable affecting cognitive workload, task efficiency, and residential planning guidance for healthier work-from-home environments. Social implications- The findings have social implications for housing equity, domestic well-being, and future work policy. As home-based work becomes embedded in everyday life, poorly located workspaces may intensify stress, distraction, and unequal productivity outcomes, particularly in smaller or shared dwellings. Evidence-based residential design should therefore prioritise quiet, spatially buffered work zones that protect privacy and concentration without isolating occupants from family life. These insights can support healthier remote-working environments, inclusive apartment standards, and policy guidance that recognises cognitive performance as part of domestic quality of life. Originality/value- This study provides empirical evidence that domestic workspace placement influences cognitive efficiency, challenging the assumption that deeper private-zone locations support better concentration.
Purpose This study examines the engagement of architecture and design disciplines with social media (EoADSM) through a scientometric and bibliometric lens. Although social media is central to architectural discourse and public engagement, its academic and research-oriented use lacks a holistic, data-driven assessment. This research identifies key knowledge structures, scholarly trends, thematic shifts, and future directions, offering insights to help academics and institutions align with evolving digital engagement in design fields. Design/methodology/approach This study employs a science mapping approach, utilizing 256 peer-reviewed articles from the Web of Science (2001–2025). With R Studio’s Bibliometrix package, it analyzes publication trends, key contributors, keyword networks, and thematic evolution through integrated quantitative and visual techniques. Findings The results reveal a rapid expansion of EoADSM research after 2017, with a pronounced surge during and after the COVID-19 period. China emerges as the most productive contributor, while countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom play key roles in international collaboration. Factorial analyses identify five dominant research clusters: social media–driven urban behavior and spatial performance, perception of urban green spaces, built environment design and health outcomes, cultural ecosystem services and heritage management, and mobility and spatial network analysis. Thematic evolution indicates a shift from exploratory discussions toward data-intensive, perception-oriented, and AI-supported analytical approaches. Originality/value This study provides the first comprehensive, architecture- and design-centered scientometric mapping of social media research across multiple built-environment subdisciplines. Unlike prior reviews focused on isolated themes or methods, it integrates diverse research strands within a unified analytical framework, revealing the field’s intellectual foundations, structural characteristics, and emerging priorities. By identifying research gaps, methodological limitations, and future directions, the study offers a robust evidence base for scholars and practitioners seeking to advance user-centered, data-driven, and socially responsive design research informed by social media analytics.
PurposeBuilding a healthy city that is conducive to improving residents' mental health is a current hot topic in the field of urban research on human health issues. The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive summary of research on the associations between the urban environment and mental health on the basis of bibliometrics. Design/methodology/approachVOSviewer software is used to analyze 129 publications from the Web of Science core dataset. Findings(1) Urban environmental exerts its health benefits by increasing exposure levels, providing ecological service functions and additional benefits. (2) Meditation, as an active intervention factor, reinforces the health benefits by strengthening the human-nature connection and enhances the effects of nature exposure. (3) There are some contradictions between existing examples of meditation-space cases and theoretical knowledge. Originality/valueSome evidence has shown that more research is needed to understand the internal principles when meditation and the environment are superimposed, including examining the specific composition of environmental elements and clarifying the impact of environmental preferences on the willingness to meditate. The theoretical basis can then be fed back into urban design to improve mental health through active intervention.
Purpose This study explicitly investigates how outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) and spatial configuration jointly shape children's urban liveability (CUL) in the Square of El Khroub, a semi-arid context. It further examines which factors most strongly influence CUL, particularly where thermal conditions often outweigh spatial qualities, underscoring the need for inclusive, climate-responsive and child-friendly urban spaces. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-methods approach was used, combining qualitative behavioural mapping and ethically approved surveys of children (6–12) and caregivers with quantitative on-site measurements and simulations of mean radiant temperature (Tmrt) and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) in Rhinoceros, plus spatial analysis in DepthmapX using visual integration (VI) and tchoice. The sample size was pragmatic and Pearson correlations explored spatial–thermal influences. Findings Results show that OTC impacts CUL more than spatial configuration. Although spatial connectivity correlated with children's activity (R2 = 0.89, p < 0.05), usage dropped by 72% under thermal stress (Tmrt >40°C; UTCI >38°C). Child presence increased in cooler evenings (UTCI 23–28°C), while spatial integration remained stable. Highly integrated areas (VI = 18.43) were underused in heat, whereas cooler, less integrated zones (VI = 14.81, Tmrt <36°C) attracted more use, highlighting OTC's temporal primacy. Originality/value This study integrates spatiotemporal thermal analysis with Space Syntax to explain CUL in a semi-arid Algerian context. It demonstrates that thermal stress consistently outweighs spatial configuration in shaping CUL, challenging static design assumptions. The findings offer clear guidance for climate-responsive, child-centred urban planning in thermally stressed environments.
Purpose The aim of this study is to propose a context-based, holistic, and multi-stakeholder model for the preservation of traditional rural settlements located within archaeological sites. The developed model is based on the necessity for decision-making processes to be multifaceted and participatory, rather than on the assumption that such settlements must be preserved in their entirety along with all their cultural heritage values.Design/methodology/approach The model, developed by examining the Burra Charter and other international conservation documents, comprises the following stages: site understanding, analysis of the relationship between rural settlement and archaeological site, identification of values and threats, development of conservation policies, preparation of a management plan and monitoring, evaluations and updating. The model's applicability was tested at the ancient city of Sogmatar in Sanliurfa Province, Turkey.Findings Based on investigations in Sogmatar, two conservation policies were created developed, considering distinct priorities for village conservation. The first policy proposes the relocation of the local population to a nearby area, the transformation of the archaeological site into an open-air museum, and the adaptive reuse of largely intact traditional residential buildings. The second policy allows the population to stay in place and preserve rural life.Originality/value The original aspect of the study goes beyond conservation approaches focused on physical intervention and limited decision-makers; it proposes a systematic and multi-participatory model that also considers community memory, social structure and traditional production methods. The developed model offers an applicable and adaptable approach for the preservation of such rural-archaeological settlements across diverse geographies.
Purpose This article critically evaluates the economic capitalization of urban nature within housing markets to inform residential planning. It addresses the limitation of strategies prioritizing green space “quantity” over “quality”, aiming to resolve inconsistencies in Hedonic Pricing Model (HPM) literature regarding environmental amenities. Design/methodology/approach A rigorous three-level random-effects meta-analysis was conducted on 75 empirical studies (1990–2023). To ensure robustness, the study applied strict inclusion criteria, specifically filtering for research that quantified ecological quality metrics (e.g. vegetation health) rather than mere presence, ensuring a high-integrity dataset. Findings The analysis reveals that ecological quality (e.g. vegetation condition) and spatial configuration (accessibility) are significantly stronger drivers of housing price premiums than mere quantity (size). Notably, this capitalization effect is context-dependent, showing significantly stronger impacts in developing countries and high-density regions compared to developed contexts. Social implications For rapidly urbanizing societies, particularly in the Global South, shifting focus from “large, distant parks” to “high-quality, accessible pockets” offers a more socially equitable path. This strategy maximizes resident well-being and economic value in high-density environments where land resources for housing are scarce. Originality/value This study challenges the simplistic “more is better” approach. It provides the first meta-analytic evidence distinguishing “quality versus quantity” in housing markets, offering evidence-based strategies for optimizing built environments in density-constrained cities.
Purpose To explain how resident participation roles – active versus passive – shape subjective well-being in community creative regeneration, using a Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) lens that foregrounds role negotiation, empowerment and cultural (dis)continuity. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-methods design combined qualitative fieldwork with a resident survey around a large-scale public art initiative in Chongqing, China. Qualitative insights informed model specification, and survey data were analysed using structural equation modelling to test dual mediating pathways and contextual moderators (innovation climate and technological anxiety). Findings Participation operates through two distinct pathways. Active roles enhance well-being by strengthening empowerment and perceived meaning. In contrast, passive roles increase cultural identity challenges and participation-related alienation, thereby reducing well-being. Context plays a critical role: a supportive innovation climate amplifies empowerment effects, whereas technological anxiety intensifies cultural disruption and its negative consequences. Research limitations/implications Managers should design participation frameworks that expand agentic, meaning-rich roles (e.g. participatory design, storytelling and collaborative curation) while mitigating tokenistic involvement through low-threshold, heritage-sensitive programming. Additionally, reducing technological anxiety through cultural and digital literacy training, along with inclusive communication, can help safeguard psychological safety. Social implications Framing regeneration as cultural negotiation – balancing innovation with cultural continuity – can strengthen identity, belonging and community well-being, informing more inclusive and sustainable regeneration strategies. Originality/value The study extends SOR from consumer/environmental psychology to community cultural governance by identifying participation roles as key stimuli that trigger divergent psychological mechanisms. It reframes participation beyond formal power redistribution towards symbolic inclusion, place-claiming and cultural authorship, advancing debates on representation and the politics of belonging.
PurposeUrban environment maintenance is a critical component of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), yet its direct impact on crime reduction remains underexplored. Grounded in the Broken Windows Theory, this study investigates the relationship between urban maintenance factors and street crime in Manhattan, New York City.Design/methodology/approachThis research employs a machine learning approach to analyze crime occurrences in relation to urban maintenance indicators. Using a grid-based spatial analysis (250 & times; 250 meters), we assess over 18,000 citizen-reported complaints from the 311 system spanning five years. Ensemble learning models, including Random Forest and XGBoost, were applied to predict crime occurrence, with SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis used to interpret feature importance.FindingsThe results reveal that environmental maintenance factors influencing crime vary significantly depending on local urban conditions. In high-crime areas, specific factors such as illegal parking, homeless presence, and abandoned vehicles exhibit stronger associations with crime rates, whereas noise and sanitation concerns play a more prominent role in low-crime areas. These findings suggest that crime prevention strategies should incorporate region-specific maintenance interventions rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.Originality/valueThis study advances the understanding of urban crime prevention by integrating machine learning-based predictive modeling with spatial environmental analysis. By identifying key maintenance factors contributing to crime variations at a granular level, the research provides actionable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and law enforcement agencies seeking to enhance urban safety through targeted environmental management.
PurposeThis study aims to quantify how future climate change will alter thermal comfort and cooling demand in newly built single-family and multi-family detached houses in Chennai and to identify the most climate-resilient envelope wall materials and passive retrofit measures.Design/methodology/approachA three-step performance assessment was applied: (1) baseline simulation of the two case buildings under four Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) AR6 Shared Socio-Economic Pathways (SSP1-5) for 2050 and 2080; (2) evaluation of 60 opaque wall materials on indoor operative temperature (TOP), adaptive discomfort days (DD) and annual cooling load (CL) and (3) assessment of six passive retrofit measures. Simulations were performed in EnergyPlus via a Rhino-Grasshopper workflow with a calibrated energy model from empirical data validation. Climate data for future scenarios were generated with the Future Weather Generator (v3.0.0).FindingsUnder SSP5 2080, adaptive discomfort days increased 3.5-4.5 times, and in SSP1 2080, the mean operative temperature increased 1.5-1.8 degrees C, relative to the Typical Meteorological Year. The Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) block (AB01) consistently delivered the lowest cooling load across all scenarios. Cool wall paint reduced the adaptive discomfort days by 14.6-15.7% in the SSP5-2080 scenario.Research limitations/implicationsThis study emphasizes the importance of climate-resilient building designs and provides actionable insights for selecting the optimum locally available envelope material and low-cost retrofit measures to improve climate resilience.Originality/valueThis study combines future climate projections with building performance, detailed envelope material screening for compliance and climate resilience and practical low-cost retrofit options, emphasizing the importance of performance-based design decisions for maintaining comfort under projected heat extremes.
Purpose This research aims to understand the experiences of existing and imagined school environments of students in a socioeconomically disadvantaged district of Istanbul.Design/methodology/approach The multi-method approach functioned both as a post-occupancy evaluation of existing schools and a participatory design process generating insights for improved learning spaces. Data were collected through a diverse set of methods, including cognitive maps and in-depth interviews to explore students' experience of their existing schools; image sorting activities to help them select preferred spatial characteristics; wish poems, cognitive maps and an AI-supported tool to express their imagined school environments.Findings Content analysis revealed that students' spatial preferences are influenced by psychological and social needs, especially highlighting the themes of "socialization" and "personal development". It indicates that children perceive school spaces not merely as a physical setting but as a social ecology, thereby suggesting inclusive design strategies that actively involve students in the process.Originality/value Equality in educational opportunity involves not only providing educational resources but also the inclusion of all students in creative and participatory learning experiences; thus, the project emphasizes the importance of enabling socio-economically disadvantaged students to have a voice in shaping their educational environments.
PurposeThis study aims to examine how Syrian enclave space is produced, sensed and interpreted through everyday practices and semiotic cues along Aksemsettin Street (Fatih, Istanbul) and propose a replicable street-scale method for translating multisensory observations into a social-semiotic framework.Design/methodology/approachA two-stage qualitative case study combined semi-structured interviews with 45 Syrian participants (30 regular users; 15 business owners) and field observation. Transcripts were analysed abductively using a shared codebook and an excerpt-to-code-to-theme audit trail, and 12 stores (S01-S12) were photographed and coded using a 3-domain sign list (outdoor visual, indoor visual and non-visual) across an approximately 250 m corridor (five 50 m segments).FindingsBelonging is sustained through recurring routines (shopping, eating, praying and socialising) reinforced by Arabic script and speech, music, food aromas and Syrian-coded material cues. Participants also expressed ambivalence about crowding and stylisation/commodification and noted governance constraints shaping public-facing expression. Overall, the corridor functions beyond commerce as a socially anchored migrant retail formation where identity is negotiated through multisensory atmospheres and semiotic performance, supporting a hybrid transclave reading.Research limitations/implicationsAs a single-corridor qualitative case, findings are context-specific and not statistically generalisable; the 12-store inventory is not a full Geographic Information Systems (GIS) census. Nonetheless, the framework offers a replicable protocol for coding multisensory semiotic cues at street scale, supporting comparative studies and informing design and governance. Future work should test the framework longitudinally and integrate spatial analytics.Originality/valueThe paper introduces a transferable three-domain sign list and sign schema that extend predominantly visual social-semiotic approaches and enable systematic store-to-store comparison in migrant retail corridors.
Purpose This study aims to address the ongoing lack of professional knowledge regarding Roma housing in Serbia, which limits effective practical solutions. Building on previous research of informal Roma settlements, it focuses on a planned settlement transformed through adaptations by Roma residents. These changes reflect culturally conditioned life patterns and challenge standardized housing models imposed by non-Roma frameworks. The study stresses that understanding housing as a reflection of everyday social practices is essential for supporting spatial justice for the Roma community.Design/methodology/approach The research employs an interdisciplinary theoretical framework and an anthropological approach, treating housing as a complex system of practices and meanings. The fieldwork involved detailed observation, measurement and mapping of spatial changes compared to the original plan, along with prolonged engagement with residents to observe daily routines and spatial interactions. Due to the difficulty, or near impossibility, of obtaining consent for questionnaires or other forms of formal communication, the research was designed as participant observation based on field notes.Findings Results show residents independently transformed the planned settlement to align with their collective lifestyle and culture. All original housing units were significantly modified, revealing a mismatch between resident needs and the standardized housing model based on majority norms. Key spatial elements - courtyard clusters, streets and communal areas - were reconfigured or created to enhance social interaction and community cohesion. These adaptations highlight the importance of culturally responsive housing design.Research limitations/implications One limitation of this study is that it focuses on only one transformed planned Roma settlement in Belgrade (the only one of its kind), which may represent a limited research sample. Furthermore, the fact that Roma in Serbia constitute a heterogeneous group with diverse behavioral patterns suggests that the findings from Belgrade cannot be directly applied or generalized to other urban areas. Future research plans include expanding fieldwork to additional cities in Serbia and conducting comparative analyses, with the aim of achieving a more comprehensive understanding of spatial practices across different Roma communities.Social implications The research methodology and findings open the possibility of shifting existing professional paradigms from mere problem-solving to integrated understanding and design, enabling the development of inclusive and culturally conscious urbanistic and architectural solutions tailored to the Roma cultural context.Originality/value Unlike prior studies relying mainly on theory or surface observation, this research offers systematic, fieldwork-based insights into Roma residents' everyday spatial practices in Serbia. This anthropological approach fills a critical knowledge gap and provides a foundation for future design strategies aligned with real community needs and cultural practices.
PurposeChina faces the dual challenges of an aging population and deteriorating old districts. This study quantifies resident satisfaction with aging-adapted retrofitting in historic urban communities to provide targeted strategies, promoting age-friendly communities and improving the quality of life and well-being of elderly residents.Design/methodology/approachUser comments from five major social media platforms (e.g. Weibo and Douyin) were leveraged. BERTopic topic modeling and importance-performance analysis were applied to systematically analyze the characteristics of elderly needs and satisfaction patterns within aging-adapted retrofitting projects.FindingsThe aging-adapted retrofitting needs follow a "dual-peak dominance-long-tail" pattern, with aging-adapted home environments and daily services and culture at the core. Medical and health care services, along with community canteens, fall into the "advantage zone", reflecting effective responses to core elderly needs. In contrast, indoor space planning, facilities and equipment and parking capacity fall into the "weak zone", revealing a mismatch between expectations and actual experiences. Basic issues such as structural waterproofing and property management show low satisfaction, while community activities and smart aging services, though well-received, lack sufficient attention. Projects such as elevator installation exhibit emotional polarization, indicating deep-seated conflicts over space, safety and equity.Originality/valueThis study advances a replicable, scalable data-driven framework for diagnosing pre-renovation needs and supporting post-renovation monitoring. Mining unstructured social-media text reveals latent, heterogeneous and evolving demand profiles beyond preset options, enriching the differentiated-care paradigm. It converts spontaneous discussions into quantifiable topics and sentiments to guide prioritization and resource allocation, shifting aging-adapted retrofitting from experience-to evidence-driven.
Purpose The purpose of this study was to uncover and evaluate the process and result of applying open building principles to create a long life (100 plus years), accommodating and dynamic building that could readily enable the iterative reconfiguration of spaces to reflect changing demographics and evolving pedagogies and to do so economically, with minimal disruption.Design/methodology/approach The focus of this article is the Discovery Building and Exploration Building at Santa Monica High School in Santa Monica, California. A collaboration of two architectural firms won the commission to design a major multi-purpose building on a high school campus with an open-ended program and a desire for flexibility. The design team proposed a loft building and designed it to be highly adaptable by employing strategies espoused by the internationally recognized open building movement. The team also won a second major commission for the Exploration Building, recently opened and inviting comparison between the two projects.Findings Now occupied for three years, the Discovery Building has become a model for future-proofing new facilities in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. Students and faculty have responded positively to the dynamic and flexible learning environment and changes in use and specific reconfigurations have been aided by the open building principles that have guided the design of this facility.Research limitations/implications Given the relatively short time span of the building's occupation, Discovery Building's capacity for change has not been fully tested. The project would greatly benefit from a full scale post-occupancy evaluation. The Exploration Building just opened last year and needs time to be tested through occupation, but it already invites comparisons in terms of similarities and differences in strategy.Social implications The way this building has been conceptualized and realized invites ongoing participation of faculty, students and administrators in the shaping of spaces that foster the education of both the individual and the collective.Originality/value The Discovery Building is the first education building explicitly designed according to open building principles in North America. As such, it is a model for future educational facilities of all kinds.
Purpose- This article aims to investigate the impact of the "smart people" parameter on the quality of life in smart cities built from scratch. The focus is on Aspern Seestadt near Vienna, examined within the smart city framework. Design/methodology/approach- Data were collected from 500 residents of Aspern Seestadt through stratified random sampling using online and paper-based surveys. A pre-test (n = 20) ensured instrument clarity, and a G*Power analysis confirmed sufficient statistical power (>0.80). Validated scales from the smart city literature were adapted for the questionnaire. Data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) in SPSS 21 and AMOS 21, supported by reliability tests, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin and Bartlett's tests and standard model fit indices. Findings- Settlements built from scratch, where the "smart people" approach is actively implemented, demonstrate high overall quality of life. The analysis underscores the critical role of this parameter in shaping public policies and guiding municipal management. Strategic incorporation of the "smart people" dimension significantly enhances the effectiveness of smart city initiatives. However, more structured strategies and clearer frameworks are needed to systematically embed this dimension into policy development. Originality/value- This study examines smart new cities from a human-centric perspective by evaluating the "smart people" parameter and its impact on quality of life. Empirical evidence is provided on how education, social participation and openness to innovation influence residents' well-being. While previous research has focused on technological infrastructure and governance, the role of human capital is emphasized here as an active and measurable driver of urban experiences. Using SEM, the study offers a novel methodological approach to understanding interactions between human-centric smart city attributes and residents' quality of life.
Purpose There has been a marked rise in the number of gated communities in the Greater Cairo Region. The purpose of the paper is twofold: (1) comparing urban developments under the modes of the capitalist system in the early 1900s and those of the first decade of the 20th century, (2) exploring the basis and motivations for residing in gated communities, besides residents' perceptions of their community. The paper examines the economic, social and environmental impacts of these new gated communities. The research investigates the urban development patterns in East Cairo over time, focusing on the social, political, institutional and economic forces that shape these patterns. It also explores the basis and motivations for residing in gated communities as well as residents' perceptions of their community.Design/methodology/approach The researchers employ a comparative case study technique using a mixed methodology approach to investigate urban development east of Cairo, examining social, political, institutional and economic forces. They compare an old development, namely Heliopolis, established in 1905, to a recent development, namely Madinaty, established in 2005. Qualitative research methods included historical analysis, document analysis, questionnaires, interviews and focus groups. Quantitative inquiry encompassed a survey to gather residents' opinions. The authors employ cluster analysis to establish a network of relationships between coded texts and themes. They use the chi-square test, a non-parametric statistical technique, to reveal associations among variables.Findings The inequitable distribution of housing services suggests that Egyptians experience social and environmental injustices. Existing urban policy favors residences with swimming pools and vast green areas for upper-income families. At the same time, water scarcity poses a significant threat to the country. Currently, most private sector leaders prioritize profit over social responsibility. The growth of suburbs in eastern Cairo has boosted the real estate sector. However, these suburbs exacerbate social segregation. While residents of gated communities enjoy community through shared amenities, these developments contribute to urban sprawl and the potential loss of natural habitats. The expansion of these gated communities is a sign of failure to provide citizens, who pay all sorts of taxes and fees, with adequate municipal services, showing a lack of good governance.Research limitations/implications The paper highlights how gated communities in Cairo reflect broader shifts toward privatized, exclusionary urbanism, raising concerns about spatial justice and governance. Findings underscore the need for regulatory reform, inclusive planning and stronger institutional accountability to mitigate social segregation and environmental strain. The research offers actionable insights for policymakers, urban planners and donor agencies seeking to balance market-driven development with equitable service provision. It also contributes to global debates on urban inequality in the Global South, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary methods in diagnosing complex urban transformations.Social implications The inquiry reveals how gated communities in Cairo reinforce socio-spatial segregation, limiting access to services and public space for lower-income groups. These developments reshape urban life by fostering exclusivity, weakening social cohesion and amplifying inequality. Residents' motivations - centered on security, privacy and lifestyle - reflect broader anxieties about governance and urban safety. The findings highlight the erosion of shared civic identity and the emergence of fragmented urban citizenship. Addressing these social implications requires inclusive planning, equitable service provision and stronger institutional accountability to prevent deepening divisions in Egypt's urban fabric.Originality/value The paper presents a comprehensive comparative case study using a mixed methodology to provide a nuanced understanding of urban development patterns in East Cairo. By comparing Heliopolis with Madinaty, the paper highlights differences and similarities in development patterns, motivations for residing in gated communities and residents' perceptions. It illustrates the transition from a capitalist organization under modernism in the early 1900s to a post-modern, globalized capitalist organization in the late 1900s, marked by a flexible mode of capital accumulation. This shift is characterized by a change in surface appearance rather than signs of a new emerging system - the basic rules of capitalism remain unchanged. The paper highlights social and environmental injustice as outcomes of present urban policy, focusing on the inequitable distribution of housing services and the broader implications of urban development policies in Cairo.
PurposeThis study aims to investigate how neighbourhood layout typologies impact residents' social well-being in Doha, Qatar, addressing the limited empirical evidence in rapidly urbanizing Middle Eastern contexts and focusing on urban form elements critical for quality of life.Design/methodology/approachA mixed-methods approach was employed across six distinct Doha neighbourhoods selected for varied spatial typologies (grid, loop and cul-de-sac). Methodologies included structured interviews, systematic observations, questionnaire surveys and space syntax analysis.FindingsSpatial attributes such as proximity, connectivity and visual integration significantly influence residents' social interactions, perceived safety and privacy levels with higher integration values (average Rn = 0.646), fostered stronger social networks (average 21 known neighbours) and higher perceptions of safety. Conversely, cul-de-sacs with lower connectivity and integration (average Rn = 0.429), limited pedestrian activity, restricted social networks (average 13 known neighbours) and raised privacy concerns, reflecting Qatar's privacy-centric cultural norms. The study reveals a tension where design features promoting connectivity sometimes conflict with deep-seated needs for privacy.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings highlight the critical need for context-sensitive urban design. While the study provides valuable insights, generalizability may be limited by its focus on specific neighbourhoods in Doha and winter observations; further research across seasons and more diverse contexts is implied.Social implicationsThis research demonstrates how specific neighbourhood designs directly affect community social health by shaping opportunities for interaction, influencing perceptions of safety and impacting residents' experience of culturally specific privacy needs.Originality/valueThis study provides novel empirical evidence on the interplay between urban form and social well-being within the under-researched Qatari context. It offers culturally and climatically nuanced insights to guide sustainable urban development, challenging a direct application of Western urban design theories like New Urbanism and demonstrating the need to integrate socio-cultural factors into space syntax models.
PurposeBuilding information modeling (BIM)-based projects that are not ready for construction can lead to project delays and cost overruns. However, projects often start without adequate readiness, despite the negative impacts of starting too early. Developing proper strategies to achieve the criteria for construction readiness in BIM-based projects is essential to ensure successful project execution. Therefore, this study aims to model the relationship between critical strategies and critical criteria for construction readiness in BIM-based projects. To achieve this aim, the study objectives are to identify critical strategies and critical criteria for construction readiness, to group these critical strategies and critical criteria into underlying constructs and to determine the relationship between strategy constructs and criteria constructs.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review and semi-structured interviews were conducted. Then, a survey was developed and distributed to BIM professionals. Data from 118 valid responses were analyzed using the normalized mean analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).FindingsThe analyses identified 23 critical strategies and 20 critical criteria. Three underlying constructs grouped the critical strategies (i.e. model management, coordination and competency) and critical criteria (i.e. model verification, integration and documentation). Moreover, the following relationships are significant: "model management-documentation," "coordination-model verification," "coordination-integration," "coordination-documentation" and "competency-integration."Originality/valueUnderstanding these interrelationships can help project managers and BIM professionals develop more effective approaches to ensure that BIM-based projects are ready for construction and executed efficiently.
