Investigating the effective factors on place attachment in residential environments: Post-Occupancy Evaluation of the 600-unit residential complex

Background and objectives: place attachment is among the most important aspectsof the interaction between people and their places, to keep residential environments safe,sustained, and resilient. this study aims to identify the factors that influence the creation andenhancement of place attachment in residential settings, with a focus on physical elements.given the significance of these factors in architecture and facility programming, the study aimsto provide architects and designers with effective strategies for designing and redesigningresidential environments. the results of this study on place attachment can be utilized in thearchitectural facility programming process and design decision-making.methods: this study proposed a theoretical framework in which the relationship betweensubjective and objective physical and individual characteristics and time were the maincomponents of making sense of place attachment. using a survey method, the studyinvestigated the significance of place attachment among residents of the 600-unit residentialcomplex in mashhad, iran, through a questionnaire divided into three sections. the first sectionfocused on individual characteristics and time spent in the complex, while the second andthird sections measured the objective and subjective physical characteristics and the extent ofpeople’s attachment to the complex, respectively. the data from 158 participants were analyzedusing spss and smartpls software.findings: results of spss analysis showed objective physical characteristics (p<.01, r=.241),as well as the subjective physical characteristics (p<.01, r=.223) and time (p<.01, r=.237), werethe most important components affecting place attachment, highlighting the role of physicalstrategies used in the residential complex for creating and developing this feeling. consideringthese physical factors affecting the establishment and enhancement of place attachmentemphasizes the role of architects and planners in satisfying this crucial human need whichdirectly affects people’s personal and social health.conclusion: the results revealed time, subjective, and objective physical characteristics arethree factors that have a direct impact on place attachment. objective physical characteristicshave a direct impact on place attachment and also indirectly impact it through their effect onsubjective physical characteristics. on the other hand, the relationship between individualcharacteristics and place attachment is indirect, as individual characteristics affect the timespent in a place, and an increase in time spent leads to a stronger place attachment. thefindings can be employed extensively in architectural programming in residential environmentsto improve the quality of life.