design intention

PLATE DESIGN UNIT LAYOUT

Those on the edge of the community tend to be more isolated.

In flats residents living next to the stairwells are more inclined to socialize with residents from lower and upper floors,

whilest those living in the centre of the floor are more inclined to socialize with their immediate neighbours (Homans, 1968).



GARDEN IN FRONT OF HOUSES 
Enabling surveillance through community layout and building design (in encouraging social interaction)

residents able to see and hear others using public spaces outside their home, greatly influeces their sense of community and enables them to observe others with whom they would like to interact.



SHARED PATHWAYS TO ACTIVITY SITES

The horizontal movement happens in front of the village houses increase the interaction opportunity. This proves that shared pathways to activity sites in a community increase the potential for social interaction (Cooper Marcus & Sarkissian, 1986). In the aspect of high-rise residential design, car parking can be provided on the periphery of communities to avoid residents from moving directly from the car park to their individual home. The journey from car park to the unit can be identified as a shared path through the community. This shared path provides potential for social interaction. 

ACTIVITY SITES PROVIDE WITHIN RESIDENTIAL AREA

In terms of their position in the layout of the community, facilities need to be central (Fromm, 1991) and accessible (Abu-gazzeh, 1999).

As key activity sites, communal facilities should be placed on shared pathways within residential areas to maximize social interactions (McCamant & Durrett, 1994).

Visibility of communal facilities is also important to increase opportunities for surveillance, thus increasing use and opportunities for social interactions (McCamant & Durrett, 1994).