Determining the Interaction of Social Sustainability with the Physical Environment: A Case Study of Adana, Turkey

Abstract

Social sustainability has emerged as a critical factor in evaluating societal welfare and well-being. Consequently, researchers have initiated the development of a theoretical framework to delineate the components of social sustainability, achieving notable progress in this endeavor. However, the interplay between the social dimension and the environmental and economic dimensions remains insufficiently explored in user experiences, posing challenges in integrating social sustainability into preliminary design parameters in the built environment and resulting in socially inefficient spaces. This study seeks to elucidate the relationship between social sustainability and the environment while devising a measurement methodology that encompasses the physical environment. Concentrating on public spaces, pivotal in daily experiences and reflective of individual interactions, the research was conducted across five distinct public spaces in the Seyhan district of Adana. Methodologically, the study employed field research, preliminary examination, and statistical analysis. Data collection techniques, including surveys, observations, and measurements, were utilized to unveil statistically significant correlations between social sustainability and the physical environment of public spaces. Consequently, this study delineates the dimensions of these relationships and translates them into actionable design data.