Personal and social attributes influencing the use of residential shared spaces: An autoethnographic study

The purpose of this research is to identify personal and social attributes that influence use of shared spaces in residential areas with a main case study from Damascus, Syria. The study utilizes autoethnography with the implicit purpose of exhibiting its potentials as an architectural research methodology. Findings were substantiated through the use of four measures defined by Groat and Wang (2002: 34-36): truth value, applicability, consistency, and neutrality. Identified attributes found are: events, a second connection, mutual activities, children, personal character, social norms, time, and perception of space. The paper argues that findings are possible to be generalized because they are supported by similar observations in other geographic areas and by available literature. Findings underscore the importance of deeper understanding of the specifics of users’ personalities and cultural background as a prerequisite for any interference with the design of residential public spaces.