How does the layout of indoor communal spaces in low-income high-rise apartment buildings impact the social interactions between residents?

The scarcity of urban land restricts outdoor communal spaces, especially in low-income high-rise complexes. As a result, indoor communal spaces become essential in stimulating social interaction among high-rise residents. This study, therefore, investigates how the layout of indoor communal space in low-income high-rise apartment buildings affects social interactions between residents using a combination of comparative floorplan-analysis and semi-structured interviews. The investigation draws on data collected from four low-income high-rise building complexes in Hanoi, Vietnam. Space syntax analyses, including the visual integration and connectivity drawn from Visibility Graph Analysis (VGA), were used for the comparative floorplan-analysis. Thematic analysis was used to analyze semi-structured interviews to understand residents’ perceptions and use of communal spaces for social interaction. Findings indicate that residents are more likely to use functional communal spaces when they are accessible, visible, and flexible. Small-scale corridors and sequences of spaces can provide a platform for interaction and, at the same time, guarantee privacy. The seating options, advertisement screen display, (digital) community noticeboards in the common area, and good lighting/ventilation can invite people to stay longer and interact with others. The results of this study offer design implications, suggesting that indoor-communal spaces are significant for social interaction.