From Structure to Social Fabric: Comparing Participatory and Conventional Residential Design in the Context of Social Sustainability

This study investigates the role of residential architecture in fostering social interaction and strengthening residents’ identification with their living environment. It focuses on two key dimensions through which housing environments support social cohesion: the spatial dimension, referring to the physical design of buildings and spaces, and the organizational dimension, which involves the engagement of prospective residents in planning, and in the co-creation and development of housing projects. Two dwelling-oriented projects located in Vienna’s Leopoldstadt district were selected as case studies: Wohnprojekt Wien and PaN-Wohnpark. Wohnprojekt Wien represents a fully participatory model, characterized by maximum resident involvement throughout all stages of the design process. In contrast, PaN-Wohnpark followed a more conventional approach, involving only limited resident participation in the form of post-occupancy consultations. This participation was limited to aspects of social life, community management, and integration, without influence on the architectural or spatial layout of the buildings. Both projects were evaluated using ten architectural and spatial criteria previously developed by the author to assess features that promote neighborly interaction. The evaluation was based on qualitative field research, including site visits and expert interviews The findings indicate that the participatory design approach implemented in Wohnprojekt Wien significantly contributed to stronger social ties and a heightened sense of community among residents. In contrast, in PaN-Wohnpark—where participation was limited and occurred only after completion—the impact on social cohesion was considerably less pronounced. These results suggest that integrating participatory design methods into residential development can substantially enhance social sustainability by fostering informal social interactions and strengthening residents’ sense of belonging. Importantly, the extent to which residents are empowered to influence decisions about their living environments appears to be a critical factor in achieving these outcomes.