Examining Women’s Needs and Preferences in the Semi-Public Spaces of High-Rise Gated Communities

Volume 22, Issue 142
April 2025
Pages 27-40

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Candidate in Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Associate Professor in Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Environmental Design, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor in Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

4 Associate Professor in Architecture, Faculty of Civil, Architecture and Art, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract
Problem statement: Investigating the concept of lifestyle as a comprehensive set of activities and living patterns can provide insights into residents’ needs and preferences, informing spatial planning and residential design. Given that women comprise half of any society’s population, understanding their lifestyles is crucial, as it offers perspectives on how the residential environment may impact their physical and mental well-being, contributing to the reduction of gender-based inequalities and the enhancement of their quality of life. However, residential behaviors shaped by women’s lifestyles have rarely been explored in the literature.
Research objective: This study aims to identify women’s needs and preferences in the semi-public spaces of high-rise gated communities, considering their lifestyle patterns.
Research method: Autoethnography was chosen as the research method to explore women’s activity patterns and housing preferences. To analyze the qualitative data, reports were coded, and thematic analysis was employed to extract key themes.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that spatial limitations within apartment units, along with restrictions on time and place for utilizing public spaces outside the building, have created challenges for many activities. Consequently, most women seek a residential environment that supports their social, leisure, professional, and occupational activities. Additionally, key preferences include the management of objects in shared spaces, spatial density management and congestion control, regulation of pet movement, and access to security infrastructure and provisions. As a result, utilizing semi-public spaces to integrate daily life and extend lifestyle beyond the private unit—alongside their role as connective spaces—can enhance the quality of life in these communities at various levels.

Keywords

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