Urban morphology and subjective well-being

Abstract

It is widely believed that the built environment can influence well-being. While this notion has been embraced for centuries it has equally been disputed on the basis that this belief is based more so on what architects hope their architecture will achieve, rather than a knowledge of social behaviour (Farmer, 1993). It is argued that the relationship between the built environment and well-being is not a simple cause and effect relationship but it is a complex phenomenon that influences and is influenced by multiple factors (Gough, 2018). This study aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of this complex phenomenon through an investigation of how aspects of urban morphology effect Subjective Well-Being. Through an analysis of existing research, the study develops a conceptual model that illustrates the relationship between the built environment and aspects of Subjective Well-Being. The conceptual model is built on 3 main pillars: Objective environmental attributes; Subjective Well-Being and; Personal Characteristics. Building on the conceptual model, the dissertation develops a theoretical framework that outlines indicators for each pillar. Semi-structured interviews are used to gain insight into residents' perceptions of how elements of their built environment affect their wellbeing. Participants’ perceptions of well-being are then compared to the respective objective attributes of the environment being referred to. The environments chosen for comparison are at the scale of groups of households located within the unique geographical, social and cultural context of the village of Ħaż-Żebbuġ. From the results of the study, it can be deduced that participants directly attribute aspects of their well-being to elements of urban morphology. Furthermore, the study also reveals that Subjective Well-Being is attributed to aspects of the environment that are influenced by morphology and which are related to environmental quality. While the study indicates that the built environment can influence subjective wellbeing, it also suggests that the social changes occurring within contemporary society simultaneously influence Subjective Well-Being in ways that are unrelated to the built environment.