Residential satisfaction, social capital and place attachment. Case study: Sahar Residential Tower, Tehran

S.Narges Mousavi; Islam Karami

doi:10.35784/bud-arch.9259

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Published: 2026-07-31

DOI: https://doi.org/10.35784/bud-arch.9259

Issue Vol. 25 No. 3 (2026)

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Residential satisfaction, social capital and place attachment. Case study: Sahar Residential Tower, Tehran
S.Narges Mousavi, Islam Karami

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Urban morphogenesis of Bejaia (1833-1962): A GIS-based framework for architectural heritage planning
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The Spatial memory in the transformation of industrial buildings into cultural spaces: CerModern
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26055

Authors

S.Narges Mousavi

mousavinarges55@yahoo.com

Master of Science student in architecture, Faculty of Architectural Engineering and Urbanism, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood

Iran, Islamic Republic of

Islam Karami

islamkarami@shahroodut.ac.ir

Faculty of Architectural Engineering and Urbanism, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood

Iran, Islamic Republic of

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2236-1259

Abstract

Satisfaction with the residential neighbourhood environment – residents’ perceptual-affective evaluation of physical, social, security, and service quality – plays a key role in fostering place attachment and building social capital. In high-rise residential towers, however, reduced neighbourly interactions and weak social ties often limit the mediating effect of social capital between environmental satisfaction and place attachment. This area has received limited research attention. This quantitative-applied study examined the impact of environmental satisfaction on place attachment, with social capital as a mediator, in Sahar Residential Tower, Sadeghieh, Tehran. A field survey was conducted using a five-point Likert questionnaire. The population consisted of 1,440 residents; a Convenience Sampling of 323 participants was drawn. Data were analysed descriptively in SPSS and via structural equation modelling and path analysis in AMOS. Content validity, construct validity (CFA), and reliability (Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability) were all confirmed. Findings showed that environmental satisfaction significantly influences social capital (β=0.551, p<0.001) and place attachment (β=0.340, p<0.001). Social capital also positively affects place attachment (β=0.171, p<0.05). The indirect effect through social capital was significant but modest (β=0.094, z=1.804), indicating partial mediation. Mean scores were moderately low: environmental satisfaction (2.84), place attachment (2.73), and social capital (2.50). Environmental satisfaction primarily contributes to place attachment by strengthening relationships, trust, and participation. In residential towers, enhancing both physical quality and social bonds simultaneously is essential. Recommendations include designing interactive shared spaces, promoting psychological safety, and supporting local community organisations to improve social ties and deepen residents’ sense of place.

Keywords:

Environmental Satisfaction, Place attachment, Social Capital, High-Rise Housing, Urban Housing

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)

Sustainable cities and communities
Peace, justice and strong institutions

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Mousavi, S. and Karami, I. (2026) “Residential satisfaction, social capital and place attachment. Case study: Sahar Residential Tower, Tehran”, Budownictwo i Architektura / Civil and Architectural Engineering, 25(3), p. 26037. doi:10.35784/bud-arch.9259.

Residential satisfaction, social capital and place attachment. Case study: Sahar Residential Tower, Tehran

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