Abstract

The failures of many housing projects stems from lack of knowledge on the determinants of Residential Satisfaction (RS) concept. This paper has utilized archival methodology for the past 13 years starting from 1997 until 2010. It aimed to compile existing definitions of RS in order to determine the core and principle of those various definitions. It was found out that RS is a subjective dependent variable which depends on many physical and social parameters. However, the propriety of those parameters could vary for different people with different social cultural and professional back grounds. The result of the study indicates that, urban planners and designers and architects have similar points of consideration on the parameters of RS such as neighbourhood, social demographic, and housing and estate management. Nonetheless, some rubrics such as dwelling unit features, dwelling unit support services, housing conditions, structure types, and environmental features of the housing are mostly emphasized by architects. Besides, some rubrics such as environmental features of the housing and neighbour relationship are more emphasized by the urban planners. Meanwhile, some sub rubrics such as police protection and security control, closeness to recreational facilities and user characteristics emphasized by all urban planners, architects and Environment psychologists.

Key words: Residential satisfaction (RS), urban planners and designers, architects, environmental    psychologists, policymakers.