Building a Framework for Analysing the Quality of Life at Neighbourhood Level: an Empirical Case From Ankara

Abstract

This article aims to analyse the indicators of quality of life (QoL) in a regeneration area in line with the subjective evaluations of neighbourhood residents. To this end, a total of 359 respondents were selected by random sampling in the Akpinar neighbourhood, Ankara, Turkey which was inhabited by squatter settlements and subjected to urban regeneration resulting in a substantial change in its physical, social, spatial and demographic structure. The neighbourhood was challenged by a landslide after the urban regeneration which affected the satisfaction levels of residents and constituted a contradiction for regeneration efforts. It is hypothesised that the QoL of neighbourhood residents is affected by the factors of quality of the built environment, public spaces, social environment, natural environment, services and facilities and safety. The findings indicate that neighbourhood level QoL is positively associated with the width of streets, adequacy of parking lots, adequacy of cultural facilities, adequacy of sewage and drainage systems, discreetness of inhabitants and peace and calmness in the neighbourhood. The present research contributes to the development of a more comprehensive schema for regeneration practices by considering both objective and subjective indicators and by revealing the importance of the public space's influence on the QoL for urban residents.