Large Apartment Complexes: Implications for Design, Management and Governance

Sian E. L. Thompson (UNSW Australia)

Social disconnection in large apartment complexes is common, and in densifying cities the number of apartment dwellers is growing. When combined with investor-ownership, residential mobility, and resident heterogeneity, this shift poses difficulties for social cohesion, well-being and effective building management.

This paper presents research into neighbor relationships in four large apartment complexes and their local areas in Sydney, Australia, using assemblage thinking to consider the human and built environment factors involved in relationship development, as well as residents’ perceived need for them. In-depth interviews were conducted with 60 residents, seven management staff, and local government officers, and 202 residents completed surveys. The built environment was examined through observations and analysis of the affordances and standing patterns of behavior associated with shared spaces.

Only a third of survey respondents were satisfied with their local social connection, with a third wanting more interaction and a third non-committal. While residents often maintained simple acknowledgement relationships with neighbors in circulation spaces, encounters here were unlikely to further develop into the slightly deeper ties many desired. These findings suggest that to enable these deeper ties, developers, designers, managers and government should reduce involuntary residential mobility and barriers to resident-led community-building, welcome children and pets, and carefully design and manage shared spaces. The latter entails providing flexible, visible, easily-accessible break-out and event space within the building or grounds, focusing on the meaningful activities spaces afford as well as supporting lingering through appropriate seating, weather protection, privacy and refreshment facilities. Creative management strategies enabling responsible, minimally-restricted use of these spaces are also needed. At the scale of the local area, management and small business staff are a reliable source of connection, green space affords relaxation and convivial encounters, and low-cost leisure activities are valuable for social connection.