Neighborhood Physical Form and Use of Public Open Spaces: Haifa, Israel

Abstract

This paper reports on empirical research conducted in selected neighborhoods in Haifa, Israel, where an investigation was made of the relationship between the physical characteristics of multi-family residential environments and the patterns of neighborhood open space use. The persons surveyed were the actual park users present at the open space. Several hypotheses were proposed concerning the relationship between the use of open space and such aspects of the physical residential environment as built-up density, degree of crowding in the respondent's home, and distance from the open space.

The findings did not show a close relationship between density of the residential environment and a tendency for greater open space use; this indicates that the assumption made by many designers—a higher density residential environment can be compensated for by providing more open space for the residents' use—is a tenuous one. The locational qualities of the open space itself appear to be of greater importance than the amount of open space.