Visual and functional components of the built environment: a case study of urban residential neighborhoods

Abstract

The hypothesis that visual and functional characteristics of neighborhoods influence the psychological well-being of residents was tested. An informal test by a survey of advertising strategies for selling real estate was first used. Second, data from a variety of published sources were used to identify some of the underlying dimensions of residential neighborhoods The dimensions were used as independent variables to predict three different measures of psychological well-being in former mental patients. The results partially supported the hypothesized relationship by demonstrating that neighborhood type appeared to influence the patients? recuperation.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the conference on metropolitan physical environment

Citation

Smith, Christopher J. 1977. Visual and functional components of the built environment: a case study of urban residential neighborhoods. In: Heisler, Gordon M.; Herrington, Lee P., eds. Proceedings of the conference on metropolitan physical environment; Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-25. Upper Darby, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 368-376