Residential Satisfaction in Horizontal Gated Housing Settlements of Diyarbak？r, Turkey

Gated communities or gated housing settlements, which are living spaces with strictly controlled entrances, have become indispensable parts of the big cities in Turkey, like most other countries in the world. The number of these settlements, first built in 2000s, has also been increasing in Diyarbakir, one of the largest cities in the southeastern part of Turkey. However, the number of studies examining the users’ attitude towards gated housing settlements in the city is quite limited. To provide a user-centered examination of these settlements is quite valuable in terms of satisfying user expectations in prospective designs. For the purposes of the present study, three gated housing settlements in Diyarbak？r were examined in terms of the satisfaction levels of the residents. Data were collected through the administration of a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview to 105 participants. The findings indicate that the satisfaction levels of the users vary depending on the settlements. The results also show that individuals living in horizontal gated housing settlements have a higher perception of place attachment and property value and that living in a secure or reputable neighborhood is their main priority. It has also been determined that the users are intimidated by the idea of living in a non-gated settlement, which reveals the importance of the preference of security for the residents of the gated housing settlements in the city