Kurtuluş, Ozlem
(2025)
Different eras of council housing estates and their neighbourhood formation: the case of Nottingham.
PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.
Abstract
This thesis investigates how council housing estates, developed during different historical periods, have influenced neighbourhood formation and the production of lived space. Using Lefebvre’s spatial triad (conceived, perceived, and lived space) as a framework, the study reveals how large-scale social housing projects shape spatial configurations, social interactions, and community dynamics. It also assesses how planning and design decisions have contributed to neighbourhood formation, highlighting the role of housing policies in fostering social cohesion and neighbourhood vitality.
This research adopts a mixed-method approach to examine the spatial and social dynamics of council housing estates built in different historical periods. The study utilises space syntax analysis, observation and rhythmanalysis to investigate four distinct neighbourhoods in Nottingham. The spatial configuration of each area is analysed through integration and choice measurements, followed by field observations along the main integrated routes.
Rhythmanalysis is applied to reveal the temporal and spatial rhythms of daily life, while census data is used to explore the socio-demographic characteristics of the communities.
The findings revealed that the interwar estate, though well integrated with the city, failed to foster social interaction due to low spatial integration and limited functional diversity at the local level, leading to social isolation. The late 20th-century estate exhibited a segregated structure in both spatial configuration and functional diversity. The postwar estate, despite being located on the periphery, encouraged more interaction among residents, owing to higher local integration, making it the most successful example in terms of urban qualities. Due to its central location, the high-rise period example provided important data on living in the city centre. Constructed as a mixed-use, modern residential structure in the city centre, the flats supported residents' direct access to city amenities while revealing how the streetscape changed due to the changing land use patterns in the surrounding streets with high integration values.
This study advances the understanding of urban spatial dynamics in council housing estates and provides an understanding of future urban planning policies to improve community cohesion and spatial design in suburban areas.
Actions (Archive Staff Only)
 |
Edit View |
Tools
Tools
