Social sustainability

Environment
Published: 30 November 2013
Edited: 4 September 2018
by Natasha Palich and Angelique Edmonds
ISSN: 2207-466X

creating places and participatory processes that perform well for people

This note was reviewed in September 2018 and retained for legacy.

Social sustainability is about ensuring the sustenance of the diverse social relations that exist in healthy communities. Creating the physical, cultural and social places that support wellbeing and a sense of community involves a process of engagement with the people who inhabit those places.

Active engagement in one of the 5000+ forum discussions.
Active engagement in one of the 5000+ forum discussions. (Image: Integrated Design Commission)

There are several key points to note: social sustainability is as much about the process as it is about the outcome, the design of the physical place is critical and the physical outcomes need to be integrated with social infrastructure systems.

The note is divided into two parts. Part A provides a background to social sustainability, connects the concept to the Australian context and highlights the integrated approach required for successful outcomes. Part B focuses on design principles and provides practical strategies for architects pursuing socially sustainable outcomes.

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Note Summary
  1. Introduction
  2. Part A Background
  3. Creating social sustainability
  4. Part B Designing for social sustainability
  5. Design strategies to achieve outcomes
  6. Conclusion