Play Spaces and the Facilitation of Friendly Neighborhood Relations : The role of the outdoor playgrounds in Seoul’s apartment complexes

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The quick development of the apartment complex in Seoul in the 1970s contributed to the disappearance of alleys, small shops, and hawkers, which were significant to the maintenance of the balance between individual’s happiness and others' rights. With the recent exportation of the apartment complex to developing countries, it is necessary to examine whether it is appropriate.
This study examines the effect of the playground in apartment complexes on neighborhood relations and investigates the importance of playgrounds' physical conditions. This study seeks to explore the public aspect of semi-public spaces in residential areas by applying Gehl's theory of transitioning from low intensity contact to higher intensity contact and utilizing Gehl and PPS' evaluation framework for good public spaces. Observation sessions and interviews were conducted at two playgrounds and open spaces in apartment complexes in Seoul.
The results show that play spaces in are beneficial for the formation and maintenance of neighborhood relationships, as children and play-equipment nullify the principle of civil inattention and lead to higher intensity contact among strangers. Furthermore, frequent interaction and the sharing of common interests contribute to the development of neighborhood relationships.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• 1. Introduction 7
• 2. Literature Review 10
• 2.1 Definition and classification of public space 10
• 2.2 Previous studies on the playground in apartment complexes in Korea 13
• 2.3 Theoretical background: Low intensity contact and physical conditions of public space 14
• 3. Methodology 19
• 3.1 Selection of study sites 19
• 3.2 Explanation of study sites 22
• 3.3 Study method and period 24
• 4. Results 25
• 4.1 The results of experimental observation activities 25
• 4.2 The results of interviews 35
• 5. Discussion and Conclusion 40
• Bibliography 44