Measurement of social sustainability in the context of historical urban residential district: A case study of Kashan

Housing as a key component of a built environment plays a very important role in the sustainable development of cities. This study aims at the factors affecting the social sustainability in the residential district of historical texture in the city of Kashan. The researchers have sought to measure and evaluate the impact of social sustainability indicators of housing. The study population consists of 45,552 inhabitants from six quarters of the historical texture of the city. Therefore, using the formula sample and a questionnaire, the perspectives of 364 inhabitants in the historical texture of Kashan were collected and analyzed. Using factor analysis, the results showed that two factors, namely "Identity and Belonging" and "recognition and identification with the place" are the most important factors affecting the social sustainability of housing in the context of the historic city of Kashan. Also, the results of a correlation analysis showed that the period of residence in the historical texture can also affect the residents' satisfaction, and this satisfaction, in turn, can have a positive impact on the sense of belonging to a place and on encouraging the residents to usefully participate in the affairs of their historical residence.