A Comparative Study of Residential Satisfaction Indicators in Oil Company Towns: A Case Study of Newside and Naft Town, Ahvaz
Keywords:
Residential Satisfaction, Oil Company Towns, Newside, Naft TownAbstract
Oil company towns are among the settlements in which housing, in addition to its residential function, is linked to organizational structure, spatial order, and the social relations of residents. Therefore, evaluating residential satisfaction in these settlements requires simultaneous attention to the physical, social, perceptual, and managerial dimensions of residential quality. The present study aims to analyze the components affecting residential satisfaction in the oil company towns of Ahvaz by comparing two residential complexes, namely Newside and Naft Town. The conceptual framework of the study was developed based on human–environment relationship theory, and residential quality was examined across five dimensions: spatial identity and attachment, social and ethical values, functionalism and quality of life, dynamism and physical quality, and urban management and governance. In terms of purpose, this research is applied, and in terms of method, it is quantitative–qualitative. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire based on cluster sampling among 384 residents of the two neighborhoods. The results showed that Naft Town is at a high level in the components of spatial identity and social values, and at a moderate level in the physical, functional, and managerial components. In contrast, Newside is below the moderate level in all components, with its weaknesses being particularly evident in dynamism and physical quality, functionalism, and urban management. The comparison of the two neighborhoods indicates that residential satisfaction in oil company towns is not merely a function of the physical characteristics of housing units, but also depends on spatial legibility, the quality of neighborhood relations, the possibility of developing a sense of belonging, access to services, and the efficiency of urban management. Therefore, achieving desirable housing in these settlements requires a multidimensional and context-sensitive approach to housing planning and design.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Amin Kamali (Author); Akbar Mousaeijoo; Ahmad Reza Kaboli, Seyedeh Sedigheh Mirgozar Langaroudi (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
