The quality of life in Dhaka, Bangladesh: neighborhood quality as a major component of residential satisfaction

Quality of life and the quality of the urban environment throughout the world are issues of concern for researchers as well as planners, policy makers, and urban residents. The chapter explores the quality of life (QOL) in six major residential areas in Dhaka, Bangladesh, as part of a citywide research program examining residential environments. How people assess their lives and life experiences and, in particular, their satisfactions with housing and neighborhoods are examined. Findings indicate the importance of the holistic socio-physical neighborhood as a major contributor to residential satisfaction in medium-rise and high-rise housing in Dhaka. Other findings revealed that specific socio-physical features of the neighborhood and community influence overall life satisfaction more than physical design features of dwellings.