This thesis
explores and outlines the emerging patterns of tall building development and
examines their suitability for middle class inhabitants. This is pertinent in
light of questions that have arisen regarding the ability of members of the
middle class to undertake the necessary financial obligations required for the
maintenance of the expensive systems found in such buildings. The research
examines the attitudes and satisfaction of 80 women residing in buildings of
21-24 stories located in Kiryat Motzkin in respect to living in tall buildings.
It analyses the correlation between the intensity of the relations between
neighbors in the building, their general level of satisfaction with living in
the building, level of maintenance and cleanliness, levels of privacy and crowding,
child rearing practices - on the one hand - and demographic, socio-economic
variables, length of residence, building height and inhabited floor number - on
the other hand. In addition, the research examined whether there were changes
over a period of years in resident' attitudes towards their living conditions,
by comparing this study with two previous Israeli studies. The results indicate
that residential buildings of 21-24 floors may be appropriate for middle class
populations with characteristics resembling those encountered in the study.
This, on condition of finding the proper solution to the maintenance problem in
these buildings. Furthermore, the suitability of high-rise buildings for their
residents and for families with small children in particular, can be increased
by locating such buildings in a diversified environment with immediate access
to local public services, commercial services, open public spaces,
transportation and a variety of children’s playgrounds located within a
reasonable walking distance, far from endangering roads, and whose location
permits easy communication between parent and child.
