Residential Satisfaction in the Mühlburg District of Karlsruhe – Quality of Living and Desired Changes

Abstract Book of the 12th International Conference on Social Sciences, Humanities and Education

Year: 2026

[PDF]

Residential Satisfaction in the Mühlburg District of Karlsruhe – Quality of Living and Desired Changes

Janine Bittner, Florian Angerer

ABSTRACT:

Mühlburg, a district of the city of Karlsruhe in Germany, had to contend with rising devaluation and problems such as increased unemployment, poverty, and deficiencies in urban planning. Therefore, Mühlburg was included in the national “Social City” programme in 2007 and recognised as a district with special development needs. The aim of our research study, which was conducted in the year 2008, was to explore the overall satisfaction among residents with Mühlburg as a place to live, desired changes for the district and their interest in the “Social City” programme. We conducted a pedestrian survey in the central shopping area in the Mühlburg district. 418 residents of the district took part in the quantitative study. A descriptive statistical analysis of the data obtained was performed. The majority of respondents lived in one- and two-person households. The often long duration of residence and the increased proportion of lower and middle-income groups were striking. There was a high level of satisfaction with the shopping facilities, medical care, and public transport connections, and less satisfaction with the range of leisure and sport facilities and cultural offerings, as well as rent and real estate prices, a factor considered very important when assessing the quality of living. The desired improvement measures are traffic calming, increased safety in the district, and improvement of the building fabric. Most respondents were generally satisfied with the housing situation in Mühlburg, especially older residents. Nevertheless, the study also revealed the district’s weaknesses and the need for change.

Keywords: Karlsruhe; Mühlburg District; Residential Satisfaction; Quality of Living; "Social City" Programme