Research on the justice of public space in Macao’s social housing based on grounded theory

Based on grounded theory and spatial justice theory, this study addresses the understudied problem of spatial justice in public spaces within Macao’s social housing communities, which are critical yet often neglected sites of urban inequality. The aim is to identify the key factors influencing perceptions and experiences of justice in these spaces and to construct a comprehensive theoretical model that explains their interplay. The study proposes three core dimensions—Spatial Publicness, Spatial Equality, and Spatial Diversity—that together shape the spatial justice in high-density social housing environments, which reveals how is spatial justice manifested and experienced in the public spaces of Macao’s social housing, and what factors determine its perception. Methodologically, the research employs semi-structured interviews with residents based on Grounded Theory and utilizes a rigorous three-level coding process to analyse qualitative data. The findings reveal intrinsic tensions between accessibility and safety management, uncover micro-level environmental inequality despite macro-level equality, and discuss how spatial diversity would promote inclusivity while countering disciplinary management. The study concludes with practical policy recommendations aimed at optimizing spatial justice and contributes a transferable framework for global social housing policy, particularly in high-density urban contexts, advocating for people-oriented approaches that enhance equity and dignity.