Suburbs are personal space for the home.<p>If, out in public, you feel uncomfortable when someone you don't know stands close enough that you could touch elbows with them, you may prefer suburbs to density.<p>If, when you hear someone unexpectedly yelling nearby, your first reaction is "let's see what the trouble is" rather than "let's see what the excitement is", you may prefer suburbs to density.<p>If you would prefer scheduling to spontaneity in interactions with people you don't live with, you may prefer suburbs to density.<p>If you would like to avoid learning to sleep through sirens and yelling, you may prefer suburbs to density.<p>If you laughed when you read "People feel vulnerable and uncomfortable in open areas with ill-defined margins.", you may prefer suburbs. ;)<p>On that last: I think it really sums up the whole article that they present those two images in section 6 and then try to explain why "people" feel more at ease with the Saint-Germain photo. They don't try to explain why some people prefer wide open spaces, and I get the impression it's because they don't really believe anyone does. All these people are really seeking out homes to buy in places they know they'll be unhappy? But maybe that isn't it.<p>Oh, wait, they do consider that people actually say they like having more space, in 7. They don't seem to believe it, though, remarking that it's important how usable the space is. But it really isn't: in fact, for those of us who like lots of personal space, having large nearby areas which are clearly unsuitable for most human activity helps put us at ease. If you see an adult in a drainage ditch, there is a short list of reasons why they'd be there, and any of those reasons justifies becoming involved to see if they need help, or whatever. If you live in a dense city and someone is hanging out next to your window, which is an arm's length from the sidewalk, they could be trying to open it, or... it could be any hour of any day. If you live in the pictured suburbs and someone is hanging out next to your window, there's less uncertainty.<p>> useless frontages, pointless greenspace between compatible land uses, as well as chain-link fences, concrete barriers, and drainage pits<p>Complaining that the moat isn't chlorinated and has smelly monsters in it misses the actual purpose of the moat.<p>There's a lot to like about cities, but a lot to dislike as well, and those things push a lot of people to the suburbs.