A Systematic Literature Review on the Impact of Open Spaces on Human Physiological and Mental Well-Being in Post-Pandemic Housing in Urban Context

Abstract

Open spaces are areas without any built structures that are open to the public and pose as a key infrastructure to the development of the urban fabric. Due to rapid urbanization, the quantity and quality of open spaces in housing neighbourhoods have reduced, affecting the resident’s psychological health poorly, which was further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The lower-income groups of the country have been most affected by the same. Hence, this study addresses the inequality in the distribution of open spaces and how open spaces can be used to improve the dwelling conditions for the disadvantaged sections of society. This study looks into the different typologies of open spaces in urban housing and investigates how the provision of open spaces and their correlated features are associated with the user’s health and well-being.The paper looks into existing literature about the topic to understand what is known and to examine its shortcomings. The research would help future public and private sector bodies in charge of designing homes for the low-income groups to understand the importance and implementation of open spaces in such housings to uplift and improve the physical and mental health of the urban poor of India.