This study examines the spatial and design barriers that impede active transportation (AT) in the historic Juanda area of Central Jakarta, a context characterised by rich heritage, informal street life and multimodal transit integration. Employing a qualitative methodology encompassing field observation, spatial mapping and stakeholder interviews, the study identifies key challenges including inactive ground floor frontages, fragmented pedestrian infrastructure and the exclusion of informal economies. Drawing on human-scale urbanism and heritage-sensitive mobility frameworks, the paper formulates adaptive strategies that embrace, rather than displace, local sociocultural dynamics. The findings emphasise contextually embedded solutions that integrate informal trade, cultural practices and micro-mobility within walkable, living heritage corridors. Recommendations target urban planners, heritage conservationists and public space managers, highlighting pathways for regenerating urban environments that are sustainable, inclusive and responsive to the realities of Southeast Asian cities undergoing rapid modernisation. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.

This study examines a case of urban renewal in Shibuya, one of Tokyo’s most prominent downtown areas, featuring Miyashita Park, a dilapidated 10,000‐square‐meter park that transformed into a modern commercial complex consisting of a multistory commercial building with a roof park and an 18‐story hotel. Shibuya Ward, the park’s administrator, selected private companies—initially Nike Japan and subsequently Mitsui Fudosan—as the redevelopment agency to install and operate park facilities—a public–private partnership that went beyond the conventional park concept by building sophisticated commercial facilities. This redevelopment, which began at the end of the 2000s, was met with fierce opposition. To investigate these dynamics, the article draws on qualitative content analysis of Shibuya Ward Assembly minutes (2008–2020), obtained from the official digital archive, alongside media coverage. By systematically reviewing committee and plenary debates where key policy decisions were made, the study traces how the project was planned, debated, and implemented. The findings show that despite legal ambiguities and strong criticism, the ward advanced the project by framing the park as an unprofitable facility requiring private‐sector expertise, redefining regulatory boundaries, and limiting resident participation to a formal procedure. This process illuminates how public–private‐partnership‐led redevelopment, embedded in Japan’s broader neoliberal urbanism, can proceed through strong political conviction at the local level amid opposition and limited transparency. The study contributes to international debates on urban public space, highlighting how local governments act not only as regulators but also as active promoters of privatization and the erosion of urban commons.

With global warming intensifying, urban public spaces in cold-climate regions are increasingly exposed to heat beyond residents’ adaptive capacity. This study investigates whether smartphone use enhances thermal adaptation in Jingyue Central Park, Northeast China. A seven-day field campaign integrating microclimate monitoring and Passive Activity Observation (PAO) collected synchronized environmental and behavioral data. Results show that smartphone users had higher attendance and longer stays under high temperatures. Their Thermal Neutrality Threshold (NTT) and Critical Thermal Threshold (CTT) increased by about 2 °C and 3 °C, respectively, and up to 4.5 °C during optional activities, suggesting that voluntary media engagement improves heat tolerance and adaptive behavior. The study proposes mediated thermal adaptation to describe how digital media co-regulate environmental perception and adaptation. It extends thermal comfort research to cognitive-behavioral dimensions, links UTCI, NTT/CTT, and PAO data within one framework, and provides practical insights for optimizing thermal environments in cold-climate public spaces. Overall, the findings reveal the growing role of media-mediated behavior in enhancing human resilience to thermal stress.

Thermal comfort assessment in urban public spaces in a humid subtropical region: A study from an Indian City

This study examines the importance of inclusive design and accessibility of urban public spaces for people with disabilities (PWDs) in areas around Kuala Lumpur. The main focus is to create an inclusive community, in accordance with the concept of ‘City for All’, regardless of social, cultural, economic, or religious status. This is in line with the Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11) where target 11.7.1., is that urban public open spaces are for the use of all people, regardless of gender, age, and ability. This has identified two main problems, namely, the negative perceptions of accessibility and the design of urban public spaces that does not often meet the needs for the mobility of PwDs and senior citizens. The aim is to establish criterias for universal design in public spaces that are characterized by inclusivity and are easily accessible to all people of the society. The methodology used includes data collection through interviews and direct observation in selected case studies. This process produces not only theoretical basis but also has practical applications in implementing inclusive public spaces in dense urban areas. The result highlights the urgent need for improvements in inclusive planning and the provision of more accessible facilities for all diverse ability. Therefore, improving existing infrastructure to ensure that all individuals can participate inclusively in social life and public space recreation can be realized in major urban public areas in Malaysia.

As China’s population ages rapidly, CITYWALK—a leisurely urban exploration method advocating slow-paced experiences—has increasingly become a vital pathway for the elderly to engage with historical spaces and cultural memories within cities. Historic districts, with their rich cultural heritage, emerge as preferred destinations for senior tourism and daily activities. However, their complex spatial environments and inadequate service configurations pose practical barriers to accessibility for older adults. This study examines Beijing’s Qianmen Dashilan district, constructing a three-dimensional evaluation framework—“spatial accessibility, service adaptability, and technological friendliness.” It employs multi-source data methods including field surveys, behavioral observations, in-depth interviews, and spatial coupling analysis of point data to systematically identify key constraints on elderly pedestrians’ routes. Findings reveal shortcomings including discontinuous accessibility infrastructure, uneven distribution of rest facilities, insufficient service node coverage, and generational barriers in smart navigation systems. Guided by the “micro-renewal” concept, this study proposes a synergistic optimization strategy of “micro-renovation + soft services + lightweight technology”: integrating community and commercial resources to strengthen emergency response and humanistic care; designing lightweight guidance systems to lower technological barriers. This research aims to provide an actionable theoretical framework and practical paradigm for age-friendly design in the context of historic district renewal, advancing the inclusivity and accessibility of urban public spaces.

Urbanization has entered the stage of stock optimization. Urban public space, as an important carrier of residents' lives, and its interaction with residents' daily behavior, emotions and social interactions have become the core criteria for judging urban vitality and livability. Spatial accessibility, policy guidance, and technological empowerment are key variables influencing the quality of these interactions. However, current issues such as spatial alienation, mismatched needs, and lack of resident participation hinder the healthy interaction between the two. Based on this, this paper proposes an optimization approach characterized by "people-oriented spatial design, multi-agent collaborative governance, and dynamic demand adaptation," providing practical reference for refocusing urban public space construction on the essence of residents' daily lives.

ABSTRACT This study explores how cultural norms, security, and accessibility influence women’s perceptions of gender justice in urban public spaces in Rasht, Iran. Framing gender justice as equitable access to opportunities and services, the research emphasizes the role of socio-cultural factors in urban design. Using a descriptive-analytical method and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), data from 290 women were analyzed through stratified random sampling. Findings show that cultural norms significantly affect both accessibility and security, which mediate perceptions of justice. Cultural norms shape women’s access to amenities and their sense of safety, influencing participation in public life. Among the mediators, accessibility had a stronger indirect impact on perceived justice. The study highlights the need for inclusive urban planning that addresses cultural and structural barriers to promote spatial equity. It also calls for multidimensional strategies and future comparative research on gender justice in public spaces.

ABSTRACT Massive structural interventions and rising density pressures have made urban public spaces increasingly perceived as stressful. From a human perspective, they frequently lack attractiveness. In response to this loss of significance, the method presented here introduces a diagnostic approach to identifying the causes of stress in urban public spaces, which have long remained a Black box in urban research. It provides planners with a tool to assess how dense urban areas are perceived and experienced by people. The diagnostic part of the approach involves identifying the causes of individual stress reactions through a systematic analysis of various measurable and observable characteristics of urban public space. As a key innovation, it integrates quantifiable hard factors with qualifiable soft factors within a unified analytical framework. The method organises the findings in a Stressor Matrix, facilitating a systematic evaluation of urban environments. The method’s core principles and components are presented based on a case study in the German city of Würzburg, one of five analysed case studies of this paper. Finally, it presents initial insights into six neuralgic stress-inducing factors, which are shopfront zones, public space elements, street space organisation, traffic, parking and acoustics.

Public open spaces (POSs) play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of urban life, particularly in hill cities where challenging topography influences accessibility and movement patterns. Space syntax can aid in understanding the route choices of users, evaluating certain routes for improved walkability, and understanding pedestrian behaviour in urban environments, among others. Previous space syntax studies primarily focused on a two-dimensional spatial understanding of cities, but there is a scarcity of studies that explore a three-dimensional perspective. It is observed that the route choices and options in hill cities vary from those of cities in the plains. Therefore, this article intends to study the routes and pedestrian choices to access POS, taking the case of Aizawl, Mizoram (India). Space syntax is used as a methodology for the analysis of the accessibility of open spaces. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of mobility behaviour in complex urban environments and offers practical insights for planners and policymakers in developing sustainable and inclusive urban networks and accessible public spaces in hill cities.

Public open spaces are essential for sustainable urban development, offering places for recreation, social interaction, and physical activities. These spaces, designed by local governments, often attract both local residents and tourists. However, many public open spaces fail to fully adhere to infrastructure regulations set by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), highlighting the need for improved planning and design. This study aims to explore community preferences for visiting urban public open spaces to provide insights for better design and management. A qualitative, exploratory approach using grounded theory was employed, with data collected through open-ended online questionnaires distributed via non-random sampling. The responses were analyzed using content analysis. The findings reveal three primary categories of preferences: conception, physical-spatial attributes, and activities. The conception category includes elements such as tranquility, familiarity, attractiveness, novelty, and enjoyment. Physical-spatial preferences focus on accessibility, safety, cleanliness, spaciousness, and the natural environment. Activities, the most significant category, include learning, playing, culinary experiences, sports, recreation, relaxation, and social interaction.Activities received the highest score (66 points), followed by physical-spatial attributes (57 points) and conception (30 points). These results underscore the importance of designing spaces that support diverse activities while maintaining accessibility, safety, and environmental appeal. Recommendations for policymakers and urban planners include enhancing facilities, ensuring cleanliness and safety, and promoting inclusivity. By aligning public open space design with community preferences, cities can create vibrant spaces that meet the needs of urban residents and improve their quality of life.

ABSTRACT Car-free zones within urban realms offer various functions based on their spaces and amenities, which result in connections that place dependence and identity. Place identity (PI) and place dependence (PD) are important for the development of place attachment (PA). This study investigates the relationship between urban public space functions, PI and PD within the context of a car-free zone in Kigali City’s CBD. The aim is to analyze users’ perceptions based on landscape functions and aspects that contribute to PA through PI and PD. The study is timely in illuminating the role of car-free zones as a concept that is gaining prominence within Africa’s developing countries. A mixed-method approach with 183 survey respondents and field investigation through photography, observations and mapping was used. Regression analysis identified air quality, recreational and therapeutic values as significant predictors of PD. Correlation analysis revealed moderate positive spatial associations between PI, PD and space values. The study concludes that varying levels of PD and PI aspects influence attachment to place depending on place quality and functions. The study outcomes are important in informing place making and keeping of urban public spaces and their contribution to PA in terms of quality and functions.

Shrines in South Asia have historically functioned as spiritual sanctuaries and civic anchors, yet many are increasingly strained under rapid urbanization. The Mian Mir Shrine precinct in Lahore exemplifies this condition, where unregulated commercial encroachments, chronic traffic congestion, inadequate pedestrian infrastructure, and limited civic amenities have undermined both accessibility and the site’s sacred character. Within a 250-meter radius, the precinct reveals fragmented circulation systems, underutilized open spaces, and the absence of cohesive planning. This research advances a heritage-led regeneration framework that emphasizes sustainable mobility solutions, pedestrian-friendly circulation, inclusive community plazas, Mughal-inspired urban furniture, intuitive wayfinding systems, and resilient civic infrastructure. By positioning the shrine as a catalyst for sustainable and inclusive urban regeneration, the study illustrates how sacred heritage can guide governance strategies, enhance livability, and strengthen cultural identity. Beyond Mian Mir, the findings present a transferable model for revitalizing historic precincts facing similar pressures, contributing to global discourse on urban regeneration, heritage conservation, and sustainable city futures.

The uprising in Sudan since 2018 is an example of youth agency in the form of protest. The Sudanese youth mobilisation started, however, long before these anti-regime protests, through engagement in different forms of youth voluntarism and charity. While African youth mobilisation often is described as an outcome of tension between an urban underclass and a repressive state [Branch, Adam, and Zachariah Mampilly. 2015. Africa Uprising: Popular Protest and Political Change. London: Zed Books], we argue that in the Sudanese context, a collaboration between different classes, including the middle class, has been key in the fight against the autocratic government. Through interviews with youth activists in Khartoum, we examine how youth-led charity groups managed to change the public urban spaces that were intentionally made apolitical by the previous Islamist regime into vibrant and political ones, which were crucial in bringing about the 2018 uprisings. We propose to analyse the youth protests as an expression of ‘political togetherness’ – how sharing similar political challenges and aspirations not as individuals but as a group, transcending class and other divisions, becomes a political identity. Most of the theorising into political movements and collective action emphasise political action. Political togetherness, however, allows us to grasp the whole experience of the action; the feelings, atmosphere, political positions, opinions, thinking as a group, forming trust and building friendships.

Urban public space renewal faces the challenge of maintaining cultural authenticity while accommodating contemporary needs; however, limited research examines how landscape narratives mediate between physical transformation and the spirit of place. This study examines narrative–spirit mechanisms in urban renewal, using Kuanzhai Alley in Chengdu as an empirical case. Mixed methods, including spatial analysis, interviews (n = 68), systematic observation, and participatory mapping, examined narrative–spirit relationships from 2003 to 2024. Results identified three narrative categories: social life (70.4%, n = 38) with dispersed distribution, historical culture (20.4%, n = 11) clustered in heritage zones, and natural ecology (9.3%, n = 5) in transitional spaces. Correlation analysis revealed strong associations between narrative types and spirit dimensions—historical narratives with authenticity (r = 0.82, p<0.001) and social narratives with vitality (r = 0.85, p<0.001). Temporal analysis showed synchronized narrative–spirit co-evolution (R2 = 0.92), while spatial analysis identified positive autocorrelation (Moran’s I = 0.101, p<0.001). Distance decay functions indicated narrative effectiveness ranges: historical (75 m), social (50 m), and natural ecology (100 m). Multi-stakeholder evaluation revealed differentiated perceptions, with original residents valuing cultural authenticity (4.6/5.0) and tourists prioritizing public facilities (4.5/5.0). Overall renewal assessment improved from 2.7 to 4.2 (+55.6%), confirming successful integration. This research established landscape narratives as critical mediating mechanisms, providing an integrated framework bridging tangible transformation and intangible meanings. Findings offer evidence-based strategies for narrative-informed design interventions, contributing to culturally sustainable urban renewal in Asian cities.

Abstract Since urbanization emerged with consequences for the built environment, shadows have played a key role in outdoor comfort. In hot climates, shadow has become a vital element in public spaces as it significantly affects social interaction on various occasions, such as university campus areas. The current state of the art shows that the role of shadings in outdoor environments is crucial to increasing pedestrian comfort and supporting overall well-being. While trees and canopies are commonly used for shading, their applicability is sometimes limited in pedestrian pathways. For example, the Izmir Institute of Technology (IZTECH) campus copes with outdoor discomfort during the extremely hot summer days. Due to the changing environmental conditions, static shading devices offer effective shadows only at specific times. This creates a necessity to design shading devices that can rotate and fold to mitigate temperatures more effectively and increase outdoor thermal comfort. A parametric shading model was developed using Grasshopper and Kangaroo Physics®, and its effectiveness was analyzed using Building Performance Simulation (BPS) tools. The research integrates heuristic optimization techniques to enhance shading performance, including Galapagos (Genetic Algorithm) and Opossum (RBF-opt and CMA-ES). Results indicate that the proposed kinetic shading devices reduced the universal thermal climate index (UTCI) by approximately 20% during peak sunlight hours. These findings suggest that adaptive shading strategies efficiently improve outdoor thermal comfort in urban public spaces.

Evaluating strategies for single to multi-risk mitigation in urban public open spaces: A behavioural simulation-based approach applied to Italian typological historical urban squares

To this day, the problem of loneliness and social isolation in urban environments has become particularly acute in the context of changing lifestyles, digitalization, and the loss of traditional forms of neighborhood communication. Urbanization, digitalization, uniform development, and a lack of quality public spaces significantly reduce opportunities for establishing and maintaining social connections. In this regard, the subject of research is the influence of architecture on the level of loneliness and social isolation. The aim of this article is to analyze the relationship between the architectural environment and social isolation, followed by the development of recommendations for designing inclusive urban spaces. Considering architecture as a factor in social interactions, special attention is paid to the balance between private and public spaces, as well as the principles of inclusive design. The research methodology is based on the sequential application of elements of the historical approach, historical and art criticism analysis, hermeneutic method, comparative analysis methods, theoretical synthesis, case method (analysis of specific architectural solutions and urban planning practices), as well as visual analysis of certain public spaces and design solutions that influence social engagement. The novelty of the research lies in the author's approach, through which: 1) architecture is considered a socio-existential tool that affects the quality of human interactions in the urban environment; 2) definitions of "loneliness" and "social isolation" are provided; 3) the understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of architecture is generalized and expanded, connecting philosophical, sociological, art criticism, and design approaches to the urban environment. The theoretical foundation of the article can be used for further research in the field of social urbanism. The practical significance of the research lies in the proposed author's recommendations, which can be applied in the development of urban environment projects, residential complexes, and public spaces, as well as in educational activities for training specialists in the field of architecture and urban planning. It is noted that the spatial solutions made today define not only the visual appearance of the environment but also the quality of life, the degree of participation, solidarity, and the sense of belonging of individuals to society. Since architecture significantly influences the formation of the socio-spatial fabric of the city, it should account for the needs of all population groups in the future, ensuring accessibility, safety, and variability of space usage.

Adolescent girls and physical activity in public spaces: insights from the city of Antwerp.

An agent-based model to simulate pedestrians' affective experiences and activities for evaluating urban public space design