Sustainable Built Environments and Human Wellbeing, 2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

Rapid urbanization and a growing global population are placing unprecedented demands on our planet’s finite resources. Coupled with the pressing challenges of climate change and the energy crisis, the pursuit of carbon neutrality and net-zero emissions has become critical to achieving sustainable development. At the heart of this effort lies the sustainable built environment—a key driver in mitigating climate impacts, enhancing resource efficiency, and improving human wellbeing. Innovative, energy-efficient designs reduce carbon footprints and resource use while enhancing indoor environmental quality and occupant comfort. Green infrastructure, like green roofs and walls, mitigates urban heat islands, lowering health risks, while blue infrastructure and water-sensitive design improve liveability and address water scarcity. Mixed-use, walkable neighbourhoods with accessible services and active transport foster public health, equity, and resilience. Inclusive, age-friendly designs promote active ageing, enhancing quality of life and extending healthy life expectancy.

This Special Issue invites high-quality submissions exploring the intersection of sustainable built environments and human wellbeing. In an era defined by climate urgency and demographic shifts, we seek innovative research and practical insights into eco-friendly, resource-efficient, and inclusive built environments.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Sustainable built environments and infrastructure;
• Sustainable and regenerative design;
• Human health, wellbeing, and quality of life;
• Urban heat island mitigation strategies;
• Climate change adaptation and resilience;
• Energy-efficient design and low-carbon solutions;
• Carbon neutrality and net-zero emissions in architecture;
• Green infrastructure (e.g., green roofs, walls);
• Blue infrastructure and water-sensitive urban design;
• Indoor environmental quality and occupant comfort;
• Inclusive and universal design principles;
• Mixed-use, walkable, and age-friendly neighbourhoods;
• Active transport and sustainable mobility;
• Active ageing and ageing-in-place solutions.

We welcome original research, case studies, and reviews that advance our understanding of how sustainable built environments can foster healthier, more equitable, and resilient communities. Join us in shaping a future where architecture not only responds to global challenges but also elevates human wellbeing.

Dr. Hing-Wah Chau
Dr. Mehdi Amirkhani
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Architecture is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• sustainable built environments
• sustainable infrastructure
• sustainable design
• health, human wellbeing
• quality of life
• urban heat island mitigation
• climate change
• regenerative design
• energy efficiency
• carbon neutrality
• net-zero carbon emissions
• green infrastructure
• green roofs and walls
• blue infrastructure
• water-sensitive design
• indoor environmental quality
• occupant comfort
• inclusive design
• universal design
• mixed-use and walkable neighbourhood
• active transport and age-friendly transport
• active ageing
• ageing-in-place

• Sustainable Built Environments and Human Wellbeing in Architecture (13 articles)