Search Results (193)

Schools situated in indigenous territories have historically replicated Western Eurocentric spatial models, often excluding local cultural knowledge and practices. This exclusion has impacted students’ emotional well-being, learning quality, and the contextual relevance of pedagogical approaches. This study aims to explores the socio-ecological context of school spaces in Mapuche territories in La Araucanía, Chile, and examines how teachers perceive these spaces and their influence on emotional regulation and learning. Using a qualitative multi-case study design, data were collected from three schools in Cholchol, Nueva Imperial, and Toltén through land cover/use mapping within a 3 km radius and semi-structured interviews with 15 teachers. Analysis was conducted using constructivist grounded theory. The findings reveal that schools are embedded in landscapes comprising agricultural zones, water bodies, monoculture plantations, and nearby Mapuche communities. Teachers conceptualize school spaces beyond physical infrastructure, recognizing socio-ecological and cultural dimensions. However, school design remains predominantly Western and monocultural, with limited integration of Mapuche spiritual and territorial elements. The main contribution of this research is to provide empirical evidence that strengthening the connection between school spaces and their biocultural context can enhance students’ sense of belonging, emotional regulation, and learning. This study advances the topic by highlighting the critical role of teachers’ perceptions and the socio-ecological context in the design of intercultural and sustainable schools, offering a concrete framework for overcoming regulatory and architectural limitations that continue to impede the implementation of inclusive public policies in indigenous educational settings. Full article

In many traditional villages in China, substantial government investment has been directed toward reconstructing public spaces for tourism development. Yet, many of these newly built spaces remain underused, revealing a persistent mismatch between top–down planning and villagers’ everyday needs. To address this gap, this study employs a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the quality of rural public spaces. Drawing on a systematic review, a four-dimensional assessment model—encompassing environmental, social, cultural, and economic attributes—was developed and operationalized through 17 specific indicators. The model was applied to three traditional villages in Chongqing, Southwest China, using field observation, questionnaire surveys, confirmatory factor analysis, and semi-structured interviews. The findings show that while environmental and cultural qualities are generally appreciated, villagers’ overall evaluations are strongly shaped by livelihood considerations and the extent to which public spaces support everyday practices. In tourism-oriented villages, public spaces often function primarily as attractions rather than as sites of daily life, limiting their social usefulness despite significant investment. The results demonstrate that economic indicators, which are often overlooked in existing studies, are essential for assessing the quality of public space in traditional villages and for strengthening community engagement. These insights contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of rural public space and offer practical guidance for rural revitalization and community-based planning. Full article

This article investigates how Daoism evolved into a source of moral order and cultural continuity in Singapore from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century. Drawing on inscriptions, canonical texts, and Chinese-language newspapers, it traces the transformation of Daoism from an official cult into a social ethic amid the decline of the imperial ritual system and the emergence of new communal spaces among overseas Chinese. Confronted with the modern distinction between “civilization” and “superstition,” Chinese residents in Singapore reinterpreted Daoist teachings and reshaped ritual practices to meet changing social conditions. These reinterpretations found expression in education, philanthropy, and public ceremonies, linking religious practice with civic responsibility. Rather than fading under modern influences, Daoism acquired new forms of vitality through everyday practice and local cooperation. The Singapore case demonstrates that Southeast Asian Chinese communities were not peripheral to Daoism’s modern transformation but decisive arenas in which its discourse and ritual were recast into civic institutions of education, moral regulation, and communal order, thereby shaping one of the key trajectories through which Daoism entered modern public life. Full article

The SIKUL research project examines the case of a self-organised music festival, which is understood as a social innovation in the field of arts and culture, in order to answer the following question: What effects do social innovations in arts and culture have on the members of the public involved in rural areas? How do they impact the region? To this end, a triangulation of methods has been used in conjunction with seven expert interviews that were analysed using focused interview analysis as well as a multimodal image analysis of the festival’s social media presence supplemented by a descriptive study of the festival’s cooperation, pictured on social media. The festival is a free space for the organisers. It promotes self-expression and learning. For decades and across several generations, a community of care has existed that extends beyond the festival experience into everyday life. Thus, the festival is a self-organised social space. Involvement in the festival allows participants to express and mutually reinforce their connection to the region. The festival primarily cooperates with regional stakeholders within a 10-km radius and is thus a creative driver in the region. Social innovations in arts and culture play a significant role in local cohesion and identity-building in rural regions. Full article

Ongoing urbanization, biodiversity decline, and intensifying climate change increasingly challenge the sustainability of urban green spaces (UGS) dominated by conventional, intensively maintained lawns. Although widespread across cities worldwide, lawns are criticised for their low biodiversity value and high resource demands. This paper explores nature-based solutions (NBS) as viable alternatives for enhancing resilience and multifunctionality of urban lawns. It conceptualizes lawns as intertwined ecological, design, and socio-cultural systems, and evaluates strategies for their transformation. Building on case studies from ten Eurasian cities, a narrative literature review, and the authors’ inter- and transdisciplinary research experience, this study develops a typology of NBS alternatives, including urban species-rich meadows, semi-natural grasslands, naturalistic herbaceous perennial plantings, mixed-vegetation groundcovers, edible lawns, pictorial (annual) meadows, and rewilded lawns. Key interventions involve reduced mowing, multifunctional green spaces, adaptive management, and community engagement. Findings demonstrate that these approaches enhance biodiversity, ecosystem services, and climate resilience, but their success depends on local ecological conditions, landscape design, and public perceptions of urban nature. Alternative lawn designs and maintenance practices should employ native, drought- and trampling-resistant plants and context-sensitive design configurations while respecting cultural traditions of urban greening and fostering social acceptance. The paper suggests practical recommendations and directions for future research. Full article

Urban neighborhoods experiencing socio-spatial pressures increasingly struggle with sustainability, especially in contexts where top-down redevelopment models dominate. In Turkey, the commonly used “demolish-and-rebuild” approach is often criticized for neglecting urban identity and the continuity of local communities. This study examines the Kükürtlü Neighborhood in Bursa, a “double-aged” area characterized by both an elderly population and aging housing stock. Using a mixed-method approach, the study integrates the EcoDistricts framework with participatory spatial analysis and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to assess sustainability across three priority areas: place, health and wellbeing, and connectivity. Results reveal that while the neighborhood faces structural limitations and underutilized public spaces, it benefits from strong social sustainability rooted in cultural continuity and intergenerational bonds, especially among long-term residents. Conversely, newcomers demonstrate weaker place attachment. These findings inform a set of inclusive, aging-in-place strategies aimed at balancing physical renewal with community preservation. Building on these insights, the study proposes a context-sensitive and potentially adaptable framework to guide sustainability efforts in similar aging urban contexts. The research contributes to international discussions on urban transformation by emphasizing the importance of integrating local lived experiences with spatial planning tools, offering a model for navigating demographic and physical aging in mid-sized cities. Full article

Walkability is a vital component that can significantly enhance the livability of public spaces. By prioritizing walkable environments, cities can develop vibrant areas that promote social interaction, cultural engagement, and community cohesion. The influx of diverse populations in Qatar, driven by the national need to manage recent rapid urban development, has resulted in the creation of new public realms designed to accommodate a wider range of residents. However, the authors argue that the role of walkability in enhancing the livability of these spaces, especially in fostering social interaction, has not been sufficiently explored. This research study aims to explore the impact of walkability on the livability of Al-Saad Plaza in the Boulevard District of Lusail City, a prominent public space within one of Doha’s major urban developments. Quantitative and qualitative data, collected through site visits, photographs, planimetry, structured interviews, observations, and a survey study, will be analyzed to assess the current urban setting and identify its strengths and weaknesses. The findings will contribute to developing a framework to improve the livability of Al-Saad Plaza on Lusail Boulevard by enhancing its walkability. While this research study focuses on a specific case, the exploratory insights serve to guide future studies in other GCC contexts. Full article

With the rapid pace of urbanization, the public-interest renovation of community spaces has emerged as a critical focus in urban planning and community development. These public spaces not only support residents’ daily activities, social interactions, and cultural endeavors but also play a vital role in shaping their quality of life and fostering community cohesion. The willingness of residents to participate in such renovation projects significantly impacts the effectiveness and success of these initiatives. This study offers a comprehensive review of both domestic and international literature, synthesizing insights from behavioral science and social psychology. It identifies four key categories of factors that influence residents’ willingness to engage in public-interest renovation efforts: external environment, project attributes, residents’ subjective perceptions, and demographic characteristics. Based on this framework, sixteen secondary indicators were selected to construct a model explaining these factors. Drawing on established measurement scales and expert interviews, a survey instrument was developed for data collection. The data, gathered through questionnaire surveys, were analyzed using structural equation modeling to test the study hypotheses. The results revealed several significant findings: Among demographic factors, age, household size, and family structure were the primary differentiators of participation willingness. In terms of project attributes, comfort, openness, and sensory appeal were found to positively influence participation. External environmental factors, including policies, social atmosphere, and available information, indirectly impacted participation through residents’ perceptions. Furthermore, residents’ subjective perceptions, such as perceived usefulness and overall attitude, had direct positive effects on their willingness to participate. These findings contribute valuable insights to the field of urban sustainable development and the long-term viability of community spaces. They also provide actionable recommendations for community managers to develop targeted renovation and governance strategies that effectively engage residents. Full article

Urban sustainability has increasingly emphasized accessibility and inclusivity, reflecting the growing recognition that urban planning must address the diverse needs of different social groups. In recent decades, several developed countries have pioneered inclusive urban planning, resulting in projects such as Vienna’s gender mainstreaming community and Barcelona’s Superblocks, which respond to differentiated needs in housing, transportation, and public space. However, these initiatives demonstrate how sustainable urban planning can enhance social equity and livability. Similar efforts in developing countries remain limited, fragmented, or nonexistent. This study examines representative cases from developed nations to discern fundamental principles and strategies that underpin effective inclusive urban planning. The study utilizes a case study and comparative analytic approach to clarify aspects such as transportation accessibility, safety, multifunctional community, and public space. The results suggest that incorporating inclusion into sustainable planning frameworks can enhance accessibility, promote social justice, and improve environmental resilience. The paper concludes by offering realistic, grounded suggestions for developing countries based on established best practices from around the world. The suggestions focus on strategies that can be tailored to each country’s social, cultural, and economic conditions. Full article

This paper presents an overview of a research line developed at the Istituto Centrale per il Restauro within the CHANGES (Cultural Heritage Active Innovation for Next-Gen Sustainable Society) project, funded under the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The research was developed in different phases: a first one dedicated to the study of the deep background and the state of the art in the ICR background: history, methodologies and research in the field; a second phase was dedicated to the selection of a specific urban art mural, as a key study with conservation problems connected to some of the principal preservation treatments related to the outdoor context; the mural was also identified as a beloved icon in the public space with a profound socio-cultural meaning for the community. Nido di Vespe, created in 2014 by the artist Lucamaleonte is part of a broader artistic project called M.U.Ro-Museum of Urban Art of Rome, an open-air public art museum located in the Quadraro district in Rome, designed by the artist Diavù. A third phase focused on the research in ICR laboratories, specifically addressing: cleaning, reintegration, and protection strategies adapted to dynamic outdoor environments. A multi-step cleaning system based on polyvinyl alcohol-borax semi-interpenetrated hydrogels loaded with nanostructured fluids was developed to selectively remove spray-paint vandalism while preserving the chemically similar original pictorial layers. The reintegration phase investigated acrylic and urea-aldehyde resins as binders to produce compatible, reversible, and UV-traceable retouching and infilling materials. For surface protection, multilayer coating systems incorporating nanoparticles with antimicrobial, photocatalytic, and UV-stabilizing properties were formulated to enhance durability and chromatic stability. Laboratory tests on mock-ups simulating typical street and urban art materials and morphologies showed satisfactory results, while diagnostic investigations on Nido di Vespe provided the reference data to calibrate the experiments with real mural conditions. Cleaning tests demonstrated promising removal efficiency, influenced by the chemical composition, thickness of the overpainted layers, and surface roughness. The reintegration system met the expected performance requirements, as the tested binders provided good results and allowed the development of compatible, reversible, and distinguishable solutions. Protective coatings showed good results in terms of chromatic stability and surface integrity; however, the long-term behavior of both reintegration, cleaning, and protection systems requires further evaluation. The results achieved so far support the development of sustainable and flexible conservation strategies for the conservation of contemporary street and urban murals and will guide the future application of the selected materials and methodologies in pilot conservation interventions on the mural chosen as a meaningful case study within the broader research. Full article

Fears regarding the future of coral reefs are reflected in a growing scientific effort, worldwide, to help corals survive and adapt to the impacts of climate change through new management strategies. To be viable, these strategies must not only be ecologically beneficial and technically feasible; they must be developed in partnership with Indigenous peoples and sensitive to the needs and aspirations of local communities, stakeholders and broader publics. This paper synthesizes insights from a comprehensive program of qualitative and quantitative social research, conducted through Australia’s Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program, exploring local community and public perspectives on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and the prospect of assisted adaptation. While the results of this research indicate strong support for prospective interventions to help the GBR, they also demonstrate that local communities and the broader Australian public hold multiple visions for the GBR’s future and engage in careful processes to imagine and evaluate assisted adaptation. We discuss the implications of this complexity for the development of technically robust and socially responsible adaptation intervention in the GBR, emphasizing the opportunities it presents for robust and inclusive dialogue, knowledge building, and governance around these strategies. Community and public support, we conclude, is contingent on moving beyond the seemingly straightforward question of whether or not people support intervention and towards forms of engagement that allow space for social and cultural diversity and the co-creation of ethically grounded adaptation pathways. Full article

By combining social, ecological, and communal elements, urban parks significantly improve the quality of urban life. This paper explores the revitalization proposal for Areos Park in Tripoli, Greece, viewing it as an urban palimpsest reflecting layers of history, culture, and nature. While historically evolving from exclusive enclaves to vital public spaces fostering social equity and well-being, many urban parks, including those in Greece, suffer from neglect and underfunding, diminishing their landscape value and necessitating revitalization. Areos Park exemplifies these challenges, making it an ideal case study for exploring effective urban park revitalization strategies and demonstrating how urban areas can host critical landscape functions. Utilizing a design-based research (DBR) methodology, a design plan is proposed. The architectural concept focuses on revamping key areas, restoring historical features, adding small constructions, and repurposing existing buildings for community and educational uses. Concurrently, the landscape concept emphasizes biodiversity enrichment and ecological restoration through permeable surfaces and native Mediterranean vegetation, contributing to urban resilience to climate change. The overall design prioritizes accessibility and spatial connectedness to create an inclusive, resilient, and adaptable urban park addressing contemporary sustainability challenges and biodiversity loss. The project aims to establish Areos Park as a model for sustainable urban park regeneration in small cities, blending ecological enhancement with historical preservation. Full article

Street art increasingly reshapes aesthetic hierarchies by introducing previously marginalised media into the public sphere. A compelling example is the artistic practice of the Polish artist NeSpoon (Elżbieta Dymna), whose work merges the visual language of traditional lace with the communicative strategies of contemporary urban art. Active since the late 2000s, NeSpoon combines stencils, ceramic lace imprints, and large-scale murals to translate the intimacy of handcraft into the visibility of public space. Her works function as both aesthetic interventions and acts of civic pedagogy. This study employs a qualitative visual research design combining multi-site digital inquiry, iconological and semiotic analysis, and mini focus group (N = 22). Three purposefully selected cases: Łódź, Belorado, and Fundão, were examined to capture the site-specific and cultural variability of lace murals across Europe. The analysis demonstrates that lace functions as an agent of cultural negotiation and a medium of heritage literacy, understood here as embodied and place-based learning. In Łódź, it monumentalises textile memory and women’s labour embedded in the city’s industrial palimpsest. In Belorado, micro-scale responsiveness operates, strengthening the local semiosphere. In Fundão, lace enters an intermedial dialogue with azulejos, negotiating the boundary between craft and art while expanding local visual grammars. The study introduces the conceptualisation of the monumentalisation of intimacy in public art and frames heritage literacy as an embodied, dialogic, and community-oriented educational practice. Its implications extend to feminist art history, place-based pedagogy, urban cultural policy, and the preventive conservation of murals. The research elucidates how domestic craft once confined to the private interior operates in public space as a medium of memory, care, and inclusive aesthetics. Full article

The integration of cultural heritage into sustainable urban development has garnered increasing attention, with a growing recognition of its role in fostering resilient, inclusive, and identity-rich cities. While surface-level monuments often receive the primary focus in heritage conservation, archaeological remains buried beneath cities face escalating threats—particularly from large-scale underground infrastructure projects. Among these, underground transit systems pose the most significant risk due to their spatial extent and physical disruption. This paper addresses the pressing challenge of balancing underground urban development with the preservation of subterranean cultural heritage. Using the Ancient Cultural and Communication Complex “Serdika” in Sofia, Bulgaria, as a case study, this study examines how integrated planning and interdisciplinary cooperation can harmonize heritage conservation with modern infrastructure development. The study explores strategies such as spatial integration, design coordination, and adaptive reuse to embed archaeological remains within transit-oriented public spaces. The Serdica project demonstrates that such approaches not only protect heritage sites but also enhance their accessibility and public value, contributing to strengthened urban identity and increased cultural tourism. The findings highlight the potential of underground heritage spaces to serve as dynamic nodes of cultural exchange and urban continuity. The study concludes that culturally sustainable design of underground public infrastructure-when guided by inclusive planning and heritage-informed strategies—offers a viable path toward sustainable urban futures that respect both development needs and historical continuity. Full article

This contribution investigates the potential and the catalytic role of landscape and its collective values in driving territorial regeneration processes. Specifically, it reflects on how the public dimension of landscape—conceived as a shared space of identity, memory, and future-oriented practices—can serve as a strategic lever for initiating local development pathways. Local communities, as custodians of the knowledge and practices that have historically shaped cultural landscapes, are increasingly recognized by territorial policies for their participatory and generative capacity. Building on these premises, the research explores the case of the disused Noto–Pachino railway line, located in southeastern Sicily (Italy), as a living laboratory for testing collaborative strategies aimed at enhancing landscape value and fostering territorial cohesion. The ongoing investigation has identified several civic and grassroots initiatives seeking to reactivate this dormant infrastructure, repositioning it as a strategic asset for sustainable territorial enjoyment, cultural heritage promotion, and the revitalization of marginalized areas. The main objective of the study is to define an “action lab”—a collaborative framework capable of aligning diverse visions, actors, and resources—through which landscape can be reimagined as both a driver of social innovation and a foundational tool for shaping inclusive and resilient development scenarios. Full article