Search Results (315)

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDSs) are essential for stormwater management in urban areas, with varying hydrological, social, ecological, and economic benefits. Nevertheless, choosing the SUDS most appropriate for public spaces poses a challenge when balancing details/specifications against community decisions, primarily social implications and perceptions. Building on the SUDS design pillar of the amenity, this study outlines a three-phase methodological framework for selecting SUDS based on social facilitation. The first phase introduces the application of the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and Classificatory Expectation–Maximization (CEM) techniques by modeling complex social interdependencies to find critical components related to urban planning. A Likert scale survey was also conducted with 440 urban dwellers in Tunja (Colombia), which identified three dimensions: Residential Satisfaction (RS), Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Change (RACC), and Community Participation (CP). In the second phase, the factors identified above were transformed into eight operational criteria, which were weighted using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with the collaboration of 35 international experts in SUDS planning and implementation. In the third phase, these weighted criteria were used to evaluate and classify 13 types of SUDSs based on the experts’ assessments of their sub-criteria. The results deliver a clear message: cities must concentrate on solutions that will guarantee that water is managed to the best of their ability, not just safely, and that also enhance climate resilience, energy efficiency, and the ways in which public space is used. Among those options considered, infiltration ponds, green roofs, rain gardens, wetlands, and the like were the best-performing options, providing real and concrete uses in promoting a more resilient and sustainable urban water system. The methodology was also used in a real case in Tunja, Colombia. In its results, this approach proved not only pragmatic but also useful for all concerned, showing that the socio-cultural dimensions can be truly integrated into planning SUDSs and ensuring success. Full article

Urban resilience has emerged as a critical paradigm for addressing the intertwined challenges of climate change, rapid urbanization, and social inequality, positioning green public spaces as catalysts for social, ecological, and institutional transformation. This article presents a systematic review conducted under the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, examining how collaborative and community participation influenced transformative urban resilience in green public spaces between 2021 and 2025. A total of 6179 records were initially identified across ScienceDirect and MDPI (last search: July 2025), of which 26 empirical studies met the inclusion criteria (peer-reviewed, empirical, published 2021–2025). Methodological rigor was strengthened through the application of the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT, 2018) and confidence in qualitative evidence was assessed using the GRADE-CERQual approach, enhancing transparency and reliability. Data extraction and synthesis followed a theoretical-methodological coding framework, allowing for the comparison of participatory strategies, typologies of green spaces, resilience dimensions, and applied instruments. The results show that multi-actor co-management, co-design, and community self-organization are the most frequent participatory strategies, while urban green infrastructure, pocket parks, and urban gardens constitute the predominant spatial contexts. Socio-ecological and social-participatory resilience emerged as dominant theoretical perspectives, with qualitative and mixed-methods designs prevailing across studies. Evidence synthesis through GRADE-CERQual identified seven key pathways—multi-actor co-management, Nature-based Solutions, community-based actions, social equity, cultural identity, institutional innovation, and planned densification—each contributing differently to resilience dimensions. Overall, the findings highlight that transformative resilience depends on deep, inclusive participatory processes, multi-level governance, and the integration of social, ecological, and cultural dimensions. Despite the heterogeneity of designs and unequal data adequacy, this review confirms that transformative urban resilience is a co-produced process grounded in community action, ecological sustainability, and collaborative governance. Strengthening underexplored areas—technological innovation, cultural resilience, and standardized methodological instruments—is essential for advancing comparative research and practice. Full article

Providing effective post-disaster housing remains a globally complex challenge shaped by interrelated constraints, including environmental sustainability, socio-cultural compatibility, logistical capacity, and economic feasibility. Contemporary responses therefore require housing solutions that extend beyond rapid deployment to incorporate flexibility, adaptability, and long-term spatial transformation. In this context, this study advances a design-oriented, computational framework that positions parametric design at the core of post-disaster housing production within the broader digital transformation of the construction sector. The research proposes an adaptive parametric–modular housing system in which standardized architectural units are governed by a rule-based aggregation logic capable of generating context-responsive spatial configurations across multiple scales and typologies. The methodology integrates a qualitative synthesis of global post-disaster housing literature with a quantitative computational workflow developed in Grasshopper for Rhinoceros 3D (version 8). Algorithmic scripting defines a standardized spatial grid and parametrically regulates key building components structural systems, façade assemblies, and site-specific environmental parameters, enabling real-time configuration, customization, and optimization of housing units in response to diverse user needs and varying climatic, social, and economic conditions while maintaining constructability. The applicability of the framework is examined through a case study of the Düzce Permanent Housing context, where limitations of existing post-disaster stock, such as spatial rigidity, restricted growth capacity, and fragmented public-space integration, are contrasted with alternative settlement scenarios generated by the proposed system. The findings demonstrate that the framework supports multi-scalar and multi-typological reconstruction, extending beyond individual dwellings to include public, service, and open-space components. Overall, the study contributes a transferable computational methodology that integrates modular standardization with configurational diversity and user-driven adaptability, offering a sustainable pathway for transforming temporary post-disaster shelters into permanent, resilient, and socially integrated community assets. Full article

Rural communities in China are currently confronting persistent socio-economic and demographic pressures, making the pursuit of long-term sustainability increasingly essential. Enhancing community resilience is widely recognized as a core pathway toward sustainable rural development, yet the socio-psychological mechanisms through which rural public spaces contribute to this process remain underexplored. This study proposes an environmental perception → psychological identity → community resilience framework to clarify how public spaces support sustainable community development. Using survey data from 283 residents across five villages in Zhejiang Province and employing PLS-SEM for empirical analysis, we find that positive perceptions of public spaces significantly enhance community resilience both directly and indirectly through cultural identity and place attachment. A sequential mediation effect is also observed: environmental perception strengthens cultural identity, which subsequently deepens place attachment, jointly promoting resilience. These findings reveal that rural public spaces function as socio-cultural infrastructures that cultivate emotional bonds and collective identity, thereby generating key components of social sustainability. The study contributes to sustainable rural planning by demonstrating that improving public space quality and reinforcing place-based identity processes are vital strategies for fostering resilient and sustainable communities. Full article

Traditional villages are integral to the broader context of global socio-economic transition. This study developed a resilience evaluation model centred on built-environment indicators. This model integrates the community, economy, ecology, and culture dimensions. Clarifying the typology and key driving factors of traditional village built environment resilience can effectively activate the inherent potential of villages. The study provides a holistic approach to identifying traditional village built environment resilience types and analysing the key influencing factors. Utilising a method combining the SOM-K-means clustering model and the interpretable XGBoost-SHAP model, the study provides a holistic analytical framework for identifying traditional village built environment resilience types and quantifying the nonlinear action characteristics of various indicators across different types. Taking the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region as an example, the study demonstrates that traditional villages can be categorised into six potential resilience types, with differentiated key indicator combinations across these types. Furthermore, the nonlinear action characteristics and operational thresholds of the same key indicator differ significantly across various traditional village types. For instance, at medium-to-high threshold levels, the accessibility of cultural buildings contributes significantly to the sustainability of culture–service-driven villages but, conversely, becomes a detriment in ecology-cultural composite archetypes. Similarly, in industry–creative driven villages, once the density of cultural and creative spaces reaches a specific threshold, it exerts a significant positive effect on traditional village development and stabilises into a sustained positive state. However, in ecology–agriculture–organisation-driven villages, exceeding a certain threshold in the density of cultural and creative spaces has a significant negative influence. The results provide an analytical framework for the resilience typology and influencing factors of traditional village built environments, consequently offering a scientific basis for formulating refined, differentiated policies for traditional villages. Full article

Post-industrial landscapes represent one of the most complex challenges for contemporary sustainable land management, as they combine environmental degradation, cultural heritage, and socio-economic restructuring. This study examines five representative post-industrial sites within the Dąbrowa Basin (southern Poland), selected from an initial pool of 20 locations to capture the full diversity of contemporary transformation pathways. The research integrates multi-temporal satellite imagery (1999–2025), historical maps (1936, 1965), extensive field surveys, and a systematic review of literature and regional press to assess environmental, functional, and cultural dimensions of landscape change. The results reveal four distinct transformation trajectories: hydrological reclamation, heritage-led revitalization, passive ecological succession, economic redevelopment, and one additional case of unmanaged degradation. Hydrological and cultural revitalization produced the most sustainable outcomes, characterized by high environmental stability, strong public accessibility, and preserved industrial identity. Natural succession created ecologically valuable but functionally limited spaces, while commercial redevelopment ensured economic stability at the cost of industrial memory. Sites lacking coordinated revitalization remain unsafe, inaccessible, and environmentally unstable. The study demonstrates that post-industrial transformation is strongly influenced by municipal engagement, land ownership, historical legacy, and the interaction between natural and engineered processes. These findings contribute to the international discourse on sustainable post-industrial redevelopment and highlight the need for integrated, cross-sectoral strategies supporting multifunctional, resilient landscapes in Central Europe. Full article

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

Background: Adolescents’ engagement with social media and emerging metaverse platforms has become nearly universal, creating environments rich in opportunities for learning, creativity, and social connection. However, these same spaces also enable a range of risky behaviors (RBs) with potential impacts on mental health, safety, and development. Recent research (2022–2025) has documented rising concerns over cyberbullying, online sexual exploitation, self-harm content, problematic use, and new risks specific to immersive VR. Aims: This Perspective uses a narrative synthesis of recent empirical and theoretical literature, including four key articles provided by the author and over 40 additional peer-reviewed and institutional sources, to (i) map the most prevalent and emergent RBs in adolescent social media and metaverse use, (ii) clarify the neurodevelopmental and socio-technical mechanisms that link these behaviors to individual and contextual factors, and (iii) propose a multi-level framework for intervention, policy, and future research aligned with adolescent development. Methods: A narrative synthesis approach was adopted, which is appropriate for integrating heterogeneous study designs and rapidly evolving evidence. The review emphasizes studies published from 2022 to 2025, with a focus on large-scale surveys, longitudinal cohorts, systematic reviews, and scoping reviews relevant to adolescent online risk. Results: Evidence indicates small but consistent associations between high-intensity platform use and internalizing symptoms, with gendered pathways and cultural moderators. Algorithmic amplification contributes to the spread of harmful content, while immersive environments increase the salience and emotional impact of interactions. Certain groups—those with prior trauma, low SES, or marginalized identities—face heightened vulnerability. Conclusions: RBs in digital spaces emerge from the interplay of adolescent neurodevelopment, platform affordances, and socio-cultural context. This Perspective synthesizes recent evidence via narrative review to articulate these mechanisms and to inform an integrated, multi-level framework for harm mitigation that aligns research, platform design, and policy with adolescent developmental needs, while preserving the benefits of digital engagement. Full article

Integrating Saudi Arabia’s traditional architecture with modern technology enhances national identity and blends modernity and authenticity. The current study analyzes socio-cultural sustainability and its implications for the preservation of Saudi architectural identity. This research employs a cross-scale qualitative method grounded in the analysis of two case studies to examine the socio-cultural sustainability of contemporary architectural interventions within historical contexts in Saudi Arabia. This study investigates how architectural Saudi heritage elements are reinterpreted in modern designs at different spatial scales through an urban-scale project (Al Bujairi Terrace, Diriyah) and a building-scale project (Design Space AlUla). The analysis includes two case studies at both macro and micro levels, showcasing the blending of traditional Saudi design fundamentals and contemporary practices, thereby demonstrating the potential for sustainable architecture that respects socio-cultural aspects. The case studies were selected for their location near UNESCO World Heritage sites, enabling an evaluation of how these projects have added value and interacted with nearby heritage sites. The findings emphasize that a socio-culturally sustainable approach to architecture not only supports national identity but also fosters social cohesion, community participation, and environmental balance to cultivate contemporary Saudi architecture that embodies national identity. Full article

Edible green infrastructure provides a pathway to enhancing food security and advancing sustainability in underprivileged Sub-Saharan communities. This study explores the potential of modular living wall systems (LWSs) with African Vegetables (AVs) to enhance food security and provide ecosystem services in the Melusi informal settlement, Tshwane, South Africa. This research investigated the socio-cultural perceptions surrounding the opportunities and challenges of outdoor modular living walls with African Vegetables to sustainably enhance the household food security of marginalized South African urban communities. Data were captured using a mixed-methods approach that involved semi-structured questionnaires, focus group interviews, and photo-elicitation. The analysis was conducted quantitatively with SPSS and qualitatively with Atlas.ti software. Key barriers to urban agriculture identified include high maintenance costs, pest control issues, spatial constraints, exposure to extreme weather, and limited access to water and fertilizers. The Melusi community strongly supported LWSs with AV crops, valuing their space-saving and biophilic benefits. Success, however, depends on low-tech, cost-effective, modular systems made from recycled materials and incorporating nutrient-dense, compact crops. This study highlights the potential of LWSs to enhance food security, promote economic growth, and support climate-resilient livelihoods in urban underprivileged settings. Full article

Folk festivals and other intangible cultural heritage have received widespread attention, and their socio-cultural value can be used to promote tourism, strengthen local identity, and build city brands. However, it remains unclear how these intangible cultural heritage festivals transform their multi-dimensional and multi-configuration material characteristics into economic benefits and image enhancement. This study proposes a practical decision-making framework aimed at understanding how different festival design and governance strategies can work synergistically under different cultural conditions. Based primarily on a literature review and expert questionnaire survey, this study identified six stable materialized practice modules: productization, spatialization, experientialization, digitalization, branding/communication, and co-creation governance. At the same time, this framework also incorporates two other conditional intervention properties: classicism and novelty. The interactions between these modules shape people’s understanding of intangible cultural heritage festivals. Subsequently, this study used a multimodal national dataset that included official statistics, industry reports, e-commerce and social media data, questionnaires, and expert ratings to construct module scores and cultural attributes for 167 festival case studies. Through rough set analysis (RSA), this study simplifies the attributes and extracts clear “if-then” rules, establishing a configurational causal relationship between module configuration and classic/novel conditions to form high economic benefits and enhance local image. The findings of this study reveal a robust core built around spatialization, digitalization, and co-creative governance, with brand promotion/communication yielding benefits depending on the specific context. This further confirms that classicism reinforces the legitimacy and effectiveness of rituals/spaces and governance pathways, while novelty amplifies the impact of digitalization and immersive interaction. In summary, this study constructs an integrated and easy-to-understand process that links indicators, weights, and rules, and provides operational support for screening schemes and resource allocation in festival event combinations and venue brand governance. Full article

With the acceleration of global urbanisation, the pace of evolution in urban waterfront areas has intensified, consequently hastening the renewal rate of their constituent public spaces. Compared to the macro-level planning and regulation of traditional port and coastal waterfronts, balancing the historical preservation of urban heritage waterfront public spaces with contemporary demands has emerged as a critical issue in urban regeneration. This study examines the historical waterfront area of the Xiaoqinhuai River in Yangzhou, establishing a public space perception evaluation framework encompassing five dimensions: spatial structure, landscape elements, environmental perception, socio-cultural context, and facility systems. This framework comprises 33 secondary indicators. The perception assessment system was developed through a literature review, field research, and expert interviews, refined using the Delphi method, and weighted via the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Finally, cloud modelling was employed to evaluate perceptions among residents and visitors. Findings indicate that spatial structure and socio-cultural dimensions received high perception ratings, highlighting historical layout and cultural identity as strengths of the Xiaoqinhuai Riverfront public space, while significant shortcomings were noted in terms of landscape elements, environmental perception, and facilities. These deficiencies manifest primarily in limited vegetation diversity, inadequate hard paving and surface materials, insufficient landscape node design, poor thermal comfort, suboptimal air quality and olfactory perception, uncomfortable resting facilities, limited activity diversity, and inadequate slip-resistant surfaces. Further analysis reveals perceptual differences between residents and visitors: the former prioritise daily living needs, while the latter emphasise cultural experiences and recreational facilities. Based on these findings, this paper proposes targeted optimisation strategies emphasising the continuity of historical context and enhancement of spatial inclusivity. It recommends improving public space quality through multi-dimensional measures including environmental perception enhancement, landscape system restructuring, and the tiered provision of facilities. This research offers an actionable theoretical framework and practical pathway for the protective renewal, public space reconstruction, and optimisation of contemporary urban historic waterfront areas, demonstrating broad transferability and applicability. Full article

Introduction: Postpartum family planning (PPFP) is a critical strategy for improving maternal and child health by preventing unintended pregnancies and optimizing birth spacing. However, PPFP uptake remains suboptimal in Ethiopia, where sociocultural barriers, limited health information, and inadequate counseling impede progress. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions have shown promise in overcoming these challenges by delivering targeted health information directly to individuals. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an mHealth intervention on uptake and the intention to use PPFP among postpartum women in South Ethiopia. Methods: We conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial in randomly selected health facilities in South Ethiopia. Pregnant women from primary hospitals and health centers were selected from registers and family folders. Data were collected using face-to-face and mobile interviews and analyzed using a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) to account for the clustering. Results: The mHealth intervention significantly increased PPFP uptake (OR = 2.89, 95% CI: 1.55–5.37) and the intention to use PPFP (AOR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.24–3.46) compared to standard care. The predicted probability of using PPFP was 85% in the intervention group. Women who discussed family planning with their partners (AOR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.30–3.35) had a higher probability of using PPFP, and those exposed to media (AOR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.07–2.32) had an increased likelihood of planning to use PPFP. Conversely, limited autonomy in decision-making and delays in postnatal care attendance were associated with reduced uptake and intention to use PPFP. Conclusions: The mHealth intervention improved uptake of PPFP and increased intention to use PPFP among postpartum women in South Ethiopia. PPFP uptake was higher in the intervention group (85%) than in the control group (68%). Partner involvement, decision-making autonomy, and media exposure emerged as significant facilitators of PPFP adoption. Scaling up mHealth interventions could address unmet family planning needs, but integration with broader strategies that address sociocultural barriers and enhanced counseling is essential. Interventions must be contextually tailored and grounded in behavioral theory (HBM, TPB, and TAM) to maximize effectiveness. Future research should examine the long-term sustainability and adaptability of mHealth approaches across diverse contexts. Full article

This article interrogates the theoretical articulations of the body–space nexus through the formulation of an alternative methodological framework. It advances the premise that body and space cannot be reduced to physical parameters or representational models; rather, they are continually reconstituted through experience, perception, cultural contexts, and relational processes. Against the backdrop of fragmented spatial, phenomenological, and socio-political readings of space, Joseph Kosuth’s “One and Three Chairs” [1965] is posited as a conceptual compass, while semiotic instruments are mobilized as analytical devices. Within this constellation, the body–space relation is examined through a trialectical configuration that couples three relational modalities—distance, togetherness, and plurality—with three representational dimensions: object, image, and definition. The analysis shows how each modality delineates a distinct regime of bodily–spatial interaction and exposes the ways in which these regimes become manifest within architectural experience, social production, and conceptual potential. Within this framework, the notion of the flesh of space is advanced to describe space as a relational field in which bodies, materials, images, and definitions become mutually entangled. The principal contribution of this study lies in advancing a methodological orientation that transcends normative metrics and reductionist representational paradigms, thereby enabling body–space relations to be apprehended through relational dynamics and multilayered processes of signification. In doing so, this article provides a critical ground for rethinking architectural epistemology from a more flexible, experiential, and plural perspective, and proposes a transferable analytical scaffold for future case-based and design-oriented research. 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