Search Results (255)

Survey campaigns in non-residential buildings show that occupants are often dissatisfied with the indoor environmental quality (IEQ), including the indoor air quality (IAQ) conditions. Occupant-centric controls (OCCs) have the potential to improve occupants’ satisfaction with IAQ and thermal comfort. Currently, applications of OCC systems with IAQ perceptions are limited due to a lack of a suitable modelling approach to predict occupants’ subjective IAQ assessment. In addition, a comprehensive overview of possible confounding variables for subjective IAQ in non-residential buildings is missing. This paper presents a systematic review of 46 papers on subjective IAQ assessments during field investigations in non-residential buildings. The following characteristics of the studies are examined: (1) the study context, (2) study and survey type, (3) dataset and sample size, (4) subjective IAQ assessment scales, (5) analysis and modelling techniques, and (6) associated variables. The review identified 46 different assessment scales and 20 different analysis techniques, respectively, indicating a lack of uniformity across the studies. The vast majority of studies were conducted in classrooms or offices. Other non-residential buildings, such as hospitals and sports halls, were underrepresented. Moreover, most of the studies failed to elaborate on the choice of a statistical technique and to report on the required sample size, compromising the validity of the statistical results. Furthermore, the review highlighted the limited scope of the subjective IAQ assessment analysis, with half of the reviewed studies investigating no more than four different variables. Lastly, only three of the reviewed papers focused on determining an accurate predictive model for subjective IAQ assessment. Full article

Place attachment refers to the meaningful ties between individuals and their environments. In educational settings, multi-sensory spatial qualities enhance spatial experience and support long-term well-being. Yet, the relationship between place attachment and spatial qualities has not been sufficiently articulated from a sustainability perspective. This study investigates the associations between sensory spatial qualities and place attachment in educational settings. Accordingly, the study aims to achieve the following: (1) determine students’ place attachment scores, (2) assess multi-sensory spatial qualities in educational spaces, and (3) examine their relationship to support sustainable well-being. The empirical phase employs synchronic methodology conducted with 70 architecture students in the educational spaces of the Department of Architecture at ATU. Place attachment scores were measured via the Place Attachment to University Scale, and sensory spatial qualities were recorded on-site. The relationship is analyzed through Spearman’s correlation, linear regression, and hierarchical regression analyses. Spearman’s correlation indicates significant associations between place attachment and thermal (r = 0.312; p = 0.0086) and visual (r = −0.297; p = 0.0124) qualities. Multiple linear regression shows that thermal (β = 0.466; p = 0.001) and visual qualities (β = −0.0016; p < 0.001) are associated with place attachment. Hierarchical regression reveals that adding multi-sensory spatial variables results in a significant increase in explained variance (ΔR² = 0.118; p < 0.001) beyond exposure-related factors (R² = 0.685). These findings demonstrate the contribution of multi-sensory spatial quality to sustainable well-being and its alignment with sustainability-oriented educational environments. Full article

Spatial openness affects the subjective evaluation of soundscape, landscape, and thermal perceptions, leading to various restoration effects and recreational behaviors. However, the literature lacks studies investigating the effects of multisensory interactions under different levels of spatial openness in plazas on users’ behaviors in urban greenways. Thus, this study contributes to the enhancement of recreational experiences and the environmental design of urban greenways by examining the interaction between multisensory evaluations and recreational behaviors in greenway plazas with different levels of spatial openness. Three types of plazas (enclosed, semi-enclosed, open) were selected along an urban greenway to analyze interactions through in situ measurements, questionnaires, and behavior observation. The results showed that people rated the environment as the quietest and coolest in enclosed plazas, although the sound pressure level of these plazas was the highest. Furthermore, the visual evaluation (VE) was mostly correlated with acoustic evaluation (AE) in plazas with high openness, while the correlation effect between AE and thermal evaluation (TE) was only significant in enclosed plazas. In other words, AE was the key factor targeting the improvement in comfort in greenway plazas. Secondly, improving AE was more effective for stimulating the frequency of interactive activities in enclosed plazas, compared to improving TE. However, AE had a negative effect on the time that people were willing to spend on interactive activities in semi-enclosed plazas. Finally, these findings provide corresponding strategies for creating comfortable audio, visual, and thermal environments in greenway plazas with different levels of openness, as well as strategies for enhancing the recreational experiences of visitors. Full article

The study presents the thermal evaluation of soft knitted textile systems with removable gel cooling panels. Two prototype configurations with different geometries and gel panel sizes were investigated using infrared thermography under controlled laboratory conditions. The results show a moderated and gradual cooling response during contact. The strongest surface cooling occurred shortly after contact, followed by a gradual increase in the surface temperature of the textile system due to heat transfer from the skin-temperature simulator. While the temperature of the skin-temperature simulator stabilised rapidly, the textile surface maintained a perceptible cooling effect over a longer period. Surface temperatures remained within ranges associated with comfort and safety under the applied experimental conditions. The findings indicate that system geometry and gel panel size influence heat exchange, while the knitted textile structure contributes to the observed cooling behaviour of the complete system. The results support the potential of knitted textile systems with removable gel cooling panels for gentle, localised cooling applications in controlled, non-clinical settings. Full article

In industrial and logistics settings, the use of soft and rigid spinal exoskeletons has been increasing. However, under a unified assistance level and comparable work scenarios, systematic comparisons of their effects on users’ thermophysiological responses and subjective thermal perceptions remain limited. Twenty male participants performed manual handling tasks under three load conditions (5, 10, and 15 kg) in three experimental conditions: without the exoskeleton (WEXO), a rigid exoskeleton (REXO), and a soft exoskeleton (SEXO). Metabolic rate, mean skin temperature (MST), thermal comfort vote (TCV), and thermal sensation vote (TSV) were measured. The key findings are as follows: Compared with WEXO, both exoskeletons significantly reduced metabolic rate. Across all loads, SEXO yielded a lower metabolic rate than REXO and showed a more gradual linear increase as the load increased, whereas REXO exhibited a larger rise at 15 kg. Overall, MST was higher in REXO than in SEXO. Wearing an exoskeleton was often associated with increased skin temperature at 5–10 kg, yet MST decreased for both exoskeletons at 15 kg. Subjective ratings further indicated better TCV and TSV with SEXO than with REXO, with the difference more pronounced under higher loads. Taken together, under the conditions of this study, the soft exoskeleton appears to better balance assistive benefits and thermal comfort. Nevertheless, its heat transfer and heat dissipation performance should be further optimized in future designs. Full article

Urban park landscape design has significant potential to alleviate heat stress and promote public health, particularly during extreme summer heat. This study explores how the spatial configuration of landscapes within the Yanghu Wetland Park in Changsha, China, influences pedestrian thermal comfort and destination loyalty under hot summer conditions, and how these factors affect public perceived health. It enriches current research by examining the impact of landscape spatial configuration, thermal comfort, and destination loyalty on public perceived health from a psychological perspective. We identified connections between park users’ spatial perceptions and their psychological and health perceptions. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the relationships among visitors’ spatial perception, psychological perceptions, and health perceptions within this large urban wetland park. At the same time, we explored how landscape characteristics, thermal comfort, destination loyalty, and public perceived health interact. This research constructs a Spatial–Thermal–Perception–Behavior (SPB) theoretical framework for such complex blue-green spaces, providing a multidimensional perspective on the relationship between the environment and health. Based on a survey of 321 visitors, This study pioneers the SPB theoretical framework, clarifying how this wetland park’s landscape configurations impact public perceived health through the mediating pathways of thermal comfort and destination loyalty. It provides a scientific basis for heat-adaptive landscape design in similar wetland park settings, aiming to enhance resident well-being and improve public perceived health. Full article

This exploratory study addresses the problem of limited research on quality assessments of newly emerging multi-use market formats that function as social hubs and their management as privately managed public spaces. Using Āgenskalns Market, a revitalised multi-use market hall in Riga, as a case study, the authors apply an assessment framework based on Yuri Impens’ study on covered food halls, incorporating quality criteria from Vikas Mehta’s Public Space Index and the UN-Habitat’s Site-Specific assessment methodology. Leclercq et al.’s works on privatisation of public spaces are integrated in the analysis of “publicness”. This framework evaluates user and observer perceptions across four dimensions: environmental quality and comfort, accessibility and amenities, social experience, and market offer. Data comprised an online survey of 318 respondents and 21 structured observations conducted during summer in 2024 and 2025. The preliminary results suggest users perceive the market as a well-maintained, aesthetically pleasing, accessible space, while identifying room for improvement regarding restroom facilities, indoor thermal regulation, noise mitigation, outdoor weather protection and parking arrangements. As for meaningful use and promoting sociability, findings highlight that flexible seating areas that allow high degrees of temporary personalisation and appropriation, alongside tailored programming and diverse activities beyond retail and dining, play an important role in attracting and retaining diverse audiences. While pricing concerns were noted for specific product groups, exclusionary effects appear to be counterbalanced by openness and inclusivity of cultural programmes and free events. The findings contribute to broader urban scholarship discussions calling for new typologies that better capture the changing character of public space use. This research suggests that private-public partnerships involving multiple stakeholders can enhance “publicness” by promoting inclusivity and social life through accessible infrastructure, diverse activities and free events, as well as enabling opportunities for temporary appropriation by users. Full article

Effective classroom ventilation is essential for indoor environmental quality (IEQ), comfort and health of schoolchildren, who spend substantial time indoors. This controlled observational study compared manual window airing (WA) with decentralized mechanical ventilation (DV) in six classrooms of two elementary schools during the winter infection period. Symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections, salivary biomarkers, well-being, perceived comfort, and classroom-level IEQ were assessed through questionnaires, saliva samples and long-term monitoring. Ninety-eight schoolchildren participated (64 WA, 34 DV). Symptom-based outcomes of the WURSS-K questionnaire showed consistently lower illness burden in group DV, with several parameters reaching statistical significance and an absolute risk reduction of 7.8%. Salivary immunoglobulin A (sIgA) concentrations were also significantly lower in group DV (approximately 39–59%, p ≤ 0.01). Sensitivity analyses showed positive associations of CO₂ and PM_2.5 with sIgA and indicated that PM_2.5 exposure accounted for group differences. Comfort perceptions mirrored measured IEQ: DV classrooms exhibited warmer, more stable thermal conditions, lower CO₂ and PM_2.5, and slightly better thermal and draught-related impressions. Overall, decentralized mechanical ventilation supported favorable IEQ and comfort and may influence mucosal immune activity through reduced particulate exposure, complementing the observed reduction in symptom burden. A multidimensional approach integrating medical outcomes with continuous IEQ monitoring proved valuable and should be expanded in larger, balanced cohort studies. Full article

Although the literature is rich in studies of indoor thermal comfort, there is a lack of research on outdoor thermal comfort, despite its importance in response to global warming and the rise of urban heat islands. Physics models addressing spatial (urban energy form, green areas) and temporal (climate variability) factors are urgently needed. This study proposes a useful method for outdoor comfort evaluation at a district scale, based on the energy form of built-up areas and hyperlocal climatic conditions. It enables the determination of distributed Physiological Environmental Temperature values at a district scale, assessing the greenery effect and mutual radiative exchanges. Applied to a case study in Florence, Italy, it integrates multiple measurement techniques. The main results highlight the model’s ability to evaluate outdoor thermal perception through the new identified indicator of Virtual Physiological Environmental Temperature (PET*) spread, ranging from 23.5 to 101.0 °C, specifically referring to the worst climatic conditions inside an urban canyon in relation to different real scenarios. The results confirm the method’s effectiveness as a tool for thermodynamics and planning for the well-being of an urban built-up environment. It offers useful support for sustainability and human-centric design, oriented to UHI mitigation and climate change adaptation strategies. Full article

Museums open to the public must reconcile heritage preservation requirements with energy-conscious microclimate management and visitors’ environmental experience. In historic buildings, indoor conditions are typically controlled primarily for preventive conservation, while opportunities for detailed assessment of human comfort are often limited by existing monitoring systems and operational constraints. This study investigates visitors’ perceptions of thermal conditions and indoor air quality (IAQ) in two branches of the National Museum in Krakow (NMK) characterized by different microclimate-control strategies: the mechanically ventilated and air-conditioned Cloth Hall and the predominantly passively controlled Bishop Erazm Ciołek Palace. A pilot survey was conducted in spring 2023 to capture subjective assessments of thermal sensation and perceived IAQ. These perceptions were contextualized using long-term air temperature and relative humidity data (2013–2023) routinely monitored for conservation purposes. Environmental data were analyzed to assess the stability of indoor conditions and to provide background for interpreting survey responses, rather than to perform a normative evaluation of thermal comfort. The results indicate that visitors frequently perceived the indoor environment as slightly warm and reported lower air quality in the Palace, where air was often described as stale or stuffy. These perceptions occurred despite relatively small differences in monitored air temperature and relative humidity between the two buildings. The findings suggest that ventilation strategy, air exchange effectiveness, odor accumulation, room configuration, and lighting conditions may influence perceived environmental quality more strongly than temperature or humidity alone. Although limited in scope, this pilot study highlights the value of incorporating visitor perception into discussions of energy-conscious microclimate management in museums and indicates directions for further multidisciplinary research. Full article

Background/Aim: Communities all across the world celebrate the birth of babies through distinct customs and traditional practices. While some of these traditions may bring comfort and cultural continuity, others may not be in line with medical recommendations and could pose major health risks to the newborn. This study examined rural Jordanian women’s perceptions on practices, knowledge sources, benefits, and challenges around caring for newborns in the northern region. Materials and Methods: In this qualitative descriptive study design, twelve women (aged 22 to 60 years) from the Kufr Som village in Northern Jordan, took part in in-depth semi-structured interviews in August 2025. The interviews focused on identifying caregiving practices, knowledge sources, and perceived benefits or challenges related to newborn care. The responses were verbatim transcribed from audio recordings for thematic analysis. Results: Nine themes emerged. “Thermal protection,” “bathing care,” “umbilical cord care,” and “feeding rites” are four themes that encapsulate the common practices women follow when caring for a newborn. The two themes that capture the sources of knowledge and direction for learning newborn care practices are “transmission of knowledge across generations” and “social influence”. The themes “spiritual safeguarding” and “perceived health protection” highlight the benefits of traditional practices, whereas “conflicts between tradition and modern care” underscores their challenges. Conclusions: Newborn care practices are deeply rooted in Northern Jordanian culture. Evidence-based strategies are needed to augment existing practices in order to improve neonatal care outcomes. 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

Short-time thermal exchange (0–20 s) between human skin and textile surfaces determines initial warm–cool sensations, which influences comfort perception. Classical Fourier models predicting a √t cannot fully describe this early transient phase, particularly for porous or heterogeneous materials such as fabrics. This study investigates the early and short-time temperature response of a fingertip to contact with eight woven and knitted fabrics of different compositions, densities, thermal resistances, and thicknesses, measured under controlled laboratory conditions using a fine-gauge thermocouple at the skin–fabric interface. Experimental temperature–time data, when converted to the Laplace domain, exhibited slopes corresponding to time-domain exponents of t^⅙, t^¼, and occasionally t^⅒, all lower than the classical diffusion exponent of ½.The dual-phase lag (DPL) model was applied to interpret these deviations through two lag times—τq (heat flux) and τT (temperature gradient)—and their ratio Z = τT/τq, which controls the slope of the Laplace-domain response. DPL curves reproduced the observed exponents without additional empirical parameters. The results show that short-time heat transfer depends strongly on textile structure: higher thickness leads to slower transient responses (“warmer” feel), whereas denser fabrics promote faster equilibration (“cooler” feel). This dual-phase interpretation bridges physical heat transfer with tactile thermal perception, providing a predictive framework for the design of textiles with thermal properties. Full article

The atmosphere of an interior space within an architectural built form can be defined by the interactions between the material and immaterial elements surrounding the inhabitant of a space, expressed through our own responding embodied experience. These psychologically tangible yet often immaterial experiences are deeply embodied, realised through our interconnected visual perception, haptic engagement, auditory characteristics, temporal movement and thermal comfort. The study questions how we can harvest useful data to explore atmosphere as an “in-between” state between perceiver and surroundings, through aligning physical environmental recordings with felt personal responses over parallel time-based studies. The approach explored analyses a set of existing spaces through the harvesting of sensory elements using on-site, temporal recordings and participatory haptic engagement. Physical presence is recorded through measured environmental data and audited through a theoretical stance of “conservation of mass”, as each extracted element is replaced and balanced by the other sensorial elements, supporting a holistic experience. Evolving thinking around design approaches promoting an awareness of atmospheric sensibilities can ensure that we do not lose the rich opportunities that sensory design can provide for contemporary architectural design practice. Harvesting atmospheres seeks to describe the broad, elemental nature of sensory design, defining examples of real-time temporary, elusive boundaries and fluid domains that shift spaces between atmospheric experiences, whilst supporting the interconnected collage of the “in-between” complexity of designing with this realm. Full article

Urban densification in post-socialist cities has drastically reduced open and green spaces in high-rise housing areas (HRHAs), intensifying heat stress and degrading outdoor thermal comfort (OTC). These neighborhoods—shaped by socialist-era planning and, later, market-led infill—combine high built density, low greenery, and limited ventilation, making them critical testbeds for climate-adaptive regeneration. This study presents the first empirically validated ENVI-met assessment of blue–green infrastructure (BGI) performance in a post-socialist HRHA, using a representative courtyard in Niš, Serbia, during the 14 August 2024 heatwave. A 24 h field campaign (air temperature, humidity, wind speed, and mean radiant temperature) validated the model with high accuracy (R² = 0.92, RMSE = 1.1 °C for air temperature; R² = 0.88, RMSE = 3.5 K for Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET). Four retrofit scenarios were simulated: S0 (existing), S1 (grass), S2 (grass + trees), and S3 (S2 + shallow pool). Across all scenarios, daytime PET indicated strong–extreme heat stress, peaking at 61.9 °C (16:00 h). The best configuration (S3) reduced PET by 2.68 °C (10:00 h) but <1 °C at peak hours, with acceptable comfort limited to 04:00–07:00 h. The results confirm that small-scale surface-level greening provides negligible thermal relief under a dense HRHA morphology. Urban morphological reform—optimizing height, spacing, ventilation, and integrated greening—is more effective for heat mitigation. Future work should include multi-seasonal field monitoring and human thermal-perception surveys to link microclimate improvement with exposure and health risk. Full article