Search Results (316)

Public open spaces have recently attracted significant attention in the national development programs aimed at improving urban livability and quality of life in Saudi Arabia. While many studies have examined the design quality of public open spaces in the country, a contextualized evaluation index that takes into account users’ preferences and the nation’s social context is still lacking. This gap calls for additional field studies to better understand users’ needs and their interactions with the current urban design practices of public open spaces. This study provides deeper insights into the design quality of public open spaces in Saudi Arabia. The study first identified 16 attributes of design quality of public open spaces, and then assessed a case study, Alrabie Park in Al-Khobar city, based on field observation and a survey of users’ satisfaction levels in relation to these quality attributes The findings revealed that the average of users’ satisfaction was 3.76 out of 5.0, indicating a neutral to satisfied response. Key strengths were noted in accessibility and users’ comfort, while areas needing improvement included environmental quality and amenities and services. The study recommends the development of a national evaluation index for public open spaces to create inclusive, safe, and vibrant environments that reflect Saudi Arabia’s urban and socio-cultural context. It also emphasizes the importance of community engagement in this regard to ensure that the design of public spaces aligns well with the users’ needs and helps to create sustainable urban spaces in the city. Full article

Zoning policies play a critical role in shaping the geography of urban and suburban development in the United States. Using data from the National Zoning and Land-Use Database and tract-level census data from 42 Metropolitan Statistical Areas, we classify metros into four zoning regime types based on the relative restrictiveness of urban and suburban land-use policies and compare trends in population growth and neighborhood change across these regimes. Our findings show that suburban areas have outpaced urban cores in population growth across all zoning configurations, with the most pronounced growth occurring in metros where restrictive urban zoning coexists with permissive suburban regulation. This growth is disproportionately concentrated in affluent suburban neighborhoods, suggesting a spatial sorting of access to resources and amenities. We also find that urban–suburban gentrification gaps are the smallest in these asymmetrical zoning regimes, suggesting that permissive suburban land use may facilitate spillover effects from constrained cores. These findings suggest that zoning asymmetries shape not only the geography of growth but also the spatial dynamics of gentrification. We argue for a metropolitan perspective on land-use governance to better understand the interconnected nature of suburbanization and the spatial expansion of gentrification. Full article

China’s rapid urbanization has driven tremendous socioeconomic development while posing new forms of social–spatial inequalities that challenge environmental sustainability and spatial justice. This study investigates urban park-accessibility patterns across 10 s-tier provincial capital cities in China, examining how these patterns relate to housing-price dynamics to reveal diverse manifestations of social–spatial (in)justice. Using comprehensive spatial analysis grounded in distributive justice principles, we measure park accessibility through multiple metrics: distance to the nearest park, park size, and the number of parks within a 15 min walk from residential communities. Our findings reveal significant variation in park accessibility across these cities, with distinctive patterns emerging in the relationship between housing prices and park access that reflect different forms of social–spatial exclusion and inclusion. While most cities demonstrate an unbalanced spatial distribution of parks, they exhibit different forms of this disparity. Some cities show consistent park access across housing-price categories, while others display correlations between high housing prices and superior park accessibility. We argue that these divergent patterns reflect each city’s unique combination of economic development trajectory, politically strategic positioning within national urban hierarchies, and geographical constraints. Through this comparative analysis of second-tier cities, this study contributes to broader understandings of social–spatial (in)justice and urban environmental inequalities within China’s urbanization process, highlighting the need for place-specific approaches to achieving equitable access to urban amenities. Full article

How to promote sustainable development and deal with the actual development demands in economic transformation through land-use planning is crucial for local governments. The urban sustainable development mainly relies on creativity and talents in the digital era, and talents are increasingly attracted by local people-oriented land use. However, the current planning ideology remains at meeting corporate and people’s basic needs rather than specific needs of talents, especially the increasingly emerging digital creatives. To promote the talent agglomeration and sustainable development through land planning, this paper uses micro-celebrities on Bilibili, an influential creative content creation platform among young people in China, as an example to study the geographical distribution of digital creative talents and its relationship with urban amenities by constructing an index system of urban amenities, comprising natural, leisure, infrastructure, and social and institutional amenities. The concept of borrowed amenities is introduced to examine the effects of amenities of surrounding cities. This study demonstrates that micro-celebrities show a stronger preference for amenities compared with other skilled talents. Meanwhile, social and institutional amenities are most crucial. Furthermore, urban leisure represented by green spaces and consumption spaces is also attractive. At the regional scale, with prefecture-level cities as units, the local talents agglomeration is also influenced by the borrowed amenities in the context of regional integration. It indicates that the local land use should consider the characteristics of the surrounding cities. This study provides strategic inspiration that a happy and sustainable city should first be people-oriented and provide sufficient space for consumption, entertainment, and interaction. Full article

The micro-scale interplay between the built environment and innovation has attracted increasing scholarly attention. However, discussions on how such microdynamics operate and vary across high-density cities remain insufficient. This study focuses on nine high-density urban centres along the G60 S&T Innovation Valley and employs a fine-grained grid unit, viz. 1 km × 1 km, combined with the gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) model to address these issues. Results show that urban construction density-related variables, including the building density, floor area ratio, and transportation network density, generally rank higher than the amenity density and proximity-related variables. The former contributes 50.90% of the total relative importance in predicting invention patent application density (IPAD), while the latter two contribute 13.64% and 35.46%, respectively. Threshold effect analysis identifies optimal levels for enhancing IPAD. Specifically, the optimal building density is approximately 20%, floor area ratio is 5, and transportation network density is 8 km/km². Optimal distances to universities, city centres, and transportation hubs are around 1 km, 17 km, and 9 km, respectively. Furthermore, significant city-level heterogeneity was observed: most density-related variables consistently have an overall positive association with IPAD, with metropolitan cities (e.g., Hangzhou and Suzhou) exhibiting notably higher optimal values compared to medium and small cities (e.g., Xuancheng and Huzhou). In contrast, the threshold effects of proximity-related variables on IPAD are more complex and diverse. These findings offer empirical support for enhancing innovation in high-density urban environments. Full article

Lifestyle blocks (LBs) are small rural holdings primarily used for residential and recreational purposes rather than commercial farming. Despite the rapid expansion of LBs over the last 25 years, which has been driven by lifestyle amenity preference and land subdivision incentives, their environmental performance remains understudied. This is the case even though their proliferation is leading to an irreversible loss of highly productive soils and accelerating land fragmentation in peri-urban areas. Through undertaking a systematic literature review of relevant studies on LBs in New Zealand and comparable international contexts, this paper aims to quantify existing knowledge and suggest future research needs and management strategies. It focuses on the environmental implications of LB activities in relation to water consumption, food production, energy use, and biodiversity protection. The results indicate that variation in land use practices and environmental awareness among LB owners leads to differing environmental outcomes. LBs offer opportunities for biodiversity conservation and small-scale food production through sustainable practices, while also presenting environmental challenges related to resource consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and loss of productive land for commercial agriculture. Targeted landscape design could help mitigate the environmental pressures associated with these properties while enhancing their potential to deliver ecological and sustainability benefits. The review highlights the need for further evaluation of the environmental sustainability of LBs and emphasises the importance of property design and adaptable planning policies and strategies that balance environmental sustainability, land productivity, and lifestyle owners’ aspirations. It underscores the potential for LBs to contribute positively to environmental management while addressing associated challenges, providing valuable insights for ecological conservation and sustainable land use planning. Full article

Subway construction changes land use patterns, disrupting the balance between traffic supply and demand and influencing residents’ activity and travel behaviors along the route. Previous studies have often overlooked the multiple attributes of the subway and their varying impacts on daily activities. To understand how subway construction affects travel and activity patterns, this study analyzed travel data from two years before and after the opening of the Kunming Subway. Propensity score matching was used to control for socioeconomic changes unrelated to the subway. The findings show the following: (1) The subway’s introduction leads to the development of commercial and civic amenities around its stations, attracting wealthier and more educated residents, which contributes to gentrification. (2) Overall, subway construction extends urban residential and employment areas, increasing residents’ dependence on cars and promoting a more motor-centric lifestyle. As a result, the subway’s ability to reduce car usage is limited. (3) The subway alters the impact of the built environment on travel behavior, with residents closer to the subway experiencing shorter travel distances and reduced activity spaces, while those further away maintain longer travel distances and greater activity areas. Full article

Urban park vitality, a key indicator of public space performance, has garnered significant research attention. However, existing studies often neglect the temporal variability in vitality patterns, thus failing to accurately reflect actual park performance and limiting their relevance for strategic urban planning and sustainable resource allocation. This study constructs a “temporal behavior–spatial attributes–park typology” framework using high-precision (50 m) mobile signaling data to capture hourly vitality fluctuations in 59 parks of Hangzhou’s Gongshu District. Using dynamic time-warping-optimized K-means clustering, we identify three vitality types—Morning-Exercise-Dominated, All-Day-Balanced, and Evening-Aggregation-Dominated—revealing distinct weekday/weekend usage rhythms linked to park typology (e.g., community vs. comprehensive parks). Geographical Detector analysis shows that vitality correlates with spatial attributes in time-specific ways; weekend morning vitality is driven by park size and surrounding POI density, while weekday evening vitality depends on interactions between facility density and residential population. These findings highlight how transportation accessibility and commercial amenities shape temporal vitality, informing time-sensitive strategies such as extended evening hours for suburban parks and targeted facility upgrades in residential areas. By bridging vitality patterns with strategic planning demands, the study advances the understanding of how sustainable park management can optimize resource efficiency and enhance public space equity, offering insights for urban green infrastructure planning in other regions. Full article

This study examines culture-led urban regeneration as a strategy for revitalizing Meezan Chowk, a historically significant yet deteriorating public space in Quetta, Pakistan. Once a central site of social and commercial exchange, the area suffered from infrastructural decline, overcrowding, and the erosion of its architectural identity. The research proposes a design intervention to restore the site’s heritage value while enhancing its functional and social relevance. A qualitative approach is adopted, incorporating surveys, focus group discussions, and site observations to assess user needs and spatial dynamics. A SWOT analysis serves as the analytical framework to identify the site’s internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats. By utilizing the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and OpenStreetMap data, further information can enhance understanding of the site’s urban morphology. The proposed design integrates vernacular elements, such as arched facades, shaded corridors, and communal courtyards, with contemporary features, including cafes, local artisan shops, and accessible public amenities. Full article

The inequity in the distribution of green spaces in megacities has a detrimental effect on the physical and mental well-being of their inhabitants, highlighting the necessity for careful and strategic urban planning, along with appropriate regulatory interventions. Nevertheless, scholarly articles addressing the equity of access to urban green spaces primarily concentrate on urban parks, with limited studies examining the influence of alternative types of green spaces. This research initially recognized and categorized informal green spaces (IGS) located within the Third Ring Road of Chengdu, utilizing the UGS-1m dataset and area of interest (AOI) data, in accordance with a well-defined classification framework. Then, the G2SFCA method and Gini coefficient were employed to assess the impact of IGS on the green space accessibility, especially scenario analysis of open and shared use of green space. The findings indicate that (1) IGS in the narrow sense constitute 21.2% of the overall green spaces within the study area, resulting in a reduction of the Gini coefficient by 0.103; (2) IGS in the broad sense, including public affiliated green spaces, shows an even more positive effect on improving the equity of green space supply, with a reduction of the Gini coefficient by 0.28; (3) there exists great spatial disparity in accessibility improvement effect by different types of IGS, so public policies must be customized to reflect local circumstances, taking into account the practicality and associated costs of management and maintenance of various IGS as well as accessibility enhancement; (4) certain older residential areas may not be amenable to effective enhancement through the use of IGS alone, and these should then adopt a multidimensional greening strategy such as green-roof. The findings of this research offer valuable insights for the planning and management of green spaces in densely populated urban environments, thereby aiding in the development of more refined models for the development of “Garden Cities”. Full article

The increase in temperature in the built environment impedes the utilization of outdoor amenities and non-motorized transportation by residents of Arabian Gulf cities throughout the prolonged hot season. The urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon, denoted by the substantial temperature difference between the city and its periphery, is associated with multiple parameters. Building heights, setbacks, and configurations influence the temperature within street canyons. Nowadays, it is vital for urban designers to understand the role of these parameters in UHI effect, and translate those insights into design guidelines and urban forms they propose. This study delves into the relationship between building geometry and urban heat island effects in the context of Doha City, using residential building areas as the basis for comparison. Using dual-pronged methodology, the study entails simulating the dry bulb temperature and the sky view factor, alongside field measurements for land surface temperature (LST), across two residential zones within the city. This analytical approach integrates both prescribed building regulations and the physical characteristics of the extant urban fabric and configuration. Climate data were collected from the weather station in the format of EnergyPlus weather data, and LST historical data were collected from satellite imagery datasets. The results show a correlation between building geometry and UHI-related metrics, particularly evident during nocturnal periods. Notably, a negative correlation was found between the sky view factor and temperature increments. The study concludes with a strong correlation between building geometry and UHI, underscoring the imperative of integrating the building geometry and configuration considerations within the broader context of urban environmental assessments. While similar studies have been undertaken in different regions, there is a research gap in UHI within the GCC region. This study aims to contribute valuable insights to understanding urban heat island dynamics in Gulf cities. Full article

The literature shows greenspaces generally increase nearby property values, but in Riyadh, this relationship is complex and understudied. Existing studies lack sector-specific analyses across Riyadh’s neighborhoods, overlook the impact of the Green Riyadh Project launched in 2019, and fail to address negative externalities associated with large greenspaces in an arid, privacy-conscious context. Such paradoxical impact of larger greenspaces bordering major roads at the neighborhood edge, unexpectedly reduce property values by 2–4% due to petty crime, congestion, poor upkeep, and privacy concerns, contrasting with 10–18% premiums for properties abutting greenspaces with restricted access in affluent neighborhoods. Global studies typically report positive greenspace effects, so negative impacts in specific Riyadh sectors are surprising. This highlights the city’s unique arid, cultural, and urban dynamics in addressing this research gap. The research uses purposive quota sampling of Riyadh neighborhood greenspaces and a mixed-methods approach of quantitative hedonic pricing analysis combined with qualitative semi-structured interviews with real estate agents. Findings underscore the need for tailored urban planning (e.g., mitigating petty crime, overcrowding, poor maintenance). This suggests the importance of integrating green infrastructure into urban planning, not only for its ecological and social benefits but also for its tangible positive impact on property values. Poor greenspace upkeep and safety concerns can reduce price premiums of abutting properties. Full article

Decades of migration and refugee influxes have driven Amman’s rapid urban growth, yet newer neighborhoods increasingly grapple with fragmented social cohesion. This study examines whether walkable design can strengthen community bonds, focusing on Deir Ghbar, a car-centric district in West Amman. Using GIS and mixed-methods analysis, we assess how walkability metrics (residential density, street connectivity, land-use mix, and retail density) correlate with sense of community. The results reveal that street connectivity and residential density enhance social cohesion, while land-use mix exhibits no significant effect. High-density, compact neighborhoods foster neighborly interactions, but major roads disrupt these connections. A critical mismatch emerges between quantitative land-use metrics and resident experiences, highlighting the need to integrate spatial data with community insights. Amman’s zoning policies, particularly the stark contrast between affluent low-density Zones A/B and underserved high-density Zones C/D, perpetuate socio-spatial segregation—a central critique of this study. We urge the Greater Amman Municipality’s 2025 Master Plan to prioritize mixed-density zoning, pedestrian retrofits (e.g., traffic calming and sidewalk upgrades), and equitable access to amenities. This study provides a replicable GIS and survey-based framework to address urban socio-spatial divides, aligning with SDG 11 for inclusive cities. It advocates for mixed-density zoning and pedestrian-first interventions in Amman’s Master Plan. By integrating a GIS with social surveys, this study offers a replicable model for addressing socio-spatial divides in cities facing displacement and inequality. Full article

With the goal of sustainable urbanization, eco-cities have garnered significant global attention in recent decades. Unlike eco-city renovation or renewal, the construction of a new eco-city represents a comprehensive urbanization process that integrates environmental sustainability with livability. To evaluate the outcomes of new eco-city construction in China, this study employs a dual approach combining objective achievements and residents’ subjective satisfaction to systematically examine the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City. The analysis encompasses five dimensions: environmental amenity, life safety, residential functionality, traffic capability, and economic well-being, with the relative weights of specific indicators determined through the entropy method, expert scoring, and analytic hierarchy process. The findings reveal that based on objective indicators, the eco-city’s overall performance nearly doubled during its first phase of development, with life safety showing the most notable improvements. However, subjective assessments revealed that overall resident satisfaction remained below 70%, with residential functionality receiving the highest rating. The annual progress of the eco-city did not consistently align with residents’ needs, and no clear correlation was found between the eco-city’s current state and public sentiment. For sustainable development, the eco-city must address its shortcomings and better cater to residents’ demands across various dimensions through targeted and effective strategies. Full article

Urban parks are critical components of green infrastructure, supporting recreation and public health. This study investigates the association between urban park quality and health outcomes in 85 South Korean cities, utilizing a localized version of the ParkScore Index. The Korean ParkScore evaluates five dimensions: acreage, amenities, investment, accessibility, and equity. The health indicators include municipal-level rates of mental health disorders (anxiety, depression, insomnia, ADHD, and schizophrenia) and obesity. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed significant negative associations between ParkScore rankings and mental health indicators, particularly depression and anxiety. Higher-quality, more accessible parks correlated with lower levels of psychological distress, emphasizing the public health benefits of urban green spaces. While the cross-sectional design limits causal inference, the results support the role of urban parks as essential infrastructure for mental well-being. The findings underscore the need for equitable and data-driven urban park policies in fostering health-supportive urban environments and highlight the importance of considering specific ParkScore dimensions in urban planning. Full article