Sustainable Built Environments and Human Wellbeing

Dear Colleagues,

The growing world population and rampant urbanisation exert escalating pressures on limited natural resources. Climate change and the energy crisis demonstrate the need for carbon neutrality and net-zero carbon emissions, with the aim of sustainable development. The sustainable built environment plays a pivotal role in addressing the challenges raised by climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to better human wellbeing. Effective energy-efficient design reduces carbon footprints and consumption while maintaining desirable indoor environmental quality and occupant comfort. Green infrastructure, including green roofs and walls, mitigate the urban heat island effect against heat-related illness and mortality. Blue infrastructure and water-sensitive design contribute to urban liveability and alleviate water scarcity. Mixed-use and walkable neighbourhoods with proximate access to essential services, open spaces and active transport choices are positively associated with public health, equity and community resilience. Inclusive age-friendly built environments foster active ageing that extends the healthy life expectancy and enhance quality of life as people age.

This Special Issue is seeking papers that address sustainable built environments and human wellbeing. Faced with climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and the ageing population, there is an urgent need to strive for sustainable development with eco-friendly, resource-efficient and inclusive practices.

Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to:

• sustainable built environments and infrastructure;
• sustainable design;
• human health, well-being and quality of life;
• urban heat island mitigation;
• climate change;
• regenerative design;
• energy efficiency and low carbon footprints;
• carbon neutrality and net-zero carbon emissions;
• green infrastructure, green roofs and walls;
• blue infrastructure and water sensitive design;
• indoor environmental quality and occupant comfort;
• inclusive design and universal design;
• mixed-use and walkable neighbourhoods;
• active transport and age-friendly transport;
• active ageing and ageing in place;
• the COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic challenges;

We invite the submission of both theoretical and practical articles to this Special Issue. Papers selected for this Special Issue will be subject to a rigorous peer review procedure with the aim of the rapid and widespread dissemination of research results and applications.

Dr. Hing-Wah Chau
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.