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Assessing the Relative Importance of Sustainability Indicators for Public Open Spaces and Existing Urban Neighbourhoods

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Urban and Rural Development".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2022) | Viewed by 15046

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Edwin H.W. Chan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Building and Real Estate, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China
Interests: urban development policy; urban sustainability; land use
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Zheng Tan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China
Interests: sustainable urban planning; urban design; outdoor thermal comfort
Dr. Anqi Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Urban and Rural Planning, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
Interests: public open spaces; urban green spaces; urban renewal

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Public open spaces are of great value to the quality of life in modern cities. Open spaces in the city include vegetated urban areas such as city parks, street gardens, playgrounds and hard-paved open urban areas, including plazas, squares, pedestrian streets, etc. Public open spaces are accessible to the public and offer numerous benefits. Public open spaces facilitate physical activities, provide places for social interaction, and enhance the mental health of urban residents. As an essential element in urban life, not only the quantity but also the quality of public open space, as well as the distribution and accessibility, are important for users of different genders, ages, social status, and cultural background. Attributes of public open spaces, such as connectivity, green coverage, design elements, environmental quality, perceived friendliness, comfort and safety, etc. may influence the attractiveness and usage pattern of these spaces. A systematic approach to developing a set of sustainability indicators or models for the assessment and enhancement of public open spaces would inform decision-makers and designers in the urban planning and design process. We are pleased to invite you to submit your research paper to the Special Issue “Assessing the Relative Importance of Sustainability Indicators for Public Open Spaces” to be published in Sustainability. This Special Issue aims to provide a platform to share the latest research findings on the study of public open spaces. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • environmental, economic, and social benefits of public open spaces
  • key aspects and indices to evaluate quality of public open spaces
  • planning and design of open spaces in urban redevelopment process
  • sustainable model for the planning of public open spaces in cities
  • planning and design practice/methodology on public open spaces
  • public open spaces and healthy, age-friendly, and inclusive cities

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Edwin H.W. Chan
Dr. Zheng Tan
Dr. Anqi Wang
Guest Editors

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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.

Keywords

  • public open spaces
  • sustainability indicators
  • social interaction
  • health
  • urban redevelopment
  • public participation
  • urban life
  • modelling

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

27 pages, 9312 KiB  
Article
Representative versus Natural Values of Public Open Spaces—A Landscape Approach (Szczecin Case Study)
by Eliza Sochacka, Magdalena Rzeszotarska-Pałka and Grzegorz Nowak
Sustainability 2022, 14(24), 16664; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416664 - 13 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1712
Abstract
Apart from interactivity, representativeness (in the meaning of grandness) is the basic and required characteristic of public open spaces. The representativeness of public open spaces (POS) is understood in terms of their ability to portray cities and their inhabitants as a whole. This [...] Read more.
Apart from interactivity, representativeness (in the meaning of grandness) is the basic and required characteristic of public open spaces. The representativeness of public open spaces (POS) is understood in terms of their ability to portray cities and their inhabitants as a whole. This study considers the historical value of public spaces and determines their contemporary role as spaces for representing cities. Moreover, we explore the relationship between the natural value of such places and their representativeness function. It was necessary to define the criteria determining the representativeness of public spaces, including their physical, semiotic, and functional features. The study was carried out in the midtown zone of Szczecin. The subject of the study is urban landscape objects. The landscape, according to the definition presented by the European Landscape Convention, is part of the land, as perceived by local people and visitors, which evolves through time as a result of being acted upon by natural forces and human beings. The landscape approach used in this research enables an assessment that requires taking into account and comparing many aspects that build the layers of the landscape. Qualitative and quantitative research methods were used to assess the characteristics that distinguish POS in the symbolic, formal, location-related and functional layers and to examine their ecological value. The results of the study generally confirmed our hypothesis: i.e., embedding the studied POS within the city’s tradition—with its strong semiotic connections and with the specific history of the place (genius loci)—increases the space’s range of contemporary, representative functions. At the same time, an apparent decrease in the prestige of the studied POS was observed. Although they originally had high historical value, they either lost key artifacts constituting that identity or were excluded from the main functional and compositional axes of the city. Moreover, this study proves that the representativeness of POS, conditioned by historical value and contemporary functional, spatial, and location features, is generally inconsistent with their high natural value. Still, this inconsistency does not have to be a mean contradiction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessing the Relative Importance of Sustainability Indicators for Public Open Spaces and Existing Urban Neighbourhoods)
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25 pages, 5628 KiB  
Article
Increasing the Livability of Open Public Spaces during Nighttime: The Importance of Lighting in Waterfront Areas
by Ivana Rakonjac, Ana Zorić, Ivan Rakonjac, Jelena Milošević, Jelena Marić and Danilo Furundžić
Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6058; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106058 - 17 May 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3532
Abstract
The contemporary way of life influences the forms and time framework of outdoor activities in open public spaces, shifting their focus to nighttime usage. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the limits of existing outdoor lighting design standards and recommendations in [...] Read more.
The contemporary way of life influences the forms and time framework of outdoor activities in open public spaces, shifting their focus to nighttime usage. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the limits of existing outdoor lighting design standards and recommendations in terms of livability. As an exploratory case study, the Sava waterfront in New Belgrade, Serbia was chosen. The methodology consisted of theoretical research and specific analysis, which included: (1) mapping the spatial distribution of users during several periods of the day; (2) criteria and indicator network analysis of outdoor lighting quality, and (3) a survey with a questionnaire conducted among the users of the waterfront area. The results showed that lighting design can influence overall open public space usage during nighttime through its parameters. It can affect the spatial distribution of users and their sense of safety and comfort, as well as the duration, frequency, and manner of usage. This study could improve planning and design practices regarding outdoor lighting, enabling more active and inclusive usage of open public spaces, thus increasing the overall livability of spaces and their social sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessing the Relative Importance of Sustainability Indicators for Public Open Spaces and Existing Urban Neighbourhoods)
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32 pages, 10195 KiB  
Article
Rethinking Outdoor Courtyard Spaces on University Campuses to Enhance Health and Wellbeing: The Anti-Virus Built Environment
by Saba Alnusairat, Zahra Al-Shatnawi, Yara Ayyad, Ala’ Alwaked and Nasser Abuanzeh
Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5602; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095602 - 6 May 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4976
Abstract
Responding to the events surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, this study explores how to improve health and wellbeing and reduce infections in outdoor open spaces on university campuses to maximize their potential as a response to future crises. The study identifies the relationship between [...] Read more.
Responding to the events surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, this study explores how to improve health and wellbeing and reduce infections in outdoor open spaces on university campuses to maximize their potential as a response to future crises. The study identifies the relationship between human behavior (social) and the various physical and environmental elements of these spaces. A case study and mixed-methods approach were undertaken, comprising four modes of inspection: user analysis layer using questionnaires and observations to survey students’ needs and behavior; context analysis layer using space syntax and CFD to examine the space’s physical and environmental conditions; design solutions reflecting an understanding of virus transmission; and a performance analysis layer to test the performance of ‘anti-virus’ courtyards. The findings demonstrated that students are willing to use the open spaces that they used before the pandemic, at the same frequency. This indicates a need to redesign the current spaces to prevent the spread of viruses. The study highlights the social, physical, and environmental implications to be considered in designs for outdoor anti-virus spaces. It provides a comprehensive process for transforming outdoor spaces on university campuses into anti-virus spaces that meet users’ needs. These findings have implications for the designing and retrofitting of open spaces to reduce infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessing the Relative Importance of Sustainability Indicators for Public Open Spaces and Existing Urban Neighbourhoods)
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21 pages, 2887 KiB  
Article
Small Green Spaces in Dense Cities: An Exploratory Study of Perception and Use in Florence, Italy
by Leonardo Chiesi and Paolo Costa
Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 4105; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14074105 - 30 Mar 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3692
Abstract
This study investigates human perception and use of Small Green Spaces (SGS) in a dense Western city (Florence, Italy). While there is some work on social dynamics in large urban parks, empirical studies of SGS are fewer. The research adopts an exploratory approach [...] Read more.
This study investigates human perception and use of Small Green Spaces (SGS) in a dense Western city (Florence, Italy). While there is some work on social dynamics in large urban parks, empirical studies of SGS are fewer. The research adopts an exploratory approach with a mixed methods strategy (observation sessions, 50 in-depth interviews, and 430 questionnaires). The analysis is framed within a tripartite model of interaction between people and space as spontaneous appropriation of space through the body, senses, and mind. The analysis of use patterns, practices, and conflicts in SGS illustrates how continuous use and proximity make SGS persistent scenarios of users’ daily life, differently from large city parks. Sociality and restorative opportunities afforded by natural features define users’ experiences and SGS appreciation across genders and age groups. The discussion illustrates how the theoretical constructs of functional indetermination and non-normativity explain users’ perception of SGS as open-ended settings, spared from the extensive compression of publicness and commodification of other public spaces in contemporary cities. Implications of the study outcomes are discussed in relation to social cohesion in open public spaces and with the declining sense of urbanity in large cities. Some indications on design, planning, and management of SGS are also suggested. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessing the Relative Importance of Sustainability Indicators for Public Open Spaces and Existing Urban Neighbourhoods)
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