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Urban Science
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Sustainable Approaches on Urban Space in Mediterranean Cities: From XS...
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Sustainable Approaches on Urban Space in Mediterranean Cities: From XS Design to XL Planning

A special issue of Urban Science (ISSN 2413-8851).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 1675

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Maria Sinou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Interior Architecture, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
Interests: zero-energy buildings; sustainable design; autonomous buildings; sustainable refurbishment of historic buildings; sustainable design of small urban spaces; historical urban neighborhoods
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Afroditi Synnefa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of the Built Environment, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
Interests: innovative materials; urban climate change and heat mitigation technologies; energy-efficient buildings; sustainable energy technologies and energy saving technologies in buildings and settlements
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Marina Neophytou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Environmental Fluid Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 1678, Cyprus
Interests: urban air pollution dispersion modeling; urban heat island studies and modelling model performance evaluation; thermofluid dynamics of the urban environment (mass and heat transfer); buoyancy-driven flows in industrial and environmental applications
Dr. George Hloupis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
Interests: early warning systems; sustainable and resilient cities; management of digital cultural content
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Evgenia Tousi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Dept. of Surveying Engineering & Geoinformatics, Department of Interior Architecture, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
Interests: sustainable design of buildings and urban spaces; regional planning

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue, entitled “Sustainable Approaches on Urban Space in Mediterranean Cities: From XS Design to XL Planning”, focuses on the multifunctional role of public spaces in Mediterranean cities. In hot Mediterranean urban city centers, the presence of well-landscaped outdoor spaces not only provide shelters of thermal comfort but also offer room for socio-cultural interaction. Moreover, the presence of efficiently designed outdoor spaces affects property values and the quality of urban life. Covering a wide range of planning and design scales, this Special Issue offers a venue for publishing interdisciplinary papers presenting empirical findings, case studies, review articles, methodologies and methods. Acknowledging synergies among various planning and design factors, this Special Issue emphasizes on environmental, socio-cultural, economic and cultural aspects of urban space.

Submissions are encouraged but not limited to the following general areas:

  • Theories on the interaction of natural and man-made environments in cities: sustainable policies and management of urban space;
  • Blue–green infrastructures;
  • Art and public space as a mean of reinforcing city sustainability or urban collective memory;
  • Urban space design (various scales);
  • Urban Planning- Critiques of existing urban interventions in Mediterranean cities;
  • City branding for sustainability;
  • Emerging technologies for city cultural sustainability (IoT, AR, VR);
  • Innovative materials for urban space use;
  • Placemaking;
  • Collaborative urban design;
  • Sensorial perception of urban space;
  • Urban space and well-being.

Dr. Maria Sinou
Dr. Afroditi Synnefa
Prof. Dr. Marina Neophytou
Dr. George Hloupis
Dr. Evgenia Tousi
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. Urban Science is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 1600 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

  • sensorial design
  • energy efficiency
  • sustainable urban design
  • sustainable urban planning
  • city branding
  • cultural sustainability
  • emerging technologies

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  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 3330 KiB  
Article
Gender Dynamics in Urban Space Usage: A Case Study of Tebessa’s Historic City Centre, Algeria
by Soufiane Fezzai, Lambros T. Doulos and Abdelhakim Mesloub
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(4), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9040103 - 30 Mar 2025
Viewed by 83
Abstract
This study examines the gender dynamics in urban space usage within the historic city center of Tebessa, Algeria, exploring how cultural factors and street networks influence gender-specific pedestrian behavior and land use patterns. Using a multidisciplinary approach combining space syntax techniques, GIS analysis, [...] Read more.
This study examines the gender dynamics in urban space usage within the historic city center of Tebessa, Algeria, exploring how cultural factors and street networks influence gender-specific pedestrian behavior and land use patterns. Using a multidisciplinary approach combining space syntax techniques, GIS analysis, and behavioral data collection, we analyzed the relationships between street networks, land use attractors, and gender-differentiated pedestrian flows. Key findings reveal significant differences in spatial navigation patterns between men and women, influenced by cultural norms and gender-specific land use distribution. Women’s movement is more constrained and focused on specific attractors, while men navigate the entire urban system more freely. The study also highlights the impact of “edge effects”, where extramural attractors strongly influence intramural gender movement, particularly for women. These gender-specific patterns often override street network influences predicted by traditional space syntax theories. Our research contributes to the understanding of sustainable urban development in culturally rich contexts by demonstrating the need for gender-inclusive planning that considers local cultural practices. The findings have important implications for urban planners and policymakers working to create more equitable and functional historic city centers while preserving cultural heritage and addressing gender-specific needs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches on Urban Space in Mediterranean Cities: From XS Design to XL Planning)
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25 pages, 15616 KiB  
Article
Thermal Stress in Outdoor Spaces During Mediterranean Heatwaves: A PET and UTCI Analysis of Different Demographics
by Tousi Evgenia, Athina Mela and Areti Tseliou
Urban Sci. 2024, 8(4), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci8040193 - 31 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 929
Abstract
Urban public space comfort is essential for improving quality of life, particularly as climate change affects outdoor thermal environments. This study utilizes ENVI-met, a 3D microclimate simulation tool, to assess thermal comfort concerning demographic factors such as age and gender. The findings indicate [...] Read more.
Urban public space comfort is essential for improving quality of life, particularly as climate change affects outdoor thermal environments. This study utilizes ENVI-met, a 3D microclimate simulation tool, to assess thermal comfort concerning demographic factors such as age and gender. The findings indicate significant disparities in thermal stress vulnerability among demographic groups. On the hottest day of July 2023, at 10 a.m., children’s PET values were approximately 2 °C higher than those of other groups. By 3 p.m., females experienced slightly higher upper-range thermal stress than males. Elderly individuals aged 80 exhibited a broad range of PET values, from 38.14 °C to 62.39 °C, with prevailing values above 56.9 °C, indicating greater vulnerability to extreme heat. Children aged 8 showed PET values ranging from 40.20 °C to 59.34 °C, with prevailing estimates between 54.2 °C and 55.7 °C. Minimum PET values for children were significantly higher than those for adults, suggesting a greater baseline level of thermal stress. Despite cooling effects in the evening, children remained exposed to more pronounced stress than elderly individuals, males, and females. The UTCI values recorded indicate a period of extreme heat stress for all demographic groups assessed. While individuals aged 35 may encounter considerable discomfort, the severity of the impact is notably more pronounced for both older adults and children. This study underscores the need for tailored management strategies and advocates for expanding ENVI-met’s capabilities to enhance urban resilience and well-being amid rising temperatures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches on Urban Space in Mediterranean Cities: From XS Design to XL Planning)
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