In metropolitan areas worldwide, abandoned properties are prevalent, prompting a need for small urban green spaces (SUGS) to meet the growing demand. Understanding residents’ preferences and perceptions of transformed spaces is vital for effective urban design. This study delves into residents’ preferences and perceptions regarding the transformation of such spaces into SUGS and their impact on psychological well-being. By examining how these preferences and perceived health benefits shape the value of transformed spaces, the research aims to inform effective urban design strategies. The participants underwent visual stimulation, with psychological reactions recorded through Electroencephalogram (EEG) readings and assessed via Questionnaire. Machine learning techniques analyzed EEG sub-band data, achieving an average accuracy of 92.8% when comparing leftover and designed spaces. Results revealed that different types of transformed spaces provoke distinct physiological and preference responses. Specifically, viewing SUGS was associated with significant changes in gamma wave power, suggesting a correlation between enhanced gamma activity and increased feelings of empathy. Moreover, participants also reported enhanced comfort, relaxation, and overall mood, and a strong preference for SUGS over untransformed spaces, emphasizing the value placed on these areas for their health benefits. This research highlights the positive impact of even SUGS on mental health, using EEG data to assess emotional states triggered by urban spaces. The study concludes with a call for further research to investigate the long-term benefits of SUGS on well-being, alongside an exploration of the gamma band as a neural marker for emotional restoration in urban green spaces. This research highlights the crucial role of urban design in fostering psychological well-being through the strategic development of green spaces, suggesting a paradigm shift toward more inclusive, health-promoting urban environments.

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The development of educational-recreational complexes for children has a significant impact on their cognitive growth and behaviour. Proper site selection is essential to ensure the success of such projects. This paper aims to identify the best location for a children’s educational-recreational complex in Shiraz, Iran. The study used a descriptive-comparative and survey method to determine effective criteria for site selection. A questionnaire was administered to experts in architecture, urban design, and planning to identify appropriate sites. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was then employed to select the best location. The hierarchical model included three levels: goal (educational-recreational site selection), criteria (natural potential, accessibility, land size, neighbourhood and social context, expansibility, appropriate land use (the neighbourhood between proposed and master plan land use)), and three alternative sites. The results showed that a site located near residential areas, green spaces, and natural elements is suitable for the development of an educational-recreational complex for children. The study recommends the use of the SWOT (strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) - AHP method for site selection in children’s complexes. The paper highlights the need for a reliability test or table/figure to support the research findings.@en

Vacant spaces present affluent areas for the urban landscape. Considering these spaces from a resilience perspective is an effective strategy. This research seeks to assist decision-makers in assessing landscape resilience and drawing on landscape selection process requirements for changes. The current research investigates the review of previous studies and develops a contextual relationship-based model to analyze critical aspects through experts' opinions. The investigation approach was inspired by interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and MICMAC software. MICMAC analysis considered the direct and possible relationships of variables in the future, while the ISM technique discovered the hierarchy of these variables and their relationship with the main areas. Flexibility has the most effectiveness, while Activity has been affected by the most properties. Furthermore, even though it is significant, urban systems lose their flexibility and adaptability in the long run by focusing entirely on engineering measures.@en

Tectonic theory is an integrative philosophy that examined the relations formed between design, construction, and space while create or experience architecture. Various tectonic perspectives since 1852 considering ‘space’ as an important parameter in tectonic were reviewed. This study aimed at proposing a new definition of landscape tectonics and exploring ways of developing new related aspects in future research. Hence, in order to promote new aspects of landscape, the tectonic approach was first subdivided into distinct concepts and a systematic analysis of the literature was then conducted to identify the knowledge gaps. A descriptive-relative study was, further, carried on including a bibliometric methodology collecting qualitative and quantitative methods of 54 articles; and the related themes and trends were determined via a qualitative comparison of the co-occurrence of the term maps. Moreover, the cluster maps from the VOS viewer program revealed the coalescence of the concepts. Finally, the most frequently cited keywords, along with the ones encoded from the articles, were pointed out based on the Web of Science (WoS) database. Based on this database, the most cited keywords were configuration, distribution pattern, land and fragment; whereas encoding the articles pointed out the terms architecture, building, space, material and environment. This study, therefore, proposes a new definition of landscape tectonic. Investigating new interactions between keywords and areas of tectonic and opened a new page for the development of the new aspects of this field in future researches.

La teoria tectònica és una filosofia integradora que examina les relacions que es formen entre el disseny, la construcció i l'espai en crear o experimentar l'arquitectura. Es van revisar diverses perspectives tectòniques des de 1852 considerant l'espai com un paràmetre important en la tectònica. Aquest estudi va tenir com a objectiu proposar una nova definició de tectònica del paisatge i explorar maneres de desenvolupar nous aspectes relacionats en futures investigacions. Per tant, per promoure nous aspectes del paisatge, l'enfocament tectònic primer es va subdividir en conceptes diferents i després es va fer una anàlisi sistemàtica de la literatura per identificar les llacunes de coneixement. Es va realitzar a més un estudi descriptiu-relatiu incloent una metodologia bibliomètrica recollint mètodes qualitatius i quantitatius de 54 articles; i els temes i tendències relacionats es van determinar mitjançant una comparació qualitativa de la coexistència dels mapes de termes. A més, els mapes de conglomerats del programa de visualització VOS van revelar la fusió dels conceptes. Finalment, es van assenyalar les paraules clau més citades, juntament amb les codificades als articles, a partir de la base de dades Web of Science (WoS). Segons aquesta base de dades, les paraules clau més esmentades van ser configuració, patró de distribució, terreny i fragment; mentre que la codificació dels articles assenyalava els termes arquitectura, edificació, espai, material i medi ambient. Aquest estudi, doncs, proposa una nova definició de paisatge tectònic. Investigar noves interaccions entre paraules clau i àrees de tectònica i va obrir una nova pàgina per desenvolupar nous aspectes d'aquest camp en futures investigacions.@en

Leftover spaces are constitutive elements of the city structure. The accurate selection of and intervention in certain hotspots can lead to an urban development that slowly takes over. The design intervention has a special effect on preventing the transition into vacancy; hence, user preferences should be properly considered. In 2017, the global population of adults aged 60 and upper reached 962 million. To address the needs of the elderly, we need to define local relevant design approaches. This research seeks to identify the elderly's preferences, particularly their use of open spaces. Application of the mixed-methodology with the BWM-questionnaire to vacant lands resulted in: a natural landscape with diverse vegetation and other facilities, gentle leisure activities, and community gardening as essential intervention attributes, leading to an ideal environment for the elderly. The innovation is implementing a mixed approach, BWM questionnaire, and considering both experts and public preferences to represent the demands of the elderly in cities. The kind of intervention and the needs of the elderly, particularly in restricted outdoor spaces, have still not been intensively reported. As these areas are too restricted, design components will play a greater role. Consequently, temporary, flexible, and experimental responses to leftover spaces are provided.@en

The method presented in the article is helpful for analyzing the aesthetical landscape preferences. Using visual and physical plant combinations in small abandoned spaces, this study seeks to discover what citizens prefer in terms of coherence, legibility, and refuge? The procedure relies on visual questioning to get residents’ opinion based on three criteria: legibility, coherence, and refuge. Specifically, it aims at exploring the relation of three landscape variables with the enclosure. Participants gave the lowest ratings for refuge in visually open & physically open environments, according to the data. In visually open environments, the participants' perception of coherence does not vary significantly. When compared to other characteristics (coherence and legibility), the research of spatial configurations of vest-pocket parks shows that enclosure is more important in terms of refuge. Finally, the significant difference between object-focused parks and others indicated the critical design process of this type of pocket park. - Visual questionnaire survey is helpful for analyzing the aesthetical landscape preferences. - A photomontage method could apply design possibilities in relation to planting.@en

The rapid urbanization of metropolitan environments worldwide has led to increasing spatial fragmentation. Disconnected spaces have revealed spatial and social voids that reduce the adaptive capacity of a region. However, these spaces also offer latent potential for urban resilience. Accordingly, this study reveals how urban acupuncture promotes resilience in leftover spaces to reduce or embrace spatial fragmentation. This paper reviews spatial fragmentation and urban resilience from descriptive-analytical and normative perspectives. It proposes urban acupuncture to locate critical spatial structures and processes on a small scale. The study develops a conceptual framework around fragmentation and urban acupuncture. It investigates the assumptions behind the concepts of spatial fragmentation and proposes a dialectical framing of vacancy based on resilience and urban acupuncture, along with a reassessment of leftover space as a planning tool. The framework’s application is demonstrated in Tehran and Bucharest. As a result, spatial fragmentation significantly influences urban resilience to prevent expansion. Urban acupuncture opens the possibility of developing optimistic scenarios by considering leftover spaces and the broader opportunities they generate for urban resilience. Depending on the urban context, this strategy can be applied through a single intervention in a specific place or a network of coordinated interventions in different locations.@en

روند سریع شهرنشینی مشکلات بسیاری در توسعه‌ی فضای شهری ایجاد می‌کند. در این میان زمین‌های نسبتا حاشیه‌ای و فضاهایی باقی-مانده تولید می‌شوند که امکان وقوع هرگونه ناهنجاری در آن‌ها وجود دارد. بنابراین بررسی نوع مداخلات در مقیاس کوچک در چنین فضاهایی، بر رفتار کاربر تأثیر گذاشته و می‌تواند تحت تأثیر ترجیحات استفاده‌کنندگان باشد. بر اساس نمونه‌های ارائه شده در سایر نقاط دنیا، این پژوهش با تکیه بر انتخاب یک نمونه از فضاهای رها شده در تهران، امکان ایجاد پارک جیبی را بررسی کرده است. به این منظور، برای یافتن مناسب‌ترین نوع مداخله در سایت انتخاب شده، مطالعه‌ی ترجیحات و اولویت‌های افراد ضروری است. با استفاده از مطالعه‌ای توصیفی- تحلیلی و بر اساس روش مقایسات زوجی، این مطالعه با هدف ارزیابی مداخله در اراضی خالی از جمله اولویت های ساکنین و نظرات کارشناسان انجام گرفت. پس از مطالعات انجام شده در زمینه‌ی ماهیت فضاهای رها شده، نظر 6 کارشناس مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. سپس به منظور تعیین اولویت کاربران، گزینه‌های انتخاب شده در مرحله اول، در پرسشنامه تصویری AHP گنجانیده شد. با تجزیه و تحلیل 165 پرسش‌نامه، اولویت نخست کاربران برای تبدیل یک فضای رها شده به پارک جیبی، در هر دو گروه خانم‌ها و آقایان، فضای آسایش بود و فضای ورزشی از کم‌ترین انتخاب برخوردار بود. اولویت استفاده از فضاهای باز شهری در گروه‌های سنی 20 تا40 متفاوت از سایر جامعه‌ی آماری بود. همچنین مقایسه‌ی گزینه‌های فضای نشستن با فضای آسایش، حاکی از اهمیت انتخاب نوع مبلمان شهری در پارک-های جیبی است. از آن‌جایی که فضاهای کوچک میان بلوک‌های شهری، برای ساکنین قابل دسترسی‌تر هستند، لازم است پارک‌های جیبی به منظور ایجاد فضاهای طبیعی در نظر گرفته شوند و به طور خاص، اولویت ساکنین در استفاده از فضاها در نظر گرفته شود، تا از این طریق، پویایی فضاهای محلی و تجدید حیات فضاهای رها شده امکان‌پذیر شود. Rapid urbanization causes many problems in the development of urban spaces. One of the most important problems is the generation of relatively marginal areas and lost spaces in which anomalies can occur. Therefore, the type of small-scale interventions in such spaces influences user behavior and can be influenced by user preferences. Based on the examples presented in other parts of the world, the present study attempts to investigate the feasibility of establishing a pocket park by examining abandoned spaces in Tehran as the case study. So, to find the most proper type of intervention for the site selected, it is essential to investigate user preferences. The present study is descriptive-analytic research aiming to find the most proper intervention strategies for the vacant lands considering both the residents' preferences for urban intervention and the experts' opinions through pairwise comparisons. After recognizing the selected abandoned spaces, the opinions of six experts are examined. Next, to determine the user preferences, the options selected in the first step are included in a pictorial AHP questionnaire. Analyzing 165 questionnaires shows that in both men's and women's opinions, the intervention of relaxing spaces has the top priority and the last priority belongs to workout spaces. Those aged 20 to 40 have different priorities for urban open spaces from others. Also, comparing the two options of sitting space and relaxing space indicates the importance of the type of urban furniture used for pocket parks. Since small spaces between urban blocks, i.e. in-between spaces, are more accessible to residents, it is required to convert these spaces into natural spaces considering the residents' preferences to make the revitalization of abandoned spaces feasible and enhance the dynamics of local spaces.@en

Despite the focus on (large parks) green public spaces in urban areas, mini-parks have been disregarded, especially the way they should be designed based on people’s aesthetic preferences, in order to fulfill societal potential. Having used 25 computer-generated pocket park (PP) scenes with various levels of enclosure based on planting, this study seeks to investigate public opinion on three factors: coherence, legibility, and the refuge. Since vacant lands inherently receive limited budgets, design practices must develop innovative ways to implement the projects. Residents from Tehran, Iran (n = 318) participated in a visual online questionnaire depicting five main types for the permeability of enclosure in small leftover spaces, which had the possibility to change into PP. They were asked to assess the coherence, legibility, refuge, and select the types of activities they could imagine in each park. This study adopted a descriptive-analytical method. The results were evaluated using the chi-square test and are as follows: (1) In terms of all five types, participants rated the lowest for refuge in visually open and physically open scenes. (2) If the visual and physical scenes are enclosed, participants perceive the legibility to be higher compared to open scenes. (3) In visually open scenes, there are no significant differences in the participants’ sense of coherence even though the physical enclosure is changed. (4) Due to the investigation of spatial configurations of PP, when compared to other variables (coherence and legibility), it is demonstrated that enclosure will be more significant in terms of refuge.@en

Topography is the framework that unites architecture and landscape. Buildings and their surrounding have notable connectivity in Persian architecture. However, the role of topography in how it deals with these considerations has not been inquired. Also, investigating the impact of topographical criteria in creating architectural and landscape connection were not considered in previous studies. Thus, the purpose is to discover the most noticeable strategy of each category, highlight the main parameters where architecture encounters the ground and suggest strategies to enhance the continuity between earth and architecture. This qualitative study reviews and interprets the elements and strategies on how a building meets the ground in Persian case studies. This was done by considering “architectural topography” books first; second, finding similar cases in Persian architecture, comparing the two, and finally indicating the differences in their vision. Forty-four cases were selected following Berlanda's categories; information regarding other dimensions was also extracted, then MAXQDA1 was used to analyze and code the data. Based on the findings, a set of strategies were proposed that could be used as guidelines to find an existing gap between architecture and landscape. The analysis helps achieve design strategies in contemporary architecture and organize the building based on landscape. The analysis suggests the site's character considering design strategies influenced by their environmental conditions, natural forms, and functional elements. This research found wide use of strategies in defining exposure cases, investigated the key strategies and parameters resulting in new details, connections, and finding an existing gap between architecture and landscape.@en

Concerning resilient urban landscapes, current research emphasizes that we can no longer ignore ecological systems and social aspects. Thus, planning and design approaches must fundamentally address public needs and preferences. This research focuses on resilience from a community, infrastructure, social-ecological perspective, while there are still considerable gaps in integrated and holistic views on resilience. Moreover, providing more public spaces is a challenge, especially in cities with a high population density. Considering vacancy as an underexplored resource for socio-ecological benefits, this study intends to demonstrate how intervention in urban leftover spaces can transform into socio-ecological landscapes contributing to urban resilience. Moreover, choosing the design intervention will directly influence the vacancy; therefore, user preferences should be considered. With an analysis of critical aspects through experts’ opinions of landscape resilience in leftover spaces, the paper shows that Flexibility was the most effective, while Activity affected most properties. Also, to focus on human preferences, a questionnaire was distributed among 386 residents. The findings suggest that the diversity and density of trees, type of activity, and water may create resilient urban landscapes and provoke satisfaction. The study results might inform particular research projects and interventions that consider landscape as a resource for resilience. @en

Landscape areas have spatial discontinuities, such as vacant land and leftover spaces. Undefined lands present a compelling area for landscape research, aesthetical experience, and development of cities which discuss irregular and unexpected aspects in landscape settings. Having lacked a formal definition of undefined land, this study aims at proposing keywords of undefined lands, a comprehensive review of knowledge, and definition. In order to promote new aspects of such spaces in the future research, the study conducts a systematic analysis of 65 peer-reviewed papers for their temporal trends, locations, methods, key authors, and commonly studied aspects. Results show the production of vacancy and the temporary use of undefined lands as an opportunity, and a flexible method of regeneration. An increase in publications over the past 30 years demonstrates that leftover space is an evolving subject. Although socio-ecological aspects are the most effective, serious gaps are mentioned in the literature considering aesthetical and ecological qualities in leftover spaces formed by visual, sensorial (hearing, touch, smell, taste), and cognitive perception. These gaps in the literature suggest that it is important to understand the potential effects of repurposing citizen's ideas about interventions in which to use leftover spaces. Having identified the knowledge gaps, undefined lands are suggested as a significant sub-discipline in landscape research.@en

The article deals with the fragile connection that public spaces often have with their context. In this regard, the use of urban acupuncture in leftover space can be an opportunity to revitalize the urban fabric through small-scale interventions developed in accordance with community preferences. This study evaluates interventions in vacant plots based on both residents’ preferences and experts’ opinions. Using the example of leftover space in Tehran, this article explores public preferences and priorities regarding urban acupuncture from a social, design, and aesthetic perspective, applying a descriptive-analytical method. The opinions of six experts were examined and categorized in the first phase. In the second phase, the topics and subtopics extracted from the first phase were incorporated into visual questionnaires to evaluate preferences, from which 165 valid responses were obtained. Following the analysis of the questionnaires, twenty-two personal interviews were carried out. The results show which interventions are preferred over others.@en

Refer to Maslow security is one of the most fundamental human needs, and crime is a crucial issue of the human society. Some of the urban environment and physical characteristics have been investigated in Deh-Vanak. In this regard, it could be referred to CPTED method. The purpose is to identify criteria and principals that are about the sense of security.Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods concluded that there is a significant relationship between the characteristics such as lighting, public services, a presence of individuals, vegetation, and safety.@en