A Framework for Sustainable Urban Public Space Design Integration

Thesis Abstract

Urban public spaces are critical to the social, environmental, and economic vitality of cities, yet many urban areas face increasing challenges related to unsustainable design practices that compromise their long-term usability and ecological balance. This study addresses the persistent disconnect between traditional urban public space design approaches and sustainable development principles by proposing a comprehensive framework that integrates sustainability criteria into the planning and design processes. The primary aim of the research is to develop, validate, and operationalize a theoretical model that guides the sustainable design of urban public spaces, ensuring environmental resilience, social inclusivity, and economic viability. The specific objectives include identifying key sustainability indicators applicable to urban public spaces, analyzing current design practices and their limitations, formulating an integrative conceptual framework, and testing its applicability within a real-world case study. The research adopts a mixed-methods research design, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches to ensure a holistic understanding of the complexities involved. The qualitative component involves semi-structured interviews with fifty urban planners, landscape architects, and environmental experts to explore perceptions, current practices, and barriers to sustainable design implementation. The quantitative aspect involves a survey administered to 300 residents within the selected case study area, utilizing Likert-scale questionnaires to assess user preferences, perceptions of sustainability features, and inclusivity levels. Additionally, participatory workshops with key stakeholders facilitate validation and refinement of the proposed framework. Data collection instruments include interview guides, structured questionnaires, and observation checklists, with validity established through expert review and pilot testing, while reliability is confirmed via Cronbach’s alpha coefficients exceeding 0.80. Data analysis employs thematic analysis for qualitative insights, following Braun and Clarke’s framework, while quantitative data are analyzed through descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and multiple regression analysis using SPSS software to examine relationships between sustainability indicators and perceived public space quality. The study also develops a structural equation model to validate the hypothesized relationships among variables. A comparative analysis evaluates the framework's performance across different typologies of urban settings, and triangulation techniques enhance the robustness of findings. It is anticipated that the findings will identify the predominant sustainability indicators influencing public space quality, reveal gaps between current practices and sustainability standards, and demonstrate the positive impact of integrated design frameworks on social cohesion, environmental performance, and economic sustainability. The expected contribution to knowledge includes establishing an empirically validated, context-sensitive framework that guides practitioners and policymakers toward sustainable urban public space design, filling a significant gap in existing literature which predominantly concentrates on isolated sustainability features without a comprehensive, integrative approach. The main conclusion emphasizes that sustainable urban public space design requires a multidimensional and participatory approach, with the proposed framework serving as a practical tool for achieving this integration. The research recommends that urban planners incorporate the framework into existing planning procedures, prioritize stakeholder engagement, and adopt adaptive management strategies for continuous improvement. Additionally, the study suggests avenues for future research, including longitudinal evaluations of framework implementation and cross-contextual validations to enhance its generalizability. Overall, this study advances theoretical understanding and offers practical solutions for creating resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban public spaces that meet the evolving needs of contemporary cities.