Abstract: Land-use allocations—such as housing density, parcel size, parks, and other green areas—are key spatial planning or zoning parameters that have a large impact on how resources are distributed within cities. These parameters play a central role in influencing social justice across urban areas and communities. In this sense, they function as mechanisms through which planning and development processes deliver or withhold critical resources. While existing urban planning literature suggests that the allocation of spatial planning or zoning parameters contributes to social justice in cities, there is a critical gap regarding how different spatial parameters impact social justice and which specific aspects of social justice they affect. Thus, this paper aims to address this gap by exploring and conceptualizing the contribution of spatial planning or zoning parameters to social justice. We argue that these parameters serve as carriers of urban justice through their distribution of resources. Based on Jabareen's (2006) analytical framework, this study reviews and categorizes planning parameters according to their specific contributions to social justice in cities. The study identifies three dimensions of social justice impacted by these parameters: inclusion, accessibility, and recognition, with each addressing a key aspect of social justice. Based on these concepts, we develop a new conceptual framework, referred to as the Conceptual Framework for Just Ur-banism. At the core of this framework lies the logic of difference, which captures how these parameters are allocated differently across various geographies, demographics, and socioeconomic characteristics, resulting in inequalities across different areas.

Abstract: Europe is warming faster than the global average, placing climate change adaptation at the centre of urban policy and planning. This article develops and applies a framework to diagnose the maturity of multilevel adaptation governance across European Union Member States in 2025. Governance is operationalised through eight dimensions: (i) National Adaptation Strategies/Plans; (ii) Regional Adaptation Plans; (iii) Local Adaptation Plans; (iv) Sectoral Adaptation Plans; (v) integration in National Urban Policies; (vi) adaptive content in Long-Term Strategies; (vii) adaptation relevance in climate laws; and (viii) participation in the Covenant of Mayors.  Results show pronounced heterogeneity: many systems have up-to-date national strategies but incomplete territorial diffusion, thin legal anchoring, or limited urban-policy standards.  By linking auditable rules to urban-facing instruments, the study provides a practical tool for benchmarking capabilities, prioritising reforms, and tracking progress towards integrated, multilevel adaptation systems that support resilient urban development across the European Union.

Abstract: Mixed-use developments sit at the intersection of urban sustainability and real estate investment, yet the influence of anchor tenant composition on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) outcomes remains empirically underexplored. This study addresses that gap by developing and applying a tenant-sensitive conceptual framework that integrates stakeholder theory with institutional analysis. Using a cross-sectional dataset of 65 London mixed-use estates (1985–2025), we measured ESG performance via a psychometrically validated composite index (KMO = 0.78, α = 0.82) and analysed it using OLS regression. Our findings initially confirm conventional wisdom: office-anchored developments outperform residential-anchored schemes by 6.34 ESG points (p < 0.05, Cohen’s d = 0.55), a 9.3% index gain. This performance differential translates into a material 150–200 bps rental premium and a £2.5–£4.2M annual NOI uplift for a representative £500M asset. However, our central finding reveals that this typology effect is not absolute. The anchor tenant's ESG maturity strongly moderates this relationship (interaction β = –19.07, p < 0.05), demonstrating that residential-led schemes with robust governance alignment can match or even exceed the ESG performance of their office-anchored counterparts. These results offer critical guidance for ESG-driven underwriting, REIT valuation, and urban finance policy, shifting the focus from asset-class generalizations to the primacy of estate-level governance structures.

Abstract: The establishment of pilot free trade zones represents a significant step in trade liberalization. Exploring its influence on urban digital innovation, as well as the mechanisms involved, holds crucial theoretical and practical significance for enhancing urban competitiveness and achieving economic development. Drawing from panel data spanning 2000 to 2023 from 281 prefecture-level cities, this study constructs a staggered DID model to systematically examine the effects and mechanisms through which free trade zone policies promote urban digital innovation. The research findings suggest that the construction of free trade zones significantly boosts urban digital innovation. Mechanism analysis reveals that free trade zones empower urban digital innovation through three pathways: promoting industrial collaborative agglomeration, strengthening knowledge spillover effects, and optimizing the business environment. Heterogeneity tests indicate that the effects of digital innovation are more pronounced in cities with relatively advanced digital infrastructure and higher levels of opening-up. Further investigations show that free trade zones has significant spatial spillover effects. Therefore, it is imperative to continue refining the top-level design of free trade zones, unleashing their positive effects on industrial collaborative agglomeration, knowledge spillover, and optimization of the business environment, fully harnessing the catalytic role of trade liberalization in driving urban digital innovation.

Abstract: Studies on colonial grid urban planning often use the latest examples of cities founded in penin-sular Spain towards the end of the 15th century as a basis for knowledge for new foundations in America. This study proposes that the city of San Cristóbal de la Laguna (1496) is configured as a final urban planning trial, an intermediate point in the Canary Islands, which adds value to the experiences of early colonial urban planning. This first model of a city-territory, not having a de-fensive character due to its insularity, developed a grid adapted to the terrain, organising a new social order inspired by the religious doctrine of the time, where religious architecture - mainly convents, but also churches, hermitages and hospitals - played a very prominent role in the origin and consolidation of the urban layout of the city. Comparing this case study with the first Ameri-can experiences: Santo Domingo (1502), the first island city, and Panama Viejo (1519), the first city on the mainland, all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, we have been able to verify the influence of this intermediate urban planning experiment on the evolutionary process of the early colonial model and confirm the role of convent foundations as articulating pieces of the territory.

Abstract: Rapid urbanization is transforming nations worldwide, with projections indicating that nearly 70% of the global population will inhabit urban areas by 2050. This unprecedented demographic shift has driven the development of clean, green, smart, and sustainable cities to be a top policy priority for governments globally. Achieving these ambitious urban sustainability goals, however, requires a better understanding of the complex interactions between urban ecological and social systems. This study applies bibliometric methods to analyze academic literature, focusing on trends related to the relationship between urban environment and human health. Data were collected from the Scopus database and VOSviewer and R-Studio were employed to create co-authorship and co-occurrence maps, identifying key themes in the literature. The results indicate a significant rise in research on urban health, with prominent topics including urban heat islands, health risk assessments, public health and the impact of environmental factors on mental and physical health. Emerging research areas show a growing focus on climate resilience, health promotion and environmental justice. This bibliometric review systematically identifies the key areas of scholarly interest and evolving themes in urban health, emphasizing the importance of understanding the effects of urbanization on human well-being, particularly in rapidly growing urban centers. The findings reveal the increasing interdisciplinary nature of urban health research, underscoring the need for continued global collaboration to address the com-plex health challenges posed by urban environments.

Abstract: This paper proposes an innovative methodological framework for integrating Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) into landscape planning, with the aim of enhancing the conservation and adaptive management of rural historical landscapes. Grounded in the principles of the European Landscape Convention and the recent Nature Restoration Law, the study advocates a shift from prescriptive and sectoral approaches toward performance-based and ecosystem-oriented models. The research focuses on the Marche Region (Italy), where the historical landscape shaped by the mezzadria (sharecropping) system provides a representative case for testing the proposed methodology. A set of georeferenced and ecosystem-based indicators was developed to identify new high-value landscape areas and to redefine protection and management strategies. The analysis integrates historical, ecological, and cultural dimensions to construct a spatially explicit value matrix, supporting the definition of differentiated management zones. Results reveal the persistence of high landscape and ecosystem values in mid- and upper-hill areas, contrasted by the progressive loss of structural and functional diversity in lowland and peri-urban contexts. The findings highlight the need for more adaptive and flexible planning models, capable of incorporating nature-based actions, climate-smart agriculture, and performance-oriented evaluation criteria. The proposed approach demonstrates strong potential for replicability and policy integration, providing a decision-support framework to align landscape planning with rural development strategies and climate adaptation objectives. Despite limitations related to data availability and model simplification, the methodology contributes to the ongoing paradigm shift toward dynamic, evidence-based, and transdisciplinary landscape governance across Mediterranean regions.

Abstract: Urban sustainability has become a central theme in contemporary city planning and pol-icy-making, reflecting the growing need to address complex environmental, social, and economic challenges. However, the range of metrics used to measure sustainability often results in fragmentation and inconsistency, limiting their practical application. The pre-sent study aims to analyze and systematize the urban sustainability indicators most commonly found in literature and employed at the international level. The research seeks to develop a comprehensive framework of economic, environmental, and social indica-tors, providing a more coherent and standardized tool to support informed and effective urban regeneration strategies. In particular, in this work a critical examination of the in-dicators is carried out, highlighting inherent limitations, potential distortions, and the standardizability level. To ensure more reliable and transparent measurement tools, the outcome of the analysis is the definition of a structured abacus of key urban sustainability indicators, classified across three main domains (economic, environmental, and social), able to orient the choices processes to promote sustainable cities development.

Abstract: Tourism today represents a strategic engine of economic growth, contributing substan-tially to GDP, employment, and export revenues. Accounting for approximately 10% of global GDP, the sector plays a significant role in tourism-intensive countries. Tourism has shown remarkable resilience and recovery capacity in the post-COVID era, reaffirming its status not only as an economic sector but also as a spatial phenomenon. Due to its inherent place-based nature, tourism cannot be outsourced: it relies on the unique cultural, en-vironmental, and territorial assets of specific locations. While this makes tourism a powerful driver of local development, it also presents challenges related to environmental stress, cultural commodification, and social tensions, especially in over-visited destina-tions such as Venice, Barcelona, or Lisbon. This paper introduces the concept of “an-ti-gravity tourism”, a novel framework inspired by physics, to describe planning strategies aimed at counteracting the gravitational pull exerted by mass tourism hotspots. Using the STESY model, the study applies spatial analysis to four case study areas, identifying Destination Areas (DAs) through clustering techniques and developing spatial design proposals aligned with the principles of the New Urban Agenda (NUA). The results highlight how “anti-gravity” strategies can be operationalized through context-sensitive planning tools to mitigate overtourism, support territorial equity, and maximize positive externalities. Ultimately, the paper argues for a paradigm shift to-wards tourism policies that ensure long-term sustainability by balancing economic growth with social inclusion and environmental stewardship.

Abstract: The Smart Tourism Destinations (DTI) represent innovative places established on top of an in-frastructure of advanced technology, whose objective is to promote accessible, sustainable de-velopment for tourist regions to enrich the tourist experiences and the inhabitants' quality of life. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to verify whether the indicators of existing smart tourist destinations fit within all dimensions of a smart tourist destination. For data col-lection, the bibliographic survey method was used in renowned databases. Data analysis com-prises two approaches, bibliometric and content analysis, applied sequentially. The results of the bibliometric analysis identify three main pillars in the current perspectives on DTIs: Manage-ment and Tourism Experience, Technology, and Sustainability, in addition, it revealed a duality between approaches from the Far East and Western Europe. The content analysis culminates in the proposition of two theoretical-conceptual models for the dimensions and indicators of DTIs, encompassing elements: Information and Communication Technologies (TICs), Governance, Innovation, Accessibility, Performance, Mobility and Infrastructure, as well as Segmented Sus-tainability in its economic, social, and environmental dimensions. However, the analysis high-lights the lack of consensus among studies, especially DTI indicators. The research concludes by pointing out the insufficiency of these indicators for a comprehensive assessment, notably in the environmental dimension of sustainability.

Abstract: There remains often a number of barriers for the transgender community to join the mainstream of the society in Bangladesh though this minor community has been overcome the obstacles of legal consideration for their existence as the third gender in 10 November, 2013. This paper describes the barriers of joining the mainstream of the society for the transgender community doing the thematic analysis of the interview data shows three major aspects namely i) problems in joining the mainstream of the society (what aspect), ii) underlying issues of those problems (why aspect), and iii) the influence of those problems and underlying issues on their lives (how aspect) to create barriers on the way of their inclusion in the society based on the Just city philosophy. To collect the empirical data, 15 face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with transgender people selected by the purposive sampling among the thirteen cluster of transgender people in Khulna city. Surprisingly, due to the power of domination within the transgender community, two groups namely a) ‘Guruma’ who does not want to change their traditional lifestyle and culture of remaining isolated from the society in order to hold their power to dominate the junior members of the transgender community, and b) the junior members of the transgender community who want to change their traditional lifestyle and culture of remaining socially isolated in order to join the mainstream of the society to promote their quality of life like other citizen. In conclusion, this paper establishes that the philosophy of just city, mentioned above, have a great prospect to promote the preservation of diversity in the society of the minor groups like the transgender community.

Abstract: Europe is experiencing rapid warming, with temperatures rising faster than the global average. As a result, climate change adaptation (CCA) has become integral to European policy, aiming to anticipate and manage unavoidable impacts. This study assesses the maturity of CCA policies across the 27 Member States in 2025, updating previous research. It provides a comparative analysis of frameworks at multiple levels — national, regional, sectoral and local — focusing on the planning and execution of adaptation strategies. The research identifies key advancements as well as constraints that hinder the effective implementation of policy. Eight dimensions are analysed: (i) National Adaptation Strategies and Plans; (ii) Regional Adaptation Plans; (iii) Local Adaptation Plans; (iv) Sectoral Adaptation Plans; (v) Integration in National Urban Policies; (vi) Adaptive content in Long-Term Strategies; (vii) Adaptation relevance in Climate Laws; and (viii) Adhesion to the Covenant of Mayors. Cluster analysis was used to identify patterns among countries, simplifying the data in order to highlight both similarities and differences. Based on these findings, five typologies of CCA governance have been established. The results reveal significant variability in CCA across Europe, emphasising the need for integrated, multilevel systems to ensure effective adaptation.

Abstract: The "double reduction" policy has significantly reshaped the temporal and spatial patterns of school-age children’s after-school lives, transforming school drop-off/pick-up zones from mere transitional areas into important spaces that support children’s after-school activities and social interactions. This study aims to explore how design interventions can enhance the child-friendliness of these spaces. Adopting a qualitative-led methodology, the research integrates participatory observation, behavioral mapping, and co-creation workshops with children to thoroughly simulate and interpret children’s behavioral patterns and psychological needs within drop-off/pick-up zones following policy implementation. The findings reveal that children’s behavior exhibits new characteristics—shifting from “linear passage” to “patch-like lingering” and “social exploration”—while their needs for safety, fun, and natural elements remain largely unmet. Based on these insights, the study constructs a design strategy framework from the perspectives of environmental psychology and behavioral architecture, encompassing dimensions such as “safe accessibility, functional diversity, sensory comfort, and natural integration.” This framework aims to transform drop-off/pick-up spaces into “urban third places” that support children’s healthy development and stimulate social interaction. The study provides empirical evidence and theoretical innovation for implementing the “child-friendly city” concept at a micro level.

Abstract: The sultanate of Oman has joined other nations in promoting sustainability, guided by Oman Vision 2040 and the Oman National Spatial Strategy. Oman now emphasizes developing more human-centered cities, improving community well-being, boosting the local economy, and increasing investments. This study fills an existing research gap by analyzing the social and economic impact of the sustainable neighborhood “Al-Mouj” on nearby urban areas “Al-Mawaleh North”, to maximize sustainability benefits. It examines how a sustainable neighborhood affects the economy, society, quality of life, and overall well-being. The study also identifies key factors driving the growth of sustainable practices in society and the economy. It has four main objectives to answer the research question, mainly through surveys of community members and business owners, as well as analyzing land use development around Al-Mouj. Data collection methods include literature review, case study, questionnaire, and interviews. Data analysis involves spatial, statistical, and thematic techniques. Responses from 515 participants are analyzed to ensure reliable results. Ethnographic methods are used to gain insights from open-ended questionnaire responses and interviews. A key finding is the positive impact of Al-Mouj’s features and quality of life on the nearby district of Al-Mawaleh North. The results confirm that Al-Mouj's mixed-use development and sustainability features positively influence mental and physical health and stimulate economic activity within the local community. Additionally, urban development in Al-Mawaleh North increased by 135.7% between 2009 and 2024, maintaining high standards. This study provides decision-makers and urban planners valuable insights regarding sustainable neighborhoods' social and economic impacts.

Abstract: The 15-minute city (15MC) model has gained increasing attention as a framework for promoting sustainable urban living by ensuring that essential services and infrastructures, including urban green spaces (UGS), are accessible within short walking or cycling distances. UGS play a vital role in public health, social interaction, and environmental resilience, yet questions remain about how equitably they are distributed and accessed in cities. This study assesses proximity and accessibility to UGS in Porto, Portugal, through the lens of the 15MC. The methodology combined a GIS-based spatial analysis of walking and cycling catchments with a questionnaire survey to capture user perceptions and travel behaviors. Results show that while 84% and 100% of residents live within a 15-minute walking and cycling distance of a UGS, respectively, accessibility remains uneven. Large peripheral parks contribute significantly to provision but remain less accessible to central neighborhoods, and cycling to UGS is marginal due to fragmented and insufficient infrastructure, and residual cycling use. Subjective findings mirrored the spatial analysis, highlighting dissatisfaction with cycling conditions and only moderate satisfaction with pedestrian environments. The study emphasizes the need for integrated planning that improves local connectivity, infrastructure quality, and spatial equity to fully realize the 15MC vision.

Abstract: Green belts in metropolis face an inherent conflict between ecological protection and urban expansion, which requires effective planning and management strategies. This study develops a systematic framework for multidimensional quantitative analysis. By applying methods such as average nearest neighbor analysis, landscape ecological in-dex analysis, land use transfer matrices, kernel density estimation, and spatial auto-correlation models, the paper examines the spatial evolution of Shijiazhuang’s green belt from 2015 to 2024. The results show that rapid urbanization has accelerated the expansion of fragmented industrial land, intensified ecological space fragmentation, promoted the encroachment of agricultural land, driven spatially uneven growth of the service sector, and fueled the sprawling expansion of both rural and urban resi-dential areas. These dynamics have generated ecological risks, widened urban–rural disparities, and delayed infrastructure development. To address these challenges, the study proposes a spatial policy of “adjusting the primary industry, restricting the sec-ondary industry, and promoting the tertiary indust” to restructure land-use dynamics. Specifically, it suggests enhancing the value of agricultural space, encouraging the ag-glomeration of industrial land, guiding balanced growth of the service sector, and simultaneously strengthening the integration of ecological spaces and the intensifica-tion of residential land use. This approach aims to reconcile the tension between eco-logical protection and economic development, promote the long-term and orderly evolution of green belts in metropolis, and provide a reference for sustainable urban development in rapidly urbanizing cities of developing countries.

Abstract: Urban green spaces (UGS) provide numerous benefits, but challenges in availability and accessibility often limit their full potential. This study assesses equity and disparities in car-based accessibility to Large Urban Green Spaces (LUGS >8 ha) in the rapidly growing cities of Sulaimaniyah and Erbil in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Road network accessibility was analyzed using OpenRouteService (ORS) and calibrated with real-time Google Maps data to improve accuracy. Google Earth Engine (GEE) was used for NDVI-based vegetation mapping and LUGS quality assessment. Isochrones based on 5, 10, and 15 min from LUGS entrances were generated to measure served areas and population coverage at citywide and zonal levels. The findings reveal notable spatial inequities in both cities, with disparities especially evident at shorter travel times. Accessibility declines from central to outer zones. Azadi Park and Sami Abdulrahman Park emerged as key service hubs. The number of LUGS active entrances, spatial distribution, and population density are among the key determinants of car accessibility to LUGS. The study highlighted the spatial-temporal suggestion for long- and short-term implementation, with opportunities for enhancement.

Abstract: The paper presents a theoretical reflection on accessibility, developed through dialogue between an architect and a philosopher. It explores the cultural horizon of a polysemous discipline whose conceptual boundaries remain fluid, and examines the role accessibility can play in creating a freer and more inclusive society. Framed as a cultural generative ecosystem, accessibility is presented not merely as a regulatory requirement, but as a dynamic and transformative process rooted in humanistic values. The paper highlights its potential to counter diversity-related discrimination, promote empowerment, and guide the transformation of human habitats in line with people's needs and expectations. At the same time, it acknowledges the objective and cultural challenges involved in cultivating an accessibility-oriented mindset. Following a comprehensive introduction that outlines the broader conceptual framework of accessibility, the paper identifies six conceptual determinants that define its complexity in the built environment, with particular attention to public open spaces and disability. These determinants—polysemous, contextual, multi-scalar and relational, corporeal and spatial-temporal, multi-criteria, and multidimensional—offer a framework for rethinking accessibility as a generative principle of inclusive urbanism and human dignity.

Abstract: This study provides a scientifically backed examination of how inadequate urban planning exacerbates Yemen's post-conflict psychological stress and societal breakdown. It uses surveys (n=300), participatory ethnography, and GIS spatial data with an emphasis on Hadhramaut to demonstrate that walkability is severely limited and that green space statistics are less than 5% of urban regions. According to statistical studies, economic level and park vicinity have a significant impact on social connectivity. Youth and low-income populations are the most affected. By bridging both lived experience and geographical exclusion, the study's mixed-methods methodology provides a paradigm for trauma-informed, culturally grounded urban healing. The results establish scalable strategies for equitable planning and provide unique empirical data from a conflict-affected setting to promote SDG 11. The study contributes to the global discourse on spatial equity by providing indication to marginalized groups inside urban reconstruction frameworks.

Abstract: After approximately fifteen years of observation and research on the topic of flexibility applied to urban studies and urban planning, the paper focuses on a synthesis of the arguments developed.This text is not intended as an invitation to embrace flexibility either as a paradigmatic assumption or as a guiding principle for actions on the city. Rather, it should be regarded - more modestly - as a synthetic outcome of several lines of work the author pursued across three distinct experiences: (i) as a researcher, (ii) as a scientific consultant for public administrations in the preparation of planning documents, and (iii) as a local administrator.These three domains of activity have shaped the production (as author and co-author) of contributions belonging to three main categories: (a) scientific publications—articles in international and national journals, book chapters, and conference proceedings at both international and national level; (b) proposals for urban plans and environmental assessments at the municipal scale; (c) administrative acts with direct effects on land-use regulations and/or public utility.The approach to flexibility presented here unfolds across three domains: A) the study of the city as a mutable and adaptive object. B) the urban plan as a tool of governance, assumed as an open instrument. C) a holistic approach to planning.