Exploring the Emotional Dimensions of Urban Public Space Design for Enhancing Collective Mental Health

Urban public spaces, as key components of the built environment, play a crucial role in shaping the mental health and overall well-being of city residents. While functional aspects of design are essential, understanding and addressing the emotional experiences of users is equally important for creating meaningful and supportive spaces. This study aims to examine the emotional dimensions of public space design and its impact on collective mental health. Employing a qualitative approach, the research combines document analysis, field observations, and semi-structured interviews with public space users across three Iranian cities: Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz. Thematic analysis of the data reveals that design elements such as human-scale proportions, the presence of natural features, lighting quality, visual aesthetics, and opportunities for social interaction significantly influence the emotional experience of users. The findings highlight the need for a shift in urban design paradigms, emphasizing emotional well-being as a core objective in public space design. Ultimately, this research advocates for integrating emotional perspectives into urban planning and design processes as a means to promote collective mental health in urban communities.

کلیدواژه ها:

Urban design ، public spaces ، mental health ، emotional experience ، spatial quality