Rethinking small vacant lands in urban resilience: Decoding cognitive and emotional responses to cityscapes

Urban sustainability and human well-being are increasingly influenced by the design and presence of green urban areas, which have been linked to fostering positive emotions among citizens. In light of this, this study investigates the transformation of small vacant lands (SVL) into resilient urban green spaces. The study explores the potential value of redesigning SVL into resilient spaces through design strategies. By considering the perceptions and preferences of residents, the research addresses the issues related to vacancy, limited spaces, social stress, and the impact of landscape composition and configuration on visitors' positive emotions. The research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of resilience strategies and to identify the key landscape elements that contribute to transforming SVL into valued small green spaces within the urban fabric. Methods include a comprehensive literature review, a survey, an experiment with EMOTIVE, and analysis using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) method. The significance of this study lies in integrating field-based methods with EEG data in small-scale landscape contexts, providing a quantifiable measure of engagement with open spaces. This cross-disciplinary approach enhances the understanding of how minor urban landscape modifications can influence human behavior and well-being, especially when resources are limited. The findings provide insights for policy-driven design practices, stimulating design innovation, and offer urban planners effective strategies to refine park patterns, thereby enhancing human well-being and advancing urban sustainability. • Small vacant land transformation enhances urban green space and resilience. • Cityscapes' redesign impacts residents' emotional, cognitive responses. • Study shows complex sensory experiences in vacant lands. • Dynamic, diverse landscapes crucial for vibrant, inclusive urban environments. • EEG data reveals how urban designs affect cognitive, emotional processing.