This study investigated students’ attitudes towards the use of outdoor open space in universities, identifying the most comfortable conditions and favourable factors, including urban layout, physical features, and outdoor thermal conditions, as well as the students’ needs and behaviour. A quasi-experiment was used to assess the quality of the outdoor spaces. Three outdoor open spaces on the university’s campus were used for the case study. A spatial analysis employing space syntax was used to determine the integration, agent, and connection factors. For the microclimate conditions, simulations were conducted. The students’ actions were recorded, and a questionnaire concerning their preferences was disseminated. According to the respondents, the key advantages of campus open spaces are that they provide places in which to socialise and rest and to pass by. The data revealed a correlation between microclimate conditions and the use of outdoor spaces. However, the students use outdoor venues even in unfavourable microclimates. The visual factor and spatial configuration of the site have a significant impact on the use of open spaces; hence, visibility is an important feature in campus layouts. This study established a baseline of data to integrate social and contextual factors for the creation of meaningful spaces in universities.

Extreme low temperatures, heavy snowfall, ice accumulation, limited daylight, and increased energy consumption in cold climates present significant challenges but also offer opportunities for improving building efficiency. Advanced materials and technologies in climate-responsive envelopes can enhance sustainability, reduce carbon footprints and operational costs, and improve thermal comfort under these environmental conditions. This literature review combines theoretical aspects of building performance in cold climates with a summary of current and critical applications in building envelope design, identifying research gaps and proposing future research directions. It has been shown that various BIPV systems require further climate-based studies to optimize solar energy yield. For example, integrating PV layers and PCM within DSFs can reduce cooling loads, but more research is needed on PCM transition temperatures and ventilation strategies in cold climates. A notable research gap exists in building-integrated vegetative systems, particularly regarding soil thickness, irrigation, hygrothermal performance, and snow accumulation. Despite excellent winter performance in buildings incorporating CLT components, they face increased cooling energy consumption and potential overheating in summer. Additionally, the high initial moisture content in CLT raises the risk of mold growth, especially when covered with vapor-tight layers. The design examples in this paper emphasize the need for further investigation to achieve sustainable, low-carbon, energy-efficient envelope designs for cold climates.

Responding to the events surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, this study explores how to improve health and wellbeing and reduce infections in outdoor open spaces on university campuses to maximize their potential as a response to future crises. The study identifies the relationship between human behavior (social) and the various physical and environmental elements of these spaces. A case study and mixed-methods approach were undertaken, comprising four modes of inspection: user analysis layer using questionnaires and observations to survey students’ needs and behavior; context analysis layer using space syntax and CFD to examine the space’s physical and environmental conditions; design solutions reflecting an understanding of virus transmission; and a performance analysis layer to test the performance of ‘anti-virus’ courtyards. The findings demonstrated that students are willing to use the open spaces that they used before the pandemic, at the same frequency. This indicates a need to redesign the current spaces to prevent the spread of viruses. The study highlights the social, physical, and environmental implications to be considered in designs for outdoor anti-virus spaces. It provides a comprehensive process for transforming outdoor spaces on university campuses into anti-virus spaces that meet users’ needs. These findings have implications for the designing and retrofitting of open spaces to reduce infection.