In fast-paced urban environments, Citywalk has emerged as a key leisure activity for urban residents to alleviate stress and enhance emotional well-being. From the perspective of virtual-physical interaction, this study integrates social media data with geospatial information, utilizing machine learning methods and spatial statistical analysis to explore the multidimensional driving mechanisms and complex relationships affecting the emotional experiences of Citywalk participants. The findings indicate that the interaction index, as a core indicator of virtual social behavior, plays a key role in influencing emotional scores (SHAP value = 4.9104), exhibiting progressive effects without evident threshold characteristics. POI density demonstrates significant nonlinear threshold effects, with marginal benefits substantially increasing when density reaches 44.06. Additionally, spatial autocorrelation analysis of emotional scores reveals spatial clustering patterns, underscoring the critical role of interactions between virtual social behavior and physical spatial elements in emotional generation. In comparison, functional diversity and transit accessibility exhibit weaker but complementary effects on emotional scores. This research quantifies the roles of digital social behavior and the built environment in shaping emotional experiences from a virtual-physical interaction perspective, uncovering how virtual social behavior integrates into social space production through individual perception and social interaction. It extends theoretical frameworks in social space production and emotional geography. The findings provide data-driven insights for optimizing urban walking space design, proposing interaction index-oriented strategies to promote synergy between virtual and physical spaces, thus facilitating the creation of high-quality, emotionally friendly urban environments.

The built environment has a huge carbon footprint, and decarbonizing it is essential in driving our sustainability efforts. We take the approach of biomimicry by working with Master of Architecture students from Taylor’s University in Malaysia. The students partake in a 14-week Nature and Architecture design module at the university where they develop biomimicry solutions for the built environment with a focus on sustainability. The students undergo a three-step process of scoping the design problem in the tropical climate and urban context, researching the biological literature, abstracting design ideas, and finally, developing prototypes. The module presents an opportunity for students to study nature and immerse in experiential learning in the megadiverse geographies of Malaysia and wider tropical southeast Asia. This paper describes the student works developed in various module runs from 2017 to 2022 under the supervision of the authors. Selected student projects were analyzed thematically, curated, and classified by frequently occurring themes. Finally, their design implications and challenges faced are presented. We found the following five themes to be most commonly chosen by the students—thermoregulation, structure making, water management, daylighting and ventilation, and transport and mobility. Lastly, we also conducted postgraduation student surveys on their learnings from the module. Through our synthesis, we discuss how student works can bridge the gap of applying biomimicry into practice and the limitations thereof in mainstreaming the practice in the built environment of tropical southeast Asia.

Museum cultural and creative products (MCCP) are seen as carriers of museum cultural resources and are important for the sustainable development of cultural heritage, Nevertheless, the cultural aspect is often overlooked within the realm of sustainable product design. Hence, a primary objective of this research endeavour was to address this gap by developing a comprehensive framework that clarifies the interconnectedness between CS and MCCP. Furthermore, an additional objective of this study was to put forth a conceptual framework and specific indicators for the assessment of the cultural sustainability of MCCP. The indicator sets were designed through the literature and analytic hierarchy process. This process has yielded a tool that will undergo additional testing and practical implementation. The findings of this study will enhance comprehension of cultural sustainability within the context of MCCP and provide guidance for future MCCP design aligned with the principles of sustainable development.

The population growth in Malaysia since Independence Day is attributed to improved healthcare and longer lifespans. However, as the older generation ages, some are forced to live independently, while others lack suitable institutions for their daily activities. Neglected conditions in elderly care institutions have led to concern about the physical and mental health of these individuals. The research aimed to analyze the existing built environment of elderly care centers and the needs of users for an improved future environment that prioritizes the comfort and safety of the elderly. The objective of this research is to determine the strategies for the future development of elderly care centers. A qualitative method adopted by recruiting five voluntary participants from Pusat Jagaan Rumah Love and Care Kajang Home. Key findings revealed diverse needs and provisions influenced by social factors and living infrastructure. Ultimately, accommodating the changing behaviors and characteristics of the elderly was crucial for developing infrastructure that promoted positive and healthy aging.

The climate of Panzhihua, China, is characterized by dry, hot, and strong solar radiation. However, the existing regulations classify the region as a moderate climate zone at first, ignoring the local climate characteristics, resulting in a lack of effective guidance for housing construction. Due to the growing needs of residents, roofs in the area have adopted many immature climate response strategies. The research objective of this study is to conduct a literature review of existing roofing strategies, identifying and prioritizing the roles and importance of passive roofing in the region. The thermal performance of common passive roofs in this region, including GRs, CRs, VRs, and BRs, is analyzed, and the practical value of these passive roofs in the hot-dry region is demonstrated. This study will effectively guide the construction of residential roofs in the region, which is conducive to building energy conservation and resource utilization in the region.