In the upcoming period, city squares’ urban redesign will be crucial in achieving sustainable development goals. This study presents a systematic review of OTC-related studies for the urban design of city squares using the PRISMA 2020 methodology. A review included a total of 173 papers from 2001 to 2023. The results identified five study types—clusters based on four pre-defined criteria: study approach, data collection methods, time duration, and primary objectives. The clusters indicate that more than half of all studies are related to the comparison of thermal comfort and heat mitigation measures. Most of the case studies were located in one of three climate zones: temperate oceanic (Cfb) (58 studies), hot summer Mediterranean (Csa) (40 studies), or humid subtropical (Cfa) (28 studies). The most common geometry of the analyzed urban square is medium-sized, is rectangular, and has dominant axel orientation south–north. Also, based on all five clusters, several research gaps were identified, appropriate for future research: the majority of studies related to the traditionally considered climate areas, no typology of urban square geometry configuration based on OTC assessment, and the lack of a local design model for assessing and improving the thermal comfort of city squares.

The Memorial Park, “October in Kragujevac,” in addition to its memorial and symbolic value, is one of the largest memorial and landscape-designed city parks in Southeastern Europe. Methods of management, maintenance, landscaping, artistic design, construction, and space use by residents have changed over time. This research employs both quantitative and qualitative methods. Critical analysis of primary sources, mainly urban planning documents, is used to understand changes in management models and maintenance patterns. A survey was also conducted via a mobile application (Viber group: “City and Me KG”) among residents to assess their willingness to participate in managing and maintaining the space, as well as attitudes toward program content planned for specific areas. The first part outlines the urban development timeline of the Memorial Park and presents various models of management, maintenance, and use that arose due to historical events, government, and social systems. The park’s evolution relative to the city’s growth is depicted, showing its transition from peripheral space to the central urban park. The second part explores citizens’ interest in urban management and participatory design, along with attitudes toward possible changes to existing features and adding new elements for daily use, without compromising heritage, symbolism, or respect for victims. The survey also examines recognition of the park’s ecological microclimate and ecosystem functions within the city. The results suggest the potential for a new management strategy and creation of open urban spaces—landscape-designed memorial parks that meet community needs within cultural and ecological systems.

Improving the quality of city squares from the perspective of pedestrian thermal comfort directly contributes to achieving sustainable development goals. This paper critically examines contemporary approaches to the urban (re)design of city squares in Serbia within the broader framework of climate change adaptation and the enhancement of pedestrian thermal comfort in public spaces. The research adopts a comparative methodological framework, analyzing a selected sample of recently reconstructed squares in major Serbian cities, with particular attention to their spatial and morphological characteristics, including area, approximate dimensions, orientation, configuration, and overall form. The findings reveal a prevailing dominance of formal-aesthetic design paradigms, often prioritizing visual and compositional aspects over environmental performance. Such approaches are frequently accompanied by a limited integration of climate-responsive design strategies, including shading systems, increased vegetation cover, and the use of materials with favorable thermal properties. Furthermore, an evident trend towards the reduction of green spaces and the expansion of impervious, mineral surfaces has been identified, raising concerns about increased urban heat stress and declining outdoor thermal comfort, particularly during periods of extreme summer conditions. The paper advocates a shift towards integrative, performance-oriented design, emphasizing the need to embed climate-adaptive principles and develop guidelines for thermally comfortable and sustainable public spaces.

The size, shape, and articulation of buildings create shadows at different times of day and year that may limit the penetration of direct sunlight onto both public spaces. In this paper, the impact of shadows on public sport playgrounds in the city of Kragujevac was analyzed. Seven such playgrounds, located between multi-family buildings in the center of the city of Kragujevac, were included in study. The shadows impact was analyzed for September 21st and December 21st, since these playgrounds can be used throughout the year. The shadow impact criterion is based on the concept of the Sun Access Factor as a measure of Sun penetration on a given area, during a specified time frame. Based on the calculated values of the Sun Access Factor, an analysis of the shadows impact on the sports fields was performed by comparing it with the internationally used values

Redesign, regeneration, and reuse processes of memorial landscapes require delicate approaches that balance symbolic meaning, everyday use, ecological resilience, and long-term stewardship. While such balance can be supported through participatory planning, in Serbia these practices remain underdeveloped and have limited influence on decision-making. This research addresses this gap by translating public attitudes into applicable design guidelines that support sustainable, ethical, and context-sensitive future interventions. Within the Memorial Park “October in Kragujevac,” several areas are currently neglected, providing an appropriate context for examining potential spatial interventions. The main goal is to undestand what programmatic additions in these and similar areas citizens perceive as acceptable or desirable, and how these perceptions relate preservation memorial identity preservation. Methodologically, the research has two phases. The first phase involves the analysis of primary and secondary sources documenting the current condition of selected locations within the memorial park, alongside relevant examples of good practice. The second phase consists of an empirical survey conducted with a sample of 212 participants, including local residents, park users, and visitors from different age groups. The survey is conceptualized as a supplementary tool used to test and validate proposed concepts through consultation with a broader public. Survey results indicate differentiated public preferences: more than 70% of respondents support regeneration through child-oriented programmes, while the majority oppose interventions perceived as commercially oriented or incompatible with the commemorative character of the site. By grounding future design strategies in public preferences and lifecycle-oriented thinking, the research contributes to long-term cultural, social, and environmental sustainability.