Students studying for a long time frequently suffer from attentional fatigue; however, campuses lack specific spaces in which to restore attention. This study aimed to explore the significant perceptual factors related to student selection of landscape types that they perceive as most relaxing on a university campus. To understand the design factors of an attention restoration space, this study examined the preference of students regarding restorative environments on university campuses at six universities in northeastern China using a questionnaire survey (n = 360). Place-mapping revealed the spatial characteristics of the preferences of students for relaxing in the available space. The primary perceptual factors were obtained using correlation analysis and keyword frequency. A relationship model of landscape types and perceptual factors was established using categorical regression (CATREG). Results showed that waterfront spaces have the optimal perceived attention restoration effect, followed by vegetation spaces, courtyard spaces and square spaces. Visibility, accessibility, comfort, recognition and sense of belonging are significant perceptual factors that should be first considered. Moreover, the optimal selection of design factors depends on the interaction of landscape types and perceptual factors. The design implications may assist designers to gain a new perspective on student requirements for a healthy environment.

This study investigated the outdoor thermal sensation characteristics in severe cold cities, and the effects of four microclimate parameters on outdoor thermal sensation. A one-year investigation of public spaces in Harbin, China, as an example of a severe cold city, was carried out. Volunteers were randomly invited to fill out a microclimate perception questionnaire, and the real-time microclimate data were measured and recorded at the same time on site. The relationship between the outdoor actual thermal sensation and the perception of microclimate parameters was analyzed quantitatively. The results showed that the effect of microclimate parameters on the actual thermal sensation was very significant. The actual thermal sensation varies greatly from the seasons. People feel the most comfortable in the transition season. Among the four parameters, temperature has the greatest effect on ATSV in cold season and severe cold season, solar radiation has the greatest effect on ATSV in transition season and hot season. In the severe cold season and hot season, the wind speed also has a significant effect on ATSV.