The research aims to identify the hierarchy of users’ need for spatial organization in public open spaces of New Delhi by quantifying user preferences to produce a perceptual estimation in conclusion. The research will generate a better understanding of the effective utilization of spatial organization in public open spaces by incorporating the user’s perception. The study acquires a qualitative method comprising content analysis as a line of inquiry. Interviews with users from different demographic profiles were conducted in public open spaces in New Delhi. The designed interview questions are based on the hierarchy of needs in which interviewees were asked to answer which attribute of the spatial organization they prefer above others. To analyze the user preferences, 12 interviews were conducted at three distinctive sites in New Delhi. The study concludes that; ‘Accessibility and Linkages’ and ‘Security’ are the imminent attributes considered as a basic need for spatial organization in public open spaces of New Delhi, followed by ‘Facilities,’ ‘Uses and Activities,’ and ‘Microclimate.’

Introduction: This research reconceptualises spatial need hierarchies in public open spaces (POS) as dynamic, context-dependent, and behaviourally reinforced rather than fixed and universal. Public open spaces support social interaction, wellbeing, and everyday civic life; however, their use and experience vary significantly across diverse user groups. Existing research often treats spatial needs as universal, overlooking the role of socio-cultural factors in shaping user behaviour. This study develops a Person-Environment-Behaviour (PEB) framework to examine how personal factors, including gender, age, education, and religion, are associated with variation in spatial need hierarchies and behavioural outcomes. Methods: A sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach was used, integrating survey data from 495 respondents with 52 interviews across three public open spaces in New Delhi. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to test relationships among personal factors, spatial need hierarchy, and behavioural outcomes. Qualitative content analysis was used to reconstruct context-specific need hierarchies. Results: The findings demonstrate a significant contextual restructuring of Maslow’s hierarchy, most notably the elevation of security to a foundational Level 1 need, particularly among female users. All personal factors significantly modified the spatial need hierarchy, with cultural values acting as a key mediating mechanism. Cultural values fully mediated the effect of religion and partially mediated the effects of gender, age, and education. The modified hierarchy was strongly associated with user preferences (β = 0.72), satisfaction (β = 0.68), and usage patterns (β = 0.59), explaining a substantial proportion of variance in these outcomes. Discussion: The findings suggest limitations in linear and universal models of spatial motivation and establish a context-sensitive framework applicable to high-density and socio-culturally complex urban environments. Practically, the study provides an empirically grounded basis for designing inclusive and user-responsive public open spaces.

Introduction: Urban transformations in heritage sites are increasingly shaped by development pressures, particularly where conservation area designation is absent from policy frameworks. In Bahrain, existing heritage practices remain largely qualitative and focused on individual monuments, with limited integration at the urban scale. Methods: This study proposes a structured and scalable morphology-based framework for quantitative heritage evaluation and applies it to the historic urban context of Al-Furjan, Muharraq, Bahrain. The research uses morphology-based documentation, site surveys, and a structured inventory database to evaluate buildings across traditional, transitional, and modern heritage categories. Results: The framework introduces a quantitative scoring system and A–D heritage grading categories to assess heritage significance at the urban scale. Its application demonstrates how different heritage values can be systematically documented, compared, and graded within a rapidly transforming urban environment. Discussion: The proposed framework offers a practical tool for urban heritage planning, conservation prioritization, and decision-making. It contributes to bridging the gap between heritage theory and practice by supporting a more systematic, transparent, and scalable approach to heritage evaluation in Bahrain and comparable historic urban contexts.

This paper presents a comprehensive systematic literature review on the role of heritage tourism in urban regeneration, focusing on how it can drive socio-economic growth while promoting heritage tourism towards sustainable urban regeneration. Using a selection process that follows PRISMA guidelines, 39 peer-reviewed articles from the Scopus database, applying a comprehensive search query, the review identifies five key themes: urban policies and community participation, effective management practices, mechanisms of urban regeneration, socio-economic impacts of environmental improvements, and tourists' willingness to pay for heritage conservation. The findings highlight the critical role of inclusive policies, community involvement, and sustainable management in ensuring that heritage tourism promotes equitable and long-term urban revitalization. Despite the benefits of tourism-driven regeneration, challenges such as gentrification, cultural commodification, and the marginalization of local communities persist. Additionally, while environmental improvements and tourists’ willingness to pay offer economic opportunities, a lack of integrated policy frameworks limits their potential. This study provides actionable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and tourism managers to create more equitable, sustainable strategies for heritage tourism-led urban regeneration, while also addressing gaps in existing research.