Perceptual effects of biophilic design in urban public spaces: assessing the environmental component in the historic centre of Cartagena

There is a growing tendency to design a nature-inspired environment to benefit the people who live in it, improving their levels of health and productivity, called biophilic design. This paper analyzes the extent to which the environmental component of this design – vegetation and shade – influences the use and perception of public spaces. The study is developed in twenty squares and parks in the historic center of Cartagena (Murcia, Spain), a Mediterranean environment especially exposed to the summer heat. The methodology combines three approaches: the creation of a biophilic design index, based on its environmental component, which quantifies the wooded area and shade at different times of the day; field observations to measure the influx of users; and interviews that collect opinions on comfort and spatial quality. The findings show that the spaces with the greatest natural shade are the most valued and used, which confirms the importance of these environmental factors in citizen perception. However, it is also observed that the use of biophilic design linked to the environment alone does not guarantee the social success of a space, since other urban, functional and aesthetic elements intervene.