The relationship between urban landscapes and human pleasantness: A systematic review of outcomes (2015-2025)

People’s perceived pleasantness of urban spaces is a critical dimension of urban planning and design, influencing psychological well-being and overall quality of life. This study aims to systematically synthesize recent evidence (2015–2025) about people’s perceived pleasantness of urban spaces, with particular attention to psychological outcomes and methodological innovations. A total of 79 studies were included in this review, comprising 47 reviewed articles identified through Web of Science and Scopus, and 32 additional records obtained via snowballing. This research offers a more comprehensive perspective by considering environmental and psychological factors. Furthermore, it underscores the expanding contribution of advanced assessment tools—such as electroencephalography (EEG), eye-tracking, and virtual reality (VR)—in improving the precision of behavioral and cognitive evaluations. The analysis reveals that nature-based and soundscape interventions most consistently enhance perceived pleasantness, primarily through stress reduction, attentional restoration, and emotional engagement. Mixed-method approaches—combining surveys with experimental protocols—were the most frequently applied, yet gaps remain in accounting for multisensory experiences beyond the visual domain. Consolidating recent findings and classifying key variables, environmental context, environmental interventions, and methodologies, this review provides an updated framework to guide urban planners and scholars in designing environments that actively foster psychological restoration and support user well-being.