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Open spaces are areas without any built structures that are open to the public and pose as a key infrastructure to the development of the urban fabric. Due to rapid urbanization, the quantity and quality of open spaces in housing neighbourhoods have reduced, affecting the resident’s psychological health poorly, which was further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The lower-income groups of the country have been most affected by the same. Hence, this study addresses the inequality in the distribution of open spaces and how open spaces can be used to improve the dwelling conditions for the disadvantaged sections of society. This study looks into the different typologies of open spaces in urban housing and investigates how the provision of open spaces and their correlated features are associated with the user’s health and well-being.The paper looks into existing literature about the topic to understand what is known and to examine its shortcomings. The research would help future public and private sector bodies in charge of designing homes for the low-income groups to understand the importance and implementation of open spaces in such housings to uplift and improve the physical and mental health of the urban poor of India.

In today's configuration of urban lifestyles, health and well-being have a multi-faceted impact on human lives and have gradually influenced tourism trends. The prevalence of COVID-19 has affected both physical and mental well-being. In this context, health has emerged as a significant component of tourism. Existing literature divides health tourism into two distinct types, namely, medical and wellness tourism. The presence of direct and indirect strategies linking individuals to the natural environment have been known to impart restorative benefits and significantly contribute to human well-being. However, recognition of potential correlations between tourist rehabilitation and biophilic design as a salutogenic model is limited with respect to wellness tourism, resulting in a lack of guidance for architects and designers. This paper aims to summarize prevailing literature on health benefits of biophilic principles through a systematic literature review, followed by compilation of a comprehensive conceptual framework. The research shall aid as a reference in utilizing restorative implications of the human-nature relationship in planning and designing of wellness tourism projects in the Indian context.

Social cohesion in public open spaces has been recommended as one of the key elements for improving the wellbeing of the elderly. Social cohesion includes relational elements and individuals' feeling of association. Over the past few decades, increasingsocial interaction in the neighbourhood is part of larger urban areas and has been regarded as one of the social sustainability initiatives and plays an important role in megacities sustainability. Comprehending place attachment is necessary to enhance elderly people's interactions to make them self-reliant. The study aims to identify the characteristics of open spaces with their major influential factors for enhancing social cohesion for the well-being of the elderly in an urban residential environment through a systematic literature review. The study focuses on addressing three research questions and analysing its results from primary literature studies in the review process. Ten electronic databases were searched for relevant work from papers written in English between 2011 and 2021. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods studies were included. A narrative synthesis was carried out of published works to address the research questions after identifying the various characteristics. The review, which includes 57 published papers, found that the Open spaces are ideally characterized by accessibility, walkability, reduced fear and security, built environment characteristics, landscape elements, climate, best practices, and New Urbanism principles. On the other hand, social cohesion is influenced by activities, safety and security, public places, accessibility, natural elements, noise levels, vehicular interruptions, dimensions and geometry, climate, and physical amenities. A conceptual framework relating to open space attributes and social cohesion is proposed as the finding of the research. Prioritizing the attributes based on the physical, behavioural, and psychological needs of the elderly to keep them active in their aging process could be the further scope of research in this direction.

The aspects of spatial planning have been aimed at supporting older people to stay healthy and active in their daily lives, as well as to improve their overall quality of life. Older people require accessible and functional venues and social environments that suit their emotional needs and goals. However, there has been limited study on the most significant characteristics of residential settings that impact the well-being of elderly inhabitants. This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of neighborhood residential environment elements and various Quality of Life (QOL) attributes, as well as their interrelationships, to encourage healthy aging. A framework for analyzing neighborhood features was developed as part of this critical analysis through extensive analysis of chosen articles. According to the review, social life is the most influential component of QOL, followed by neighborhood living settings and housing layouts that promote mobility features to participate in physical activities, generating a feeling of community and belonging and leading to a healthy life. Further research should be conducted to investigate the influence of these characteristics on the overall satisfaction level of the elderly in later life.

Owing to its geographical location and topographical conditions, the Indian peninsula is vulnerable to tropical cyclones. According to previous research, it is observed that cyclones occur more frequently in the Bay of Bengal and affect the entire stretch of the eastern coast of the Indian subcontinent. The state of Odisha which lies in this region is the most affected and experiences severe destruction of property infrastructure and life. During such a disaster, multi-purpose cyclone shelters perform an important role in providing vital aid to the affected people. Depending on the severity of the disaster, these shelters provide individuals with protection during the disaster and necessary resources such as shelter, first-aid box, and food for the short term. Such shelters, however, do not provide post-cyclone facilities, especially when many families are without adequate shelter. The research aims to explore the viability of a portable post-cyclone relief shelter to normalize day-to-day operations and provide a better life. During the study, an analysis of the literature, case studies with surveys, and interviews of stakeholders and affected individuals was conducted, and it was concluded that there is a need to have such post-cyclone portable shelter during the post-cyclone period to address their basic needs. The research concludes with the proposed design of a prototype of a portable relief shelter, analyzing its feasibility in terms of cost, ease of fabrication, transportation services, and maintenance by using locally available material to achieve environmental sustainability.