Urban Well-Being in Dense Cities: The influence of densification strategies, experiment in virtual reality

Urban morphology significantly impacts resident's well-being. This study examines the impact of urban environments on the sense of well-being, using virtual reality as a research environment. Most of the world's population already live in urban localities; and it is expected that in two decades, more than 70% of the total population of the planet will be city dwellers(UN 2018). This study examines the impact of various urban configurations on dwellers well-being. Participants were presented with simulated pedestrian movement through 24 virtual urban environments. The environments differed by density level, spatial configurations, vegetation, and commerce. Participants assessed each alternative through structured questionnaires. It has been found that the density and presence of vegetation and commerce in the urban area have a significant impact on the subject's well-being in urban environments. extreme levels of densification have a negative effect on subjects' feelings, but vegetation and commerce, especially at the high levels of density, can improve them. In this research we established the framework for planning principles that can improve urban densification processes. An understanding of the wellbeing of urban dwellers, and the parameters that can influence this, will help urban designers and planners in creating better urbanized future environments.