Although various studies have highlighted the importance of public spaces for human well-being, most of these have been based on qualitative factors. The present research provides a more objective approach, based on quantitative (heart rate variability). The data reveal how different emotions are generated in different public spaces. These differences appear to derive from both the characteristics of the user (and particularly their gender) and from the morphology of the space (including its illumination and built environment). Identifying key factors may help us to improve the design of public spaces and to make them more accessible and inclusive.
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