Exploring Sidewalk Built Environment Design Strategies to Promote Walkability in Tropical Humid Climates

The world is facing a state of “global boiling,” causing damage to various sectors. Developing pedestrian systems is a key to mitigating it, especially in tropical and humid cities where the climate discourages walking and increases the need for shaded walkways. Recent research shows a lack of data...

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Main Authors: Pakin Anuntavachakorn, Purinat Pawarana, Tarid Wongvorachan, Chaniporn Thampanichwat, Suphat Bunyarittikit
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Buildings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/15/2659
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author Pakin Anuntavachakorn
Purinat Pawarana
Tarid Wongvorachan
Chaniporn Thampanichwat
Suphat Bunyarittikit
author_facet Pakin Anuntavachakorn
Purinat Pawarana
Tarid Wongvorachan
Chaniporn Thampanichwat
Suphat Bunyarittikit
author_sort Pakin Anuntavachakorn
collection DOAJ
description The world is facing a state of “global boiling,” causing damage to various sectors. Developing pedestrian systems is a key to mitigating it, especially in tropical and humid cities where the climate discourages walking and increases the need for shaded walkways. Recent research shows a lack of data and in-depth studies on the built environment promoting walkability in such climates, creating a research gap this study aims to fill. Using Singapore as a case study, four locations—Marina Bay, Orchard Road, Boat Quay, and Chinatown—were surveyed and analyzed through visual decoding and questionnaires. Results show that natural light is the most frequently observed and important element in pedestrian pathway design in tropical and humid areas. Trees and sidewalks are also important in creating a walk-friendly environment. Green spaces significantly influence the desire to walk, though no clear positive outcomes were found. Additionally, “Other Emotions” negatively affect the decision to walk, suggesting these should be avoided in future pedestrian pathway designs to encourage walking.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2075-5309
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Buildings
spelling doaj-art-e32bb30a13d54c6e9a299069abad4bab2025-08-20T03:36:31ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-07-011515265910.3390/buildings15152659Exploring Sidewalk Built Environment Design Strategies to Promote Walkability in Tropical Humid ClimatesPakin Anuntavachakorn0Purinat Pawarana1Tarid Wongvorachan2Chaniporn Thampanichwat3Suphat Bunyarittikit4School of Architecture, Art, and Design, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, ThailandSchool of Architecture, Art, and Design, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, ThailandDepartment of Educational Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G5, CanadaSchool of Architecture, Art, and Design, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, ThailandSchool of Architecture, Art, and Design, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, ThailandThe world is facing a state of “global boiling,” causing damage to various sectors. Developing pedestrian systems is a key to mitigating it, especially in tropical and humid cities where the climate discourages walking and increases the need for shaded walkways. Recent research shows a lack of data and in-depth studies on the built environment promoting walkability in such climates, creating a research gap this study aims to fill. Using Singapore as a case study, four locations—Marina Bay, Orchard Road, Boat Quay, and Chinatown—were surveyed and analyzed through visual decoding and questionnaires. Results show that natural light is the most frequently observed and important element in pedestrian pathway design in tropical and humid areas. Trees and sidewalks are also important in creating a walk-friendly environment. Green spaces significantly influence the desire to walk, though no clear positive outcomes were found. Additionally, “Other Emotions” negatively affect the decision to walk, suggesting these should be avoided in future pedestrian pathway designs to encourage walking.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/15/2659walkabilitybuilt environmentpedestrian pathwaysgreen spaces
spellingShingle Pakin Anuntavachakorn
Purinat Pawarana
Tarid Wongvorachan
Chaniporn Thampanichwat
Suphat Bunyarittikit
Exploring Sidewalk Built Environment Design Strategies to Promote Walkability in Tropical Humid Climates
Buildings
walkability
built environment
pedestrian pathways
green spaces
title Exploring Sidewalk Built Environment Design Strategies to Promote Walkability in Tropical Humid Climates
title_full Exploring Sidewalk Built Environment Design Strategies to Promote Walkability in Tropical Humid Climates
title_fullStr Exploring Sidewalk Built Environment Design Strategies to Promote Walkability in Tropical Humid Climates
title_full_unstemmed Exploring Sidewalk Built Environment Design Strategies to Promote Walkability in Tropical Humid Climates
title_short Exploring Sidewalk Built Environment Design Strategies to Promote Walkability in Tropical Humid Climates
title_sort exploring sidewalk built environment design strategies to promote walkability in tropical humid climates
topic walkability
built environment
pedestrian pathways
green spaces
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/15/2659
work_keys_str_mv AT pakinanuntavachakorn exploringsidewalkbuiltenvironmentdesignstrategiestopromotewalkabilityintropicalhumidclimates
AT purinatpawarana exploringsidewalkbuiltenvironmentdesignstrategiestopromotewalkabilityintropicalhumidclimates
AT taridwongvorachan exploringsidewalkbuiltenvironmentdesignstrategiestopromotewalkabilityintropicalhumidclimates
AT chanipornthampanichwat exploringsidewalkbuiltenvironmentdesignstrategiestopromotewalkabilityintropicalhumidclimates
AT suphatbunyarittikit exploringsidewalkbuiltenvironmentdesignstrategiestopromotewalkabilityintropicalhumidclimates