Abstract
AbstractPublic spaces influence urban well-being not only through their physical configuration but also through the social, emotional, and participatory experiences they enable. This research examines how public spaces can be reimagined through place-making strategies and emerging digital technologies to enhance social connectivity, emotional engagement, and psychological well-being. It proposes an integrated methodology that combines traditional urban design principles—such as spatial legibility, accessibility, and human-scale design—with interactive tools, sensory interfaces, and real-time feedback systems. By bringing together these physical and digital dimensions, the study aims to outline how more dynamic, engaging, and emotionally fulfilling public environments can be created. Ultimately, the goal is to contribute to both the conceptual understanding and the practical development of “happier cities” by fostering inclusive, participatory, and interactive public spaces that better reflect and support the needs, feelings, and aspirations of urban communities. A multi-phase mixed-method case-study design was applied to El-Waleediyah Square in Asyut, Egypt. The research combined a theoretical review, structured site observations, environmental audits, pedestrian-flow assessment, and questionnaire-based public feedback from 5,000 respondents, and post-intervention monitoring.Baseline findings identified heat stress, inadequate shade, limited seating, and the absence of interactive features as major constraints affecting comfort and public-space use.Preliminary monitoring recorded a 17% increase in average dwell time, a 22% increase in observed social interactions during evening periods, and a 4–5°C reduction in ambient temperature beneath pilot shade structures during peak hours. The findings indicate that low-cost physical improvements, context-sensitive digital tools, and continuous community feedback can enhance comfort, engagement, and perceived usability