Architectural-spatial potential of natural components in shaping urban environment quality

Abstract

The relevance of the research was determined by the increasing dominance of mineralised urban spaces composed of concrete, asphalt, glass, metal and hard pavements, in which natural signals important for psychophysiological comfort are reduced. The purpose of the study was to substantiate theoretically the role of vegetation, water, natural shade, seasonal variability, natural textures and green boundaries in improving urban environmental quality. A structured theoretical review combined critical analysis, comparative analysis, interpretative synthesis and architectural-spatial systematisation of scientific publications and institutional reports on biophilic design, environmental psychology, attention restoration, stress recovery, green and blue infrastructure and urban cooling. The theoretical synthesis indicated that natural components should be interpreted not merely as decorative planting or a secondary landscaping layer, but as elements that form scale, boundaries, visual pauses, pedestrian directions, areas for rest, microclimatic comfort and psychological protection. The analysis suggested that, in mineralised settings, these components perform a compensatory function by mitigating visual rigidity, overheating, surface monotony and the loss of human scale. The reviewed evidence supported an architectural-spatial model in which natural components connect psychophysiological responses with planning, compositional and behavioural functions. The practical value of the research lay in the possibility of applying the proposed provisions to the revitalisation of concrete public spaces, pedestrian routes, courtyards, squares and architectural complexes, where natural elements can operate as full spatial instruments rather than as an additional decorative layer