Designing for well-being: A multi-disciplinary framework for urban regeneration through biophilia and community engagement

Accelerated and often unplanned global urbanization has led to densely populated cities vulnerable to a growing range of risks, including pollution and climate, health, and social crises. In this context, urban resilience emerges as a strategic imperative, demanding innovative approaches that transcend traditional infrastructural solutions. This work explores the transformative role of integrating nature into urban environments, proposing design strategies based on sensory design, biophilia, and biophilic design to contribute to the creation of inclusive atmospheres and resilient, healthy, and livable cities. Within a multidisciplinary theoretical framework, we argue how participatory design, environmental psychology, and communication are fundamental pillars for constructing social innovation projects centered on holistic and sustainable urban resilience. The experience cited is that of "URGES, Urban Green Shapes," completed in Matera at the end of 2024, where the authors were responsible for the participatory design unit.