1. Introduction
Urban populations are vulnerable, as a result of the Urban Heat
Island, where temperatures in built areas are higher than the
surrounding countryside, and poor air quality due to enhanced local
emissions (Daniels et al., 2000; Yaghoobian et al., 2010). This vulnerability
to chronic exposure will increase further under global
warming, as increased temperatures increase heat stress and are often
associated with higher pollution concentrations (Sarrat et al., 2006).
In the context of sustainable urban environments, there is increased
interest on the provision of open spaces and environmental quality. A
successful network of external public spaces promoting outdoor living
can play an important role in cooling cities. It can also prevent people
from withdrawing to air-conditioned indoor spaces, further burdening
the environment under increased air temperatures due to urbanisation
and climate change. Open spaces can be even more beneficial in neighbourhoodswith
poor socio-economic status. Increased outdoor presence
enhances security and increases physical activity thus reducing the