The natural heritage of parks is an important resource within the framework of sustainable development. Plans, projects and activities concerning park management form the basis for evaluations that rely on indicator systems to keep the evolution of pressure factors and the conditions of habitats and protected species under control. The aim of this study is to contribute to the provision of tools to analyse and evaluate the social impact of a Nature Park in terms of the accessibility and usability for all of the network of pedestrian paths within it. The study proposes an analysis methodology and an indicator of the "environmental accessibility of the pedestrian network" which enables us to measure some aspects of accessibility such as: the ease of getting around, comfort and security for all types of users, with the maximum degree of autonomy improving the quality of the visitor's experience of the park. A spaces configuration and performance based analysis methodology was used, and the 'accessibility for all' indicator was developed in relation to the conduct of users, based on expert knowledge and the involvement of stakeholders. The results are highlighted using maps. There is still a long way to go before methodologies and operational procedures for this type of accessibility analysis can be set out, and the case studies research can provide an important contribution. The article reports on the application of the proposed methodology to the case study of the Natural Park of Migliarino, San Rossore and Massaciuccoli in Tuscany (Italy).

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Purpose The Covid-19 pandemic has placed health-care systems and their facilities throughout the world under immense pressure. The pandemic has highlighted the crucial role of health-care facilities design in looking beyond the ongoing crisis and considering how hospitals can better prepare for unexpected future health situations. This study aims to investigate how hospitals reacted to the crisis in terms of their physical spaces, which architectural features permitted the necessary transformations, and how this data can inform hospital design research in the future. Design/methodology/approach The research adopted a qualitative and multi-method approach to case studies. Data was collected directly (field survey and interviews) and indirectly (literature, periodicals, specialised websites, webinars, conferences and forums), and a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats analysis supported the data evaluation. Findings Hospitals’ responses to the crisis were guided by a host of variables depending on the specific intervention context and risk scenario. Some key issues emerged as particularly meaningful to drive future research in hospital design, namely, architectural typology, layout and spatial proximities, technological systems, the quality of care spaces, the role of public spaces, facility management tools to drive the transformation, territorial health care networks and new technologies. Originality/value The paper suggests that the current crisis can be transformed into an opportunity, in terms of research and innovation, to rethink and improve the quality and efficiency of health-care spaces, restoring their crucial role of promoting health by design.

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