Introduction: As educational centers, universities play an important role in the development of society and the promotion of sustainable concepts. Despite their size, the green spaces and landscape of universities, including the University of Tabriz, were less welcomed by students. The aim of this study is to improve the design of university open spaces and to identify the qualitative components of these spaces. The university landscape, including green spaces, plays an important role in communication between students and also provides them with opportunities to rest and study.
Method and Material: The research was conducted through semi-structured interviews with 10 experts (architects, landscape architects and urban planners) and focused on the role of green spaces in reducing stress, promoting social interactions and increasing visual appeal. The results indicate that university open spaces should be designed as social places for student exchange and interaction. It is recommended to design rooms with unobstructed views, beautiful visual quality, a calm environment and the use of native elements and compatible plants.
Result and discussion: The results show that the design of university open spaces should be viewed as a social place for students' social exchange. Creating publicly accessible spaces, increasing social oversight, eliminating low-canopy species, or mass planting can have an impact on the environment.
Conclusion: These changes can have a positive impact on students' mental and physical recovery and increase their mental readiness to learn, as well as increase social interactions and improve student culture. These insights can be used for better planning and management of university campuses.