Walkability has been an important principle of urban design and planning, and research has been identified the complex relationship between spatial attributes and users’ perception of walkability. However, limited research focused on which perceived qualities could be affected by specific attributes, and how people react to particular environment. also apartment complexes in South Korea have not been considered enough despite their unique typology and spatial attributes derived from cultural and historical backgrounds, which might affect residents' experience of their neighbourhood. Research in walkability lacks multi-dimensional studies, examining spatial attributes and people’s perceptions of walking. The research examines the complex relationship between spatial attributes in high-density apartment complexes and users’ perceptions of walkability. The data from GIS, observation and surveys were analysed cross-sectionally to decode how people evaluate their neighbourhood regarding walkability and discover unexpected patterns between spatial attributes and perceived walkability. Findings reveal that the possible implication of high functional mix and permeability combined with the Green network enhancing walking and encouraging people to walk and repeatedly visit their neighbourhood, which explains high sense of walkability. In that the Green network has been developed to overcome segregation of apartment-dominant neighbourhood, the finding provides further area of walkability debate on time and historical background, while corroborating the importance of walkability assessment in different geographical context. In addition, providing key spatial attributes of apartment complexes in Seoul, South Korea, the study suggests empirical evidence of current level of walkability in South Korea, which could support developing the concept of Daily-walking neighbourhood’ in Seoul Plan 2040.

Walking is a heavily underused transportation mode in United States desert cities, due to urban sprawl and its consequences, among others. Sprawl repair can help create more walkable cities, but the sole activity of infilling open spaces is not enough to ensure walkability in desert cities. Human scale urban design interventions are necessary to mitigate the impact of the desert heat on pedestrians and to create a truly walkable environment. In this research, academic literature is reviewed and case study cities from around the world are analysed, resulting in a toolkit of urban design guidelines that facilitate walkability in US desert cities. The guidelines are applied and tested on the context of Downtown Palm Springs, California. The result is a practical toolkit for urban designers that work on US desert cities and which can serve as a base for further research into walkability in extreme climates.