PUBLIC SPACE AS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE RESILIENCE OF SMALL SETTLEMENTS IN ARID AND SEMI-ARID CLIMATES

Abstract

This article examines the role of public spaces in promoting sustainable development in small settlements under arid and semi-arid climatic conditions. Small settlements are understood as small towns, rural settlements, and transitional rural-urban territories. These types of settlements are considered together because they face similar analytical challenges: limited social and recreational infrastructure, the need for multifunctional public spaces, the high importance of local social ties, and restricted resources for the maintenance and operation of public areas. Public space is understood not only as an element of environmental improvement, but also as social-spatial infrastructure that connects the physical environment, everyday practices, natural processes, local identity, and governance mechanisms. Based on a thematic analysis of academic literature, five factors of public space sustainability are identified: social accessibility, functional viability, environmental and climate adaptability, cultural identity, and management sustainability. Particular attention is given to the relationship between thermal comfort and the social use of public space. The article argues that in arid climates, heat and insufficient shade may restrict outdoor stays, reduce the intensity of space use, and weaken social interaction. The proposed model is universal in character but can be adapted to specific regions, including Kazakhstan