What Is the Impact of Salutogenic Design Elements on Human Well-being in Micro-Housing? A Systematic Review Protocol

This protocol relates to a systematic review designed to identify, analyze, and synthesize existing evidence on salutogenic and experience-driven design in microhousing and compact residential environments, and its associations with mental health, psychological well-being, resilience, and residents’ quality of life. Grounded in Antonovsky’s salutogenic framework and the concept of Sense of Coherence—comprising comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness—this study examines the role of architectural design elements, industrial design interventions, and environmental features (such as access to natural light, ventilation, thermal and acoustic comfort, spatial organization, environmental control, and biophilic strategies) in small-scale residential settings. A systematic search will be conducted in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science using a PECO-based framework. Qualitative, quantitative, and conceptual studies from architecture, human-centered design, environmental psychology, and health sciences will be included. Data extraction will follow a structured approach, and findings will be synthesized using narrative synthesis. Study quality will be assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools.