A Study on Landscape Satisfaction in Micro-Scale Waterfront Spaces: Evidence from the Grand Canal in Wuxi

Micro-scale waterfront spaces play a critical role in contemporary urban regeneration by supporting everyday activities and place-based experiences. However, existing studies often rely on linear evaluation approaches and insufficiently address the asymmetric effects of functional, environmental, and cultural attributes on residents’ landscape satisfaction. This study investigates the satisfaction structure of micro-scale waterfront spaces along the Grand Canal in Wuxi, China, with a particular focus on nonlinear demand mechanisms. A mixed-method framework integrating grounded theory, the Delphi method, and the Kano model was employed to identify key landscape attributes and classify their satisfaction effects. The results reveal a hierarchical satisfaction mechanism characterized by “basic–performance–attractive” attributes. Fundamental functional and environmental factors, such as accessibility, safety, water quality, and cultural authenticity, function as must-be attributes that primarily prevent dissatisfaction. Environmental comfort and social facilities act as one-dimensional attributes that linearly enhance satisfaction, while cultural narratives, memory-related elements, and ecological esthetics emerge as attractive attributes that significantly elevate emotional engagement when present. Sensitivity analysis further identifies priority intervention factors with the greatest impact on satisfaction improvement. These findings demonstrate the asymmetric nature of residents’ landscape satisfaction and provide a phased optimization framework for the sustainable regeneration of heritage-based micro-scale waterfront spaces, emphasizing basic reliability, experiential enhancement, and cultural resonance.