Topological characterization of injective metric spaces Let $\ (X\ d)\ \,(Y\ \delta)\ $ be arbitrary metric spaces. A function $\ f:X\rightarrow Y\ $ is called a metric map (with respect to the given metrics $\ d\ \delta$) $\ \Leftarrow:\Rightarrow\ \forall_{p\ q\in X}\ \delta(f(p)\ f(q))\ \le\ d(p\ q)$.
Injective metric spaces were introduced in a paper by Aronszajn and Panitchpakdi, under the hyper-convex spaces name, via the binary intersection property of closed balls. Equivalently, a metric space $\ (Z\ \rho)\ $ is called injective $\ \Leftarrow:\Rightarrow\ $ for every metric space $\ (X\ d)\ $ and arbitrary $\ Y\subseteq X,\ $ and for arbitrary metric map $\ f:Y\rightarrow Z\ $ (with respect to $\ \delta := d|Y\times Y$ and $\ \rho$) there exists a metric map $\ g:X\rightarrow Z\ $ (with respect to metrics $\ d\ \rho$) such that $\ g|Y=f$.

PROBLEM   Characterize topologically the toplogical spaces which are homeomorphic to the injective metric spaces.

Preferably, this should be done for the class of all metric spaces. The class of separable spaces or of metric compact spaces would be great too.
In the case of $1$-dimensional compact spaces $\ X\ $it is pretty obvious that they are injective $\ \Leftarrow:\Rightarrow\ X$ is an AR (i.e. absolute retract as defined by Borsuk).
Sorry, if I missed some known results (I do use Google etc, but I am terrible at searching). Please, let me know.

EDIT Under a pressure from some (just one?) careful MO participants I have edited the statement of my MO-Question. I must say that in my own opinion my old statement:
        Characterize topologically injective metric spaces.
is much better. I would rather say characterize topologically closed interval, circle, Euclidean plane and sphere   than   characterize topologically topological spaces homeomorphic to closed interval, circle, Euclidean plane and sphere. Or one can also say simply the same using the symbols: $\ I\ S^1\ \mathbb R^2\ S^2$. The reason to me is both mathematical, as well as the simplicity of language.

 A: This might be useful:

J. R. Isbell, Six theorems about injective metric spaces.  Commentarii Mathematici Helvetici 39 (1964), 65-76.

From the intro:

Aronszajn and Panitchpakdi showed [1] that topologically, every injective metric space is a complete retract, and asked whether the converse is true

and then Isbell goes on to state some partial results on the converse, e.g.:

In infinite 2-dimensional polyhedra, collapsibility is sufficient and free contractibility necessary

I've put the first page of the paper here.  This contains a list of the results.
A: [Edit: I only now correctly read the question, namely you are after a topological characterization of such spaces. Please take the answer below as a useful reference on the topic of the question.]

I am not really an expert on this, but if you look this stuff up on Wikipedia and follow the link to

Espínola, R.; Khamsi, M. A. (2001). "Introduction to hyperconvex spaces". In Kirk, W. A.; Sims, B. (Eds.). "Handbook of Metric Fixed Point Theory". Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

you will find there Theorem 4.2 in which it is stated that a metric space is injective if, and only if, it is hyperconvex. And there is still more in the paper. Is this what you're looking for?
