The question of how existing rules and tools can help municipalities design health-promoting residential areas, is tested, evaluated and critically discussed.
Background
The importance of nature for human health and well-being is established. Scientific reviews and international reports from the UN and the World Health Organization indicate that access to green spaces in the neighborhood is key to promoting people's health and well-being, and that the distance to the green spaces and the amount of green space are crucial. But in times of increased urbanization and densification, the loss and fragmentation of urban green spaces is a fact. This can have serious consequences, not only for human health and well-being but also for biodiversity, reduced climate impact, risk reduction and control of natural disasters. To prevent further loss of urban green space, and to design residential areas that promote people's health and well-being, several municipalities apply different rules and tools. But can quantifiable rules secure the quality of the urban green areas? In addition to this, there is a lack of knowledge about what qualities and functions the green areas should have.
The project
In the project we raise the following questions:
- Which types of urban green spaces and their qualities are health-promoting?
- Can existing rules and tools ensure quality in the outdoor environment?
- Can today's housing policy, characterized by compactness with small or sometimes non-existent residential courtyards, satisfy the need for health-promoting outdoor environments?
Here two rules are studied:
- Maximum 300 meters to the nearest green space (WHO).
- Tree canopies should cover at least 25% of the urban area in Swedish cities (Swedish Environmental Protection Agency).
and one tool:
- The Green Space Factor (where qualitative values are created using a quantitative formula).
The project tests, evaluates and critically discusses if and how existing rules and tools can help municipalities design health-promoting residential areas.
Aim of the project
The aim is to inspire and guide municipalities in the planning, design and management of outdoor environments in residential areas, with a particular focus on the residents' health and well-being. The study will provide landscape architects and planners with arguments to use as support in the dialogue with stake holders and private developers.
It will also contribute to a debate about planning practice and how it can create living environments that promote human health and well-being. This is important for municipalities, regions as well as government authorities.
