Holistic approach to designing for health and well-being.
Health and well-being have always been an integral part of urban design. We have evidence of this all the way back to the 5th Century BCE in Epidaurus, the sacred site of Asklepios, the god of healing and Hospital (World Wonders, 2024). This example is interesting as it shows us that even two thousand five hundred years ago, the citizens recognised a need for a designated area for health and well-being. Furthermore, music, drama, and athletic competition were part of the healing regime. This shows that even the ancient Greeks were already thinking of a holistic approach to health and well-being and not just focusing on physical health but mental well-being and enjoyment by being built around the notion of health and healing your mind, body, and spirit (World Wonders, 2024).
Figure 1: Site of Askepios in Epidaurus 5th Century BCE (Source: The Ancient Theatre Archive, 2024)
Ancient cities like Epidaurus recognised the connection between urban spaces and health and a holistic approach. This has been used and adapted into the modern era and complemented with new technology and design principles that strive to improve both physical and mental well-being holistically.
As society and technology have advanced, so have our designs for health and well-being, such as inventions from modern sewer systems and modern design practices like pedestrian and bike-prioritised cities.
Much like the holistic healing practices in ancient times, today’s urban designs recognise the interconnectedness of physical, mental, and social health. And the idea of a holistic approach has stayed with designers.
Today, the idea of using mixed outside space has been adapted into modern urban practices like community gardens, pedestrian friendly streets, bike lanes, parks, and tree lined streets. Together these factors foster a society which has access to green spaces, space for exercise, and the ease to travel by sustainable transport while promoting health and relaxation.
So, what are the benefits of a mixed approach in designing for health and well-being?
Figure 2: Example of a mixed approach to Urban Design (Source: Mary Bean, 2022)
Physical Health: The prioritisation of pedestrians, bikes, and green areas promote physical activity. Access to green space will help the public’s health as it can reduce obesity rates, improve cardio-vascular health, help prevent diabetes, and heart disease. (Maller et al., 2006).
Environmental Benefits: The addition of green infrastructure and sustainable transport options can help mitigate the negative impacts of pollution. Improving air quality and reducing the urban heat island effect (Piracha and Chaudhary, 2022). Pushing for cycling routes and pedestrian streets reduces the reliance on cars, lowering noise pollution and emissions. These both benefit sustainability but massively impact the physical health of the community (Evans and Kantrowitz, 2002).
Emotional Well-being: Moreira et al. (2021) showed that there is a direct correlation between the percentage of green space and the presence of anxiety, and green space will reduce stress and promote relaxation. It has been proven that there is a direct street can reduce stress, depression and anxiety. Green spaces provide an area to escape the city noise and promote tranquillity.
Social Interaction: Mixed use spaces create environments that encourage socialisation. Parks, plazas, markets, etc., can benefit the community. A better sense of community can improve mental health by reducing loneliness (Gehl, 2010).
We can see that there is a heavy connection between the design of a city and the physical and mental well-being of the community. This trend, which was first recognised in ancient cities, continues to shape planning today. Mixed use spaces improve the health and well being of the community holistically and are a beneficial way of planning to build healthy societies and stronger communities even as cities evolve.
Reference list
Evans, G.W. and Kantrowitz, E. (2002) ‘Socioeconomic Status and Health: The Potential Role of Environmental Risk Exposure’, Annual Review of Public Health, 23(1), pp. 303–331. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.publhealth.23.112001.112349.
Gehl, J. (2010) Cities for people. Washington, Dc: Island Press.
Jackson, L.E. (2003) ‘The relationship of urban design to human health and condition’, Landscape and Urban Planning, 64(4), pp. 191–200. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0169-2046(02)00230-x.
Maller, C. et al. (2006) ‘Healthy nature healthy people: “contact with nature” as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations’, Health Promotion International, 21(1), pp. 45–54. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/dai032.
Mitchell, R. and Lee, D. (2014) ‘Is There Really a “Wrong Side of the Tracks”in Urban Areas and Does It Matter for Spatial Analysis?’, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 104(3), pp. 432–443. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/00045608.2014.892321.
Moreira, T.C.L. et al. (2021) ‘Assessing the impact of urban environment and green infrastructure on mental health: results from the São Paulo Megacity Mental Health Survey’, Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, 32. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-021-00349-x.
Newcastle University (2013) September – Press Office – Newcastle University, www.ncl.ac.uk. Available at: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/press/articles/archive/2013/09/closingthegapinhealthinequalitypioneeringsimulation.html.
Piracha, A. and Chaudhary, M.T. (2022) ‘Urban Air Pollution, Urban Heat Island and Human Health: a Review of the Literature’, Sustainability, 14(15), p. 9234. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159234.
Spencer-Hwang, R. et al. (2015) ‘Respiratory Health Risks for Children Living Near a Major Railyard’, Journal of Community Health, 40(5), pp. 1015–1023. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-015-0026-0.
World Wonders (2024) Exploring the Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus: Ancient Healing Wonders, YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e1RjTHtVck (Accessed: 7 January 2025).
List of Figures
Figure 1: Site of Askepios in Epidaurus 5th Century BCE (Source: The Ancient Theatre Archive, 2024)
Figure 2: Example of a mixed approach to Urban Design (Source: Mary Bean, 2022)
