The hidden relationship between urban design and well-being

The hidden relationship between urban design and well-being

Cities are fascinating, vibrant and evolving places, made up of many facets. Of course, cities can also be polluted, noisy and unfriendly environments. Cities provide places and opportunities for people to live, work, educate, culturally, socially and recreationally, with approximately 54% of the world’s population living in urban areas. Modern societies are therefore concerned with the sustainable development of cities and the well-being of their citizens.

Human settlements and cities need to be strong, safe, inclusive and sustainable. The development of cities is largely influenced by the interaction between cities and their inhabitants. Urban planning and development have a significant impact on the health and well-being of city dwellers, and changes in these areas will inevitably affect the lives of city dwellers.

Healthy City｜The Power of Design for Health and Well-being

（Figure sources：https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/）

In the 21st century, the world faces enormous health challenges. Concerns have been raised about the tension between urban planning and design and the well-being of residents. There are calls to rethink the relationship between disease prevention and cities. The challenge is how to use urban planning to positively impact the well-being of residents, and the need to reduce the infectiousness of disease and urban trauma in the context of rapid urbanization.

Possible measures can be summarized as encouraging people to walk and cycle, green transport and more frequent use of public transport. These measures are aimed at improving accessibility to destinations, balancing the distribution of employment issues between cities, upgrading urban transportation systems, effectively managing vehicle parking and achieving optimal urban residential densities. These measures will open up new possibilities for building healthier and more sustainable compact cities. Plans to reduce the risk of criminal behavior affecting lifestyles, pollution of the urban environment, urban traffic flow and urban residents. Low- and middle-income countries must prioritize health, sustainability and livability in urban planning and design.

The Health Impacts Framework can be used to assess the impact of other land use and transportation regulatory measures on the health of urban residents. The relationship between urban design and resident well-being is easier to understand in compact cities. Compact cities increase density and land use diversity and reduce public transportation distances, reflecting the positive impacts of low mobility on sustainable transportation. Modularized compact city design solutions have resulted in health gains for many cities, with an overall health gain of 420-826 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 100,000 people. However, for cities with moderate to high levels of motorization, health losses will increase.

Traffic congestion, pollution of all kinds, noise, social segregation and communicable and non-communicable diseases are an important basis for the implementation of land-use planning and traffic management policies. Urban motorized traffic is a major contributor to the urban heat island effect, and its greenhouse gas emissions pose a significant threat to the health of residents. Currently, transportation planning and urban design policies in many cities do not reflect the impact of urban development on the well-being of residents. Health issues would benefit if cities were designed with health impacts in mind. Urban transportation planning and urban design need to change. Cities should actively promote compact and multifunctional urban design and encourage a shift from private motorized vehicles to green public transport. New, active modes of transportation can improve the sustainability of cities and the well-being of their residents.

Conclusion

Urban design is closely related to well-being, which is expressed through urban structure, environment, transportation, housing and greenery. Cities need to be designed and planned with the interests of residents in mind, and rapid urbanization processes need to consider the well-being of residents. Cities also serve their residents. Compact cities and multifunctional urban design have been shown to have a positive impact on the well-being and health of residents. Urban design and well-being need to be further explored and researched.