“This place is making me sick” – sadly we will all be familiar with this kind of statement or may have even used it ourselves. In this blog, we already examined how architecture and spaces affect the human psyche, describing the factors that may positively influence the effect. A larger dimension – in the most literal sense of the word – is the question of what an entire city must be ‘able to do’ to keep its residents healthy rather than making them sick. This question is pivotal to liveability and survival of and in large cities, and ultimately to the sustainable existence of our civilisation.
“A healthy city is one that strives to improve the physical, mental, social and environmental well-being of the people who live and work within its limits.” (From: Healthy Cities – Healthy People, WHO). A number of studies prove how far removed from this vision our society actually is: “The risk of schizophrenia is twice as high among city dwellers as among those living in rural settings”, says Prof Dr med. Mazda Adli, psychiatrist and stress researcher at the University of Berlin. “The risk of developing depression is around 1.4 times greater.” And the risk of developing anxiety disorders is 21 percent higher in cities than in rural areas. These risks can ultimately be attributed to the factor of ‘many people in a cramped space’ factor, combined with the fact that a certain degree of social isolation persists, despite the high density. A healthy city will focus on reducing what Prof Adli calls ‘social stress’, so on preventing its emergence to the greatest extent possible. But how? Elizabeth Burton, researcher at the Institute for Health at the University of Warwick, has an initial answer: In the research cluster “Wellbeing in Sustainable Environments” (WISE), she describes that elevated stress levels are not due to the building density in itself, but to its characteristics and forms. One solution would be to enable social interaction on the one hand, but also provide places for quiet retreat on the other. This configuration of urban spaces is viewed as a benchmark for a ‘healthy city in tomorrow’s world’. But urban recreational spaces and green areas are not enough to achieve this vision on their own. The work of urban planners is always universal – and urgent.
A study by AFRY, a national and international consultancy firm in the fields of engineering and design, reveals the urgency of planning and creating these ‘healthy cities’: This study indicates that a paltry 12 percent of youngsters are keen to live in large cities with more than a million inhabitants. Over 60 percent of respondents stated that sustainability is an important factor when deciding where to live.
So how do we build cities and design agglomerations so that they seem liveable to young people? Which additional criteria must liveable spaces fulfil for older generations in order to create a healthy city in which, according to the WHO, the health and well-being of citizens is at the heart of the decision-making process? And where people can lead healthy lives?
The comprehensive qualities of a healthy city are set out in the WHO Guidelines for the Development of Healthy Cities Project:
More and more cities and municipalities are throwing their weight behind this extensive set of requirements. Many initiatives and networks exist that promote sharing of experience and contribute to sustainable urban development as a means of providing mutual support in planning and implementation. One example from Austria is the Healthy Cities Network, an initiative by the Austrian Association of Cities and Towns. All executives from every discipline involved in planning, architecture, development, administration, construction and medicine are called upon to contribute. An exciting challenge – and WEGRAZ is eager to play a part with its projects and ideas.
Further links:
Networks of healthy cities in Austria and Germany
AFRY survey https:/