The pandemic has had a major impact on health in general and the way we live, work and communicate. It made us realize the importance of designing green and healthy cities that enhance the well-being of the people who live in them.
On average, people spend ten percent of their time outdoors, according to the report.
There is a complex relationship between the environment, our social systems, and our physical and mental health. An attractive green city that promotes movement and healthy buildings in which the indoor and outdoor environment are closely linked are critical to our health and well-being.
In a new report, Sweco Architects and Engineers unite to deliver a vision made up of three components: a green city, healthy buildings and conscious citizens.
Green healthy cities and areas
“Studies show that people who viewed greenery during the pandemic had a more positive emotional attitude and showed fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression than people without such a view. This indicates the importance of designing cities with more green space per inhabitant and higher quality green areas. ,” says Camilla Julie Hevid, an architect and landscape architect at Sweco in Denmark.
The second part of the vision recognizes a close connection between the external and internal environment. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the importance of a healthy indoor environment.
Read also: Only one in four European cities has a climate adaptation plan
night rest
We spend 90 percent of our time indoors and there is a clear link between our health, interior design, and the climate of the buildings in which we live and work.
“For example, employees exposed to natural light in the office slept an average of 46 minutes longer each night during the work week compared to employees exposed only to artificial light,” says Daniel Hujniak, Senior Sustainability and Wellbeing Adviser at Sweco in Poland.
Third, our future cities and buildings must inspire people to make the healthiest choice when they move. To achieve this, engineers and architects must design public outdoor spaces as a subtle interconnected network of connected spaces that provide interaction and activity.
urban health
“Healthy Buildings, Cities and You” is the second in Sweco’s Urban Insight reporting series on the topic of “Urban Health and Wellbeing,” where experts highlight the specific ideas, solutions and scientific findings needed to create safe, resilient future urban environments, planning and design.
Download the report Healthy buildings and cities and you
Report – Designing Healthy Cities
