RULES AND TOOLS -safeguarding neighbouring green space for human health and well-being
Project overview
Participants
More related research
Global goals
- 3. Good health and well-being
- 11. Sustainable cities and communities
Short summary
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? I
The project
In the project, we address, among others, the following questions:
- How can rules/principles such as the 3-30-300 and the GYF tool safegurard green space quality?
- What association is there between distance to urban green space and human health and wellbeing?
- Can today’s planning policy, characterized by compactness with small or sometimes non‑existent residential courtyards, meet the need for health‑promoting outdoor environments?
These rules/principles/tools are studied:
- the 3-30-300 principle
- The Green Space Factor tool (GYF)
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.