Increased urbanization has been linked to high rates of depression, anxiety and mental ill health, whereas green space has beneficial effects on perceived stress and has restorative outcomes on a variety of mental disorders.
Incorporating green spaces into urban design can help promote positive mental health, even in built-up environments.
Green innovation that goes beyond solar panels and EV chargers, and prioritizes the people that inhabit the space on the same pedestal as the planet, will inevitably help to improve the health of both.
Incorporating green space into urban design in innovative places
Garden cities remain a central theme in urban planning and development. However, many other areas of green innovation can and should be explored.
One of the best ways to help reduce our impact on the environment is to work with what we have and look at how we can enhance existing urban design.
Instead, we should look at how we can improve existing cities and embrace any limitations that exist with innovative green design.
The rise of compact cities, which are intensely populated and building dominated, can present challenges in designing and creating accessible green spaces.
Trying to think outside the box when it comes to green spaces and looking up, literally, is a great place to start.
Many of the most inhabited cities in the world, like London, Tokyo and New York, have risen above ground level to create accessible green spaces. London leads the way when it comes to public and residential roof gardens, turning grey space into green space, accessible to residents.
Biophilic design, introduced by Edward Wilson 1984, suggests humans have a biological need to connect with nature.
Incorporating biophilic design into hospital settings has proven to shorten patient recovery times. Therefore, alongside accessible garden spaces, incorporating nature in as many ways as possible in city spaces could have a huge impact on urban and resident health.
Utilizing vertical space, like the sides of buildings and creating vertical gardens, uses existing ‘wasted’ space and gives it a new purpose, and increases the biodiversity of the city.
Turning functional design aspects into innovative green features can also help. For example, increasing public transport is a proven way to help increase connectivity and improve mental health, while also providing a greener transport option.
While this alone can increase sustainable credentials in cities, some cities have introduced bus shelter roof gardens. Several cities across the UK, inspired by the Netherlands, have introduced bus shelter roof gardens.
The addition of greenery in predominantly grey spaces can have a real impact on mental health and encourage people to get out into their community.
Designing connected communities
By encouraging residents to get outside more in their city, there is a real need to revive community centers with multipurpose spaces for the public to freely socialize.
Neighborhoods that really encourage social interaction are key design functions that feature in true green and garden cities. Therefore, having space to exercise, work, socialize and shop is important when creating connected communities.
Key green urban design considerations could include essential spaces for daily activities, like having somewhere to exercise and safe walking paths or trails, co-working spaces and comfortable, secure living spaces.
Embracing even small-scale greening initiatives, like Tree Kits for schools, local businesses, and communities, can help enrich these shared spaces and encourage a deeper engagement and connection with local nature.
Understanding how people exist and live in a space is vital to good urban design. A big contributor to stress and even depression in city dwellers comes from toxic work cultures and productivity demands, with many workers taking shorter lunch breaks or skipping them altogether.
Creating community spaces that are conveniently located and accessible to all may help not only to encourage more social interactions but also give people the necessary breaks needed throughout their day.
While these features will help to impact normal interactions, achieving optimum mental and physical health includes the social aspects of living as well as the necessities. Providing spaces for collaboration and creativity in urban planning and making this the heart of the community can contribute to social interactions in cities and built environments.
There are many proven benefits of art therapy in a mental health retreat setting, so providing a space for community-led and professionally supported workshops and events can help to combat feelings of stress and isolation.
Additional elements like community allotments, food gardens and kitchens, communal recycling points, and even shared facilities like bike hires can all contribute to feelings of belonging and combat feelings of isolation.
Connected communities can also extend to create shared energy grids powered by renewable sources, like solar and wind.
This can increase the sense of connectivity in communities, highlighting the need to be conscious of consumption as it will impact the urban health of the whole neighborhood.
At ForestNation, our Tree Kits are helping residents grow their own trees at home, while we plant trees in developing countries, promoting global reforestation and sustainable livelihoods.
Maintaining green designs for the continuous improvement of urban health
While planning and designing cities that aim to promote good mental health, it’s important that these spaces and communities are given the continuous maintenance they require and deserve in order to see the impact on urban health.
While there is often local council support for living locally, they are often unable to implement the necessary policies without government backing. So, there is a strong need for national support for green housing and planning policies.
Although government support is vital, it can take time and is often focused on bigger picture policies. Encouraging the community to contribute to the maintenance of the communal spaces can have a twofold impact.
Primarily, it will empower those who actually experience and use the spaces each day and give them the agency to make decisions that impact them. In addition, it can encourage the building of connections between inhabitants and contribute to a collaborative community that builds its future together.
Final Thoughts
Through prioritizing relationships with nature, encouraging connected communities and, arguably most importantly, committing to the ongoing maintenance of green innovations within urban design.
The improved impact on urban health should not only be measurable, but also palpable for everyone in the community.
For more inspiration, insights and practical ideas on sustainable living and community-led green innovation, explore the ForestNation blog.
