Description:
Currently, urban regions are facing two contrasting developments: on the one hand, the rapid expansion of urbanization and on the other hand urban redevelopment and transformation processes. Both developments are often intertwined spatially and temporally and are influenced by socio-demographic, economic, and cultural processes. It is necessary to implement adequate adaptation strategies for each strand of development with the aim to maintain a high standard of living and to achieve a high quality of life for the urban population.
At the planning level it is increasingly recognized that the design of urban space and residential environment does not only involve topics of spatial planning but is also strongly connected with health and environmental aspects. Therefore, an integrated approach with comprehensive measures is needed involving all sectors on an interdisciplinary level. Additionally, the complexity of possible pathways and causal chains through which social determinants can impact health make urban health a particularly challenging topic for urban planners and public health professionals.
The development of integrated approaches that focus on health and urban planning requirements is still relatively new. Most tools that connect urban planning and health issues such as mobility, climate change, green spaces, security or health care have been developed to support integrated planning in an interdisciplinary approach.
Objectives:
This course is designed to acquaint students with the principles of healthy urban development and to provide field-level examples of instruments which support an engagement between urban planners, developers and health professionals as well as stakeholders. The students will carry out an individual project by applying some of these tools.
Upon completion of the course, students
- will have enhanced knowledge and understanding of
- key principles which promote health and wellbeing in urban systems
- tools/instruments for reviewing and commenting on development plans
- will gain practical skills to
- apply and implement an assessment tool on specific projects, plans or proposals (identification of suitable partners, quartiers, etc.)
- practice GIS (i.e. analysing accessibility)
Course Format:
The course will be a combination of classical lectures, invited talks and group work with practical elements. The content can also be customized depending on the specific needs and demands of the students.
Assessment:
Students must prepare a short final presentation covering main topics discussed and results of their practical work (2nd Mar 2022). |
