Healthy Design Principles

There are a few healthy design principles that have been developed to help work towards a healthy future for people. These include:

• Active Transport - "non-motorised forms of transport, including walking and cycling"

Example of Good Active Transport Practices (Source: Google Images, 2011)

Example of Bad Active Transport Practices (Source: Google Images, 2011)

• More Aesthetic Environments - bettering the quality of places to encourage walking and cycling

An Aesthetic Environment (Source: Healthy Places and Spaces AU, 2011)

• Connectivity - the "directness of travel between destinations"

Connected Environments (Source: Healthy Places and Spaces AU, 2011)

• Mixed Land Uses - locating varying land uses "together in a balanced mix"
• Increasing Safety and Surveillance
• Mixed Density Establishments - "providing a choice of housing types, maximise infrastructure and land and support the provision of public transport"

 Healthy Places and Spaces, 2011

This is only a short list of design principles used by urban planners today, however, these concepts are not new. This is because these principles have been embedded in design concepts well before the 21st century, like Peter Carlthorpe's Pedestrian Pocket theory, Ian Bentleys 'Responsive Environment' concepts and also Transport Oriented Development (TDM). The only difference between these 'modern' principles and the works of previous planning and design gurus, is that now these principles are being established to focus on health rather than creating pockets of economy or a better sense of place. 

To some extent, this aspect seems to show how health can overlap with other aims and issues.

References:

Healthy Places and Spaces AU (2011): "Design Principles" http://www.healthyplaces.org.au/site/design.php (Accessed: 22/05/11).