Effects Of Urban Design Research Articles

Effect of urban design on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mahabad, Iran

ABSTRACT Each individual’s experiences and perspectives influence how they interact with the environment. An environmental psychologist examines the environment as a multidimensional concept. This includes not only geographical information, but also social and cultural aspects, physical properties, symbols, places, times, and even biological entities. During the COVID-19 outbreak, a study looked at how the environment and buildings in Mahabad affected people’s mental health. According to the study, mental health is affected by urban design. A questionnaire with 24 items and a base coefficient of 0.812 was used to survey 384 Mahabad residents. R was used to analyze the data. The study adds to the growing body of evidence that well-designed towns can benefit mental health. People’s beliefs and ideas about the environment affect how they act in the environment, and environmental facts help people make decisions. Environmental psychologists look at the environment from a social, cultural, physical, symbolic, geographical, historical, and biological point of view. This study hypothesizes that ‘urban space design contributes to mental health.’

The relationship between site planning and electricity consumption: An empirical analysis of multi-unit residential complexes in Seoul, Korea

To cope with the exacerbating housing problem due to urban population increase and rapid urbanization, the number of multi-unit residential complexes (MURCs) is sharply rising. MURCs account for approximately 30% or more of housing stocks in the New York and Los Angeles metropolitan areas; and much higher in developing world, for example, 58% in Seoul, Korea. Likewise, the share of electricity consumption of MURCs in cities is increasing. Most existing literature analyzed the electricity consumption at household or house level and neglected the electricity consumption in publicly shared spaces and utilities such as outdoor lighting, parking system, elevators (vertical transportation), playgrounds, site water and sewage, management offices, security offices, and so forth. Unlike single houses, MURCs with hundreds or thousands of houses tend to be planned and built all at once, under one site plan. Therefore, urban design or site planning can crucially affect the aggregated electricity consumption at neighborhood level with different land use patterns and spatial configurations, which change light, shade, wind, heat island, reflection for individual houses and public domain. Site plan attributes can also affect residents’ choice of indoor and outdoor activities. A few simulation studies tried to examine the effect of urban design at neighborhood level, but empirical analysis can be hardly found mainly due to data limitation. This study aims to empirically investigate the effect of urban design on aggregated electricity consumption at a neighborhood level. We collected the aggregated electricity consumption data of 1122 MURCs in Seoul during the first half of 2016 and adopted the panel analysis. This study confirmed that more building coverage roads and pavements increase the aggregated electricity consumption; more green open space reduces it. Interestingly, mid-rise and mid-open plan would be the optimum design because of the effect of the number of floors. As the number of floors increases, electricity consumption for vertical transportation increases faster and offsets the benefit of high-rise and high-open plan. The study is significant, because, unlike previous studies, it empirically analyzed the collective consumption of electricity at a neighborhood level, considering the site plan features. Furthermore, this study provides evidence-based implications for sustainable urban design, especially for MURCs.

Analysis of different urban spaces on thermal comfort in cold regions: a case from Erzurum

With the rapid rise in population density in urban areas, there has also been an increase in research on quality of life and the effects of green space on health and comfort in densely populated cities. A critical part of improving the quality of life in urban areas is the reduction of urban heat island effect, especially in hot climate cities, and the reduction of adverse effects of winter in cold climates. Urban planning and landscape design strategies can have a great impact on urban microclimates, thereby providing relief from the harsh effects of climate change. Studies reveal that the cultivation of wetlands and open green spaces can have a direct impact on microclimate and comfort in densely populated areas. Erzurum is under the cold stress of the decreasing temperature in winter and continues to experience extreme temperatures in summer. This study is focused on the effects of urban design and landscape architectural interventions in the city of Erzurum. For this purpose, meteorological stations were placed in intensive construction areas of the urban city center, in wetland areas, and in the forested area of Ata Botanical Park in the city center. Three stations, dense green areas (1), temporary wetlands (2), and urban city center areas (3), were selected as urban area use types. Meteorological data were collected during March–April when the wetlands were full due to heavier periods of rain, and during July–August, the hottest months in the city. Thermal comfort values have been analyzed for different areas using RayMan soft model. The average value of Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) recorded in March–April was 3.5 °C in the city center, 2.8 °C in the dense green area, and − 0.3 °C around the temporary wetland area. In July and August, the average value of PET in the city center was 24.9 °C, 23.0 °C in dense green areas, and 21.2 °C around the wetland area. In cold cities, it was found that the water surfaces, which positively contribute to thermal comfort in summer, increased the cold stress in winter. It was determined that dense green areas function as balancing factors for thermal comfort of the city both for summer and winter seasons and they contributed positively in all conditions. As a result of this study, more accurate decisions can be made for future urban planning efforts by considering the effects of different environmental conditions on microclimates in the city, especially where this consideration can be applied to urban design and development, urban revitalization efforts, or when designing new settlements.

Energy Efficiency Design Guide for Optimal Urban Features of Open Spaces in Residential Complexes

The energy consumption in buildings and especially residential buildings is immensely affected by the design of urban open spaces around these buildings. Many countries including Egypt have been witnessing rapid growth in residential complexes while the effect of urban design on microclimate and energy use is not given appropriate considerations. Accordingly, this has contributed to the massive increase of energy consumption. Many studies have been conducted for analyzing the effects of urban features of open spaces (variables) and their values on the microclimate. A set of values for one or more variables were addressed in each of these studies and their effect on urban microclimate and energy use were measured. However, such effects were diverse and dispersed. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to identify the optimal settings of urban features of open spaces that contribute to reducing energy consumption in buildings and achieve outdoor thermal comfort in the context of urban open spaces in residential complexes. In order to achieve this goal an extensive and thorough literature review is conducted for classifying and analyzing the impacts of different values of each urban feature of open spaces on energy use and thermal comfort. The urban features of open spaces in residential complexes are classified into five categories: urban morphology, street pattern, urban density, building distribution, and urban canyon. There are various subvariables for each category with corresponding range of values which are classified into different sets. Each set corresponds to the same urban pattern and climate zone. The results of these sets and categories are comparatively analyzed in order to identify the optimal values that contribute to reducing energy consumption in buildings and achieve outdoor thermal comfort. The outcome of this extensive comparative analysis is resulted in the form of five main urban patterns (that are dominantly used in residential complexes), for the two climate zones in Egypt (hot arid, and hot humid) along with the optimal urban design features of these five main urban patterns. The outcome of this research paper is presented in a matrix format that graphically presents these urban patterns and the optimal values of the urban open space features (variables) along with the indicators of energy consumption and outdoor thermal comfort. This matrix provides architects and building designers with a useful and friendly design guide that can be used at the early phases of urban design and can help them to achieve energy efficient and comfortable urban-open spaces in residential complexes. Such design guide will contribute in improving the awareness of designers at the early phases of the design process and direct their designs to be energy conscious and efficient prior to the detailed design phase wherein energy simulation is time-consuming and expensive.

Effect of urban design on microclimate and thermal comfort outdoors in warm-humid Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Due to the complexity of built environment, urban design patterns considerably affect the microclimate and outdoor thermal comfort in a given urban morphology. Variables such as building heights and orientations, spaces between buildings, plot coverage alter solar access, wind speed and direction at street level. To improve microclimate and comfort conditions urban design elements including vegetation and shading devices can be used. In warm-humid Dar es Salaam, the climate consideration in urban design has received little attention although the urban planning authorities try to develop the quality of planning and design. The main aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between urban design, urban microclimate, and outdoor comfort in four built-up areas with different morphologies including low-, medium-, and high-rise buildings. The study mainly concentrates on the warm season but a comparison with the thermal comfort conditions in the cool season is made for one of the areas. Air temperature, wind speed, mean radiant temperature (MRT), and the physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) are simulated using ENVI-met to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the existing urban design. An analysis of the distribution of MRT in the areas showed that the area with low-rise buildings had the highest frequency of high MRTs and the lowest frequency of low MRTs. The study illustrates that areas with low-rise buildings lead to more stressful urban spaces than areas with high-rise buildings. It is also shown that the use of dense trees helps to enhance the thermal comfort conditions, i.e., reduce heat stress. However, vegetation might negatively affect the wind ventilation. Nevertheless, a sensitivity analysis shows that the provision of shade is a more efficient way to reduce PET than increases in wind speed, given the prevailing sun and wind conditions in Dar es Salaam. To mitigate heat stress in Dar es Salaam, a set of recommendations and guidelines on how to develop the existing situation from microclimate and thermal comfort perspectives is outlined. Such recommendations will help architects and urban designers to increase the quality of the outdoor environment and demonstrate the need to create better urban spaces in harmony with microclimate and thermal comfort.

The Effect of Urban Design on Outdoor Thermal Environment in a Central Business District Area in Singapore

Outdoor thermal environment in urban spaces is important for people to enjoy the urban environment. This paper investigated the effect of urban design on outdoor thermal environment in an urban street in the central business district in Singapore, focusing on street orientation and height-to-width ratio. The microclimatic parameters of different street design scenarios were determined by ENVI-met numerical simulation. Field measurement was conducted to validate the results from the numerical simulation and they were in good agreement. For different design scenarios, it is found that (1) The air temperature differences did not exceed 0.8°C; (2) The mean radiant temperature differences could exceed 40°C; (3) The maximum wind speed difference was 0.6 m/s; (4) No distinct relative humidity differences could be found. The results show that shading is the key strategy for improving outdoor thermal environment in Singapore because it leads to reduction on the air temperature and mean radiant temperature simultaneously. N-S orientated street had the best thermal environment condition.Outdoor thermal environment in urban spaces is important for people to enjoy the urban environment. This paper investigated the effect of urban design on outdoor thermal environment in an urban street in the central business district in Singapore, focusing on street orientation and height-to-width ratio. The microclimatic parameters of different street design scenarios were determined by ENVI-met numerical simulation. Field measurement was conducted to validate the results from the numerical simulation and they were in good agreement. For different design scenarios, it is found that (1) The air temperature differences did not exceed 0.8°C; (2) The mean radiant temperature differences could exceed 40°C; (3) The maximum wind speed difference was 0.6 m/s; (4) No distinct relative humidity differences could be found. The results show that shading is the key strategy for improving outdoor thermal environment in Singapore because it leads to reduction on the air temperature and mean radiant temperature simultaneously. N-S orientated street had the best thermal environment condition. Shading achieved by means of high aspect ratios can improve thermal environment at street level.

Influence of urban design master plans on property sub‐markets: two case studies in Brisbane

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to consider the impact of urban design master plan projects in the Australian context of Brisbane. It first reviewed the general ramifications of urban design projects on property markets. The local impacts of two major projects were then analysed and compared. A limited statistical analysis was conducted to investigate whether local price growth could be attributed to the projects or resulted from generally buoyant market conditions.Design/methodology/approachThe paper adopted a largely descriptive approach. It first reviewed the theoretical outcomes urban design projects should deliver. It then looked at the specific details of two distinct urban design projects in Brisbane and descriptively assessed their impact on adjacent local housing markets. It then compared relative aggregated location price growth to isolate discernable project price effects. Finally, the paper anecdotally selected some master designed properties and considered whether their prices were excessive compared to average location rents.FindingsThe paper found conflicting evidence to support the view that urban design projects significantly lifted aggregated location prices. On the one hand, aggregated project location price growth was relatively muted. Other generic demand factors and local differences in housing stock quality swamped project effects. On the other hand, at the individual property level, there was some anecdotal evidence to suggest premiums were paid for urban designed homes. The paper indirectly suggests, then, that any price impacts of urban design projects are subject to rapid distance decay.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper conducted only a limited historical review of revitalisation and urban design. A systematic individual, project‐adjacent, property price analysis was not conducted. Rather, the aggregated dwelling price analysis and anecdotal rental review suggested, albeit inconclusively, that the effects of urban design are spatially restricted to the immediate vicinity of projects.Practical implicationsInvestors should note likely price impact of planned infrastructure projects is spatially restricted to the immediate environs of the project.Originality/valueThe paper combines an overview of urban design and property market analysis.

Erratum.

In the article "The Effectiveness of Urban Design and Land Use and Transport Policies and Practices to Increase Physical Activity: A Systematic Review" which appeared in Vol. 3, Supplement 1, of the Journal, Figure 4 was omitted from page S63.

The Effectiveness of Urban Design and Land Use and Transport Policies and Practices to Increase Physical Activity: A Systematic Review.

Although a number of environmental and policy interventions to promote physical activity are being widely used, there is sparse systematic information on the most effective approaches to guide population-wide interventions. We reviewed studies that addressed the following environmental and policy strategies to promote physical activity: community-scale urban design and land use policies and practices to increase physical activity; street-scale urban design and land use policies to increase physical activity; and transportation and travel policies and practices. These systematic reviews were based on the methods of the independent Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Exposure variables were classified according to the types of infrastructures/policies present in each study. Measures of physical activity behavior were used to assess effectiveness. Two interventions were effective in promoting physical activity (community-scale and street-scale urban design and land use policies and practices). Additional information about applicability, other effects, and barriers to implementation are provided for these interventions. Evidence is insufficient to assess transportation policy and practices to promote physical activity. Because community- and street-scale urban design and land-use policies and practices met the Community Guide criteria for being effective physical activity interventions, implementing these policies and practices at the community-level should be a priority of public health practitioners and community decision makers.

Generating Urban Lifestyle: The Case of Hong Kong New-Town Design and Local Travel Behaviour

The urban design of new towns embodies a movement and exchange system that has been consciously developed in relation to a set of expected human behaviours. In the history of new towns, these expectations have been variously fulfilled, but with rare investigations into the design causes. This study of Hong Kong new towns examines differences in travel behaviour between one early town and two later ones. While the general plans were quite similar and travel was expected to be the same in the towns, considerable differences were observed. Features of the town-centre design, details of the movement system and local environmental design all explain the differences in local behaviour. Differences in the size of the town, distance from the town centre and public transportation alternatives are all relatively unimportant in explaining the differences in local travel behaviour of residents. These findings point to the need for more empirical investigation into the effectiveness of urban design generally, and local environmental design in particular. Such findings could be highly useful in the continuing development of new and satellite towns in China.

The potential impacts of climate variability and change on temperature-related morbidity and mortality in the United States.

Heat and heat waves are projected to increase in severity and frequency with increasing global mean temperatures. Studies in urban areas show an association between increases in mortality and increases in heat, measured by maximum or minimum temperature, heat index, and sometimes, other weather conditions. Health effects associated with exposure to extreme and prolonged heat appear to be related to environmental temperatures above those to which the population is accustomed. Models of weather-mortality relationships indicate that populations in northeastern and midwestern U.S. cities are likely to experience the greatest number of illnesses and deaths in response to changes in summer temperature. Physiologic and behavioral adaptations may reduce morbidity and mortality. Within heat-sensitive regions, urban populations are the most vulnerable to adverse heat-related health outcomes. The elderly, young children, the poor, and people who are bedridden or are on certain medications are at particular risk. Heat-related illnesses and deaths are largely preventable through behavioral adaptations, including the use of air conditioning and increased fluid intake. Overall death rates are higher in winter than in summer, and it is possible that milder winters could reduce deaths in winter months. However, the relationship between winter weather and mortality is difficult to interpret. Other adaptation measures include heat emergency plans, warning systems, and illness management plans. Research is needed to identify critical weather parameters, the associations between heat and nonfatal illnesses, the evaluation of implemented heat response plans, and the effectiveness of urban design in reducing heat retention.