How do high-rise communal spaces shape residents’ social interactions?

June 19, 2025

High-rise apartment buildings are increasingly popular in large cities, however, urban land availability for outdoor communal spaces is limited. Creating communal spaces for high population density is a challenging task. Past research indicates the importance of the immediate environment in stimulating social interaction and the spatial organization for social activities can play an important role. One may ask whether the design of communal spaces within high-rise buildings can stimulate social interaction among residents.

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A health equity-informed review of pedestrian urban designs and place attachment, sense of community

June 13, 2025

Building place attachment and sense of community through design can improve community well-being, yet reviews on this topic are lacking. This manuscript presents a systematic review of the links between pedestrian designs and place attachment and sense of community, and also highlights several health equity considerations to encourage new ideas about inclusive and healthy urban design practice and study.

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A fresh framework for moving health knowledge into urban planning action

April 22, 2025

We took a significant step in identifying the existing gaps in knowledge translation for healthy cities and adopting a proactive approach to laying out opportunities for improvement. By developing a visual representation for a renewed conceptual framework, we provide a clear and insightful tool for planners, designers, and policymakers aiming to enhance knowledge translation processes. As a result, this study not only elevates knowledge translation as a field of study for urban professionals but also reinforces its importance in public health.

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Prioritizing residents’ experiential knowledge in public housing redevelopment programs to promote community health

April 3, 2025

Despite historic disinvestment and stigmatizing portrayals of public housing, residents often describe their place as a source of refuge. We explored the ways residents of a predominately Black public housing complex undergoing redevelopment construct meanings of place, emphasizing their place-making efforts to challenge their social marginalization and foster community health.

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User experience of neighbourhood greenspace and perceived impact on health and wellbeing: the case of an urban extension to a ‘Healthy New Town’ in England

April 3, 2025

Providing access to greenspace is insufficient in ensuring that positive benefits are realised. Critical characteristics may distinguish between those spaces that encourage people to visit them and those that are uninviting. This article provides a case study of a residential urban extension in one of the UK’s ‘Healthy New Towns’.

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