Healthy Urbanism Book Launch

The event was chaired by Prof Yolande Barnes, Chair Bartlett Real Estate Institute, UCL with speakers:

• Prof Julian Agyeman, Professor of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, Tufts University
• Kieron Boyle, Chief Executive, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation
• Dr Helen Pineo, Associate Professor in Healthy and Sustainable Cities, University College London
• Julia Thrift , Director, Healthier Place-making, TCPA (Town & Country Planning Association)

The launch event included a photo exhibition of examples from our healthy urban development case study review and student contributions. 

Healthy Urbanism

Structured around the THRIVES framework, the book offers a balance of theory and practice, illustrated with case studies. Each of the scales of health impact in THRIVES is examined through a chapter, first using evidence to demonstrate that the status quo of urban design and planning is insufficient to support health and then proposing frameworks and design solutions to overcome this challenge.

The book is a resource for existing professionals and students in built environment and public health professionals. Readers will find sections covering key topics in healthy urbanism, including:

• An overview of health and wellbeing models with key definitions, global trends in urban health and drivers of urbanisation
• Discussion of the shifting priorities for healthy places from ancient cities, social reform, high-rise housing and new urbanism through to 15-minute cities
• Models for conceptualising the built environment’s impact on health and the need for THRIVES
• Deep dives into each scale of health impact in THRIVES, including planetary health, ecosystem health and local health, with in-depth policy and design case studies
• Ways of practising healthy urbanism, covering policy-making, community knowledge, funding healthy places, models of healthy development and monitoring
• Priorities for the future of health urbanism, including disaster prevention and recovery, incremental to transformative urban change, smart cities and framing healthy urbanism.

Endorsements from Professor Julian Agyeman, Professor Waleska Teixeira Caiaffa, Professor Sir Andrew Haines and Sharon Z. Roerty are available on the Springer Nature website.