There is a general consensus that to achieve a sustainable lifestyle and create a sustainable environment there needs to be a high quality of urban design. Good design guidelines help to ensure that areas do not fall into disrepair resulting in people moving away and the area often falling further into decline.
Historically cities have often been associated with the businesses that occupy them. For example, Sheffield was for a long time associated with the steel industry and for some generations it always will be. Other cities such as Newcastle have long been associated with the coal industry and historically urban areas of Lancashire have been connected to the textiles trade. This is true for many industrial cities around the world, for example in the United States Detroit has long been associated with the car industry. Many of these cities have now seen their traditional industries decline and we have witnessed the growth of the global city – London, New York, Tokyo and other large conurbations in both the developed and developing world. These cities are characterized by large financial centres, inward migration of skilled workers and growing demand for good quality space in which to live and interact.
Cities are now not only competing to attract businesses to their financial districts but they also need to be able to sell themselves in terms of the quality of life that they can offer to future employees [1]. Well designed public spaces help to provide desirable environments and to ensure that urban districts are more sustainable for those that live there. It is not just about the work environment. If people feel that they can have a good quality of life in a city, the area is less likely to suffer decline. Public spaces help to encourage social interaction, meaning that people begin to feel more proud of the area that they live in [2].
CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) is an organization that provides independent design advice to help ensure that the built environment in England is of good quality. It argues that public spaces directly affect the quality of life that people enjoy [2]. Along with providing spaces where people can interact, well designed public areas encourage more outdoor activities leading to a more sustainable and healthier lifestyle [2]. The provision of quality outdoor space helps to provide a calming environment for people to relax when they are not working [2]. It will also help to enhance the local economy by increasing property values and attracting inward investment [2].
An example of an award winning design for public space is that of Accordia, near Cambridge [2]. Here, designers have integrated old architecture with new to create well planned open spaces. Courtyards and internal avenues have been incorporated into the design that include within them communal orchards, also providing space for growing food [2].
The picture below shows some of Accordia’s open public space [2].
Overall, if public spaces are improved it can help to achieve a more sustainable environment. Well designed public space encourages people to interact socially giving people a better quality of life. It also helps to attract inward investment, meaning local economies can grow giving them a more sustainable future.
To find out more about environmental topics such as this one, visit our learning portal.
References
[1] Lluisa, N. and Llacuna, L. (2010) Learning from Barcelona: Towards Urban Sustainability. Available from www.corp.at/archive/CORP2010_128.pdf. Accessed 22nd November 2010.
[2] CABE (2010). Available from www.cabe.org.uk/sustainable-places/public-space/benefits. Accessed 22nd November 2010.
