Journal of Urban Design and Mental Health; 2020:6;1
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EDITORIAL: COVID-19 PERSPECTIVES
Capturing the transformative power of COVID-19 in urban design
Layla McCay
Editor, Journal of Urban Design and Mental Health
Editor, Journal of Urban Design and Mental Health
It has been a year like no other. The word 'unprecedented' has probably never been used so much. One of the most remarkable changes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that has defined and shaped 2020 has been the way in which we use the urban public realm. Around the world, changes such as lockdowns and self-isolation, social distancing, changes to work patterns and locations, altered walking, cycling and public transport trends, and different access to sports, leisure, entertainment, culture, education, commercial, and other activities have transformed how many people engage with their cities. These changes have affected both urban design and mental health. In this COVID-19 Edition, we explore the links between the two.
A big focus of our editorials in this COVID-19 Edition of the Journal of Urban Design and Mental Health is the urban planning and design response to the demand for social distancing. Nélida Quintero's editorial examines the historical context of urban design response to public health emergencies, and reflects on how design can address the perception of risk in shared and public space. Building on this, Kavya Anchuri's editorial explores how COVID-19 restrictions on communal gathering highlight our need to design public space that enables safe local social interaction and belongingness. An editorial photoessay reflects on the themes of COVID-driven changes occurring in our urban environments around the world, and a personal view by Denean Rowe considers how the pandemic has exposed the impact of urban planning and design that has prioritised cars over people.
Optimising public spaces in response to COVID-19 is a theme extending into this Edition's research papers. Razieh Zandieh, Mark Nieuwenhuijsen and Mahdi Zandieh's fascinating paper proposes the importance of public space adaptability and resilience in reducing mental health inequalities during COVID-19. And Kathryn Terzano and Alina Gross provide a new contribution to the discussion around designing nature exposure to optimise emotional responses.
Since our last Edition, we have been delighted to see the completion of no fewer than seven new city case studies examining approaches to urban design for mental health, and extracting lessons both for that city, and lessons that can be learned and applied to other cities. These fascinating case studies from Adelaide (Australia) , Ankara (Turkey) , Delhi (India), George Town (Malaysia), Montreal and Toronto (Canada), and Washington, DC (USA) bring diverse perspectives and approaches that are essential reading for those interested in how the nexus of urban design and mental health plays out in real cities. People have signed up for several new cities recently. We continue to seek insights from South America and Africa in particular, so if you're interested, please get in touch.
During and beyond COVID-19, I hope our readers stay well and safe. It is also incumbent upon us to learn lessons, and to make positive temporary initiatives into permanent change. This Edition examines some ways of thinking about this.
A big focus of our editorials in this COVID-19 Edition of the Journal of Urban Design and Mental Health is the urban planning and design response to the demand for social distancing. Nélida Quintero's editorial examines the historical context of urban design response to public health emergencies, and reflects on how design can address the perception of risk in shared and public space. Building on this, Kavya Anchuri's editorial explores how COVID-19 restrictions on communal gathering highlight our need to design public space that enables safe local social interaction and belongingness. An editorial photoessay reflects on the themes of COVID-driven changes occurring in our urban environments around the world, and a personal view by Denean Rowe considers how the pandemic has exposed the impact of urban planning and design that has prioritised cars over people.
Optimising public spaces in response to COVID-19 is a theme extending into this Edition's research papers. Razieh Zandieh, Mark Nieuwenhuijsen and Mahdi Zandieh's fascinating paper proposes the importance of public space adaptability and resilience in reducing mental health inequalities during COVID-19. And Kathryn Terzano and Alina Gross provide a new contribution to the discussion around designing nature exposure to optimise emotional responses.
Since our last Edition, we have been delighted to see the completion of no fewer than seven new city case studies examining approaches to urban design for mental health, and extracting lessons both for that city, and lessons that can be learned and applied to other cities. These fascinating case studies from Adelaide (Australia) , Ankara (Turkey) , Delhi (India), George Town (Malaysia), Montreal and Toronto (Canada), and Washington, DC (USA) bring diverse perspectives and approaches that are essential reading for those interested in how the nexus of urban design and mental health plays out in real cities. People have signed up for several new cities recently. We continue to seek insights from South America and Africa in particular, so if you're interested, please get in touch.
During and beyond COVID-19, I hope our readers stay well and safe. It is also incumbent upon us to learn lessons, and to make positive temporary initiatives into permanent change. This Edition examines some ways of thinking about this.