Urban Design

The features of the urban built environment influence the daily activities and health behaviors of people living in cities. Thus, it is possible to design cities in ways that can reduce poor health and support the well-being of urban residents. Urban design is the framework that gives form and shape to the components of the urban physical environment, including streets, residences, retail outlets, and industrial facilities. In giving form to the urban physical environment an urban design perspective creates an opportunity to shape cities and, in so doing, to shape how cities influence the health of their populations. This chapter introduces an urban design perspective and offer examples of how an urban design lens can help us understand urban health to the end of improving the health of urban populations.