Bringing Nature Into Urban Spaces

Covid-19 has underlined how critical nature is to our urban spaces, and city and building design trends are beginning to reflect that.

As the world hunkered down and sheltered in place this year, the importance of nature became more clear to us than ever before. 

With travel restricted and outdoor activities limited, we lost access to the usual distractions and escapes we used to turn to. We’re going without the usual stimulation of commuting to and from work, or knowing when we can look forward to the next vacation. And many of us have turned to nature to cope. House plant sales are up and pet adoptions from shelters have surged. And, as reported by UNESCO, there is a renewed interest in nature-based experiences and rediscovering local heritage. 

What are some of the key trends in city planning and design that developers, architects, designers and consultants should consider for a post-pandemic world? This article outlines some big themes shaping urban design and programming of space.

Sustainable cities growing in mainstream consciousness 

Before Covid-19, green building design and sustainable cities were already gaining momentum. Increasing green cover in cities (such as parks and marshes), has shown to “significantly reduce water run-off rates, making floods less severe and protecting water treatment facilities,” reports The Possible. “Studies in the US have calculated the flood prevention “service” provided by green spaces saves public authorities millions of dollars a year.”

Additionally, cities trap a lot of heat. During the summer, overheating has been blamed for excess deaths. This is predicted to only increase with climate change. However, research shows that “a 10% increase in tree cover could reduce climate change-driven temperature increases by nearly 4ºC”.

Besides the environmental benefits, greening cities also has a positive economic impact. Property prices located in close proximity to green space “command a price premium of up to 19%, with most suggesting between 5-10%.” Additionally, “New York’s High Line park is estimated to have delivered a US$4bn boost to nearby real estate,” according to the same article in The Possible.  

Instead of formally-designed and neatly manicured green spaces, city planners and architects are also realizing the importance of “rewilding”. This essentially means bringing untamed nature closer to where people live. In the UK, a plan to replace the “bleak” Broadmarsh shopping centre in Nottingham with an ambitious “post-Covid wildscape” has been revealed. The goal of the project is to reconnect the millions of people who live in and visit the city to “Sherwood Forest, invoking the spirit of Robin Hood.”

Green spaces: Not only beneficial to the environment but also to mental health

Throughout this pandemic, there has been an increased mainstream awareness not only of the importance of sustainable buildings and cities to preserve our physical environment - but also to preserve our mental health. 

Recent research presented amid Covid-19 reaffirmed that green spaces are a vital benefit to our mental health and can mitigate some of the difficulties of social isolation, reported Technology Networks. According to the studies, people with more frequent exposure to urban green spaces report more positive emotional experiences. The researchers argue that exposure to urban green spaces could be protective for people at risk of mental illness.

Smaller and walkable cities for greater wellbeing and ease of commute 

As car traffic has reduced during the pandemic, people have turned to biking and walking to continue to maintain physical activity. Decision-makers have also realized that these are activities that allow people to get around while safely maintaining social distancing. 

As a result, the World Bank reports that, “many cities in both developed and developing countries have been deploying pop-up bike lanes over the last few months, from Paris and London to Berlin, Milan, Bogotá, Mexico City, Lima, and Wuhan. As part of this trend, new design guidelines help local governments implement simple changes to road infrastructure or signage, allowing for the creation of bike lanes at a low cost and in as little as ten days.”

The increased focus on walking and biking, as well as the economic disruption caused by the pandemic, has placed a greater spotlight on what equitable transport means.

“...walking is and will be a crucial pillar of urban mobility in developing countries, particularly for women and the poor. People walk to access public transport, to shop, or even to commute to work. Promoting pedestrian-friendly streets can make travel safer, reduce air pollution, improve public space, and create a more inclusive environment for all users, including children and people with disabilities.” 

There are other benefits to making cities more walkable too. By keeping cities more compact, it prevents the urban sprawl that contributes to climate change and preserves local biodiversity. Also, it potentially saves governments and employers millions annually by keeping people healthy and reducing the risk of sedentary lifestyle-related diseases. 

Urban design becomes more sophisticated and multipurpose

During Covid-19, it’s easy to point a finger at city density for the spread of infection. Throughout history, as plagues and disease broke out, people blamed crowded cities. But some experts believe that managed correctly, dense cities can be safe while providing opportunities for innovation in a post-Covid-19 world. 

Writes William Fulton, Director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University, “the threat of infectious disease is likely to ramp up urban design as a solution — perhaps, for example, by creating more separation in public spaces like restaurants and parks.” 

Martha Thorne, dean of the IE School of Architecture and Design, part of the innovative IE University in Madrid/Segovia, Spain, said at the virtual Business of Design Week 2020:

“The great advantage of dense cities is [their ability to make] effective use of resources, agglomeration to support innovation and economic activity, and a generous offering of urban services… we need to avoid single-use buildings, and also have accessible spaces where people can go to see nature, be alone and enjoy the outdoors.

Many uses are compatible with each other. Having different services and spaces close at hand means we are not forced to travel great distances to meet our needs. Having diversity in our neighborhoods also helps us to feel connected to our community, which in turn relates to quality of life in cities.”

Conclusion

Covid-19 has accelerated trends that already were gaining momentum, underscoring the importance of seeing nature not just as a feature, but critical to sustaining urban life. Moving forward, we look forward to seeing buildings and spaces designed around green and natural spaces. 

Pockets of nature will be embedded throughout buildings and communities, rather than as added an afterthought. 

Instead of seeing a green wall as an aesthetic, Insta-worthy feature, it’s time we also started valuing nature for the health and mental benefits that are critical to our survival.