Health, Wellbeing and Productivity in Offices

Research Note: Quality of the Public Realm

RESEARCH NOTE - QUALITY OF THE PUBLIC REALM

The following paper is a summary of discussions and research in the 'amenities & location' sub-
group related to this topic, and is presented in note form.

Security and safety, natural surveillance (and perceptions of)

A well landscaped public realm can establish a safer environment by incorporating natural
surveillance. Natural surveillance is a term used when considering ‘Crime Prevention Through
Environmental Design’ (CPTED). Jacobs (1961) suggested that natural surveillance was naturally
occurring. Well lit pedestrian areas where a diversity of uses result in a constant flow of people
prevents the opportunity for crime to take place. To promote natural surveillance designers should
consider using low landscaping, street lighting and pedestrian areas overlooked by use.

In terms of technological advances, the accepted level of CCTV use varies between cultures and
could make an environment unappealing. This should be considered when measuring the number of
security cameras, protection bollards, crime statistics well as perceived levels.

Quality of public realm (quality, tidiness, cleanliness)

Public realm has positive impacts on health, wellbeing and productivity outcomes through
recreational benefits and public enjoyment of space, if space is well managed.

Many developers opt to retain control of the public realm that impacts on their development.
Examples of this are found at Regent's Place (British Land) and Central St Giles.

Central St Giles: London

 Regents Place: London

The public realm is in constant evolution to accommodate user needs and evolving technologies -
e.g. skateboarders at the South Bank, London. Some cultures may have significant needs to
recognise spatial features (e.g. Feng Shui in China).

Quality of architecture (aesthetics)

There is a psychological, inextricable link between aesthetics (in this case of the built environment)
and emotional response and wellbeing. The positive impact on wellbeing that the built environment
can have will depend on the extent to which it meets local expectations which are culturally,
socially and geographically formed, and will depend on the location itself.

Research

Gallup et al (2008) launched the Knight Soul of the Community project in 2008 to find out what
emotionally attaches people to a community. After interviewing close to 43,000 people in 26
communities over three years, the study has found that three main qualities attach people to
place: social offerings, such as entertainment venues and places to meet, openness (how
welcoming a place is) and the area’s aesthetics (its physical beauty and green spaces).

Philipp’s (2001) ten point community health gains model seeks, amongst other questions, to answer
the following: How can the aesthetic quality of an environment help to improve the ‘quality of
life’? See article for more information.

While it is difficult to change the architecture of a building without large scale remodelling less
attractive buildings can be retrofitted to improve their aesthetic – see Bennetts Associates’
Elizabeth Court retrofit.

Quality of external landscaping/spaces

The key outcome of good quality public space is that people will want to use and interact in it and
that attractive surroundings can promote positive mental wellbeing. External space and landscape
may be easier to 'retrofit' than architecture.

The creation of 'living streets' can help promote spaces which people want to use. Positive impacts
on wellbeing can be experienced by the entire workforce, as impact of external landscaping/spaces
on wellbeing is something that all can benefit from. There is a need to ensure that the design of
external space meets any site or development-wide approach to minimising environmental impact,
ecology and biodiversity as well as sustainable drainage plans.

For example when designing external landscaping it is important to consider the impact of resource
intensive features such as plant varieties which require large volumes of water to survive or water
features which require similar resource.

Paving to provide seating/community areas must be designed in order to reduce impact on

biodiversity and ensure that drainage is considered. The extent to which external spaces can have a
positive impact on wellbeing will vary considerably depending on location. Climate in particular will
determine the use of outdoor space (requirements for shelter or shade) and the ability of 'users' to
interact with the space.

It is important to create external space which is sympathetic to local climatic conditions in order to
ensure that dead and unusable space is not created. Sufficient maintenance of the space should be
put in place. A regular cleaning and waste management regime will be required, as well as regular
upkeep and repair. 'Green' space will require maintenance - this could potentially be something
which 'users' are involved with (e.g. workers use their lunch breaks to tend food growing space).

Flexibility of space is key (space can be used for a variety of activities including travel, social
interaction, markets, events, vehicular parking). If space has multiple uses programming in of
events is important and times when the space is pedestrianised made clear. One initiative is to
have ‘Parking days’, during which metered parking bays are temporarily suspended to create
temporary public spaces (see - http://parkingday.org/about-parking-day/).

Creation of pop-up parks/recreation sites is an increasingly interesting and innovative way to

develop attractive space which promotes wellbeing.

Research

In a recent report by RIBA (2013) they recommend that Local Authorities with less than 50% green
space and/or a housing density of over 5% must produce a Healthy Infrastructure Action Plan in
conjunction with Health and Wellbeing Boards. RIBA recommends that local authorities should
outline their strategy for making streets and parks safer and more attractive and they must outline
the principles they expect new developments to meet in order to gain planning permission.

The study also found that people said it is the quality, and not quantity, of public space and streets
that will encourage them to walk more, thus proving the link between land use and public health in
cities.

The World Health Organisation’s Healthy Cities’ movement ‘promotes comprehensive and
systematic policy and planning for health and emphasizes the need to address inequality in health
and urban poverty; the needs of vulnerable groups; participatory governance, and the social,
economic and environmental determinants of health.’

Case studies

The Highline in NYC - Public Park built on an old freight rail line which is elevated above the streets
on Manhattan’s West Side (see website).
 The Highline: Past and present

Pocket Parks (GLA initiative in London) - Small grants are awarded to local community to create an
attractive green place in an unused local space (see website).

Pocket parks: Red Cross Garden, Bankside Open Spaces Trust, Southwark

Edible Bus Stop - Micro-growing spaces created at bus stops across London to improve local
environment (see website).

Lambeth Hospital Bus Stop

See also Living Streets - promoting streets which are attractive/walkable and promote interaction
(see website).

Measurement

ULI 10 Principles for Building Healthy Places Section 4 includes a short check list for best practice
living streets (see website).

There are credits available in both BREEAM and LEED relating to external space and landscaping.

Number of users of the space could be a useful measurement, as well as the number and variety of
events held in the space.

Access to reuse, recycling and waste facilities

Recycling programmes contribute to the overall health and wellbeing of a community. Sustainable
companies, or corporations that use recycled materials, will be more likely to establish ties or open
up branches in a town that has a vested interest in recycling. Fewer landfills means better property
values, as well as the knowledge that your community is actually working to mitigate global
warming. Communities that actively recycle send the message that they really do care about the
environment.

All altruism aside, recycling can stimulate your local economy in a big way. Preparing material for
recycling is much more labour-intensive than incineration or landfilling. The recyclables have to be
sorted and then processed according to type, whereas non-recycled waste does not undergo any
kind of specialised processing. In fact, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance reports that industries
engaged in sorting and processing recyclable material employ 10 times more people than traditional
waste disposal firms do. The recycling process has a lot of steps, and the more of those steps you
have locally, the more jobs you create in your community. And, of course, those jobs help
stimulate the local economy, in terms of both individual and corporate buying power.

The provision of appropriate waste and recycling facilities is inherently resource efficient as waste
is being minimised and reuse/recycling (which leads to the reduction in virgin materials being
produced) is being encouraged. Facilities should be appropriate for the space and used correctly.
On site food waste/composting is also an option. The waste streams which can be recycled will
depend on local/regional infrastructure and markets (e.g. countries which have less developed
recycling infrastructure may be able to only offer a limited range of recycling streams.)

In particular food waste collections must be properly managed in warmers climates. Full waste
management and collection system will be required. This will include provision and maintenance of
sufficient waste receptacles. Collection of waste and recycling streams will need to be considered
when designing space/incorporating facilities into space. Sufficient collection vehicle access is
required (including parking/vehicle turning circles etc.)

Engagement programmes may be required to encourage usage to ensure users must understand how
to use facilities. Food waste collections/composting must be particularly well managed due to risks
of pests etc.

Research

Research suggests that there can be a link between environmental knowledge, attitudes and
behaviours and personal wellbeing. Mellen (2006) found that people who live a more eco-friendly
lifestyle, based on an assessment of their lifestyle and attitudes, tend to score significantly higher
in subjective wellbeing assessments. A summary of the article can be found here.

For more information

Knight Foundation in partnership with Gallup (2010) Knight Soul of the Community study. Available:
http://www.soulofthecommunity.org/sites/default/files/OVERALL.pdf Last accessed 9 September
2014

Mellen M. (2006) Green and Happy? The Relationship between Personal Well-Being and
Environmental Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours. Imperial College Centre of Environmental
Policy. Available: http://www.ecohustler.co.uk/ Last accessed 10 September 2014

ONS (2013) Measuring National Well-being – What matters most to Personal Well-being? Available:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171766_312125.pdf Last accessed 9 September 2014
Philipp R. (2001) AESTHETIC QUALITY OF THE BUILT AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT: WHY DOES IT
MATTER? http://artsaccessinternational.org/wp-
content/uploads/2012/02/VENICERobinPhilippwebNational-Environment.pdf Last accessed 9
September 2014

RIBA (2013) City Healthcheck – How design can save time and money. Available:
http://issuu.com/ribacomms/docs/riba_city_health_check Last accessed 9 September 2014

WHO - Healthy Cities. Available: http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/environment-and-

health/urban-health/activities/healthy-cities Last accessed 9 September 2014

Young Foundation report (2013) Going green and beating the blues The local approach to improving
wellbeing and environmental sustainability. Available: http://youngfoundation.org/wp-
content/uploads/2013/01/Going-green-and-beating-the-blues.pdf Last accessed 9 September 2014