Course overview
This course will provide students with a theoretical and practical understanding, embedded in the concept of prevention of chronic diseases, of the role of the built environment in enabling health promoting behaviours such as physical activity, contact with nature, social interaction and consumption of nutritious food. Students will develop knowledge in theoretical, urban design and health settings approaches to the development of built environments that promote the adoption of individual behaviors that help prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes and depression. Through studio work and field trips students will acquire skills to analyse the built environment and develop urban design ideas that support mental and physical health promoting behaviours. This will include a consideration of open space requirements at street, neighbourhood and metropolitan level and approaches to promoting active transport such as walking, cycling and use of public transport.
Course learning outcomes
- Critically appraise the relationship between aspects of the built environment and individual health and well being
- Identify concepts and theories that inform contemporary health promotion interventions designed to prevent non communicable chronic diseases such as diabetes and depression
- Utilise urban design guidelines developed to promote active living in order to assess planning policy and existing and proposed development at different scales and for different settings
- Apply concepts and guidelines to develop strategies that promote physical and mental health through individual behaviours and social interaction