Making Healthy Places, Second Edition: Designing and Building for Well-Being, Equity, and Sustainability

Making Healthy Places, Second Edition: Designing and Building for Well-Being, Equity, and Sustainability is an updated and expanded edition that explains how to design and build places that are beneficial to the physical, mental, and emotional health of humans, while also considering the health of the planet. It covers topics such as the relationship of the built environment to equity and health disparities, climate change, resilience, new technology developments, and the evolving impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 440 pages
Publication date: 28 July 2022
Publisher: Island Press

The first edition of Making Healthy Places, published over a decade ago, offered a visionary and thoroughly researched exploration of the intricate connections between constructed environments and human health. Since then, the field of healthy community design has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving to address critical societal challenges such as health disparities, obesity, and climate change.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has fundamentally altered our daily lives, work, learning, leisure, and travel patterns, the need for creating healthy and sustainable places has become even more pressing. In response to this need, planning and public health experts Nisha D. Botchwey, Andrew L. Dannenberg, and Howard Frumkin have collaborated in the second edition of Making Healthy Places: Designing and Building for Well-Being, Equity, and Sustainability. This updated and expanded edition brings together scholars and practitioners from diverse fields, including public health, planning, urban design, sustainability, social work, and public policy, to explore the latest developments and best practices in creating places that promote human health and well-being while also considering the health of our planet.

One of the key themes of this edition is the relationship between the built environment and equity and health disparities. The authors delve into the ways in which social, economic, and environmental factors contribute to these disparities and offer practical strategies for designing and building places that promote equity and reduce health inequalities. They also address the impact of climate change on human health and explore the role of the built environment in promoting resilience and adapting to the changing climate.

Another important aspect of this edition is the consideration of new technology developments and their impacts on human health and well-being. The authors discuss the potential benefits and risks associated with emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and the Internet of Things, and offer insights on how these technologies can be integrated into the design of healthy and sustainable places.

Furthermore, the edition expands its treatment of some topics that received less attention a decade ago, such as the evolving impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the built environment and human health. The authors provide a comprehensive analysis of the pandemic's effects on public spaces, transportation systems, and housing, and offer practical recommendations for designing and building places that are resilient to future health crises.

In addition to its theoretical insights, Making Healthy Places, Second Edition offers a wealth of practical information on the role of the built environment in advancing major societal goals such as health and well-being, equity, sustainability, and resilience. The authors provide case studies and examples from around the world, showcasing successful projects and initiatives that have demonstrated the positive impact of healthy community design.

This update of a classic is a must-read for students and practicing professionals in public health, planning, architecture, civil engineering, transportation, and related fields. It provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary understanding of the complex relationships between the built environment and human health, and equips readers with the knowledge and tools necessary to create places that promote well-being, equity, and sustainability.

In conclusion, Making Healthy Places, Second Edition is a groundbreaking resource that offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary perspective on the role of the built environment in promoting human health and well-being. By bringing together scholars and practitioners from diverse fields, the book provides a wealth of practical information and insights on how to design and build places that are beneficial to the physical, mental, and emotional health of humans, while also considering the health of our planet. As we navigate the challenges of the 21st century, this edition serves as a valuable guide for creating healthy, resilient, and sustainable communities.

Weight: 1148g
Dimension: 215 x 277 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781642831573
Edition number: 2 ed