Work

Creating age-friendly public spaces in high heat vulnerable areas: the engagement of a spatial-morphological tool

Year: 2024

Type: book

Abstract: The disruptions in urban spaces and the population's quality of life caused by climate change phenomena urge a holistic interpretation.The funded research project CLIMATE ADAPTATION FOR OLDER PEOPLE LIVING IN VULNERABLE URBAN AREAS (CAOP, PTDC/GES-URB/2038/2021) aims to provide a Handbook for a Climate-Responsive and Community-Based Urban Planning/Design to deal with the effects of heat stress on health/quality of life through the development of a climate-sensitive and community-based urban planning and design methodology.Within the scope of a broader multidisciplinary team consisting of climate-change, health, and urban planning experts, the Faculty of Architecture (FAUP) researchers investigated the morphological and socio-urban conditions of two vulnerable urban areas located in the eastern part of Porto City, Portugal -the São Roque housing neighbourhood (1930s) and the social neighbourhood (1960s construction) and São Roque da Lameira Street (an ancient street).Consequently, an evaluation methodology was developed by this team to explore the spatial dimension of the vulnerability concept, recognising the role of public space in promoting inclusive, resilient, and sustainable communities with direct benefits for the well-being of older people.This paper primarily discusses the application of a methodology based on the "proxy attributes" of urban form and an understanding of older populations' practices and perspectives.Using morphological, ethnographic, and cocreation methodologies, it explicitly analyses the urban form's configurational and geometrical properties of the public spaces that promote healthier cities, and the public space uses and preferences of older residents.The findings suggest that some public space attributes can be considered for urban retrofitting measures by testing a tool to evaluate the relationship between urban spaces' spatial configuration with different thermal conditions and older populations' perceptions.These adaptive attributes are believed to safeguard the inhabitants during extreme heat events.Finally, the evidence presented in this paper shows that by exploring the potential of particular public space attributes design decisions can be better informed.Additionally, CAOP's multidisciplinary approach highlights the pressing importance of a comprehensive framework to support sustainable urban strategy development based on the multidimensional analysis of socio-morphological, microclimatic, and health issues.

Source: Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT)

Authors: Ana Martins, Gisela Lameira, Ana Silva Fernandes, Rui Jorge Garcia Ramos

Institution: Universidade do Porto

Language: Portuguese

Topic: Urban Design and Spatial Analysis

Subfield: Urban Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Good health and well-being, Climate action

Open Access status: green

Funder: Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

Awards: Centro de Estudos de Arquitectura e Urbanismo, ADAPTAÇÃO CLIMÁTICA PARA PESSOAS IDOSAS QUE VIVEM EM ÁREAS URBANAS VULNERÁVEIS.Desenho de uma metodologia climaticamente responsiva e localmente participada.