Questing a walkable city: a case of urban neighbourhood walkability environment in Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
A.S.M. Shuaib ◽  
Md Masud Parves Rana

Purpose What makes neighbourhood environment more walkable is an important question for urban planning and design research. The purpose of this paper is to explore this question through a case study of urban sidewalks in different contexts of urban neighbourhoods in Rajshahi city of Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach Using participatory observation, Google street view and photography techniques, it examines the quality of the street facilities by demonstrating physical attributes of sidewalks and by analysing how various obstructions on them characterize neighbourhood walkability environment. Findings The findings suggest that the unusable sidewalks in Rajshahi city, Bangladesh, are a production of inadequate and inappropriate planning and design that unable to capitalize the functionality of sidewalks as a means of walking. It further argues that the urban planners and designers of streets have paid little attention to the diverse requirements of sidewalks in accordance with spatial and socio-economic categories of urban neighbourhoods. Originality/value This study adds insights about the urban sidewalks planning and design in the context of a developing country. It provides an empirical evidence about the constraints and potentials of making a walkable city.

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Oliver Hoon Leh Ling ◽  
Siti Nur Afiqah Mohamed Musthafa ◽  
Muhammad Solahuddin Hamzah ◽  
Marlyana Azyyati Marzukhi ◽  
Nurul Ashikin Mabahwi

Environmental health is referring to the health of people in relation to environmental quality. Due to rapid urbanisation, more people are living in urban neighbourhoods. Urban planning and design aspects including the neighbourhood environment are potentially affecting the human healthy lifestyle and health condition. Thus, the relationship between Malaysian neighbourhood environmental aspects and human health has become the concern of this research. One of the neighbourhood units in Shah Alam city had been chosen as the study area for this purpose. Questionnaire survey had been carried out to examine the health condition and physical activeness of residents. Besides, the perception of residents on the quality of neighbourhood environmental aspects also had been collected in the questionnaire survey. The health condition of residents was measured by non-communicable diseases (NCD) and the physical activeness was measured in duration as well as the frequency of physical exercise activities. The study found that the quality of neighbourhood environmental aspects significantly increased the physical activeness of respondents. The physical activeness was positively associated with human health as measured in NCD (heart diseases and high blood pressure, HBP). It shows that neighbourhood environmental (physical and social) aspects are potentially affecting the healthy life of people living in the neighbourhood.Keywords: Healthy life, Neighbourhood environment, Non-communicable diseases (NCD), Physical activeness, Quality.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Atie Rachmiatie ◽  
Fitri Rahmafitria ◽  
Karim Suryadi ◽  
Ajeng Ramadhita Larasati

Purpose The research aims to classify halal hotels based on Islamic values as embodied in both physical and non-physical attributes. Design/methodology/approach This study explores the perceived values of business owners of the halal hotels. Findings Perceptions of hotel owners are divided into three types: those who view the value of halal hotel only in terms of branding and attracting consumers; those who consider the ideology behind halal hotels based on strong Islamic values; and those who avoid halal branding but implement Islamic values in their hotels. For the hotel industry, halal certification is not a priority because a minimum effort at implementing halal standards can already attract Muslim customers. This case is especially true for countries where Muslims make up the majority of the population. Research limitations/implications This study was limited to a case study in Bandung and Bangkok as a representative of halal tourism in Asia. Hence, it could be extended by conducting comparative studies with other cities in Association of South East Asian Nation which already declare to develop halal tourism. Practical implications The findings of this research show that there is a large variety of halal hotel products, depending on the Islamic values upheld, which is causing difficulties for the government in creating standards. Then the result can help inform the government in establishing the strategic framework of halal tourism development, more particularly in the formulation of policy for industrial actors. Originality/value The findings contribute to the concept of product-centered business, in which it is generally assumed that industrial actors are frequently focused on the mere label of “halal” and ignore the true values. However, the research shows that some industrial actors put Islamic values first instead of the mere halal label, and another case shows that some of them implement Islamic values in their business but avoid halal branding. This empirical evidence shows that in halal hotels, the concept of product-centered is not always proper. The quality of halal hotel products depends on the Islamic value of the owner, not always influenced by business imperatives.


Author(s):  
Marek Kozlowski ◽  
Yusnani Mohd Yusof

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the responses from the urban planning and design professions in Brisbane to the impacts of climate change and the implications of the 2011 flood. In the past decade, the ramifications of climate change have already left a scar on some of the urban regions round the world. The Australian continent has been regarded as one of the most affected regions in terms of climate change implications. The 2011 Queensland floods of historic proportion, which came after a decade of extreme drought, raised many questions about the future development of cities. For the past decades, Queensland’s economy was largely based on property-led development. The flood plain land situated along Brisbane River has been developed and overburdened with building infrastructure contributing to the magnification of the flood events. Design/methodology/approach – The research methodology is based on identification of the problem and the major objective. To address the objective, this study concentrated mainly on the use of qualitative research methods. The major qualitative research methods include literature review, qualitative analysis and observations. Brisbane, the capital of the Australian state of Queensland, has been selected as the case study area. Findings – The paper revealed strong regional and city-wide planning directives addressing climate change which has not yet been fully been translated at the local-neighbourhood level. Originality/value – This paper provides a deep insight analysis and evaluation of the design and planning measures currently used to combat the impacts of climate change.


2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 256-265
Author(s):  
Matas Cirtautas

Extensive urban growth is often considered an uncoordinated process creating chaotic and fragmented suburban landscape. Such negative attitude is widespread among urban researchers and planners. But it contradicts with the very nature of the phenomenon – suburban sprawl is partly encouraged by people, who keep settling there due to a better quality of housing. This one and some other contradictions motivate more detailed morphological studies of the suburban fabric. This paper describes a research model, which is based on the three fundamental components of urban morphological research (form, resolution and time), and discusses the possibilities of its practical application for morphological examination of suburban settlements in Lithuania. Suggested research model is versatile and suitable for dealing with various morphological research problems of modern urban fabric, such as distinguishing different suburban tissues, analyzing their formation patterns, identifying their specific characteristics. As shown in the article, morphological knowledge can be integrated into the urban planning and design processes and be useful in guiding sustainable development of suburban settlements. Santrauka Ekstensyvi miestų plėtra dažnai laikoma nekoordinuota, kuriančia chaotišką ir fragmentišką priemiestinį kraštovaizdį. Toks plačiai tarp miesto tyrėjų ir planuotojų įsivyravęs bei neigiamų reikšmių turintis priemiestinės plėtros traktavimas prieštarauja pačiai reiškinio prigimčiai – ekstensyvią miesto plėtrą iš dalies lemia dėl geresnės būsto kokybės noriai ten besikuriantys žmonės. Šis ir kiti prieštaravimai skatina detaliau analizuoti priemiestines urbanistines struktūras. Tam parankūs urbanistinės morfologijos metodai, kurie taikomi tiriant priemiestinių gyvenamųjų vietovių urbanistinės struktūros formavimosi dėsningumus, nustatant išskirtinius jų bruožus. Šiame straipsnyje, remiantis urbanistinės morfologijos tyrimų srities tradicijomis ir tendencijomis, pateikiamas pagrindiniais morfologinės analizės principais pagrįstas tyrimų modelis, kuris, kaip rodo nagrinėjami priemiestinių urbanizuotų struktūrų morfologinių studijų pavyzdžiai, būtų parankus tirti Lietuvos didmiesčių ekstensyvios plėtros formuojamus priemiestinius darinius morfologiniu aspektu. Tokio tyrimo rezultatai leistų daryti apibendrinimus dėl priemiestinių gyvenviečių vyraujančių raidos tendencijų, jų morfostruktūros transformacijos dėsningumų ir galimybių koordinuoti šių vietovių raidą ateityje, atsižvelgiant į darnios plėtros sampratoje keliamus uždavinius.


2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 620-636
Author(s):  
Alexander Gösta ◽  
André Agi ◽  
Jacob Flårback ◽  
Jesper Karlsson ◽  
Ellen Simonsson

This article aims to map how different digital tools can be useful for architects and how they might affect their work processes. Researchers and professionals were interviewed to investigate what they found valuable to measure, which methods they used within their analyses, as well as the opportunities and risks they see for the future of the field with regards to digital tools. As part of the survey, a workshop was held with architects and project managers examining the possibilities of connecting existing methods and tools to the sustainability certification system, City Lab Action Guide, and through that, to achieve a more ambitious set of sustainability goals for the projects. Findings from the study indicate that there are risks associated with giving data an increasingly important role in the design work. A working model never provides the full truth but is inherently limited by its constraints. It is important to acknowledge that all angles and aspects of a problem can never be represented in a model. Another possible risk identified lies in the quality of, and access to, data. In a scenario where data plays an increasingly important role, it is not only the quality of the datasets that is of utmost importance, but it is equally important that the urban planners who request the analyses ask the questions first, and then collect the necessary data, instead of vice versa.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-250
Author(s):  
Saisanath G. ◽  
Subbaiyan Gnanasambandam

Purpose As an underlying entity in the discourses of privatisation of space, urban security and fear, boundary walls are considered as an impediment to the publicness of public spaces. But, the inevitability and potential of their physical attributes and functions is indicative of the lack of systemic knowledge on how to approach boundary walls, so that they contribute positively to the quality of urban spaces. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach Since boundary walls are constitutive of physical attributes that are embedded with multiple functions, the contribution of physical boundaries is premised on the interaction between objective and subjective measurements, explored in positive and ambiguous space types. In this study, the quality of physical boundaries is measured by an index and the perceived functions of the physical attributes of boundary walls are measured by a questionnaire survey. Findings This study found that positive and ambiguous space types not only affect the quality of physical boundaries but also the perceived functions of the physical attributes of boundary walls. Further, social and visual functions of boundary walls play a significant role in contributing positively to the quality of urban spaces. Originality/value By exploring the relation between quality of physical boundaries and their perceived functions, this study extends the meta-understanding of the role of boundary walls.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Marie Hartsell

Purpose This paper expounds theoretical reasons behind and practical applications of urban natural space as part of the ontological whole of the city. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, nonsecular and secular relationships between humans and nature are explored from an ontological perspective. Findings The characteristics of the savanna hypothesis are shown to be tectonic elements that have been used historically in human-defined landscapes and can be implemented in urban planning and design to enhance urban green spaces and improve the overall quality of urban life. Social implications The human–nature relationship has morphed and adapted as civilizations and their belief systems have grown and fallen aside. The human–nature relationship has affected the form of cities while human development and technological advancements have affected nature’s representation in the urban realm. Throughout the periods of nonsecular affection for nature and secular applications of nature, one theme has persisted: human innate preference for certain arrangements of certain natural elements. Though existing long before the first human settlements were formed, the savanna hypothesis was not coined until the 20th century. Originality/value Ultimately, the savanna hypothesis is exhibited as a joining concept that connects nonsecular affection for nature to secular qualities of urban nature and natural infrastructure.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-43
Author(s):  
Gintaras Stauskis ◽  
Vaiva Deveikienė

Abstract We may see modern urbanism as a collection of many successful developments as well as a series of endless mistakes and repeated failures. The paper focuses on the analysis of existing and former urban planning and design patterns in aspect of efficiency of applied methods to achieve higher quality referring to the philosophy and practice of Landscape Urbanism. The Missionaries Block in Vilnius City serves as a case study for assessing its development in three distinguishable periods by the set of quality criteria derived from Landscape Urbanism theories and practices. The assessment results disclose an evident drop in the overall quality of the selected site’s development in the recent period. The paper discusses if and how one may use the method employed hereby for programming and shaping the future regeneration and redevelopment of existing urban setting.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 294-309
Author(s):  
Bujar Bajçinovci ◽  
Mejreme Bajçinovci

AbstractUrban health planning is a process with a primary role to protect communities and to use the environment sustainably. In relation to sustainability, the implementation of law reinforcement, urban planning and design can significantly improve the quality of life, particularly in relation to air pollution. Therefore, it is crucial to encourage every activity related to the functioning of a city, which would minimize air pollution. The empirical and conceptual findings from this research propose the necessity of careful driven urban health solutions, derived from power plants and heavy city traffic, regarding the gasoline-diesel powered automobiles which are not supportive to the urban, economic and health objectives. Prishtina, like other cities, must reconsider implementation of a strategy for healing urban health, helped by new developed technologies and environmental focused activities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 55-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zixin Tang ◽  
Andong Lu ◽  
Yue Yang

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the possibility that design research involving a series of actions is an appropriate approach to memory place-making. It tries to explore how memory expressed in public space and how memory place becomes an agency system and re-organize fragments of memory in practice specifically. Design/methodology/approach Taking the memory project of Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge (NYRB) as an example of design research and re-establishing new cognitions of contemporary memory place-making through the elaboration and analysis of the design process of a series of teaching, exhibition and public participatory activities. Findings Design research is oriented towards multi-discipline campaigns of agency and actions and acts as thinking patterns and integration mechanisms, so that the memory place-making can be incorporated into the scope of planning and design. This paper suggests that contemporary memory place-making should pay more attention to the spiritual experience of individual participation and the identity relations behind these emotional memories. On one hand, social bonds are established between people and have involved more public participation. On the other hand, multiple resources are integrated through a series of practical activities and design research, and the memory place becomes a catalyst for individual memory, emotions and communication thus redefining memory place-making. Social implications NYRB is a controversial mid-20th century national monument. In the social context of contemporary China, design research has helped to redefine and shape this national icon into a contemporary memory place where people can share memories of the bridge. Originality/value It is project-based in the sense of adding the dimension of memory to the practice of place-making through design research.


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