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ACADEMY OF URBANISM CONGRESS VI, Glasgow 2011 Provocation Paper 1: Housing and Health
The more a neighbourhood can enable participation by the citizen and inform collaboration by the decisionmakers, the more useful it can be as a place
ACADEMY OF URBANISM CONGRESS VI, Glasgow 2011 Provocation Paper 1: Housing and Health
We know that the physical environment that surrounds us is key to our health and wellbeing. Historically we have focused (very successfully) on creating environments free from significant hazards. Whilst this continues to be important we now recognise an additional need to create positive physical environments which nurture better health and wellbeing. The relationship between environment and health is complicated and creating safe and positive environments for health requires us to think, plan and deliver in new and more effective ways. Todays issues are less about toxic or infectious threats but rather the capacity of ugly scarred and threatening environments to foster hopelessness and stress, discourage active healthy lives and healthy behaviours. When it comes to health and wellbeing, it is often said that everything matters. Our challenge is to translate this understanding into effective policy and action. Central to this issue is the difference between neighbourhood the physical and locational aspect of place, and community the organisational and social aspect of place. The citizen sits at the heart. In this context, good places better health is not just an issue of physical regeneration. In the words of the Chief Medical Officer in Scotland, it is about constructing the architecture of hope, where social capital and opportunity are as important as the built quality of the physical environment.
Institutional collaboration
Concentrations of poor health, poverty and benefits dependency are often found in areas where high levels of housing is provided by the social rented sector. Despite intensive intervention, over several decades, these levels persist. Previous efforts have tended towards the short term, grant-aided, area specific, project level approach which have been difficult to sustain. Whilst many of these have been successful and have helped improve local practice, the strategic long-term potential of greater collaboration across social housing and health, at the structural level, appears as relatively untested. All providers of statutory and voluntary public services expect challenges in maintaining current service models. Given this, it may be timely to reassess how common interests in community development, health and wellbeing can be combined in new methods of service delivery under the key areas of: Physical Environment Social Environment, and Enabling Services Appreciating the limitations of the individual, specific, project level approach in influencing institutional level decision making, a sectoral level framework for the social rented sector could be built. This would take the form of a series of inter-related demonstration projects, a learning and doing infrastructure. The outcomes would inform decision making at the strategic
todays environmental health threats are less about toxic or infectious threats but rather the capacity of ugly scarred and threatening environments to foster hopelessness and stress
We need to understand the difference between neighbourhood the physical and locational aspect of place, and community the organisational aspect of place
ACADEMY OF URBANISM CONGRESS VI, Glasgow 2011 Provocation Paper 1: Housing and Health
Smithfield in Dublin... ...the neighbourhood got bigger on market days. It was less about the buildings and more about the deals
level. No single organisation could take ownership of the framework. It would be a collaborative initiative, working to achieve economies of scope by working together. Such an approach would: Be participative and designed around the citizen, the user Be grounded in real experience Address broad health determinants Deliver local service solutions whilst informing strategic level decision making. Test current collaborative limitations and advise sectoral level solutions Build over time as a practice led framework Inform and support an evidence based policy approach Support new, long term, forms of service partnership
ACADEMY OF URBANISM CONGRESS VI, Glasgow 2011 Provocation Paper 1: Housing and Health
Participation
How would a framework for health and housing look if we organised it around the citizen? Exploring new ideas often means we need to deal with new people and new institutions and forge new conversations and new relationships. Participation seems like a good idea to most people but general support is almost always tempered by specific reservations. These reservations usually find expression in two frequently asked questions. Isnt there a danger of raising unrealistic expectations? Yes there is, if you ask people what specific solutions they want built rather than what needs and hopes they want satisfied. It is not unrealistic to have an expectation that people will be listened to about the aspirations they have for the places they want to live in. We want our communities to have high aspirations and we expect the places we create to help turn them into reality.. Why should experienced professionals listen to inexperienced amateurs? Because its their place. Because they will have to live their lives in what the professionals create. Because they are the world class experts about their own lives. And, because the alternative dont try to understand or engage with the people who will use your design is not a credible, responsible way to make great places. If the architecture of hope is about building better conditions for better lives, then it can not be an idea done to people. It has to be a process of design together. Housing is a key element of the health opportunity of people. Better integrated thinking in places, designed with people, with citizens through continuous participation and engagement with the environment, and the services supporting our lives could help make these opportunities real.
If the architecture of hope is about building better conditions for better lives, then it can not be an idea done to people
References Good places better health - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/12/11090318/0 Employers in Voluntary Housing - http://www.evh.org.uk/content/ A vision of Health - http://www.ads.org.uk/healthierplaces/features/a-ds-a-vision-of-health Investing in better places - http://www.smith-institute.org.uk/file/Investing%20in%20Better%20Places.pdf Delivering Better Places - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/336587/0110158.pdf AOU 10x10x10 Folkestone - http://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/projects/10x/provocation_folkestone.pdf Historic Area Regeneration Programme, Dublin - http://www.dublincity.ie/YOURCOUNCIL/LOCALAREASERVICES/CENTRALAREA/REGENERATIONPROJECTS/Pages/SmithfieldandHistoricAreaProjectHARP.aspx 5
Architecture + Design Scotland (A+DS) is Scotlands champion for excellence in placemaking, architecture & planning. Architecture + Design Scotland Bakehouse Close, 146 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8DD T: 0131 556 6699 F: 0131 556 6633 info@ads.org.uk www.ads.org.uk
The Academy of Urbanism is an autonomous, politically independent, cross-sector organisation formed in 2006 to expand urban discourse. The Academy brings together a diverse group of thinkers, decision-makers and practitioners involved in the social, cultural, economic, political and physical development of our villages, towns and cities, and is an active membership organisation. The Academy of Urbanism 70 Cowcross Street London EC1M 6EJ T: +44 (0)20 7251 8777 F: +44 (0)20 7251 8777 info@academyofurbanism.org.uk www.academyofurbanism.org.uk