Evidence Linking Design to Health Often limited, with surprises and contradictions Real-world opportunities are needed to continue building an evidence base https://www.mailman.columbia.edu/research/urbanhealth-initiative 2
Evidence Linking Design to Health Examples: Green roofs Libraries 3
Evidence Linking Design to Health Examples: Green roofs Green space Libraries Special thanks to Bora Chang and Ashley Gripper for help with this evidence scan 4
Linking Green Space to Stress Walking or exercising in nature demonstrated benefits in memory, mood, salivary cortisol. Green space may attenuate harmful health consequences from stressful life events High density of trees or more greenness may lower risk of cardiometabolic conditions. 5
Linking Green Space to Stress 1. Barton, J. & Pretty, J. (2009). What is the Best Dose of Nature and Green Exercise for Improving Mental Health? A Multi-Study Analysis. Environ. Sci. Technol, 44(10), 3947 3955. 2. Berman, M. G., Kross, E., Krpan, K. M., Askren, M. K., Burson, A., Deldin, P. J.,... Jonides, J. (2012). Interacting with nature improves cognition and affect for individuals with depression. J Affect Disord, 140(3), 300-305. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2012.03.012 3. Kardan, O., Gozdyra, P., Misic, B., Moola, F., Palmer, L. J., Paus, T., & Berman, M. G. (2015). Neighborhood greenspace and health in a large urban center. Sci Rep, 5, 11610. doi:10.1038/srep11610 4. Mitchell, R. & Popham, F. (2008). Effect of exposure to natural environment on health inequalities: an observatioal population study. Lancet, 372, 1655-1660. 5. van den Berg, A. E., Maas, J., Verheij, R. A., & Groenewegen, P. P. (2010). Green space as a buffer between stressful life events and health. Soc Sci Med, 70(8), 1203-1210. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.01.002 6. Ward T., C., Roe, J., Aspinall, P., Mitchell, R., Clow, A., & Miller, D. (2012). More green space is linked to less stress in deprived communities: Evidence from salivary cortisol patterns. Landscape and Urban Planning, 105(3), 221-229. doi:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2011.12.015 6
Evidence Evaluating Library Design Public library building design does not appear to have had much quantitative evaluation in recent years. Assessments have been done around wayfinding, assigning people book-finding tasks and timing them. Literacy or library skills programs are evaluated, but generally without a rigorous design (just pre-post). An interesting perspective is to include users in the design of libraries, and including digital libraries. 7
Evidence Evaluating Library Design 1. Nitecki DA. Space assessment as a venue for defining the academic library. Space 2011;81(1). 2. Li R, Klippel A. Wayfinding in libraries: Can problems be predicted? Journal of Map & Geography Libraries 2012;8(1):21-38. 3. Saykanic DM. Increasing Multicultural Understanding and Interaction through a Library Based Effort in a Culturally Heterogeneous Urban Elementary School. 1994. 4. Amini R, Hernandez NC, Keim SM, Gordon PR. Using standardized patients to evaluate medical students evidence based medicine skills. Journal of Evidence Based Medicine 2015. 5. Sannwald WW. Checklist of library building design considerations American Library Association, 2009. 6. Dewe MM. Planning public library buildings: Concepts and issues for the librarian Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2012. 7. Worpole K. Contemporary library architecture: a planning and design guide Routledge, 2013. 8. Lawton A. The Invisible Librarian: A Librarian's Guide to Increasing Visibility and Impact Chandos Publishing, 2015. 9. Dickstein R, Mills V. Usability testing at the University of Arizona Library: how to let the users in on the design. Information technology and libraries 2000;19(3):144. 8 10. Fuhr N, Tsakonas G, Aalberg T, Agosti M, Hansen P, Kapidakis S, Klas C-P, Kovács L, Landoni M, Micsik A. Evaluation of digital libraries. International Journal on Digital Libraries 2007;8(1):21-38.
Parting Thoughts Strategic comparisons make for stronger evidence (re-designed space vs status quo) Consider what conditions could maximize or undermine health benefits of design, including community involvement in the design process. Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody. Jane Jacobs 9