This book represents a multidisciplinary and international vision across different countries in Europe that are facing similar challenges about ageing and quality of life in present cities. It is divided in three main topics from the global context of health in cities and reduction of health inequities to the current research of different study cases, focusing on residential models and the relationship with the built environment. The third chapter illustrates best practices with some study cases from different cities in Europe. Friendlier environments for older people come together with the need of innovation, smart and updated technologies, healthier environments and mitigation of climate change.
Health re-appears nowadays as one of the priorities for urban planning and design, not only for the communicable diseases and the effect of the pandemics, but also for the non-communicable diseases, that were also triggering the wellbeing and equity of our cities. Indeed, the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted health inequities and vulnerabilities of those areas of the city that were already deprived and facing other health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, social isolation, respiratory problems or mental health issues, specifically applying for vulnerable groups. Older adults have been one of the most affected groups from the pandemic’s threats and derived consequences. In this context, the care crisis arises intertwined with the design and planning of our cities, where there is an urgent need to regenerate our environments with a perspective of sustainability, inclusion, and health prevention and promotion.
From the global urban challenges to the specific contextualisation of each city and study cases, each chapter offers an updated insight of the main questions that we should consider to address urban planning and design from the perspective of ageing and social inclusion in European cities.
Elisa Pozo Menéndez is architect and urban planner, MsC in
Villes durables (UPEM-IFU, 2014) and MsC in
Environment and Bioclimatic Architecture at UPM (MAYAB, 2019). She is currently researcher in ABIO-UPM Group and PhD candidate on healthy ageing and urbanism, coordinating European projects at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid on innovative education and urban health (EIT Health). She collaborates as architect and consultant with different studios and engineering teams in urban studies, mobility plans, architecture projects and competitions. She teaches workflows and digital tools in Istituto Europeo di Design. Since 2006 she has collaborated in multiple NGOs and associations, working with vulnerable collectives. In 2020 she receives the third prize solidarity award of Young Talent of the Region of Madrid.
Ester Higueras García is a Doctor of Architecture. She is a professor at the Universidad Politécnica de Madridand a researcher for the Bioclimatic Architecture group in a more sustainable environment ABIO-UPM. She has worked in bioclimatic urbanism, environmental ordinances, impact studies and sustainable planning since 1990, and in 2015 she has started the urbanism and health line, with three European projects won in the competitive call from EIT Health of the European Union. She has combined research work as director of 16 doctoral theses and various R&D projects in recent years, with professionals, highlighting the Bioclimatic Ordinance of Tres Cantos in 2001, the Bioclimatic Manuals for Vitoria-Gasteiz in 2012, the study for the Bioclimatic Characterization of the city of Malaga in 2021, and the proposal to plan Healthy Neighbourhoods in the Basque Country in 2021-2022.
