Contact us

Thrive zones in Lambeth

Designing cleaner air plans to reduce air pollution in Lambeth

Sector

Health Equity

Region

Europe

Timespan

2020

Credit: Gehl

Air pollution causes health problems for over 9,000 Londoners a year. Lambeth Borough has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and to protect residents from poor health outcomes by improving air quality. Gehl responded to this call to action with support from Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity and the Bernard van Leer Foundation.

Durham Street sits between two schools and several key destinations for children. This Thrive Zone is designed to be a well-connected street that gives pedestrians priority and supports people who want to spend time there. Systematic data collection of traffic and air pollution levels provided the evidence to make this intersection a safe, efficient, and healthy crossing for children. Credit: Gehl
Gehl envisions a future where people can move quickly where they need to, and pause where they want to. Gehl recommended a Cleaner Air Network, where air quality sensors inform people of air pollution levels and allow for responsive traffic sensors to support healthier everyday movement. Credit: Gehl

Fresh approaches to tackling polluted air

Preventing human exposure to air pollution is a design problem that requires fresh solutions. Gehl addressed Lambeth Borough’s air pollution challenge by looking to the urban environment for answers and examining how changes in behavior and movement can lead to positive health impacts. 

Gehl designed the ‘Cleaner Air Network Plan,’ complete with tactical pilots and neighborhood-wide strategies that prioritize people’s health. The short-term programming designed by the team works to create conditions for people to spend time in places with better air quality, while the long-term strategy works in tandem with the Local Authority’s aim to reduce the actual emission sources of air pollution.

Together with Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity, Lambeth Borough, and Transport for London, Gehl tested the feasibility of the green wave intervention for Durham Street and continued the effort to build the capacity of local partners to ensure air pollution is monitored and communicated broadly in the future. Read more about Guy’s and St Thomas’ 10 year programme to address the health effects of air pollution and the Thrive Zone report.

The goal at Durham Street is to invite people to move quickly where air pollution is bad, prioritize pedestrians, and improve safety for children near their schools. Credit: Gehl
Louise Vogel Kielgast, Portfolio Director of Urban Health Louise Jane Martine, Project Manager Martin Nelson, Technical Designer
The river lies right on the city’s doorstep and offers a relaxing respite from the urban hustle and bustle, yet it is often difficult for all users to access. Credit: Gehl

Revitalizing and connecting Melbourne’s city centre to its riverfront

  • Place Activation
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy
Credit: LHM/MOR, DobnerAngermann

Modernizing Munich’s old town as a place for all

  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Mobility
  • Urban Strategy
Broadway at Times Square in 2009, after Gehl worked with the City of New York and the Department of Transport on a major urban realm and bicycle strategy. Credit: Department of Transport (DOT)

Redefining New York City’s relationship with its streets

  • Place Activation
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy
Credit: Van Leer Foundation

Advocating for child-friendly cities globally

  • Community Engagement
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy
Credit Gehl

Expanding people-first transportation options in a booming city

  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Mobility
  • Urban Strategy
In 2022, the Gehl team reimagined a parking lot into a space fostering vibrant public life. The project’s success led to its permanent transformation, highlighting the potential for underutilized urban areas to be repurposed into thriving community spaces. Credit: Patrick Waldschmitt

Bringing more greenery, healthy mobility, and public life into Karlsruhe’s inner city

  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy

‘People-first’ includes you

Interested in learning more about our projects or connecting with one of our experts? We’re here to help.

Get in touch