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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.

Lambeth currently has some of the highest rates of pollution in London. Residents told Gehl where their favorite places are and where they perceive the best levels of air quality in the borough, which corresponded with where lower levels of air pollution are. The yellow indicates where people identify cleaner air, while the blue indicates people’s favorite places. Credit: Gehl
Bus stops are positioned along busy roads forcing people to interact with traffic-related pollution daily. Gehl re-imagined the Oval Bus Stop with a scalable solution to improve the waiting experience and identified locations across Lambeth with this same setback typology. 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.

Bus stops are a key transit hub for children and their caregivers. The goal is to invite people to wait further back from the road, introduce a new cleaner air bus stop typology for Transport for London, and fill in untapped street space with green infrastructure. Credit: Gehl
Louise Vogel Kielgast, Portfolio Director of Urban Health Louise Jane Martine, Project Manager Martin Nelson, Technical Designer
The public realm poses a challenge to healthy food access in peripheral neighborhoods of Bogotá. Steep terrain, lack of transportation, and limited healthy food offerings make it difficult for Bogotanos to access the fresh produce needed to cook at home. The nature of the public realm forces people to rely on processed and fast food that is more accessible and heavily advertised. Credit: Gehl

Working across silos to address Bogotá’s food deserts through public space improvements

  • Community Engagement
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy
Ajuda residents have a median income in the bottom 30% of Lisbon’s earnings and well below the city’s average (2009). The neighborhood’s population nearly doubles daily due to the influx of university staff and students. Credit: Gehl

Improving food access in a disinvested community in Lisbon

  • Community Engagement
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy
Due to investments in large-scale infrastructure, the density of Melbourne’s peripheral areas is increasing. This is causing significant changes in the urban fabric of suburban centers. To measure changes over time, Gehl established a benchmark study in each of the station precincts focused at impacts on the public realm and changes in public life patterns. Credit: Suburban Rail Loop Authority

Enabling future impact assessment of Melbourne’s expanding rail infrastructure

  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Mobility
  • Urban Strategy
Credit: Gehl

Reimagining Duisburg, Germany’s industrial site as a vibrant public destination

  • Place Activation
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy
Wilton Park, developed by IPUT Real Estate, is a landmark mixed-use development in the heart of Dublin Southside. As part of the development, new office workplaces are complemented by a transformed public realm, enhancing connectivity, accessibility, and vibrancy. Credits: IPUT Real Estate, Dublin

Measuring the impact of placemaking at Wilton Park, Dublin

  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Mobility
  • Urban Strategy
Credit: Related Ross

Boosting West Palm Beach’s commercial activity through public space activation

  • Urban Design & Masterplanning
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy

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