In an open access article, Rashidfarokhi and colleagues probed how design can promote human resilience. They determined that design can influence individual and community resilience: “The built environment, for example, can strengthen an individual’s capacities by supporting their physical health, reducing stress and increasing positive stimuli to manage crises better. In the community context, the built environment can help to strengthen connections and create a sense of community/place. . . . Land use, density and scale, the relative position of the neighbourhood and green areas affect both the wellbeing of individuals and the community’s resilience. . . . Social resilience is enhanced by the availability of walkable areas and public transport networks. . . . walkable, mixed-use neighbourhoods can encourage the development of social capital and place attachment through an increase in interactions. . . . Indoor air quality, as well as thermal, acoustic and visual comfort should be ensured as these affect the physical (e.g. various air-borne illnesses) and mental health (e.g. stress levels) of people inside the buildings.”
Anahita Rashidfarokhi and Vitalija Danivska. 2023. “Managing Crises ‘Together’: How Can the Built Environment Contribute to Social Resilience?” Building Research and Information, vol. 51, no. 7, pp. 747-763, https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2023.2191922