Active design Print

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Design Checklist

  • The design of the mixed use development incorporates active design principles into the street and public realm
  • Opportunities for daily physical activity are provided within buildings


Overview


‘Active design’ is the term given to environmental design that encourages active transport such as walking, cycling and stair climbing. ​​

The design of a mixed use development should incorporate active design where possible to address the current epidemic of obesity and related chronic diseases. 
Opportunities to incorporate active design include increasing the visibility of stairs and providing inviting streetscapes and public realm for pedestrians and bicyclists. 

These strategies can also help reduce energy use in buildings, reducing the development's running costs and benefiting the environment.​​​​​

Better Design Practice

Incorporate active design principles in the design of a mixed use development to promote daily physical activity by its occupants.

Strategies to promote physical activity within the design of a mixed use development include:
  • creating accessible, pedestrian-friendly streets with high connectivity to surrounding areas
  • incorporating traffic-calming features, landscaping, lighting, benches, and water fountains in streets and public spaces
  • providing good access to plazas, parks, outdoor spaces, and recreational facilities
  • providing supportive facilities such as secure indoor and outdoor cycle parking
  • designing building exteriors that contribute to a pedestrian-friendly urban environment and that include variety and transparency, multiple entries, stoops, and canopies.

​Create opportunities for daily physical activity within buildings.​​​​

Opportunities for incorporating regular physical activity into daily life can also be included in buildings. Options include:
  • providing a conveniently located, visible and appealing staircase for everyday use
  • placing building functions to encourage brief bouts of walking to spaces such as mail and lunch rooms, and provide appealing, supportive walking routes between these spaces
  • providing facilities that support exercise such as central and visible locker rooms, showers, secure bicycle storage, and drinking fountains.

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