Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

The city contains a great multitude of people of different ages and different lifestyles and the urban environment should be planned and designed for everyone to take part in the social life of the city. The main reason among people for heading towards the city centre is to make purchases or to run errands, but also the social aspects are very important. A socially active city is worth striving for as an empty city can lead to unsecurity, fear and hostility between people. This paper discusses mainly the possibilities to encourage people to do physical activities on public places in the city. In Sweden the lifestyle of people in general has changed to the worse in aspects of health over the last decades which has led to the fact that many people in Sweden today suffer from obesity. Research shows that there is a clear connection between the design of the city environment and its opportunities to contribute to the more healthy lifestyles of the people. The problems with obesity among the people is not just a problem for the individual person but also for the community and it is therefore in great interest to encourage people to excersice and create a healthier lifestyle. Physical activity on public places in the city can also provide a good social life to the city.