1
|
Nieuwenhuijsen M, de Nazelle A, Pradas MC, Daher C, Dzhambov AM, Echave C, Gössling S, Iungman T, Khreis H, Kirby N, Khomenko S, Leth U, Lorenz F, Matkovic V, Müller J, Palència L, Pereira Barboza E, Pérez K, Tatah L, Tiran J, Tonne C, Mueller N. The Superblock model: A review of an innovative urban model for sustainability, liveability, health and well-being. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 251:118550. [PMID: 38432569 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Current urban and transport planning practices have significant negative health, environmental, social and economic impacts in most cities. New urban development models and policies are needed to reduce these negative impacts. The Superblock model is one such innovative urban model that can significantly reduce these negative impacts through reshaping public spaces into more diverse uses such as increase in green space, infrastructure supporting social contacts and physical activity, and through prioritization of active mobility and public transport, thereby reducing air pollution, noise and urban heat island effects. This paper reviews key aspects of the Superblock model, its implementation and initial evaluations in Barcelona and the potential international uptake of the model in Europe and globally, focusing on environmental, climate, lifestyle, liveability and health aspects. METHODS We used a narrative meta-review approach and PubMed and Google scholar databases were searched using specific terms. RESULTS The implementation of the Super block model in Barcelona is slow, but with initial improvement in, for example, environmental, lifestyle, liveability and health indicators, although not so consistently. When applied on a large scale, the implementation of the Superblock model is not only likely to result in better environmental conditions, health and wellbeing, but can also contribute to the fight against the climate crisis. There is a need for further expansion of the program and further evaluation of its impacts and answers to related concerns, such as environmental equity and gentrification, traffic and related environmental exposure displacement. The implementation of the Superblock model gained a growing international reputation and variations of it are being planned or implemented in cities worldwide. Initial modelling exercises showed that it could be implemented in large parts of many cities. CONCLUSION The Superblock model is an innovative urban model that addresses environmental, climate, liveability and health concerns in cities. Adapted versions of the Barcelona Superblock model are being implemented in cities around Europe and further implementation, monitoring and evaluation are encouraged. The Superblock model can be considered an important public health intervention that will reduce mortality and morbidity and generate cost savings for health and other sectors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiolog'ıa y Salud Pu'blica (CIBERESP), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Audrey de Nazelle
- Centre for Environmental Policy Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marta Cirach Pradas
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiolog'ıa y Salud Pu'blica (CIBERESP), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carolyn Daher
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Angel M Dzhambov
- Department of Hygiene, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Research Group "Health and Quality of Life in a Green and Sustainable Environment", SRIPD, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Institute of Highway Engineering and Transport Planning, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria; Environmental Health Division, Research Institute at Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Cynthia Echave
- Architecture School La Salle University Ramon Llull, C. Quatre Camins 2, 08022, Barcelona, Spain; Transfer and Knowledge Society, Department of Universities and Research, Generalitat de Catalunya, Via Laietana 2, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Stefan Gössling
- School of Business and Economics, Linnaeus University, 391 82, Kalmar, Sweden; Western Norway Research Institute, 6851, Sogndal, Norway
| | - Tamara Iungman
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiolog'ıa y Salud Pu'blica (CIBERESP), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Haneen Khreis
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Nicolina Kirby
- Research Institute for Sustainability, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, Berliner Straße 130, 14467, Potsdam, Germany; University of Stuttgart, HLRS, Nobelstraße 19, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Sasha Khomenko
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiolog'ıa y Salud Pu'blica (CIBERESP), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ulrich Leth
- Research Unit of Transport Planning and Traffic Engineering, Institute of Transportation, TU Wien, Karlplatz 13, 1040, Wien, Austria
| | - Florian Lorenz
- LAUT - Landscape Architecture and Urban Transformation, Thurngasse 10/5, 1090, Wien, Austria
| | - Vlatka Matkovic
- Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Avenue des Arts 7/8, 1210, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Johannes Müller
- Center for Energy, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Giefinggasse 4, 1210, Wien, Austria
| | - Laia Palència
- CIBER Epidemiolog'ıa y Salud Pu'blica (CIBERESP), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain; Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Pl. Lesseps 1, 08023, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU), C. Sant Quintí 77, 08041, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Evelise Pereira Barboza
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiolog'ıa y Salud Pu'blica (CIBERESP), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Katherine Pérez
- CIBER Epidemiolog'ıa y Salud Pu'blica (CIBERESP), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain; Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Pl. Lesseps 1, 08023, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB SANT PAU), C. Sant Quintí 77, 08041, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Lambed Tatah
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jernej Tiran
- Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Anton Melik Geographical Institute, Novi trg 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Cathryn Tonne
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiolog'ıa y Salud Pu'blica (CIBERESP), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Natalie Mueller
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiolog'ıa y Salud Pu'blica (CIBERESP), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Flanagan E, Malmqvist E, Oudin A, Sunde Persson K, Alkan Ohlsson J, Mattisson K. Health impact assessment of road traffic noise exposure based on different densification scenarios in Malmö, Sweden. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 174:107867. [PMID: 36963157 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
While urbanization provides many opportunities to those arriving in thriving urban areas, a greater number of residents necessitates the expansion of housing and infrastructure. This is often achieved through densification, which can lead to increased noise, particularly through increased road traffic. A key challenge of promoting healthy urban planning is to understand potential health effects, especially on the local level. The aim of the present study is, therefore, to estimate and compare the health impacts of road traffic noise exposure for various urban densification scenarios within a neighborhood (Lorensborg) in Malmö, Sweden. The three scenarios include 1) Present-day, representing the study area as it is presently organized; 2) Planned municipal strategy (the city of Malmö's own densification plans) and 3) Health-centred, which involves major structural alterations and reflects an effort prioritize a health-centred approach. Noise was modelled using the Nordic prediction method for road traffic. Health outcomes included noise annoyance, adverse sleep disturbance, ischemic heart disease (IHD) incidence and mortality. Within all scenarios, a large proportion of the study population was exposed above the WHO's health-based guideline value (Lden 53 dB): >80% for Present-day and Planned municipal strategy scenarios, and almost 50% in the Health-centred scenario. Still, densifying Lorensborg (population ≈9,600) according to the Health-centred scenario could prevent 549 cases of highly annoyed, 193 cases of adverse sleep disturbance, 4.7 new cases of IHD (8.9% of total cases), and 1.5 deaths due to IHD (17.8% of IHD mortality) annually. The results demonstrated that it is possible to considerably lower the health impact with a more health-centred densification strategy. Important co-benefits for public and environmental health include air pollution reduction and green space creation, although their health effects were not quantified in the present study. Urban planning initiatives must be more ambitious in order to create healthy, sustainable cities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erin Flanagan
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Sweden.
| | - Ebba Malmqvist
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Sweden.
| | - Anna Oudin
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Sweden.
| | - Karin Sunde Persson
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Sweden.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Puig-Ribera A, Arumí-Prat I, Cirera E, Solà M, Codina-Nadal A, Palència L, Biaani B, Pérez K. Use of the Superblock model for promoting physical activity in Barcelona: a one-year observational comparative study. Arch Public Health 2022; 80:257. [PMID: 36575474 PMCID: PMC9793503 DOI: 10.1186/s13690-022-01005-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Barcelona Superblock model transforms urban public spaces into active-friendly spaces, a key issue for public health. This study assessed the extent to which a newly developed Superblock in St. Antoni Market Square was used by citizens to perform physical activities and for sedentary behaviour during the first year of implementation. It then compared this citizens' use of the Superblock for physical activities and sedentary behaviour with a comparison site at one-year follow-up, when the Superblock was fully integrated into citizens' daily life. METHODS This observational comparative study (May 2018-May 2019) used the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC). SOPARC assessed citizens' sitting, standing, walking, practice of vigorous activities and use of electric scooter by gender, age group and time of the day. At the Superblock site, two observers completed five weekly observations: the opening week, and at three, five, eight and twelve months. At the comparison site, observers completed one weekly observation at twelve months after the implementation of the Superblock. Observations included 4 days/week (including weekends) and, 4 h/day (morning, midday, afternoon, evening). RESULTS At baseline, an average of 2,340 citizens/hour were observed using the Superblock but visits reduced by 12% in the next three observation weeks and 17.6% after one-year (mainly elderly and teenagers). At baseline, 92.9% walked in the Superblock, while 3.1% engaged in vigorous physical activity. After one year, citizens' walking decreased by 18.2%, from 2,170 citizens/hour at baseline to 1,930 citizens/hour. Citizens' engagement in vigorous activities also declined by 11%, from 73 citizens/hour at baseline to 65 citizens/hour at one-year follow up. In the comparison site, citizens' usage for walking and vigorous physical activity was similar to the Superblock. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to assess the extent to which citizens made use of the Barcelona Superblock model to perform physical activities, an urban built-environment intervention that is both novel and health-enhancing. The Superblock model would benefit from strategies maximizing effectiveness for promoting superblock-based physical activity, with special focus on seniors and teenagers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Puig-Ribera
- grid.440820.aResearch Group in Sports and Physical Activity (GREAF), Centre for Health and Social Care Research, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, c/ Sagrada Família 7, 08500 Vic (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Ignasi Arumí-Prat
- grid.440820.aResearch Group in Sports and Physical Activity (GREAF), Centre for Health and Social Care Research, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, c/ Sagrada Família 7, 08500 Vic (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Eva Cirera
- grid.440820.aResearch Group in Sports and Physical Activity (GREAF), Centre for Health and Social Care Research, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, c/ Sagrada Família 7, 08500 Vic (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Marta Solà
- grid.440820.aResearch Group in Sports and Physical Activity (GREAF), Centre for Health and Social Care Research, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, c/ Sagrada Família 7, 08500 Vic (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Anna Codina-Nadal
- grid.440820.aResearch Group in Sports and Physical Activity (GREAF), Centre for Health and Social Care Research, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, c/ Sagrada Família 7, 08500 Vic (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Laia Palència
- grid.415373.70000 0001 2164 7602The Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB), Pl. de Lesseps 1, 08023 Barcelona, Spain ,grid.413396.a0000 0004 1768 8905Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain ,grid.466571.70000 0004 1756 6246CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Brenda Biaani
- grid.415373.70000 0001 2164 7602The Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB), Pl. de Lesseps 1, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Katherine Pérez
- grid.415373.70000 0001 2164 7602The Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB), Pl. de Lesseps 1, 08023 Barcelona, Spain ,grid.413396.a0000 0004 1768 8905Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain ,grid.466571.70000 0004 1756 6246CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|