Global Seminar

Walkability has become an important theme in urban research and urban design practice due to potential environmental, public health and social benefits. Evidence suggests that environmental attractiveness can have a significant impact on the amount of walking activities that take place, but relatively little research exists on which environmental features linked to attractiveness increase walkability. This talk describes a virtual reality experiment on environmental features that influence walkability in the context of Singapore, focusing on three key features identified by the classic urban design theorist Jan Gehl: liveliness, high-quality façades, and low buildings. The talk will provide an overview of the current knowledge on urban design and walkability, describe the virtual reality experiment and its results, and discuss implications for urban planning and urban analytics.