Josiah Lindner ARCT 2340 X03 Word count: 274

From: Josiah Lindner

To: Jeffrey Sterr
Subject: Approval of research topic
I submit for your approval my chosen research topic: The effects living in a
densely populated environment has on human populations and architectural
techniques to overcome them.
The negative effects of living in densely populated areas can be reduced
through careful design solutions that create healthy living spaces. The first
point of my research will focus on the specific physical and psychological
issues created by living in a heavily populated urban environment, those
issues consisting of stress, anxiety, lack of contact with nature, isolation, and
loneliness. The second point of research will focus on the design solutions
architects and interior designers use to overcome, reduce or eliminate issues
through open and spacious design, utilizing public areas of building to create
social and friendly spaces, and ensure parks and public spaces are
incorporated into city neighbourhoods and life.
Health issues that arise in living in an urban environment can lead to severe
degradation in the quality of life of those dwelling in those areas, if designers
do not acknowledge and strive to overcome them. Stress and anxiety are the
most prominent issues facing those living in dense city areas. These issues
tend to rise from living in the loud, busy, intense and complex machines that
cities tend to be, and if people dont have comfortable and relaxing space to
return to as a home, then it only amplifies these issues and can lead to more
serious issues. Cities often lack a connection to the natural world, with a lack
in public parks and greenery incorporated into public spaces and living areas
contribute to feelings of stress and anxiety. If left unchecked, these issues
can spiral into isolation, loneliness, and eventually depression, which is not
only detrimental to the individual, but to the overall health of the city.
Architects study and learn how to create living spaces that provide the
necessary comfort and amenities for those who occupy them, and with the
realization that urban living can come with extra complications and issues,
they strive to create design solutions that will overcome these new issues.
Creating open and large feeling living spaces is integral to combating these
issues, even when there is limited space, careful planning and clever design
techniques such as loft sleeping areas, hide-able storage and keeping living
spaces unobstructed and accessible reduce stress for occupants significantly.
The utilization of public spaces in buildings, can help residents feel more
social and alleviate the isolation and loneliness that comes with urban living,
and in the case of rooftop gardens or parks, can help provide a reconnection
with nature. As with rooftop gardens, open public spaces can be immensely
Josiah Lindner ARCT 2340 X03 Word count: 274

helpful in alleviating urban sickness, by giving people an excuse and place to

exercise, socialize, and relax.
The more prominent the issues of urban sickness become, the more
individuals and firms turn to creating design solutions to combat these rising
issues. One of the most prominent groups dedicated to redesigning cities to
be more friendly for the people dwelling in them, is Gehl Architects, a
collective dedicated to redesigning public spaces in cities all across the
world, with more than a dozen projects completed or in progress. Gehl works
on and provides consultation on many projects across the globe, in one
particular case, Gehl consulted with the City of Carlsberg on redesigning an
old industrial complex into a new urban neighbourhood, the difficulty being
the heritage of the site, Gehl strived to create open and welcoming concepts
in order to make the new neighbourhood into a thriving and healthy urban
centre. In 2011, Gehl had gained a reputation worldwide for their work, and
was hired by the city of San-Francisco to redesign the cities iconic market
street, the proposed plans involve decreasing the amount of vehicle traffic,
while making ample space for cyclists and pedestrians to explore the street
at their leisure, also in the plan is the inclusion of many public spaces to
provide relaxation for the residents and visitors.
Through the careful design and thought put into new urban developments,
and the redesign of existing ones, the issues of stress, anxiety, isolation and
disconnection with nature can be overcome. Through the implementation of
open and free design, use of public spaces, and providing a way to interact
and experience the natural environment, as architects and designers have
started to show, go a long way to alleviating urban detriments. I look forward
to your approval of my topic, and await your response.
Sincerely
Josiah Lindner
Josiah Lindner ARCT 2340 X03 Word count: 274

APA CITATIONS REFERNCE LIST

Benedictus, L. (2014, February 25). Sick cities: Why urban living can be bad
for your mental health. Retrieved from
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/feb/25/city-stress-mental-health-
rural-kind
Derringer, J. (2015, April 22). The Art Of Tranquility In Modern City Design -
Design Milk. Retrieved from http://design-milk.com/art-tranquility-modern-
city-design/
Gehl Architects (2006) Carlsberg Denmark: Asking the Right Questions.
Retrieved from http://gehlpeople.com/cases/carlsberg-city-denmark/
Stamp, E. (2016, March 18). A Small Space in New York Gets a Major
Makeover. Retrieved from http://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/home-
tour-small-space-new-york-makeover
Stone, D. (2014, November 04). How Architects Minimize Urban Stress.
Retrieved from http://km-architects.co.uk/architects-minimize-urban-stress/