VXGC7
SEPTEMBER 2022
Additionally, it is recommended that future research seeks to investigate the role of non-physical factors such as culture, history, and religion, in delivered buildings with facades that reflect and respond to the diverse needs and preferences of people. Other forms of assessment such as a Health Impact Assessment which is ‘a combination of procedures, methods, and tools by which a policy, programme or project may be judged as to its potential effects on the health of the population’ (WHO, 1999) (p.4), may aid in providing a more rigorous understanding on the impact of design proposals on specific populations. Other methodologies such as the use of Pineo’s (2020) THRIVES framework also proposes the investigation of the impact of façade design on health and wellbeing through multiple scales of contributing factor such as local, ecosystem, and planetary health and further recommends the adoption of a systems thinking approach. Lastly, the study sought to investigate the impact of façade design on pedestrians through various building components and several affective responses, it is encouraged that further research investigates the matter with a directed focus towards building façade aspects of detailing, form, and use of materials as these components led to the most positive pedestrian encounters, and linked to the causes of negative experiences, and hence are liable to further psychological and physiological impacts that expand beyond individuals’ affect.
5 . 4 I M P L I C AT I O N S F O R P O L I C Y A N D P R A C T I C E
The optimism surrounding new technologies and smart systems in finding solutions for a spectrum of architectural and urban challenges has undoubtfully shaped how policy and practice respond to those challenges. While challenges are ever emerging and extensively dynamic, it is crucial to note that as raised by Pineo (2022), to reframe ideas of healthy placemaking, shifting attention towards structural barriers to health need to be recognised. In discussion with industry members, it was revealed that sustainability and building performance are factors of upmost importance when it comes to façade design - and structural barriers encompassing pedestrians’ health and wellbeing remain unrecognised and hence not accounted for. This study therefore calls on practice to be cognizant of the response they want their buildings to generate in pedestrians especially those regarding affect as research has raised them as most identifiable. Whether that may be comfort, excitement, or curiosity – industry is encouraged to seek the variation of responses that are certainly induced within viewers because of what they encounter of built facets. On the other hand, policy is encouraged to investigate the methodologies carried out in design review to ensure aspects of regulation within development ‘that seeks to control the physical attributes and uses of new buildings, and the spaces between them, so as to ensure a rewarding sensuous experience for the public who use the environment thus created’ (Madanipour, 1996) (p. 162) are not unfair to pedestrians and their health and wellbeing.
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