I conceptualised 'body urbanism' to improve public health by promoting active & healthy ageing as key to city-building. Centred on 'bodyfulness', a multisensorial awareness of our physical selves, my advocacy and education work brings the human body & behaviour into planning & design of urban space to make us move.
Striving to build cities that challenge and engage 'bodyfulness'. Why? Healthy ageing needs us to MOVE - more often, faster, and variably - with all our senses involved. Yet, we don't, we do what's quick and easy, convenient, and that's a problem for getting older.
Body Urbanist Mover!
Body Urbanism is a concept of urban design and planning that centres the building of cities, landscapes, and public spaces, on healthy human movement to meet the changing demands of a long life. It's simple, our bodies need stimulation and challenge; we need to move, a lot, lot more!
City-building of today seems stunted by policies that limit our fundamental, evolutionary need to move more, faster, variably, and even with a hint of risk. Yet, threat of litigation can dictate policies and regulations meant to protect us from harm. Many mandates are not supported by empirical evidence, and have received limited challenge to their credentials for facilitating healthy human movement and functional wellbeing.
Many urbanism methods are probably insufficient, and may even be harmful to prepare, harden, and maintain a healthy, moving and resilient body through, what is now, a prolonged life-course.
The Body Urbanist 2019 describing engagement in public space
BUM work is supported by a wide evidence base. We are experts in clinical and higher degree health research & practise. We have a strong background in human movement and behaviour change methods and recognise that the 'public' need more than a nudge to effect sustainable change for healthy living.
Make it fun and they will come! (even if it's hard)
Urban safety policies are often not supported by empirical evidence centred on health and well-being. In fact, most decisions are not made with a healthcare professional in the room.
Our body urbanism team can help city planners, urbanists, architects (incl. landscape) to create novel solutions to support healthy human movement at 'home' for young, old and the inbetween.
Tarmac is for tyres, not toes'.
We relish a seat at any table that has an open mind about healthy ways to 'make us move', and recognising we need more than a nudge, and certainly new interventions and even inventions, to do so!
Wonky footpaths are good for you.
The Body Urbanist, 2019 in challenging policy dogma.
The Body Urbanist, 2019 in her controversial talk at Walk21.