Examining Post-Pandemic Urban Transformations: A Literature Review on COVID-19’s Influence on Urban Design

Maria Pacheco (), Helena Madureira and Ana Monteiro
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Maria Pacheco: Faculdade de Letras, Universidade do Porto/CEGOT, 4150-564 Porto, Portugal
Helena Madureira: Faculdade de Letras, Universidade do Porto/CEGOT, 4150-564 Porto, Portugal
Ana Monteiro: Faculdade de Letras, Universidade do Porto/CEGOT, 4150-564 Porto, Portugal

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 23, 1-32

Abstract: Background: Urban areas attract people looking to improve their quality of life. However, the urban territory has been organised without respect for biogeophysical support or a holistic strategy for distributing populations and activities in the available space. Recent urbanisation models, such as compact city approaches, were designed to enhance cities’ sustainability and resilience. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has raised questions about how these models can still influence the spread of infectious diseases within urban spaces. Methodology: To investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the reassessment of urbanisation models to promote health and wellbeing, a comprehensive literature review was conducted to analyse the interventions implemented and documented in scientific research by several cities in the wake of the pandemic. Results: The analysis emphasises the city’s dedication to expanding open public urban spaces, preferably with closer access to nature, and potentialising its use, especially during times of lockdown. Conclusions: The effects of the interventions reported in the selected studies on urban communities are not yet known. Most of the interventions reported are not yet being/have not been monitored to understand their results on COVID-19 contagion.

Keywords: urbanisation; infectious diseases; public health; urban health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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