How can you design buildings to reduce car usage and promote walkability?

You can imagine this perfectly with the concept of “15-minutes cities”. Fifteen-minute cities are a planning concept focused on providing amenities local to where people live. Having everything you need close to your house, without needing to drive to reach it.

One can deploy multiple strategies 1. Walkable paths. The paths should be accessible, safe to walk around. Aesthetics play a part too. Studies show people tend to walk more on cleaner roads with avenues for resting than dirty roads. 2. Have bike parking facilities and shower facilities for users. This shall encourage users to ride cycles to work. However, it is essential that location has bicycle lanes as well. 3. Incentives. Incentives to buy cycles, associated gear and other prizes for regular activity etc. can encourage people to be more active and walk or use a bicycle.

Designing buildings to reduce car usage and promote walkability involves incorporating pedestrian-friendly elements. Prioritize mixed land use to bring services closer, create well-connected and shaded walkways, implement bike racks, and enhance public transportation accessibility. Integrate green spaces and amenities to make the environment appealing for walking. By fostering a walkable environment, you contribute to sustainable urban development and healthier communities.

To design buildings that reduce car usage and walkability, focusing on high density and diversity is a key solution. Africa is set to experience rural urban migration growth of up to 66% by 2050. How do we provide convenience, walkability, accessibility, relaxation areas? I would advocate for spaces that accommodate living, working and play all within one building. How can I access all these facilities within 5 minutes? Through diversity we can create spaces that complement each other and build communities. How can we check the adaptability and usability of mixed use buildings over time? How do we create not just buildings but spaces people love, and not concrete jails within our cities?

There has also been some academic research into the scale of detail in facades. Buildings that have details or texture variations with an 0.2m scale are much more likely to promote recollection than buildings with variations greater than 0.5m in scale. Improved recollection means a better relationship with place.

This is what has been overlooked in contemporary Australian developments. Creating a relationship between a park or recreation facility and a bar or cafe improves the amenity of both. Australian planning laws seem to prevent this from happening.

Designing buildings for reduced car usage involves mixed-use development, pedestrian-friendly design, and transit accessibility. Emphasize walkways, bike lanes, and public transit integration. Limit parking, offer car-sharing, and prioritize bike infrastructure. Create green spaces, prioritize safety, and engage the community. Advocate for zoning policies that support walkability and implement clear signage. The aim is to foster vibrant, safe, and accessible communities, encouraging walking and alternative transportation while reducing car dependency.

In the design of buildings and residential complexes, local regulations dictating the required number of car parking spots can significantly limit efforts to reduce car usage. However, there are strategies to maneuver within these constraints. This includes designing shared parking spots for various functions at different times and integrating car-sharing options to lower the overall number of spots, thereby encouraging reduced car reliance. Crucially, initiating early discussions with the municipality is essential to explore acceptable options and find innovative solutions to navigate these limitations.

Following the practice of "New Urbanism", intentionally placing urban centers as the focal point of a neighborhood, instead of the housing. Effectively creating multi-use commercial buildings that service work, retail, and recreation - within walking distance to residential buildings - encourages citizens to engage with one another more and lessens places for them to hide out. The Congress for New Urbanism promotes this practice for not only the physical well-being of the planet (i.e. climate change) but also the total well-being of its citizens. Fielding tax dollars into these urban centers (i.e. fuel tax for cars, incentives for electric vehicles or bikes) make it far more lucrative from a cost standpoint!