Value of small scale interventions: promoting healthier modes of urban life

Places are created by cumulative decisions made by different actors at certain times and for specific purposes. By choosing to be in a place, we change it. Different aspects perceived at eye level – colours, surfaces, textures, smells, people, sounds, objects, plants, temperatures, and insects – are the building blocks of places. Small-scale interventions that affect the way we feel about a place, and how we interact with it, may impact our health, for good or for ill. Sustained transdisciplinary efforts and community involvement in research are needed to deepen our understanding of how small-scale changes can promote healthier modes of urban life across places, which is a critical step towards building inclusive cities. In this webianr, Dr Paula Barros explored the potential of small-scale changes to promote health in urban settings.