Healthy Cities.

Exploring urban health through citizen engagement - how can cities create environments that truly support healthier lifestyles? This is one of the core questions we are addressing in the HORUS - Urban Health project 🏙️ 🌱 We recently piloted an innovative citizen engagement approach in Rijeka, Rotterdam, and Valencia - blending narrative-driven workshops and in-depth interviews to understand how urban environments shape daily habits. Here’s what we found: 🔎 Beyond the numbers: technical assessments don’t always match lived experiences — residents often perceived fewer green spaces than data suggested. 🤝 The power of social ties: health isn’t just about physical infrastructure; social connections foster well-being and need to be part of urban planning. 🏡 Activating existing spaces: just because facilities exist doesn’t mean they’re used. Strategies like events, better signposting and inclusive design can unlock the potential of green spaces and sports areas. What's next? 🗺️ Based on these insights, we created a series of participatory maps that reflect how residents experience their urban environments — highlighting key areas for improvement and activation. 🚀 We’re also developing an online tool to streamline health-focused citizen engagement — gathering community insights and helping cities make informed decisions to build healthier, more inclusive environments. Let’s continue shaping the future of Healthy Cities together! 💛 Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/g6SaPUu9 #UrbanHealth #CitizenEngagement #HealthyCities #HORUS #UrbanPlanning #HealthInAllPolicies

🌍 We know #DigitalTools are useful, but have you ever thought they could actually improve #PublicHealth? 🏥✨ That’s exactly what the #HealthyCitiesGenerator does (created by Bax Innovation Healthy Cities.) 🏙️💡 This tool analyzes existing #UrbanAreas and assesses their impact on 30 #health indicators (🏃 physical, 🧠 mental, and 🌿 environmental). This helps us understand the #risks and #strengths of a #specific location while exploring #UrbanPlanning solutions to create more #sustainable and #healthier cities. Small adjustments in #UrbanDesign can lead to big improvements in public health. 🚶♂️➡️💙 📅 Want to learn more? Visit our website or join our May 8th #webinar, hosted by Instituto de investigación Polibienestar (UV), where we’ll dive deeper into how this tool works! 🖥️🔗

🗓️ Save the date to learn how we're applying digital tools like the Healthy Cities Generator to boost health in cities like Valencia, Rotterdam and Rijeka, within the HORUS - Urban Health project. Healthy Cities. Marta Rofin Serra Celia García Albertos Anne van Bergen Caitlin Ball Sebastiaan van Herk, PhD

✨ Innovació social digital per la salut urbana ✨ El pròxim 20 de febrer, participaré a la jornada sobre innovació social digital organitzada per i2CAT en el marc de la Barcelona Health Innovation Week Biocat, BioRegion of Catalonia. Presentaré l’eina Healthy Cities. Generator, dissenyada per avaluar l’impacte en #salut de les intervencions urbanes i estimar el potencial estalvi econòmic. 👉 La innovació i la tecnologia tenen un paper clau en la transformació de les ciutats per fer-les més saludables i sostenibles. Per això és important compartir coneixement i explorar com podem avançar cap a un model de ciutat més centrat en les persones. 🔎 Més informació: https://lnkd.in/dHcsPpSk ✨ Digital Social Innovation for Urban Health ✨ On February 20, I will participate in the Digital Social Innovation event organized by i2CAT as part of the Barcelona Health Innovation Week by Biocat, BioRegion of Catalonia. I will present the Healthy Cities Generator, a tool designed to assess the health impact of urban interventions and estimate their potential economic savings. 👉 Innovation and technology play a key role in transforming cities to make them healthier and more sustainable. That’s why sharing knowledge and exploring ways to move toward a more people-centered city model is essential.

✨ Innovació social digital per la salut urbana ✨ El pròxim 20 de febrer, participaré a la jornada sobre innovació social digital organitzada per i2CAT en el marc de la Barcelona Health Innovation Week Biocat, BioRegion of Catalonia. Presentaré l’eina Healthy Cities. Generator, dissenyada per avaluar l’impacte en #salut de les intervencions urbanes i estimar el potencial estalvi econòmic. 👉 La innovació i la tecnologia tenen un paper clau en la transformació de les ciutats per fer-les més saludables i sostenibles. Per això és important compartir coneixement i explorar com podem avançar cap a un model de ciutat més centrat en les persones. 🔎 Més informació: https://lnkd.in/dHcsPpSk ✨ Digital Social Innovation for Urban Health ✨ On February 20, I will participate in the Digital Social Innovation event organized by i2CAT as part of the Barcelona Health Innovation Week by Biocat, BioRegion of Catalonia. I will present the Healthy Cities Generator, a tool designed to assess the health impact of urban interventions and estimate their potential economic savings. 👉 Innovation and technology play a key role in transforming cities to make them healthier and more sustainable. That’s why sharing knowledge and exploring ways to move toward a more people-centered city model is essential.

With more than two-thirds of the global population projected to live in cities by 2050, the design of urban environments is increasingly recognised as a critical factor influencing #publichealth. From the placement of parks to the layout of neighbourhoods, urban planning decisions have far-reaching implications for mental and physical well-being. 🌳 🌆 Recent projects across Europe have highlighted how prioritising health in urban development can create vibrant, resilient communities while reducing long-term costs. A growing focus on integrating #greenspaces, encouraging #activemobility, and ensuring access to essential services like food and healthcare, has provided new opportunities for cities to enhance the quality of life for their residents. Quantifying the benefits of such developments is no small task, but emerging tools are helping cities make informed decisions. The Healthy Cities. Generator, developed by innovation consultants at Bax in collaboration with EIT Urban Mobility and the University of Lisbon, offers urban planners and policymakers the ability to measure the economic and health impacts of their projects. Read more on our website ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ePBfgE3U This feature was written by Amy McCready for The Progress Playbook.

We’re excited to see the ITF - International Transport Forum kick off the year with the launch of this pivotal report: "Health Impacts of Low-carbon Transport in Cities: Evidence for Better Policies" 🚶♀️ 🌍 At Bax, we’re especially proud that two of our own, marta rofin serra and Juliette Ténart, contributed to this comprehensive study. Their insights helped shape the evidence-based recommendations for integrating health outcomes into transport and urban policy. This report highlights the untapped potential of low-carbon transport to not only cut emissions but also save lives, reduce healthcare costs, and build cities that are more equitable and liveable. We strongly echo ITF’s call to action on these five essential steps. Let’s move forward together to create healthier, safer, and more sustainable cities. 📖 Read the full report via ITF: https://lnkd.in/gMECbN7M #LowCarbonTransport #SustainableCities #Innovation #UrbanDevelopment #PublicHealth

How can urban design shape healthier lives? Our CEO marta rofin serra explored this question at Spain’s premier congress on sustainability and the environment — the National Congress on the Environment (Fundación Conama). In her presentation, Marta examined how urban design impacts physical, mental, environmental, and social health. She showcased cutting-edge research linking city planning to quality of life and introduced a practical methodology to turn these findings into action. A highlight of the session was our online tool for healthy urban planning, designed to help cities: 🔎 Assess the health impacts of urban projects. 📈 Quantify potential savings in healthcare costs. 🤝 Make decisions rooted in sustainability and community well-being. This tool bridges the gap between data and action, empowering cities to design healthier, greener spaces for their residents. We’re proud to see Marta representing Healthy Cities and inspiring new conversations about the future of urban living. Together, let’s continue building cities where people and the planet thrive! Discover more about our work 👉 https://lnkd.in/dwp7ig4i #HealthyCities #CONAMA2024 #SustainableUrbanPlanning #UrbanHealth #EnvironmentalImpact

En +ACTIU, trabajamos para co-crear un entorno urbano que promueva la actividad física y mejore la salud, con especial atención en personas con enfermedades crónicas. 🤝 Centrándonos en el barrio de La Florida, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona), a través de una #ComunidadDePráctica e incorporando la mirada de la ciudadanía junto con profesionales de diversas áreas, co-creamos estrategias para que el entorno urbano sea una herramienta de salud. Además, pasaremos de la teoría 📖 a la práctica 🛠️ con propuestas de ejercicio urbano y formación en urbanismo y salud. 🎥 En este vídeo te mostramos de qué se trata: https://lnkd.in/dPwJqpEK Un proyecto de Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute - IDIBELL, Blanquerna - Universitat Ramon Llull Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, y Healthy Cities. 🌐 Conoce más sobre el proyecto en www.mesactiu.com Proyecto financiado por el Ajuntament de Barcelona y Fundació “la Caixa”. [ENG] At +ACTIU, we work to co-create an urban environment that promotes physical activity and improves health, with a particular focus on people with chronic diseases. 🤝 Focusing on the neighbourhood of La Florida, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona), through a #CommunityOfPractice and incorporating the perspectives of local residents alongside professionals from various fields, we co-create strategies to make the urban environment a tool for health. Moreover, we move from theory 📖 to practice 🛠️ with urban exercise proposals and training in urban planning and health. 🎥 In this video, we’ll show you what it’s all about! https://lnkd.in/dPwJqpEK This is a joint project by the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute - IDIBELL, Blanquerna - Universitat Ramon Llull Faculty of Health Sciences, and Healthy Cities. 🌐 Learn more about the project at www.mesactiu.com Project funded by the Ajuntament de Barcelona and ”la Caixa” Foundation. Paula Jakszyn Jordi Vilaró marta rofin serra Celia García Albertos Elena Gimeno-Santos Olga Canet Vélez Júlia Ollé #StandUpScience #ScientificCommunication #DivulgaciónCientífica

🤔 Did you know that environmental factors contribute to 24% of global deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization? While health is often thought of as what happens in a doctor’s office, up to 89% of it actually occurs outside clinical settings. Yet, health is frequently overlooked in urban planning decisions. The Healthy Cities Generator (HCG), newly redeveloped with EIT Urban Mobility and University of Lisbon, is changing this by helping cities design healthier, more liveable environments and quantifying the resulting cost savings 🏡 📈 From Bradford, UK, to Cascais, Portugal, HCG has demonstrated the tangible benefits of health-driven urban planning: improved life expectancy, stronger community connections, and significant economic savings. Find out more with EIT's new impact story 👇 https://lnkd.in/g7vb9gPu #HealthyCities #UrbanPlanning #PublicHealth #UrbanInnovation #Sustainability #EITUrbanMobility EIT Urban Mobility Bradford Council Câmara Municipal de Lisboa Câmara Municipal de Cascais Dr Saira Ali Filomena Carnide Rafael Alves Ana Louro Judith Schuermans Marcin Chojnacki Sergi Milan Amber De La Haye marta rofin serra Sebastiaan van Herk, PhD Ruth Gow McLenachan Celia García Albertos