Pollution targets breached at most new planned school sites in England – study
The vast majority of planned new school sites in the UK exceed all globally recognised targets on toxic air pollutants, a new study claims.Read more
Measuring parental perception of child friendliness of a neighbourhood
Parental perception of child friendliness is an important prerequisite for designing neighborhoods that promote children’s health and wellbeing.Read more
What is biophilic design? 3 ways ‘green’ buildings work better for neurodivergent people
One in seven people worldwide are neurodivergent. They may have a diagnosis of a neurodevelopmental condition such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or autism – or traits that mean their thinking style differs from neurotypical...Read more
Creating safe and inclusive spaces for children: a catalyst for positive societal impact in Kolkata’s neighbourhoods
The establishment of environments that are suitable for children is of utmost importance in fostering communities that are both healthy and content, particularly in regions undergoing rapid urbanisation, such as Kolkata, India. The objective of...Read more
‘Forest bathing’ is the route to better mental health for urban youth – study
Incorporating nature into how cities are designed can help significantly improve the mental health of young people living in urban settings, according to a new study.Read more
Shaping tomorrow’s cities – the role of youth in urban design
In the bustling corridors of urban planning and development, a new wave of voices is rising to the forefront – those of young people. As cities worldwide grapple with the complexities of rapid urbanisation, climate...Read more
UK government inquiry into children’s ‘play freedoms’ will hear new evidence
Experts on play and ‘the built environment’ will provide the next round of evidence to a UK government inquiry that is looking at ways to utilise better design processes to improve children’s lives.Read more
‘Time for change is now’ – government inquiry into children’s play freedoms hears face-to-face evidence
A UK government inquiry examining how better planning & design can improve children’s health has been told that ‘the time for change is now’. Read more
Lost in space: open-plan classrooms can leave children adrift
We all know that talking and listening in large, noisy spaces (like restaurants, shopping centres or concert venues) is tough. Trying to piece together snippets of conversation with background noise is frustrating, exhausting and a...Read more
New Brooklyn (NYC) high school aims to create social justice-focused design professionals
Design Works High School, opening this autumn in downtown Brooklyn, New York City, has a mission: to create socially conscious design professionals.Read more
Young V&A: Museum of Childhood rebrand excels at playful spaces but misses chances to go deeper
The former Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green, London, has reopened its doors as the newly styled ‘Young V&A’ after a £13m programme of reimagining. The new offering marks an effort to embed creativity into...Read more
City planning and design with and for young teenagers: Building a ‘teenage space network’ in Antwerp
Young teenagers are often overlooked or neglected in planning and design. The City of Antwerp commissioned Kind & Samenleving (Childhood & Society Research Centre) to map and design a ‘teenage space network plan’ for the Wilrijk...Read more
Vertical schools are increasingly common. This is what students want in ‘high’ school design
The traditional idea of a one-or-two-storey school, spread over a vast campus is no longer an option for some new schools. Population growth and a lack of land in urban areas mean some schools have...Read more
How mid-century Amsterdam built 700 doorstep playgrounds – and then forgot about them
What would a child-friendly city look like? One scenario goes like this: you wake up in the city one morning, there is no traffic, all you can hear are children playing and the occasional dog...Read more