Architecture, Building and Planning - Theses
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ItemUnderstanding the relationship between urban design and walking to inform sustainable urban development: a case study of Hanoi( 2022)Background Walking is increasingly seen as a crucial instrument in promoting sustainability all over the world due to its various benefits to the health and well-being of urban citizens as well as the environment and the economy of the cities. A growing body of evidence in the literature, mostly from Western countries, shows that urban design largely influences the prevalence of walking in urban environments. However, there is a limited number of studies on the relationship between walking and urban design from low- and middle-income countries in Asia, where urban forms are traditionally more compact, complex and with multiple layers and varied urban typologies. Due to the advent of rapid motorisation and urbanisation, Asian cities are now losing their traditional walking lifestyle and instead, embracing urban development that prefers access via private motor vehicles rather than active transport modes such as walking. Aim and objective Choosing Hanoi as the case study, the present thesis explores the relationships between walking and urban design by investigating the prevalence, variation, and characteristics of walking across the city, and at the same time, evaluating urban design across the varying urban typologies. Methods. Using a multidimensional approach, four studies were conducted simultaneously across Hanoi including a travel survey focusing on walking, an urban design qualities audit, a perceived urban design survey and a study on environmental factors such as weather and pollution. The obtained data are analysed together to explore the relationship between them. Results The results highlighted that walking still plays an important role in Hanoi’s urban transport with a high share in both the number of trips and travel time. Urban typologies and their characteristics have been found to have particular impacts on urban design and walking. Old, high-density and mixed-use urban typologies like Ancient Quarter tended to report better urban design and higher walking rates than modern but low-mix typologies like New Urban Areas. The likelihood and the prevalence of walking were also significantly associated with different factors of demographic, perceived urban design and urban design qualities. Land use mix was found to be positively associated with both walking rates and time, suggesting it is the most important urban design feature in promoting walking. Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, air and noise pollution did not significantly influence the prevalence of walking. Conclusion Overall, the study contributes to our understanding of the prevalence of walking and urban design in Hanoi, providing policymakers, planners, urban designers and architects with important insights for sustainable urban design policies, strategies and interventions.