Abstract:
Urban stress, a consequence of various city scale, socio-economic, and individual factors, significantly impacts the mental health of urban residents. This study aims to mitigate urban stress by enhancing walkability, a key aspect of urban transport, through the lens of restorative urbanism. Restorative urbanism, a discipline focused on replenishing physiological, psychological, and social resources, offers a promising approach to improve urban sanity by creating healthier, more connected, and nature-integrated urban environments. Traditional urban planning, which viewed streets as mere conduits for traffic, overlooked their impact on mental health. However, the COVID-19 pandemic, which transformed urban landscapes and highlighted the essential role of streets in human experiences and well-being, led to a shift in this perspective. The post-pandemic era has seen a profound shift towards a more holistic approach in urban planning and design, with the interplay between streets and mental health becoming a central focus. This study employs a range of tools and techniques, including the Walkability Index, Profile of Mood State (POMS), Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS), a cognitive memory questionnaire based on Kevin Lynch’s concept of imageability, State Trait Anxiety Inventory, Plume Labs Air Quality tool, and Decibel X for noise level measurement. Data analysis will be conducted using a two-way repeated-measures ANOVA with walkability and mental health as independent variables, using SPSS software. The study aims to explore the potential of restorative urbanism in promoting walkability as a measure for mental health among working adults in the Bengaluru Central Business District (CBD) area. It seeks to systematically review existing literature, investigate the relation between walkability and mental health, explore the suitability of restorative urbanism in addressing issues related to walkability and mental health, and propose planning interventions for improving mental health through enhanced walkability. The findings are expected to contribute to a more holistic approach in urban planning and design, with a focus on mental health.
