Challenges in Translating Neurourbanistic Research into Urban Design: Insights into Practice

Abstract: The rise in mental health problems and the established link between urban living and increased psychosis risk underline the need for evidence-based urban design. Although the discipline of neurourbanism provides findings on brain responses to different urban environments, there remains a gap between research and its implementation in urban design. Conducting five semi-structured expert interviews with international researchers and a landscape architect, key challenges of translating evidence-based neurourbanistic research into urban design for mental health could be identified: a lack of interdisciplinary and audience-oriented communication between researchers and designers; the complexity of cities, especially in the context of methodological approaches; and a lack of sensitization among decision-makers and design studios to evidence-based design for mental health. Addressing these challenges, evidence-based urban design can realize its potential but its specific urban context must always be considered.Implications: The identified challenges point to areas of action for researchers, designers, and decision-makers to improve the transfer of knowledge into practice: inter- and transdisciplinary communication; integration of new on-site methodological approaches; and sensitization of (future) designers and decision-makers to evidence-based urban design for mental health through education. Urban planners are asked to balance the implementation of evidence-based design with the uncertainties and complexity of urbanity.