Designing the Compassionate City: Creating Places Where People Thrive

by Jenny Donovan

Designing the Compassionate City outlines an approach to urban design that is centred on an explicit recognition of the inherent dignity of all people. It suggests that whether we thrive or decline―as individuals or as a community―is dependent on our ability to fulfil the full spectrum of our needs. This book considers how our surroundings help or hinder us from meeting these needs by influencing both what we can do and what we want to do; either inspiring us to lead healthy, fulfilled lives or consigning us to diminished lives tainted by ill health and unfulfilled potential. Designing the Compassionate City looks at how those who participate in designing towns and cities can collaborate with those who live in them to create places that help people to accumulate the life lessons, experiences and achievements, as well as forge the connections to meet their needs, to thrive and to fulfil their potential. The book explores a number of inspiring case studies that have sought to meet this challenge and examines what has worked and what hasn’t. From this, some conclusions are drawn about how we can all participate in creating places that leave a lasting legacy of empowerment and commitment to nurturing one another. It is essential reading for students and practitioners designing happier, healthier places.

244 pages, Paperback

Published December 11, 2017

About the author

Jenny is Professor of Social Medicine at the University of Bristol and Director of NIHR CLAHRC West. Jenny along with Professor Richard Martin has been instrumental in the creation and development of Reach West. Jenny oversees the running and ongoing progress of Reach West.

Jenny’s main research interests are in people's experiences of illness and health care and the acceptability of healthcare interventions. Other research interests are in perceptions of arthritis, compliance with medications, urinary incontinence, and methodological research attempting to improve the design and conduct of randomized controlled trials of healthcare interventions using qualitative research methods.

Reviews

[Rachel Fang · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the theories part and case studies!

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve worked with Jenny so very happy to support her and her progressive ideas.