Environmental Affordances: A Practical Approach for Designing Child-Friendly Streets in High-Density Community

Abstract

Advocating for child-responsive urban settings can bring five benefits for sustainable development and designing child-friendly street environment in neighbourhood level plays an important role in children’s healthy growth. However, a series of problems and dangerous conditions are exacerbated by currently vehicle-oriented street design, especially in the high-density residential area. This research examines using the approach of environmental affordance to assess the street spatial resources and promote the child-friendly street design. The study conducted in the Mingdong community, Ningbo city, China. It’s a typical high-density community and one main street inside for children travelling from home to school was selected as the research sample. To collect the data, researcher used the methods of observation, documentation and interview with children to identify the actualized affordance. Descriptive and correlation analysis were applied in the street redesign strategies. In the end of study, new physical elements were added on the potential affordance based on the framework of safe environment, size and layout of the street, place to pause and stay, place to play and learn, green space and the quality of equipment and materials. It leads to better design solutions for child-friendly street spaces in high-density community.