AURI Hosts International Guest Seminar
on “Built Environment and Health”

The Architecture & Urban Research Institute (AURI) held its International Guest Seminar on Monday, November 27, in the Large Conference Room at the institute. Under the theme “Built Environment and Health,” this seminar invited world-renowned scholar James F. Sallis, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health at UC San Diego, to present international research findings on policies and indicators for sustainable cities and share ideas that will help the city and its architectural environment and our lives. 

Professor Sallis first introduced research conducted by the International Physical Activity and the Environment Network (IPEN), then highlighted the significant impact the environment has on physical activities as well as the significance of architectural environments, and shared the findings of a study conducted on 17 cities in twelve countries. Based on results that residents of walkable cities had fewer deaths from COVID-19, he explained how urban design factors and walkability indicators can be used as indicators of a healthy and sustainable city. 

After the seminar, participants toured Sejong City’s areas for pedestrian environment case studies to examine the representative open spaces for pedestrians and shared cases related to healthy cities, pedestrian environments, and pedestrian safety.